Day 3: 

We didn’t have time to explore all the trails from the place we stayed, but we did a short hike to the dog park and checked out an old movie set from Manhattan, AZ, which aired several times back in the summer of 2000. The desert views were absolutely stunning. If you're curious, check out their website, it looks like they host a lot of fun events and activities.

Today’s ride felt vast and wide open. I was still riding alongside the border wall for a stretch, which is a pretty surreal experience. I grabbed a couple of GoPro videos, still trying to figure that out. I created an account, but of course it won’t let me log in. Technology and I are still negotiating.

And I almost forgot, I took a work meeting while riding down a 6% grade! Yes, really. It was so fun seeing everyone’s faces while I was pedaling. I’ll ask permission before sharing the screenshot from our Zoom, but it might be one for the books.

I am incredibly grateful to MEWA for allowing me to flex my time so I can make this ride happen. I’m still working, and we’re living off my income while we’re out here. Scott was able to take a leave from Legacy Health, it’s hard to help patients from the side of the road. 

I did have to switch up my shoes today. My left foot kept going numb, the same one that gives me grief in my ski boots. I swapped into my old trusty tennis shoes, the ones that have carried me for miles before, and they felt great.

I’ve been really intentional about staying hydrated and eating while riding which is new for me but it’s working. Today’s peanut butter and jelly was so dry it practically turned to dust before it hit my mouth. 😂 Thankfully, Scott stopped again just past the halfway point with more watermelon and ice.

It’s hot. Really hot. Good thing I trained in hot Pilates at Columbia Flow in Troutdale. And shoutout to Tiffany Sobella at Sandy Pulse Fitness & Strength, all those leg days are paying off. My legs feel strong!

Okay… I feel like I’m starting to ramble. Time to eat dinner, take a walk around the RV park, and call it a night.

February 25, 2026

Today was the longest day so far. The mileage wouldn’t have been bad, but I messed up the maps.

I’m using the Adventure Cycling Association maps for the Southern Tier, which I purchased and upload into Ride with GPS. I assumed Ride with GPS would give me the ACA route if I entered the start and end points. Nope. Totally different route. So off through a rock quarry I went!

I wanted to follow my maps, so I kept going, up and down gravel, over crazy terrain, all on my road bike. I was trying not to freak out or stop, so I just kept moving. At one point I wondered if I should turn back, but I could see a road, a river, and railroad tracks ahead, so I kept going. I was scared, no doubt about it but this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten myself into a situation like this, so I pushed forward. 

Eventually, a train of Razors (side by sides) came along, and I flagged them down. The woman looked a little startled, maybe scared of me, or maybe just scared for me. The man told me which way to go, though I honestly couldn’t remember everything he said. Still, I managed to cross a drainage river. Once across, I couldn’t see how to get up to the road. I circled around looking for a way out, and when I finally turned back and started walking, I noticed a small path up.

I climbed up and thought, now what?

At that point, I just wanted pavement. Eventually, I found it. My phone was dying again, and I was trying to conserve battery so I could call Scott. Meanwhile, he was back at camp, completely unaware of my adventure. He would have freaked out if he had seen where I was.

I rode past some farmland and asked a worker for directions, I'm not even sure he spoke English but he made me feel better! Finally, real pavement. Not long after, the Razor group passed me again and gave me big thumbs up. I had made it!

I stopped at Del Sol Market and texted Scott to meet me. I was out of water and had forgotten to bring cash. I had a nice conversation with a man from Canada who said there were lots of people from Portland staying nearby. Scott arrived, and I got ice, fruit, caught up on some work emails, and charged my phone to 70%. Then I was back on the bike.

It was hot, and I wasn’t exactly feeling it, but I kept going. I filled my jersey with ice, and it worked wonders for a while.

At one point, I was riding peacefully when suddenly about ten birds exploded out of the trees right next to me and scared me half to death. I really need to get better about taking pictures, but I hate stopping and losing momentum, especially on hills. My GoPro card was full anyway. There was also a massive random junkyard with some incredible stuff, I wanted to get out and take some selfies. 

I was feeling pretty good, even in the heat. I hit a downhill and figured I had about ten miles left. My Garmin wasn’t showing distance, just the route. I made the suggested turn and… another 12 miles of rumble strips.

At that point, I was so mad at myself. But what could I do? I just kept going.

When it became clear it wasn’t going to change, I started looking for an opening through the barbed wire to reach the highway. The smooth highway was right there next to me. But I couldn’t stare too hard because I had to watch for potholes or I’d go flying.

A little farther down, I saw a shirtless man camping near an underpass. I started pedaling harder, wanting to look strong and confident. He saw me and quickly put his shirt back on. I think he was more startled than I was.

Then suddenly, an opening!

Hallelujah.

I crossed the highway like I had just won the lottery. My map adjusted, and I had seven more miles of silky smooth riding. I was in heaven. I actually like highway riding, the shoulder is about ten feet wide, and I can barely feel the trucks pass.

Scott had headed out to find me when I told him I was on 12 miles of gravel again, and he passed me just as I reached the exit ramp.

The exit was Dateland, home of the famous date shakes. I’m not usually a shake person, but that date shake was incredible. I was too hot to explore the massive market, but I caught up on emails while Scott went in and looked around.

We’re now at Oasis RV Park at Aztec Hills, and it might be my favorite so far. It’s small, with just a tiny clubhouse and pool. After finishing work and fiddling with the AC, we took a dip in the refreshing pool, where we were greeted by some really kind people who wanted to follow along on our journey.

Two more rides and I get to see my Family!!!

February 26, 2026

Today was super uneventful and exactly what I needed.

I felt a little weird when I was leaving this morning. I’ve learned not to post that on Facebook because people get worried about me! I think it was just too much coffee and feeling off from the time change. It didn’t get light until 7 a.m., which threw me off more than I expected.

The ride itself was flat and easy. Nothing dramatic, no surprise just steady miles with a headwind. I arrived at the RV park at almost the exact same time as Scott. I caught up on some work, then took Win to the dog park. It’s actually called Winston’s Corral. 

Our AC still isn’t working, and it’s super hot, so we have that going for us. My uncle has a repair person scheduled to come out on Monday while we’re at his house, and Johnson RV called today to try to help us troubleshoot over the phone. I’d really love to get the AC working so we can leave Win comfortably and go jump in the pool. Not happening anytime soon though so we'll take turns. 

There are seven ACA maps for this section of the Southern Tier, and tomorrow I’ll complete the first one, which feels exciting. One down!

I had been considering taking an alternate route on Tuesday, but after yesterday’s gravel adventure, I’m rethinking that decision. I messaged Nate from Instagram, who finished the route a few months ago, to get his thoughts because he has been helping me. 

Tomorrow I’ll reach the Phoenix area and stay with my aunt and uncle for a few days. I’m really looking forward to that, family, fun and a chance to reset before continuing on.

Some days are about pushing hard. Today was about settling in.

February 28, 2026

I forgot to write my daily update yesterday. I rode 66 miles over varied terrain. I started out nice and early, which helped me stay cool.

