I’m just back from a few weeks on the roads I took to find my relationship again with the ocean, desert, hills, state and national parks. Mostly to remember my self and my souls longing or calling. And, as surprising as it may feel to others, it felt very comfortable for me to jump in the car with a few basic things and head out not really knowing the what or where or why of my travels. No friends, no family, just me and the universe.

Some things I knew—I had a place to stay for a month in Santa Barbara. I needed hot springs and solo time and connections with friends. I needed rest and space from my worries and concerns. I needed to work on my creative projects and I needed to grieve and process all the big and little changes in my life. So… I had some ideas of what this could look like, but what I really knew was that this was not a “vacation”. It was going to be a learning growing transformational adventure and I would learn a lot about myself while spending time in nature.

I figured that unless I removed myself from the busy ness of life, I would struggle to hear my self think and would be challenged to keep my heart open in the midst of processing personal, community and global griefs. I felt a certain constriction and I needed to find aliveness in adventuring to places off the beaten path.

My journey started on January 16. I drove over the snowy Vail pass and dropped into my favorite valley for a hot springs soak in Buena Vista. Then to the Sand dunes and onto Taos and Santa Fe. A stop in the chapel in Chimayo would be a highlight. On to Canyon De Chelley and Petrified National Forest, Sedona, Jerome, and then into Santa Barbara. A few nights at Jaloma State Park took me through the end of the month. A highlight of that State park would be going to Point Conception where the Alaskan and Mexican currents meet and the Chumash (Indigenous tribes) would send their ancestors off in ritual to the spirit world. I most certainly felt the energies of this powerful “gateway”.

Feb 1-Feb 18, I stayed in Santa Barbara in a shared house. Days were spent outdoors as much as I could to witness dolphins playing, pelicans dropping low to catch the waves, two gray whales making their way up the coast. I saw red tail hawks and lizards. I walked the beach with old and new friends.

Leaving California was tough but made easier by mapping out State and National parks along the Southern route back. First stop Joshua Tree, then Organ Pipe, White Sands, and Big Bend Ranch State Park. I would encounter a few long horns, a javelina. I enjoyed falling asleep to birds and frogs.

I had my water dance, my desert dance, my under the stars dance, my fire dance. All dances felt intimate and touched different places within me to cry to laugh to be silly to stretch to move and to make noise. Inspired by nature, this intimate connection I was exploring felt powerful. My soul expression.

I traveled on roads I haven’t been on before and purposely took detours adding time and days to my return. But I felt called to go as both as I could and drive close to the Mexico border. I figured if not now,, when?

It was beautiful terrain. Cacti lining the road. I encountered immigration check points and a few migrants. I was exploring parts of the country I had never known and I now know, I must return as it is stunningly beautiful and oh so desolate.

So, getting back just before spring break, I feel so fortunate to have seen parts of the US many people never get to see. My longest drive day was 9 hours—most were in the 5 hour range. Most nights were in the parks for $17 a night. A few were free. A few were at State parks at $35/night. Gas was my big expense. I managed to figure out things without making reservations a year in advance.

And most importantly, I noticed that when I took this time to feed my joys and curiosity, there was a ripple effect. People longed to share their dreams and/or stories of when they went out to camp or travel.

Since I went on other travelers recommendations at times, I invite you to share your favorite places with me (maybe Pacific Northwest? Western hot springs and Glacier/Hood River/ San Juan Island musts)? I really haven’t spent much time in South Carolina and Georgia but I hear those areas can be lovely. I enjoyed meeting fellow artists too. I’m open to hearing about special trails and off the beaten treasures. And, I am always happy to have a conversation with you if you are planning to take to the road.