Still Here

I recently had several readers ask me if I'm still on the road.  Although I rarely blog anymore, I'm still shunpiking in a Prius.  I have a 2015 model now, and gave my 2004 to family because it was still running good.  I just wanted something less likely to break down when out in the back country.

Cameron and Jasper taking ownership of my 2004 Prius, June 2017  

2015 Prius, Alabama Hills in Lone Pine, CA, April 2018.  

At the end of 2016 I went full-time.  John and I divorced, and gratefully remain friends.  I typically spend winters in the desert southwest as a snowbird, June in Washington to see my grandson, and the winter holidays in the west with family and friends.

On the Oregon Coast with grandson Jasper, June 2017.  

Thanksgiving pie with family in Southern California, Nov. 2017  

Chrismas at Bryce's home with friends in Pahrump, NV, Dec 2017

The rest of the year I typically follow the good weather on the road, exploring, in nature.  I also started traveling to volunteer with Remote Area Medical (RAM) which is a mobile organization that communities host for a weekend to offer quality free medical, dental and vision services, no questions asked.  I'm so impressed with them, ramusa.org.  I would encourage you to seek free treatment if you need it, and volunteer and donate, if you can.

A typical dental area of a RAM free clinic (extractions, fillings, cleanings), ramusa.org

While in the desert southwest in the winters, the Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) is always a January highlight.  This year we were written up in the NY Times.

Cover photo from NY Times article, The Real Burning Man, Jan 2018.  

This year, for the first time, I organized and facilitated a 3-day Women's RTR following the main RTR.  I was thrilled with the turn out, the mentoring sessions, panels, and camaraderie.  I'm looking forward to our second annual WRTR next January.

Friends at Dome Rock in Quartzsite, AZ before the RTR, Jan 2018.  

I have so many good friends, camp mates, and family to visit, I've been surprised at the amount of time I actually spend hanging with people.  Somehow I expected, when I went full-time, I'd have large chunks of time to myself.  That just hasn't been the case.  I'm thrilled, and am learning to take the time I need to be alone and recharge when needed.

Desert back road, north of Tucson, AZ, March 2018.  

That's my travel life right now and into the foreseeable future.  I'm loving it.  I'm living an amazing gift of freedom, experience, and contentment.  So grateful.

View from my camp on a New Mexico Lake, April 2018.  

I don't expect that I will be writing about my travels anytime soon.  But, I wanted my readers, new and old, to know that I do respond to comments and questions.  This blog isn't going away.

Sunset, Padre Island National Seashore, TX, Nov 2017.  

Galleta Meadows' Metal ScupturesBorrego Springs, CA

For several days in mid February I enjoyed hanging out with friends in the back country just north of the town of Borrego Springs.  I had heard about this place, the great boondocking, and its metal sculptures.  This year I got to see it first hand!  Here is a movie/slide show of the photos I took of some of the metal sculptures at Galleta Meadows on the 16th.  Most were large, some were humongous, and a few were of human proportion.

Here is a photo of 12 metal scuptures of big horn sheep -- rams, ewes, and lambs.  Click on the picture to enlarge, then see if you can find all 12 sheep!

Big Horn sheep at Galetta Meadows,  2/16/17

Camping with friends in Borrego Springs ... good views, great company.

What a good life!

Rubber Tramp Rendezvous (RTR) January 11 - 22, 2017

Pre-RTR Sunset.  Already, many attendees have arrived.  It was the largest number of
participants since the first RTR in the Winter of 2011 (Quartzsite, AZ)  1/10/17
Note: Click on photos to enlarge.

Most every morning for the 10-Day RTR event, Bob Wells (the organizer)
would teach a seminar.  Before each 10 AM seminar, folks would offer
services, items for sale, request help, and make announcements.  1/11/2017  

Afternoon seminars were offered on a variety of topics.  Here is a saguaro cactus and a rainbow
showing off after the Living Out of a Small Car Seminar.  1/14/17  

On nice evenings, groups, large and small would gather around the campfires
dotting the desert.  Here is the group I hung out with.  1/15/17  

We had some good conversations ... but sometimes we would just quietly stare into the fire.  1/15/17  

Good memories.  1/15/17

The last colors of sunset.  1/18/17  

Looking east the the sunrise.  Looking west at the same time below ... 1/20/17  

Looking west at a rainbow at the same time.  1/20/17  

I needed 2 frames to capture to whole rainbow.  1/20/17  

Raining ... this photo taken through the windshield just before night fall.  1/20/17  

During the last night of the RTR, we gathered around the main campfire.
Although the RTR is primarily a boot camp for new nomads, and an opportunity
 to see old friends again,  we have also adopted an end-of-RTR-celebration 
called "Burning Van"  1/21/17 

The "van" to be burned is actually a wooden cut out.  1/21/17  

RTR attendees are encouraged to sign and make brief comments before it's burned.  1/21/17  

It's burned to a specially-written RTR song for the occasion.  2/21/17  

Every winter I look forward to the RTR.  I've made life-long friends and am always amazed at the generosity and helpfulness of those who attend.