Honestly, this was the longest ride mentally for me so far because I just wanted to be done. My body was fine, but my mind was ready to stop. I rode through suburbs, passed the Dodgers’ spring training facility, and finished with ten miles on a really nice trail.

And guess who got lost on the trail? Me.

There were multiple trails within the system, and I managed to take a few wrong turns and add some extra miles. At this point, it almost feels like part of the adventure.

When I finished, I jumped in the RV and we headed to my aunt and uncle’s house. We swam, laughed, and enjoyed being together until we finally called it a night. The sunset was beautiful, and we took lots of pictures to capture it.

It was one of those days where the ride felt long—but the ending made it all worth it.

March 1st and 2nd, 2026

When we arrived, we were greeted with lunch and our family’s famous “health drink.” We visited for a bit and then jumped straight into the pool where we stayed until dinner time. The guys got in a few yard games, and we wrapped up the evening watching another beautiful Arizona sunset.

The next morning my mom, Norah, Cody, and I went for a walk before taking the golf cart out for a spin to check out some open houses. Around noon, Steph and Mike picked us up for another tour after making a quick stop at In-N-Out. We looked at a few homes on acreage and some lots, then headed over to Lake Pleasant for a drink before making our way back.

We hurried home for dinner… but not quite fast enough.

On the drive back we got a call from my aunt saying Winston’s tag had somehow gone through my mom’s skin. Not really knowing what was going on, we told them to call the paramedics. Just as we got home and walked in the door, the “mustache crew” (as my cousin calls them) showed up. One of the young paramedics had actually had something similar happen to her before and had the tag out in a flash.

Needless to say, dinner plans changed after that little adventure. We ordered some delicious Hawaiian food on DoorDash and spent the rest of the evening recovering from the excitement.

After dinner, we talked, the kids jumped back in the pool and hot tub, and eventually we called it a night.

-----

Monday started with a mission to fix the RV AC. The place we had an appointment with couldn’t help us, so Scott and Mike found another shop about 37 minutes away that said they could look at it after work. I wasn’t thrilled with that plan, so I started calling around and found someone who could come take a look that afternoon.

He showed up just as I was getting ready for my interview with Channel 12 about the ride.

I had been a nervous wreck all day. Not sure why my breathing techniques and self talk weren’t working, but the nerves were real. The moment it was over, I immediately felt better. People say the clip turned out great, but I haven’t watched the whole thing yet because I know I’ll probably be too hard on myself.

I  had no idea we were going to be live. I thought he would ask me a few questions and then edit together some clips. Nope. We chatted for maybe a minute and then he said, “We’re going live in three… two… one!”

Shortly after the interview, my cousin and her family came over and we decided to try dinner again at the clubhouse, the place we were supposed to go the night before. It was worth the wait. The food was delicious and we had a great visit.

After dinner we headed back home for more pool time, although this round was mostly the dogs. Winston made a new best friend, Max, and the two of them swam, wrestled, and played until bedtime.

March 3, 2026

Today was my first day back after about 2½ days of luxury relaxing!

I woke up at 4 a.m. to take Norah to the airport and noticed a little tickle in my throat. I was tired and figured it was probably from waking up early or maybe the bedroom fan.

We drove back to Tempe around 8 so I could start the first section of Map 2 of my ride. Now we’re getting into completely new territory, which is exciting for me. I’ve spent a lot of time in Arizona over the years, so much of the earlier riding felt familiar.

Today I meandered through some really nice older neighborhoods with beautiful ranch homes and incredibly fragrant landscaping. At one point I wondered if all those blooming plants were part of what was making my throat feel scratchy.

Apparently, I got a little off course at one point, but I didn’t even realize it because my Garmin just reroutes me automatically. Scott saw it though and texted that I had wandered off track… oops!

One of the highlights was stopping at a little roadside ice stand. For two dollars, I got a bag of ice to refill my bottles and even stuffed some down my shirt. It felt amazing. It wasn’t extremely hot yet, but I was definitely feeling tired.

Scott found me shortly after that stop, and of course I needed more ice. I sat and rested for a bit, charged my phone, and had some fruit before heading back out.

The road started out relatively flat… but that didn’t last long. Today definitely had some solid hills. I smashed them, but I’m icing my knees tonight just to be safe.

I have two more days like this before a rest day in an artsy little mountain town that I am really looking forward to.

One big mistake today: I completely forgot sunscreen! I got too far out of my routine and now I’m pretty fried. I’m hot and freezing at the same time.

Tomorrow I’m planning long sleeves and pants and hoping for an earlier start. The forecast is supposed to be in the low 80s, so it shouldn’t be too bad.

One mile at a time!

March 4, 2026

I woke up naturally around 5:30 this morning, stretched a bit, and then took Winston out for a walk. It was cold out there! Honestly, that worked in my favor because I needed to cover up my sunburn from yesterday. I warmed up a little toward the end of the ride, but overall it felt good.

The rolling hills today were actually pretty fun, up and down, up and down… kind of like life.

Once I dropped to the lower elevations, though, the shoulder got really rough. Not my favorite kind of riding. And to keep things interesting, I was chased by seven dogs today! That definitely kept me on edge. I yelled as loud as I could and thankfully none of them got close enough to catch me. It’s not easy trying to pedal fast when you’re dealing with a chest cold, but I gave it my best shot.

I rode through a couple of cute little towns, and at one point there were about seven horses blocking the road… getting it on. I honestly didn’t know what to do! Luckily a car came along and slowly guided them toward a side road so everyone could keep moving.

Scott met me just past the halfway point for a refresh stop. Those little breaks might be almost as good as jumping into a cold pool after a ride.

I finished the day at the RV repair shop, where we ended up waiting a few hours. The good news is I’m now completely caught up on emails and grading. The bad news? No luck fixing the AC yet… so on to the next plan.

Tonight we’re hoping to camp by a lake, but it’s first-come, first-served, so we’ll see what happens.

It’s only 4 p.m. Arizona time, but I’m calling this day a wrap.

Thanks for following along. 🚴‍♀️

March 5 , 2026

Today, I actually felt the best I’ve felt in a while, although my chest still isn’t quite right. The coughing can get pretty intense at times, but for the most part I’m okay. I just focus on controlling my breathing and keeping a steady rhythm.

The ride itself was incredibly peaceful. The views were amazing and constantly changing. It wasn’t too hilly today, and toward the end things flattened out enough that I was cruising around 20 mph for a bit.

Scott met me just over halfway and told me he had seen two other bikers with sleeping bags and gear who looked like they might also be riding the route. Sure enough, they stopped where Scott was waiting, so we went over to chat with them. Turns out they’re riding one section of the route for a week.

One of them asked if we had a pump, and I had to laugh to myself thinking, what kind of pump would you like? Of course we have a variety. I’m not sure how you do a week long bike tour without a pump, but maybe he just didn’t want to dig his out.

After a quick salad and a refresh stop, I got back on the road. I like to keep my momentum going, especially when I know I only have about 30 miles left.

