For eight years in a row, we headed off for over five months in the "Turtle"--our F-350 Dually with a slide-in camper. We lived on our country’s public lands and hiked and danced in the deserts, mountains, and grasslands. We had no specific plans on where to go or how long to stay in any one place. When we felt like moving on, we did. Then we would find a new spectacular place to live for a time.
And then four years ago, life got in the way….
A few weeks ago, we headed off for our ninth road trip. We are living on public lands in our Turtle once again—and hiking and dancing. We are loving it!
The two mountains in the distance are Bears Ears—these are Bears Ears National Monument namesake.
When we celebrated Kathy and Bill’s 70th birthdays, we all stayed at a funky lodge in Mexican Hat for several days. We showed them the areas that we love so much in Monument Valley, Valley of the Gods, and Bears Ears National Monument. One day we took a long winding dirt road through the high mountains in Bear Ears that traveled between the two “bears ears.”
We have a sweet spot in our hearts for these bears ears and this National Monument, as we have explored the area on four separate road trip, one of them with our dear sister and brother.
We got a good picture of the bears ears on a hike up the Old 95 Road. On the right of the light colored rock formation you can clearly see the two mountains called Bears Ears.
Sunrise….in the distance are the mountains in New Mexico.
The Turtle behind me.
We explored this amazing ledge that stretches for miles below me.
I get to spend hours sitting outside knitting every afternoon. We sit side by side and Dan reads or builds a model car. It is lovely, relaxing together after a strenuous hike.
Here is a lap blanket that I just finished knitting.
We get up in the dark every morning, and I fix coffee for my love and our breakfast. We spend hours reading together. It is a special time of day for us.
And then we brush our teeth for five minutes—and get to walk the entire time. It is part of our daily routine, and we count it as exercise.
Then Dan does his exercise machine and I do my push-ups.
We hiked off trail/road looking for ancient ruins that we had discovered five years ago. This quest required us to remove our backpacks so we could safely climb down a mini cliff and onto slick rock.
We decided to hike cross country to our camper. Our track looked like we were drunken sailors, as we had to go up and down over hills, through washes, and around multiple cliffs. It was much harder than going back on the road, but MUCH more fun. And it was an adventure!
Our Turtle is at the base of the mountain on the left, so small it’s just a speck. That is where we were headed.
We made it back to our little home again.
Most days are bright and sunny, but the sweet thing about being on the road is that even cloudy or rainy days are a joy. We are lost in the middle of nature, and it is beautiful. And this land is just asking for us to explore all the washes, cliffs, and mountains.
We saw six deer in the distance running up a mountainside. One deer is on the ledge and two more beneath it. Can you see them? We can, but we know where to look.
The dark clouds were beautiful and we could see rain in the distance as we returned home.
And then the rain found us.
We were safe and snug in our Turtle. The rain poured down and lightning and thunder surrounded us.
And then the sun broke through the clouds.
Tomorrow we will hike, or maybe dance, or maybe head to a new campsite. We don’t know, and we don’t care. We are on a road trip, and that is what defines a road trip for us. All that matters is that we are together. Tomorrow will be another day in our life on this amazing planet called Earth.
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