Weeks 4 & 5: Colorado
The Feels
I decided to stay in the Grand Junction area for about a month so I could get my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I waved my friends goodbye, and admittedly shed a few tears as I had so much fun being with them. I had wondered if I would be lonely on this journey and I was nervous that it would set in when my friends left. I sat with those feelings rather than making myself busy so I could do some introspection. I generally describe myself as an introverted extrovert. While I love being around people, I do get my energy by being alone. I thought about what made me sad when my friends left, and it came down to this: community. People who share a passion for camping and the outdoors, people who I can share my fears and anxiety without judgement, and people who I can learn from and laugh with. I hadn't felt that fully throughout the pandemic, and it was a wonderful experience. I also appreciated that I could retreat to the Airstream for my own downtime and separation when I needed to.
How I Travel
All of this to say - I think this recognition of what I like will help shape how I travel. I'll look for others in the full-time RV community to share experiences with from time-to-time, and look for opportunities to visit friends when timing works out. Over the past few weeks, I also realized that I really value staying in one spot and exploring the area, but also get a little stir crazy sitting in one spot for too long. Hmph. Make up your mind, lady!
I’m also trying to balance knowing exactly where I’m headed next with being flexible in my adventures. I get excited about new places, but anxious about knowing whether or not I’ll actually be able to find a spot. With so many people hitting the road, the free spots fill up quickly, and State Parks, National Parks, and RV Parks are usually filled up months in advance. When searching for free spots, I always want to make sure it’s a spot that’s safe and connected, and it’s best to plan to get there Monday-Wednesday when the weekenders have gone back home.
Free spot views
What Have I Been Up To?
Hiking, reading, listening to podcasts, chatting with a potential new clients, and partnering with a new website called Nomad Habitat to be a featured coach. I know, I know - I said I wouldn't be working! But, when I feel like I can be of value to someone, it makes it difficult to say no. Plus hey, I have nothing but time on my hands!
I've also been doing chore-like things: laundry, getting new tires, trying to figure out my hitch sticking problems, putting treads on the stairs so I don’t have another mudaggedon, etc.
Great news is that my friends came back to visit in a new (free!) spot the following weekend. And ohhhhh, how fantastic it was! It was just the two of them so we got good quality time in, and they helped me with soooooo many things! Plus, Charlie Brown has a deep, deep love for my friend Jaime, so he was in heaven.
At one point, I brought out the pop-up shade/bug structure I had bought. Advice: read the instructions. I didn't, and opened the velcro strap and nearly took my head off. Those pop-up things really pop up on their own! Then Jaime pointed out the instructions after I thought I took her out as well. Oops!
My friends encouraged me to figure out how to operate the awning on the Airstream (it's quite a process but I got it down to three minutes set-up/tear-down). Without their encouragement and "Let's do this!" attitude, I would've put it off and suffered the heat. They also helped me decide what things I was actually using or not, and are helping me sell some things at their home base in Breckenridge.
Colorado National Monument
When they left again, I decided to explore the Colorado National Monument. There is a 25-mile drive around Rim Rock Drive that Charlie Brown and I enjoyed, with a few short hikes for me. It was absolutely gorgeous, and the smell of sagebrush was incredible. I saw big-horn sheep and couldn't believe how they posed for me.
I'll leave you with those pics to enjoy while I work out exactly where I'm going to head next. Back to Utah, or off to New Mexico? What would you do?
Big hugs,
Amy