People sometimes ask how I get through these 70 mile days. The trick is breaking it down into smaller pieces. I know I can ride the first 35 miles no problem. Then Scott meets me, I refresh, eat, check work, and reset. After that, it’s just three sets of ten miles. Somehow that mental trick works every time.

The last couple of days have been long, straight stretches of road, which can feel a little daunting. Earlier in the trip, there were more turns, and that naturally breaks the ride up. Today I passed through a few small towns, but mostly it was wide open country and the traffic was very light. 

And then… I made it to New Mexico!

Visiting New Mexico has been on my bucket list forever. This may not have been the exact part I imagined visiting, but I still stopped for a photo on the side of the road to mark the moment.

Our GoPro keeps dying, so we may need to replace it soon. I’ve been trying to take short clips along the way to capture the scenery in each section.

We rolled into Lordsburg later in the afternoon. Originally we were planning to stay at a Harvest Host, but it turned out to basically be a Love’s parking lot. After checking a couple other options that didn’t look great either, we landed at a two-star KOA. Honestly, it’s perfectly fine for what we need. No pool, but I did get a nice shower and did a load of laundry. 

I also met with a student over Zoom… which turned into a bit of a coughing disaster. Talking while the wind blew through the RV was probably not my smartest decision.

After that it was dinner, a stop at the dog park for Winston, and calling it a night.

Last night, I slept about 10 or maybe even 11 hours, and I’m planning another early bedtime tonight.

Tomorrow is a shorter but hillier day 46 miles and we’ll land in Silver City, where I’m taking a rest day on Saturday. I’ve heard it’s a mountain artsy town, which sounds right up my alley.

March 6, 2026

Today was a really good ride.

I had been a little intimidated thinking about the climbs, but honestly my bike makes them feel pretty manageable. At first I kept wondering, Where is this big climb everyone talks about? Then I realized I was actually riding behind the hills instead of over them for a while.

It was cold this morning, really cold. Luckily, that worked in my favor because I’m still trying to heal my sunburn from a few days ago. I had on my winter gloves and long sleeves with lighter spring riding pants. My winter gear is fleece-lined and the spring stuff definitely is not. I can absolutely tell the difference between my Amazon gear and the name brand gear and it always makes me wonder why good quality has to be so expensive!

The scenery today was incredible. It changed little by little every few miles and I kept stopping just to take it in.

At one point, I looked over and saw what I thought was another dog chasing me. Turns out it was a wild boar, a squatty little thing! I thought about stopping to get a picture but honestly I was a little scared. I had no idea how fast wild boars can run and I definitely hadn’t researched what to do if I encountered one!

The road rolled up and down most of the day. I also knew those two touring cyclists we met yesterday would likely be on the same route today. For some reason that turned into a little mental battle in my head. Responsible me said, Ride steady, control your breathing so you don’t trigger a coughing fit. Competitive me said, I don’t want anyone passing me.

I’m not competitive in most things, but I really don’t like people passing me when I’m walking, biking, or running. Must be a leftover habit from my high school cross country days.

Not a ton of photos today. I’m still struggling with where to keep my phone. If it’s mounted on my bike, I can voice text people easily but then I have to wrestle it out to take a picture. If it’s in my pocket, I don’t want to stop because I’m worried about losing momentum. Honestly, I think I need those Meta sunglasses that record video… although then I’d have to make sure they match my outfit every day. A girl has to stay coordinated. I did get some Go Pro today but it won't download, always something! 

And if you’ve noticed my black-and-white checkered socks and scarves and wondered what that’s about, they’re my neutral! In my mind they go with everything.

The other cyclists never caught me, although I do wonder where they stayed and how their ride went the last couple of days.

There was a lot of downhill today, which was great, but I’m still working on getting comfortable using my front brake more. I really don’t love going faster than about 20 mph on descents. The road surfaces out here are rough and unpredictable and I’m always worried about hitting a pothole or rock.

The side winds today were wild too. A couple of times I honestly felt like they might lift me right off the road. You’d think I’d have enough weight to stay steady, but a few gusts definitely got my attention. Every once in a while I still remember the time I flipped over my mountain bike a few years ago and imagine how much worse that would have been on pavement. Falling into a pile of leaves on a mountain bike trail is way less intimidating than flipping on asphalt!

Scott met me around mile 30 for a break. I rested for a bit and caught up on work emails. Fridays are usually quiet because my students don’t have classes, but today I had quite a few messages to get through. Once I was caught up, I jumped back on the bike to finish the ride.

When I finally rolled into town I got excited. If you’ve ever traveled with me, you know I love exploring new cities. I try to squeeze every ounce of adventure out of a place. I’ll walk everywhere, and if there’s a bike to rent I’ll do that too because you can cover so much more ground.

About two miles past the main street area I suddenly realized… Scott is definitely not going to walk this far with me. He’s not much of a walker.

Tomorrow is my rest day, which reminds me, I did find a yoga studio here that I might check out.

We’re also still trying to figure out what to name the RV. We usually name boats and vehicles, but nothing is sticking yet. She’s a Winnebago, but our dog Winston already gets called Win, Winnie, or Winnebago when he’s in trouble… so that name feels taken.

After the ride I showered, did a little more work, and then we walked to the grocery store to check it out. I don’t know why, but I always love exploring grocery stores in new towns. I found a drink I’d been wanting to try and some local green chile sauce that looked too good to pass up.

We headed back to the RV, messaged a few friends, had a later than normal dinner, and called it a night.

It’s a rest evening, so technically we could stay up late and sleep in tomorrow. If you know me, you know I don’t really sleep in… but I’m getting better at going with the flow.

One more thing, all of these RV parks have really good photographers, lol. 

Rest day tomorrow! 

March 7, 2026

Our first official rest day on our own is a wrap!

I tried to sleep in, but the sun had other plans. It was already light out by 6:30 a.m.,  turns out it gets bright a little earlier here than in Arizona. It was also just about freezing when I woke up, so Winston and I bundled up and walked about half a mile to the city dog park before coming back for my morning mushroom coffee.

I mentioned earlier that I tried going back to regular coffee after taking a year off and that was a mistake. My chest felt like it was going to pop out of my throat. So I’m back to mushroom coffee and feeling much better. If you’re ever looking for a coffee alternative, I highly recommend Ryze mushroom coffee. I switched over easily both times, no caffeine withdrawal headaches and no loss of energy.

We had a slow, lazy morning. I spent some time exploring all the RV cubbies and trying to figure out where everything is. We want to be fully dialed in by the time Cody joins us at the end of March, and we’re getting pretty close.

I made a few posts and did a little social media planning, then we cleaned up the RV and headed out around noon. Winston got another run at the dog park, and then we set off to explore Main St.,  one of my favorite travel adventures. If I see a historic Main Street sign, you better believe we’re turning immediately!

The town is super eclectic and very art-focused. I took a bunch of photos that I’ll share on Instagram soon. We eventually ended up at a local brewery and distillery for what I’m calling “linner.” We’re definitely eating earlier and going to bed earlier these days. Well, I’m on my normal schedule and Scott is adapting, but it’s working!

