KOAs and AAA

We leave one month from today.

I haven’t been as present here as I would like to be post-LHX. I have a lot going on – which is fine and good but overwhelming! Turkey and I are both working lots of overtime and getting some last minute gear over the next 4 weeks as we prepare for our road trip adventure cross country. I don’t know why but it’s super intimidating to me to be away from home and work for so long.

Stress levels have been a wee bit high in our house. We have decided to leave the dogs behind while we are gone. It devastates us to do so but for their safety and for our acclimation/pre-summit hike training purposes – it’s the best option.

We went back and forth over this for weeks and the pros of leaving them at home with a trusted and recommended individual far outweighed the cons. We’ll be staying mostly within National Parks, which don’t allow dogs on trails and I refuse to leave them cooped up in a camper all day while we are out. Also – if they came with us we’d still have to board them for 4 days while we are on the Mount Whitney trail, and I could not find a nearby or reliable boarding facility (except for a vet clinic – but I got the feeling they’d be locked in a small cage the whole time) anywhere near Lone Pine. PSA: someone neeeeeeds to open a dog boarding facility in Lone Pine! You’d make some bucks!!!

We take our dogs everywhere with us when we are able to. I feel guilty and I know I will be a wreck the entire time worrying about them. I just need to remember that it’s for the best. I know they will have a great time playing with other pups!

Last month, we became KOA members! I don’t know if that’s something to be excited or proud of but were super happy with our first experience at the Terre Haute location. Memorial Day weekend we took the camper out for 3 nights which was so very relaxing and a nice test run of how we’ll be living out of a tiny space for 18 days.

We explored Shades State Park in Indiana, and had every intention of checking out Turkey Run but I ain’t gonna lie – I am not happy hiking in 90+ degree weather in humidity. It’s just not enjoyable to me and I don’t want to have my first experience at a new place be a miserable one. We will return this fall when the weather is milder.

Last night I began my 8th draft of list making, purchased an AAA membership and ordered some food for our trip. (We are going the energy/protein bar route along with some Sasquatch Fuel.) I will make a gear and food post soon! This weekend I will go through all of our clothes and start separating things we’ll take with us.

This gal, who by now normally has an itinerary, is pre-packed and tightly organized is feeling pretty exhausted and crazy. I know it will all come together though. It always does.

This trip, I plan to be blogging from the road daily/every other day.

Coming up next – a backpacking trip next weekend with Heather!!! Then in June, an amazing series of interviews with inspirational outdoors women. You don’t wanna miss it. These will be shared via Epic Social Adventures! I will cross post when they launch.

Talk soon.

J