ROAD TRIP REFLECTIONS & BEST OF'S

A week ago, Portland and I returned home from our 27 day cross country road trip. It may sound like a relief to some, but there have been few times in my travels where I have honestly been excited to return home. This time was no different; arriving home meant the end of a journey, a project that I had put so many hours and so much heart into planning. It meant trying to reestablish a normal routine in a time when life is not normal. It meant missing the people that I would love to share my stories with, but cannot for one reason or another.

But the timing was right to get off the road. The shortened daylight hours made it difficult to pack exploration and travel time into a day. The structure of my days from the beginning of the trip to the end had reversed in many ways. Hiking in the mornings, and often arriving at my next destination in the evening after dark. The increase in Covid cases was starting to impact the country again, with renewed restrictions put in place, contact tracing forms to fill out, and the need to keep friends, family and myself safe.

I would go back on the road in a heartbeat. This wonderful, crazy trip that I'd thought was too big or out of reach for so long, ended up being one of the best experiences of my life. Certainly the greatest solo adventure I've had. I reaffirmed my love of traveling on my own, the freedom to make decisions and go off course as you please. The opportunity to do "crazy" things without judgement, driving off course, an hour-long mission in search of firewood or detouring for enchiladas. The experience of traveling with Portland was such a bonding and rewarding one. A constant companion by my side, but also a source of grounding, limitation and responsibility for his care. We hiked 62 miles together during the course of the trip, and camped under the stars for six nights (before adding days, we were set to camp approximately one-third of the trip).

Beyond the goal of traveling alone and exploring the country, the greatest experience, and probably the most impactful, was the time spent reconnecting with others. Family and friends old and new, as I traveled across the country I was never far from a friendly face. It was wonderful having the opportunity to spend time with so many people; the connections we have built through the years, but often forget how easy it is to stay connected. During a time when all the world is struggling with distance and connection, and at a time of great personal loss, this time with others was the greatest gift. I am so thankful to all of my hosts that welcomed us into their homes, and to the others that met me to share a drink or a meal.

Q & A

BONE BROTH

One of the biggest questions I've been asked has been about the bone broth that my friends Luke & Valentine introduced me to in Albuquerque. I still have a lot to learn about it, but my interest is definitely piqued and I would love to make a batch of my own. Sipping a mug of rich, nourishing broth was a great way to start the day, before breakfast (or after). Health benefits of bone broth come from the amount of collagen and vitamins, and my friends referenced healing powers for stomach issues like leaky gut. I found a pretty simple description and recipe on Minimalist Baker. This may be a good starting point for those wanting to give it a try. My friends use mostly cow bones (knees, etc.), but do toss in chicken if they have it. The recipe in the link uses chicken.

TRIP PLANNING

It has been so nice to hear from readers that enjoyed following along with my travels. I love to write and share my stories and experiences, hoping to inspire others to travel and follow their dreams. It was great to hear that my travels inspired a couple to book a week-long getaway to the Smoky Mountains! Enjoy!

For anyone considering a cross country trip, I recommend a month of travel time at minimum. I had originally planned for three weeks on the road, but after booking it out to the west coast in seven days, I decided to stretch out my return trip in order to spend more time in places that interested me. Having some flexibility in your travel plans is great for this type of adventure, but having certain reservations helped to keep me on track and travel more easily and efficiently knowing my destination. There were a few days where I didn't have a plan, and these ended up being more stressful for me as a solo traveler, since it was difficult to do research while I was on the road driving. Rest days (if you can call them that), are important. These non-travel days help you reset and refresh from life on the road. My extended stay in Oregon at the middle of the trip was a nice long break from driving, but I still felt like I was on the move and continuing to explore.

Lastly, see as much as possible! There are definitely destinations that I considered and would have loved to visit with an extra week of travel. My off-route (or scenic route) trips to Stanley, Idaho, the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, and Albuquerque, New Mexico were a few of my favorite stops on the trip. Well worth the extra hours of driving.

"DOG PEOPLE"

Me + Portland = "WE"

This was confusing for some, when I would refer to me and Portland as a "we." I also heard from a friend that I tended to mention Portland a lot throughout the blog. How could I not?! Maybe I'm just a dog person, but it seemed pretty unfair to use the singular "I" when writing many of my experiences. There was definitely a someone else that shared those long drives and miles of hiking...he just happened to have four legs. Portland did frequently offer to drive during our trip. He'd wait by the driver side front door when it was time to load up. "Are you driving today?" I'd ask him. I would have let him, but I didn't think we'd get very far.

If there are any questions that I didn't answer in this short section, feel free to send them my way! I would love to hear from you and am happy to lend whatever advice I can if you are planning a road trip of your own!

BEST OF...

Just for fun. My top picks from the road in a few random categories.

Best Songs of the Trip:

1: Olalla | Blanco White (this song was my jam for the first half of the trip!)

2: Wildfire | John Mayer

3: Sun and Moon | Michael Franti & Spearhead

4: This is Me | Keala Settle (The Greatest Showman)

5: Hold on Tight | Aloe Blacc

6: Forever Young (Fast Version) | Bob Dylan

7: Better Man | Leon Bridges (favorite song discovery of the trip, played at Dogwood in Bend, OR)

Had some great song and artist suggestions from my friends along the way, and loved listening to Jungle, Tame Impala and Israel Nash on drives and at campsites. The entire Wildly Sarah playlist is on Spotify!

Best Beers:

1: Project Dank (Fall 2020) | La Cumbre Brewing Company, Albuquerque, NM

2: Foeder Aged Coastal Dark Ale | Yachats Brewing, Yachats, OR

3: Cholo Stout | Marble Brewery, Albuquerque, NM

4: Cantaloupe Gose | Goat Patch Brewing Company, Colorado Springs, CO

5: Basecamp IPA | Sidetrack Brewing Company, Albuquerque, NM

6: Chocolate Hazelnut Porter | Code Beer Co., Lincoln, NE

7: Winter Grind | Mother's Brewing Company, Springfield, MO

My palate trended a bit darker than usual due to the season, but I have to give honorable mention to a couple memorable sours that I enjoyed along the way. Ching Ching from Bend Brewing Company and Vail Brewing Company's Twigs and Berries.

Best Starry Skies:

1: San Antonio Hot Springs, Jemez Springs, NM

2: Boat Box Hot Springs, Stanley, ID

3: Goblin Valley State Park, Green River, UT (need to go back during a New Moon)

Best Sunset:

1: Antelope Island State Park, Syracuse, UT

Most Scenic Drives:

1: Hwy 101 | Olympic Peninsula, WA

2: Hwy 21 | Boise National Forest, ID

3: Hwy 126 | Willamette & Deschutes National Forests, OR

4: N. Cheyenne Canyon Rd. | Colorado Springs, CO

5: Hwy 101 | Oregon Coast, OR

6: Hwy 70 | Palisade to Denver, CO

7: Hwy 6 | Spanish Fork to Green River, UT

Thank you, again to everyone that followed along on this journey! Your support means so much to me. Stay tuned for more articles and future adventures. - Sarah