New Mexico is famous for its green chiles, so I ordered a chicken green chile fry and Scott had a green chile burger. Main Street was about a mile from where we’re staying, so we walked there and back.

Along the way we found a $5 breakfast burrito spot that we’re planning to try in the morning before I start riding again, they open at 5am. Our RV park is actually right on the route, so I’ll be able to roll straight out from the RV and onto the road.

We’re trying to cook and eat in most days, but on rest days we make it a point to try local food and drinks. After we got back, I fed Winston and headed to the grocery store for some bubbly beverages and a few other things. I’ve discovered that after riding all day, I really love having something besides water or electrolytes. I even chugged a few Gatoraides! For wahtever reason, I would never touch that stuff at home. 

Tomorrow night, we’ll likely be camping deeper in the woods, and the following night we might try a Harvest Host if everything works out. After that...

Texas.

I will have ridden my bike from San Diego to Texas!

Is this real life?

I feel incredibly thankful and grateful for this opportunity.

Get outside and live it up because tomorrow isn’t promised. 🚴‍♀️✨

March 8, 2026

Today was a great ride. The views were incredible, although my pictures really don’t capture how amazing it felt to be out there.

I started straight from the RV park riding out of town. For some reason, I get nervous before every ride, ski run, or start a wakesurf session. I’ve been doing all of those things for years, but I still feel that little nervous energy every time.

As soon as I took a left out of town I thought to myself, this is it… this is where the hills begin.

But like I said before, my bike feels so smooth sometimes it almost feels like pedal assist.

The first thing I passed was a mining quarry and I remember thinking, Wow, this is great. Is this it?

Not quite.

I noticed another couple pulled off eating some food, and shortly after that I rode through a small tunnel. It was so quiet inside that it felt almost surreal.

I made my first TikTok of the ride today. I had plans to make two more, but between my phone and spotty service that didn’t happen. There’s always tomorrow.

Soon after, I entered Gila National Forest and the scenery became absolutely breathtaking. It honestly felt like I was riding through a movie set.

There was very little traffic and it was incredibly quiet. Almost too quiet. Every little sound had me jumping. If you know me well, you know I’m pretty jumpy anyway.

I was miles into the forest riding alone with Gary the Garmin.

At one point I passed a huge pile of animal droppings and immediately started wondering if I was about to run into a Yeti.

A few miles later, I rounded a corner and saw a big black animal standing in the road. My brain instantly said black bear because I had already convinced myself I might die somewhere in these woods.

As I started thinking about what I was going to do, I got closer and realized it was actually just a very large cow.

I pedaled past him as fast as I could at 6,400 feet elevation, but he didn’t seem interested in me at all.

When I eventually met up with Scott he said he had seen the same cow earlier, just laying down.

The rock formations and landscape made me feel like I was riding through a Yosemite movie scene.

Eventually, I reached the top and the views were absolutely stunning. We took a short break before I headed down the other side.

I’m still not a big fan of fast downhill riding, but it wasn’t too bad. I’m slowly getting more comfortable using my front brake as well.

At one point, I passed another Southern Tier cyclist heading the opposite direction. Scott talked to him while I flew downhill smiling and waving. He had long dark hair and looked like he was having the time of his life, even though he was climbing with fully loaded panniers.

If he’s riding westbound, he’s almost finished his journey!

On the descent we also saw a wakeboard boat being towed up the mountain road. Scott and I both wondered the same thing… what are they doing up here? Miles of tight hairpin turns while towing a boat didn’t sound like much fun.

Eventually, we rolled into Kingston, one of the tiniest towns I’ve ever seen. It might rival Bridal Veil Falls back in Oregon.

We continued on to Hillsboro, New Mexico, which was a super cute and eclectic little town. I probably would have stayed there, but Scott had spotted a lake about twenty minutes away so we decided to check it out.

We actually drove the wrong direction at first before finally finding it.

In the end, the lake was worth it. Sometimes I just need to be patient and go with the flow.

Setting up camp took a little longer than expected, but we finally got everything situated just before sunset. We walked down to the lake and back before making dinner in the RV, taking turns with the convection oven.

Not a bad day, just a long one.

And now it’s definitely past my bedtime!

Ride Stats: 57.23 miles, 5:49hrs. 9.8mph avg. 5,030ft of climbing today, 2789 calories burned (good thing I love to eat)

Silver City, NM to Caballo, NM, About 60 miles, Highs today were in the 50s and low 40s, Tonight we are staying at Caballo State Park.

March 9, 2026

What a day. Where do I even start?

It wasn’t a bad day, but staying up late had me feeling a little grumpy when I woke up. After some mushroom coffee and a hot shower though, I felt like a million bucks again.

We got a later start than usual because we had to drive back to where I finished riding yesterday. We decided to stay at the lake last night, which was nice, but I really do love starting right from the RV whenever possible.

Once I got back on the route, I crushed the first 19 miles back to the lake in about an hour. Cruising around 19 mph on pure pedal power is one of my happy places. I know I’m not breaking any records, but it feels great.

The scenery was mostly the same desert landscape, although there was quite a bit more housing along this stretch. I don’t love that because it usually means loose dogs, and sure enough Scott saw me being chased by two of them today. I swear those dogs are going to be the end of me someday.

I rode through the little town of Hatch, which is known as the chile capital of the world. The town is charming in a way that’s both cute and a little run down at the same time.

After Hatch, the landscape started changing. The desert slowly gave way to pecan orchards and vineyards. Apparently, New Mexico is actually the pecan capital of the world, and of course they’re famous for their chiles too. And if you know me, you know I’m a sucker for anything with green chile sauce.

About halfway through the ride I told Scott to go ahead and check us into the RV park, but he felt weird leaving and pulled over to wait for me. The reason it was taking me so long became obvious,  the headwinds were insane.

When I finally stopped for a break and got off the bike, we realized both my tires and the RV tires were covered in goat heads. For those lucky enough to have never encountered them, goat heads are vicious little desert thorns that stick to everything.

I tried pulling some off, but they hurt like crazy, so Scott finished the job.

Luckily, we didn’t get any flats and made it safely to Hacienda RV Resort, which really did feel like a resort. The clubhouse was a cute stucco building with a gym, laundry, showers, a courtyard, and probably even more amenities.

I headed straight for the shower while Scott took Winston to the dog park. Of course Winston found the muddiest puddle and dirtiest gravel pit he could find. As I walked back from my shower feeling fresh and ready for the evening, Scott was busy scrubbing mud off the dog.

While he handled that, I tried to figure out why my Garmin had disconnected from my phone and why my phone battery keeps dying so quickly. After a few tries I got the Garmin working again and discovered my phone battery is down to about 70% capacity. That explains a lot. Getting a new battery is now on the rest day todo list because my phone dying has been one of the biggest challenges of the ride.

Once everything was sorted out we headed to La Posta de Mesilla, a historic Mexican restaurant just a short ride from the RV park.

The restaurant itself was incredible, multiple rooms, courtyards, and a ton of character. We asked to move tables because of a screaming child and ended up in a much quieter room where we met a wonderful person. 

Our waitress, Sarah, was amazing and the food was fantastic. We tried the sopapillas and they were delicious. When we paid, we gave Sarah one of our ride cards and discovered she actually owns a yoga studio in town and plans to share our ride on her social media.

It turns out she wasn’t even supposed to be working tonight. She had just lost her father and was supposed to be in Houston, but ended up here instead. It’s strange how life brings people together sometimes.

I’m already thinking a yoga girls road trip to Mesilla might be in order someday.

After dinner, we walked around a bit, but it was getting late so we headed back to the RV. Scott even admitted he had changed his mind about New Mexico after seeing this town.

Back at the RV we got everything set up for the night while I ran a load of laundry. There’s a hot tub here, but it was full of guys so we skipped that idea.

Tomorrow we ride into Texas!

I have about 47 miles planned and we’re stopping in El Paso to look at fixing the RV AC. After that we haven’t planned much yet, we’ll see if we need to use one of my extra rest days.

Today felt long, but a good reminder that even the big days get done one mile at a time.

And now… it’s definitely past my bedtime.

I went from Hillsboro, NM to Las Cruces NM, almost 80 miles, the Garmin wasn't tracking today. The weatther was warmer than anticipated, I think It ended up almost 80 degrees. 

March 10, 2026

It started raining this morning, and the smell of rain in the desert was incredible.

We began the day with our usual loop around the RV park with Winston, followed by breakfast and coffee. Scott put my fenders on the bike since it was raining, he’s always looking out for me. Luckily, the goat heads from yesterday didn’t seem to damage my tires.

We got a nice early start because Scott had to get the RV to the repair shop by 9 a.m. I rode through the cute little town we hadn’t fully explored the night before and immediately knew I want to come back someday.

The weather felt good at first. I actually thought I had overdressed because I started sweating right away, so I took my jacket off and tied it around my waist. A few miles later the rain came back, so the jacket went right back on.

Then suddenly it started raining sideways. No joke, I was riding my bike at an angle. All I could do was laugh and think, Can I get a tailwind please? Anytime!

There were pecan orchards everywhere and some truly beautiful homes along the way. After a few turns the wind eased up a bit and I eventually found a bike trail that ran for about seven miles along the Rio Grande.

The Rio Grande was dry as a bone.

I cruised down the trail until I spotted a loose dog running around. There wasn’t a single person nearby to hear me if something went wrong, so I turned around and looked for another route.

Using my best “spidey senses,” I crossed the dry riverbed and found a road on the other side that paralleled the river. This was definitely one of those moments where I thought Scott might wonder what I was doing way off route.

I’m still not great at navigating off route with my Garmin, but luckily I had studied the route pretty well beforehand.

Just when I started wondering where in the world I was going to end up, I saw a street named Clayton. In that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay.

Right after that, my Garmin directions popped back up and I was back on track.

Eventually, I met up with Scott, who had pulled the RV over. I jumped in quickly to use the restroom, charge my phone, and switch to my full gloves since my fingerless ones weren’t cutting it in the cold.

From there I had about 11 miles left through neighborhoods and suburban shopping areas. Normally, I’m not a big fan of riding through places like that, but after days of remote desert riding it actually felt kind of lively.

The roads were busy, so I stuck to the sidewalks, a little bumpy but manageable.

After a short climb, the route dropped downhill for a few miles and finished right through the campus of University of Texas at El Paso, which was really fun to ride through. I’ve actually passed several college campuses on this trip, and every time I wish I could stop and take a full tour.

RV park options in the city were limited, so we picked the only one available. I wouldn’t exactly recommend it, most of the bathrooms and showers were out of order so cleaning up in the RV it was.

I wrapped up the day by catching up on work and adjusting the next few days of my route. I shuffled some mileage around to make the longer days a little more manageable.

And the good news? Another artsy little town is coming up soon, Marfa.

Las Cruces, NM to El Paso, TX. 50 Miles, varied weather but moslty raining and colder

March 11, 2026

Overall, today was pretty uneventful and straightforward, aside from the dogs.

I had to use my marine horn three different times today, but it worked every time. Most of the homes along the road sit right up against it, and the dogs roam freely. The first time I used the horn I watched the dog stop in its tracks and thought, Yes! It works!

The adrenaline rush was real. My hand even got cold from holding the horn, I guess the aerosol freezes a bit when you use it. My immediate thought was, How many toots does this thing actually have?

Apparently, about 30, according to Google. I used three toots per dog, so I’m currently sitting at nine.

I feel like I’ve developed a pretty strong dogdar. When I ride through neighborhoods, I’m constantly scanning for dogs or houses that might have dogs. I look for cars in the driveway, dog houses, open yards, and fences. It’s exhausting being on guard all day.

I cruised through my first 50 miles at about 19 mph, so I just kept going. Eventually, I realized I was more mentally tired from watching for dogs than from the riding itself. By the end of the day everything started sounding like a dog coming after me.

We stopped in the middle of nowhere today because it made sense for tomorrow’s mileage. I’ll have about 55 miles to the next town with an RV park.

My average mileage for the trip is around 60 miles a day, which feels like a good sweet spot. I joked with Scott that 30 miles isn’t even worth putting all the gear on for anymore.

We pulled off to boondock around 3:30pm, and I spent some time catching up on work and planning the upcoming route into Austin.

Cody joins us there soon!
I can’t wait, and I just realized that’s about the halfway point of the trip.

The route also looks like it gets flatter and easier in the second half, at least on paper.

Scott fired up the RV shower for the first time tonight and it was amazing. It was the second best shower of the whole trip, great water pressure and hot water, a luxury out here.

We really love this RV. It’s the perfect size and has room for everything we need. Not sure where the skis will go when we winter camp in it someday, but we’ll figure that out… maybe a box on the back.

We also tested the AC tonight and it worked perfectly. I even had to put on a long sleeve while working.

Dinner is done, and we’ll probably call it an early night. It’s incredibly peaceful out here, and we can see Mexico in the distance.

El Paso, TX to somewhere between Fort Hancock and Van Horn, temps were in the mid 70s, Gary Garmin got me again so I don't have accurate stats but I must have gone about 70 some miles today. 

March 12, 2026

Today was a solid day. It felt like a constant push against the wind and rough roads. The last ten miles were on I-10, which actually helped because the smoother pavement let me finally get rolling.

It was a pretty straight shot today with not too much to see. Oddly enough, it was nice being near traffic for a bit. Even as an introvert, it can get a little lonely out there with nothing but desert and open road for miles.

I also had a work meeting today, my final goal check in for the year. Somewhere along the ride my time zone changed again and I had no idea what was happening for a minute, but I made it to the meeting on time and everything went great.

Tonight, we rolled into a Good Sam RV park. Like many of the places we've been staying lately, it's a little run down but it works just fine. This one lets you golf for free, has a small horse corral, a dog park, and the usual RV park setup. Van Horn RV Park

 One thing we're noticing is that most pools still aren't open yet, apparently they don’t fire them up until April or May. I'm definitely looking forward to those pool dips again.

We do have some fun RV parks coming up though, so that will be something to look forward to.

Also… I’m getting some serious tan lines. At this rate I’m not sure they’ll ever go away!

We went out to eat again! I think I see a pattern! We love trying new places and local food and a place caught my eye as I rode into town. The El Capitan Restaurant and Hotel. El Capitan Restaurant and Hotel, Van Horn, TX

I almost forgot that I ran into another biker today! He was heading the opposite way, older man on the Southern Tier who started from Ohio and did some other routes and his plan is to be in Colorado by July! We talked about all the border patrol and how we find the motivation to keep going. 

Tomorrow, we are off to Marfa,TX! 

Boondocking to Van Horn, TX. 56 miles, 2200 calories burned, high 70's, 

March 13, 2026

Not much to report today,  it was long and straight. There were a few art installations along the way, but mostly it was just miles of open road. We stopped at the Prada art installation where they have shoes and bags on display behind glass, and a fence nearby covered in locks people have left behind.

The shoulder of the road was so bumpy that I felt like I’d been riding on a shake plate for five hours! My lymph should be good and circulated by now.

As I got closer to Marfa, there were a few more art installations popping up along the road, and eventually we rolled into the RV park. Like a lot of the places we’ve stayed lately, it’s pretty basic, but apparently there are some cool lights you can see from here at night.

Scott had arrived before me, and the first thing I did was jump into a very hot shower. It felt amazing and helped my stuffy nose. After that we headed to the grocery store to grab some provisions.

On the way out of the grocery store we spotted a Dairy Queen. Scott ran in and I thought he was grabbing ice cream, but he came back with a burger instead. As he climbed back into the RV he asked, “Where’s your bike?”

I said, “I put it on the back of the RV.”

Oops.

With everything going on when I arrived, we forgot to actually put it on the bike rack. My bike had been laying on its side the entire time we were gone! Luckily this place is pretty empty and no one took it, and even better, she wasn’t damaged. I still don't have a name for her or the RV, usulaly names come easy for me. 

There’s definitely a lot to remember when you’re combining biking and RV life.

We took a quick drive through town and Marfa looks like a fun place to explore tomorrow. People say this is the next big art town. Of course my first thought was, “Should I be looking up house prices to get a piece of this?” Some places are already around $500k, so maybe I’m late to the party. But you can definitely tell it’s an up and coming place.

I also bought Cody’s plane ticket to Austin today, it’s official! He’s joining us on March 22nd, and I’m so excited.

We’re starting to look at RV parks in Austin, but I think we may go explore Lake Travis a bit while we’re there.

I also started posting on TikTok in hopes of reaching more people and raising more donations. My fundraising goal might be lofty, but why not try? One of my old neighbors even found me on TikTok, he lives in Houston now. We’ll still be about an hour away from Houston when we pass through, but it was fun reconnecting.

I can’t believe I’m almost halfway across the United States on my bike! 

Honestly, there were times when I wasn’t sure this was actually going to happen. I would tell people about the plan and they’d look at me like I was a little crazy. Eventually, I even started questioning myself. The week before we left, one of my best friends started asking a lot of questions about whether it was really possible, and that’s when the doubt really started creeping in.

But by then I had already said it out loud. I had told people. I had made the plan and it was happening! 

So here we are.

Almost halfway across the country.

People keep asking if I’m getting tired of riding, and honestly I’m not. A lot of the time, I’m already thinking about where I want to ride next. Right now the Olympic Peninsula is at the top of my list.

For now though, I’m just taking this ride one mile at a time.

March 14, 2026

Lazy morning today! Yesterday I bought a couple of those store-bought iced coffees thinking they might be nice to have at lunch while riding. Well… I crushed two of them before 7am just to get going.

The cold has officially caught up with me. Stuffy and sneezy describes me perfectly today. My energy is actually fine, it’s just the head cold.

I walked Win to the town dog park about a mile away this morning, and that felt great. I realized I haven’t been walking nearly as much as I normally do, so it was nice to stretch the legs a little differently.

When we got back we had breakfast, cleaned up the RV, and then headed into town to explore Alpine. I’ll be biking through tomorrow, but I wanted to check it out because the town supposedly has around 40 murals. I love taking photos of murals when I ride through small towns.

We stopped at the local watering hole and had a margarita before heading back to the dog park with Win. He’s completely spoiled at this point.

There was an older man there, and then a woman about my age showed up. It sounds like everyone kind of gathers there at the end of the day. The woman we met actually wrote a book, and of course now I want to read it. https://www.katemanser.com/about-kate-new

So the big question is:
Do I order it now and have Cody bring it when he meets us, or wait until I get home?

No-brainer. I’m ordering it.

After that we had dinner back at the RV and I watched a little Virgin River on Netflix.

Overall it was a really restful day, exactly what a rest day should be. Hopefully tomorrow’s ride will help sweat some of this cold out of me!

March 15, 2026

Today I woke up at 8:15am, and if you know me, that basically never happens. Ever. I had a hard time falling asleep last night for some reason. I even took some Nyquil to help knock me out, which is probably why I slept so late, but I felt great when I woke up.

I slammed some protein powder mixed with a cold can of Starbucks coffee and it was delicious. I also tried a new breakfast that I loved: one of those little Kodiak instant oatmeal cups with mixed nuts, berries, and a drizzle of agave. It was so good. I’ll definitely be having that again tomorrow… but now I need to find more Kodiak oatmeal.

I think I got on the bike just after 9am and it was smooth sailing, really smooth. I’m telling you, sometimes this bike feels electric.

I passed the Marfa Lights viewing center, and there were already quite a few people there. Some must have stayed overnight. I just kept rolling along until suddenly I turned directions and hit a brutal crosswind. I remember thinking, how am I going to get through this ride? The wind was pushing me all over the road. It must have been gusting around 25 mph at times.

I powered through that rough section and then suddenly… it was over.

After that I started flying. I was cruising around 21 mph uphill without hardly pedaling, laughing to myself. I felt a little like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Honestly, I hardly felt like I did anything today, like I was cheating.

I ended up riding 55 miles in about 3 hours. At one point, I looked down and saw I was cruising at 26 mph. I’m getting more comfortable riding faster and the roads were actually pretty nice.

I even beat Scott by about an hour because he had a heck of a time finding propane on a Sunday. We’re learning that these small towns open whenever they feel like it, and most things are closed on Sundays. It seems strange since weekends are when people travel, but if it works for them, it works for them.

Since I knew I was ahead of Scott, I rode around town doing some exploring. It has a really cute little main street. I spotted some interesting buildings across the way and headed over, turned left at a garden sign, and suddenly found this magical park and garden.

I took a lap around and discovered an open area in the back where dogs can run free and they even had a pond where dogs could swim!

After walking around the park I found a shady spot, finished my water, and ate my peanut butter and jelly. I always carry one with me in case I get hangry.

Scott still hadn’t arrived, so I downloaded the audiobook from the woman we met yesterday at the dog park and started listening while walking around with my bike.

Just as I left the garden parking lot… I saw the RV! I waved Scott down and excitedly showed him the park.

I cleaned up a bit even though I barely broke a sweat today. Then we took another lap around the park with Win and he got to swim in the pond. Of course he immediately started eating sticks, and the moment he does that we leave. I’m not sure he’ll ever learn that sticks are not food.

We got back in the RV and drove around town to see what we wanted to check out. Unfortunately, almost everything was closed except two eateries. I Googled one and it looked great, so we parked and turned on the AC for Win.

We walked up to the door and it said “Sold Out.”

Okay… next place.

There was a nice hotel and resort nearby, so we stopped at their bar and ordered some nachos. They were incredible, easily one of my top two favorite nachos ever, and I make a pretty good one myself.

After that we headed back to the RV park and got set up for the night. It was pretty hot so we just relaxed inside for a while. Scott worked on installing the Waggle dog camera and I did a little coloring.

Later, once it cooled down, we took a walk around the RV park and the wind was really starting to pick up. A storm is rolling in and it’s supposed to be 34° tomorrow morning at 8am. Brrrr! Looks like winter riding gear is coming back out.

The good news is the wind is supposed to die down when it gets cold in the morning. 

I have another 55 mile day tomorrow, so probably more of the same. My cold is starting to feel better too, which definitely helps with riding.

Honestly, today I felt like I could have ridden a lot farther… but I also felt like being responsible and taking the rest.

Marfa, TX to Marathon, TX 55 miles, 3hrs, 2651 calories burned. 

March 16, 2026

Last night was super windy and cold. A storm was rolling in, but by morning everything had calmed down. When I stepped outside, it was freezing but calm, and I was actually excited to start riding.

The calm didn’t last long.

My fingers and toes instantly froze, so I pushed harder thinking if I could just warm up it would get better. I had a nice ride out of town though. I saw about 30 deer and elk, which was pretty incredible. I had my head down trying to avoid the wind, and when I looked up they were suddenly right there. I laughed and said, “Hey buddy, what’s happening?” They were so close.

The minute I turned out of town, the wind picked up.

I looked down at my speed: 8–10 mph. Not ideal when you have 55 miles to ride in freezing cold wind. I glanced at my bike computer and it said 51 miles straight ahead. I thought, Okay… here we go.

Fourteen miles in, I could barely feel my fingers. I started wondering if my bike shifters were working or if my hands just weren’t moving anymore. I texted Scott that I thought my derailleur wasn’t working, but the message wouldn’t go through.

When I’m out in the middle of nowhere and lose service, I start to panic a little. But I told myself: I am exactly where I need to be and all is good in the world right now.

I had to say it a few times before it really sunk in, but my mind tricks usually work pretty well.

In the distance I saw a rest area. I have never been so excited at the thought of warming up in a public bathroom. As I got closer I realized it was just a picnic area. Texas has those everywhere, which is nice, but what I really needed was shelter.

I tried texting Scott again. Still no service.

A few minutes later I looked back and saw the RV coming down the road. Hallelujah!

I jumped into the front seat and blasted the heater.

Scott pulled out the bike box and started charging the bike while watching YouTube videos trying to figure out what was going on. Turns out, in addition to needing a charge, there are also two batteries in the unit, so he replaced those too. We’re still not totally sure what happened, but eventually everything started working again.

I ended up taking about a two hour break.

I made a massive sandwich, scarfed it down with a side of SunChips, and hopped on a “pow wow,” as we call it, with my partner in crime, Lisa. Lisa has been sending me little positive text notes every day, which I absolutely love.

Everyone should have a Lisa in their life.

And everyone needs a Scott too. I don’t want to leave him out, because this ride truly wouldn’t be possible without him.

Eventually I layered up and headed back out.

Of course, I was instantly too hot. If you know me, I’m usually running around in a tank top and shorts, so for me to be cold you know it’s really cold. Scott drove ahead about ten miles and waited so I could shed a layer.

It was still chilly when I got going again, but with a properly working bike I could finally build up some heat and speed.

We’ve been paralleling the train tracks for a lot of this stretch, which I actually love because one of my favorite smells is black tar. When I was little, every summer we sailed through the San Juan and Gulf Islands in Washington and Canada. All the docks had black tar pilings, and I’ve always loved that smell and the memories it brings back.

We would crab all day and shrimp all night with the salt in the air and on our skin.

Those summers are where my love of water and exploring really began. I’ve always gravitated toward water and always will.

In fact, we just discovered a way to spend a week biking the Florida coastline while on this trip, and we’re really excited to explore the beach towns there.

Scott kept meeting me about every ten miles, which was perfect. Ten miles goes by quickly, but it helped me feel less alone, and today I definitely needed those breaks to warm up.

We’re also seeing a lot of Border Patrol again. At one point I looked up and saw a guy in camouflage watching the mountains through a telescope. I just waved and kept pedaling.

Later, when Scott stopped for me, Border Patrol actually approached the RV. We’ve seen them plenty of times while boondocking, but we’ve never been stopped before.

Apparently a few days earlier there had been a group trying to cross the border nearby, and sometimes they use RVs like ours to hide people. Scott said the officer was really nice and they just chatted about what was going on in the area. The officer mentioned they had seen footprints nearby, so they were on high alert.

I had noticed earlier that Border Patrol trucks sometimes tow these huge tires that drag across the dirt. I originally thought it was just to smooth the roads so they could drive fast, but now I’m guessing it’s actually so they can see footprints crossing the border.

Scott made it to Sanderson before I did and got the RV set up at a little self service RV park.

I took a long, hot shower and bundled up for the night. Finally warming up felt amazing.

I was feeling stiff, so we walked into town afterward. Like many of the towns we’ve ridden through, this one has so much potential. It could be really cute with just a little effort, but so many buildings are empty and run down.

We keep wondering what happened to all these towns. Was it COVID? Was it something else?

Tonight I’m staying up a little later to finish writing this, and tomorrow I’m planning to sleep in and start riding after it warms up.

I really don’t need to ride in temperatures below 40 degrees with wind.

It’s always a tough call though, because winds usually pick up in the afternoon, so starting early helps avoid them. But this morning was just too cold.

And somehow, I completely forgot to bring hand and toe warmers.

Lesson learned.

54 Miles Marathon, TX to Sanderson, TX 54.98 miles, 4hrs and 44min. 1890 calories burned, cold temps between 30 and 50 plus lots of wind

No pics for today, it was way too cold to take my phone out! 

March 17, 2026

Today started with a delicious breakfast of sausage, eggs, and toast, exactly what I needed. I got a later start than usual, but honestly, I felt rip-roaring ready to go.

Before I even hit the road, one of my students finally responded after I’d been trying to reach him. We jumped online, got his spring term classes sorted out, and then I was off. It had to be close to 11 by then.

As I rolled out of the RV park, I noticed all the construction workers we had seen earlier, turns out they were working on the bridge right out of town. I rode past them feeling strong, rested, and ready.

I even passed the border patrol blimp without any issues… which is always a weird feeling. Knowing someone is always watching you out there. Sometimes I wonder if they’re all talking about me, the crazy lady on a bike with an RV constantly pulling over 😂

Today brought a lot more semi-truck traffic, which I didn’t love. Normally, I ride in the road and move over when I hear cars because the shoulder is so rough, but today that wasn’t really an option. Add in the wind picking up again… and it was just one of those days where you keep going because, well, what else am I going to do?

I passed a few historical markers (always one of my favorite parts, I love learning along the way), and then had the coolest surprise: I ran into a guy I follow on Facebook! Of course we had to grab a selfie. He’s ridden all over and is a double foot amputee. Just another reminder, don’t let anything stop you. If there’s a will, there’s a way!

Scott kept stopping to check on me (he worries about these roads and the wind), but I didn’t take too many breaks today. I just wanted to keep moving and be done.

And the hills… oh my gosh. SO many unexpected hills. I haven’t checked my route in a while because I uploaded a week’s worth ahead of time, so I just kept thinking… what am I going to do, turn around? Nope. Just keep going.

At one point I was literally laughing at myself because the hills just kept coming. I felt like I had made it to Texas Hill Country… but I definitely haven’t 😅

Tonight we’re boondocking in the tiniest town of Langtry, TX, right near the Mexico border. Tomorrow we head to Del Rio, which feels like a big city compared to what we’ve been seeing.

I think we might be done with the really tiny, deserted towns… but honestly, I’m not totally sure yet.

I’ve been rearranging my upcoming days to balance out mileage and give myself more time to explore the Gulf. I want everything dialed in by the time we see Cody on Sunday.

Next week is officially spring break, which will be such a relief. I’ll still check in with students here and there, but just knowing I don’t have to will feel like a huge exhale, especially at the halfway point of this ride.

By the time I finished today, it was basically dinner time. It took me so long, around 14 mph,  just a grind of a day.

Scott made chicken sausage tortellini with peas, and it was SO good. Now we’ll take a little walk, clean up, and call it a night.

Another 60 miles tomorrow…
Let’s hope the wind finally shifts 🤞

March 18, 2026

Today was a solid day.

The wind was still there (of course 😅), but the roads were smooth and the scenery is finally starting to shift. Everything is getting greener, which feels like a little reward after so much desert.

We officially broke the ride into three 20-mile sections toda and honestly, that worked well for me. Mentally, it made the day feel manageable. I stayed on top of snacks at every stop… although I definitely got a little hangry by the end 😂

We passed a large body of water today, which felt like such a treat. Something about seeing water out here just hits different.

There were a few sketchy moments though. One bridge had no shoulder, so Scott turned around and picked me up to get me across safely. Another time, I was literally hunched up against a guardrail (that felt way too low) while traffic passed. Not my favorite moments but part of the ride.

It’s interesting… I thought I was craving more civilization, but as soon as I got closer to it, I realized—I’m good.
It reminded me of home. I work from home most days, and sometimes I’ll go to the store just to get out… and then the second I’m there, I’m like, “Yep, I’m good. Time to go back.”

People can be a lot.

We ended up at a more run down RV park than I had planned, but honestly, it’s kind of cute, and it’ll do just fine. That’s part of this whole experience too… letting go of expectations.

Tonight I’m hopping on a Zoom call for work at 8pm. Not exactly what I feel like doing after a long ride—but it’s worth it to have the flexibility to do this journey. While I’m working, Scott’s on laundry duty, teamwork 😊

Tomorrow we head to Camp Wood.
I just need to keep grinding until Sunday… then we pick up Cody, and I get a rest day Monday and it’s the start of spring break 🙌

59 miles, 5 hrs 15 min, 11 mph avg (Boo!) 2,169 calories

One mile at a time 💛

March 19, 2026

Today didn’t go quite as planned… but it turned out to be one of those days I’ll remember.

We started late because of a leaky water tank in the RV. Scott wanted to get it checked out while we were still in Del Rio, and I’m really glad we did. The place we ended up staying had this cozy little lounge where we did laundry and somehow found what might be the only non-chain restaurant in town, wood fired pizza, and it was so good.

Once I got riding, it was a lot of rolling hills and wide open space. If I had to give today a theme, it would be “ranch day.” Ranch after ranch after ranch… I guess many are used for hunting, but it felt like I was riding through someone else’s world for miles.

At one point, we passed a border patrol station and ended up stopping there for lunch and to fill up my water bottles. It felt a little unexpected, but also really nice to pause. I think the guys liked having a little excitement. 

Seventeen miles later, I met back up with Scott and saw Winston playing with an emu 😅 I don’t even know how that becomes part of a normal day, but here we are.

We didn’t have a reservation for the night, so we tried a nicer resort that ended up being full. We pivoted (as usual) and found a simple spot by the river instead. You really can’t keep us away from the water.

I saw my first snake today and the scenery is starting to change. More green, more life, and so many birds, bright yellows, reds, and blues. It feels like everything is waking up out here.

Tomorrow is my biggest mileage day yet… the longest I’ve ever ridden.

Let’s go 💪🚴‍♀️

Gary Garmin was giving me a little grief but  we went 77 miles in five hours with an average of 14mph, 2571 calories burned and the temps were in the high 80s

March 20 and 21, 2026

I forgot to post last night, so I’m combining the last two days and honestly, they’ve been some of my favorite yet.

I love the Texas Hill Country!
The homes, the architecture, the vibe, the stillness, the smell, the warmth… and most of all, the “y’all” from everyone. It feels like stepping back in time.

Friday was a BIG day, 80+ miles with over 5,000 feet of elevation gain.

That’s a lot on its own, but doing it solo? Even more.

As I was climbing, I kept thinking… who would I even know that would attempt this? Most people would turn around or get off and walk. But I was determined to make it up every hill on two wheels.

I truly believe when you put your mind to something, you have the power to do it.

I dig deep. I don’t think about anything except pedaling and focusing just in front of my tire. Occasionally, I look up and take in the scenery but mostly, it’s just me versus the climb.

At the top of one of the biggest hills, I turned around to take a picture… and couldn’t even see the hill behind me because it was so steep.

And honestly? I was glad I climbed it and didn’t have to go down it. I’ve always been more of a climber. Even back in high school cross country, I’d kick it up on the hills.

Friday felt like “Ranch Day.”
Fences lined the roads, and it felt like I was riding through a zoo.

Butterflies, orange, black, white.
Chirping birds. Cardinals. Bright blues and yellows.
Cows, longhorns, deer, armadillos, skunks, donkeys, goats… all of it.

At times, it honestly felt like I was in Mexico getting ready for a canopy tour, looking over the luch greenery. 

And the homes… wow.

These are the kind of homes I used to pick out in plan books as a kid, only to have my contractor dad tell me they wouldn’t work in Oregon. But here? They’re perfect. Rock, metal, mixed textures, multiple building and just beautiful craftsmanship.

It made me think… maybe I want a farm someday.
But then again, I don’t want to be tied down, so maybe I’ll just visit 😊

That night we stayed at a KOA, and I swear Scott was ready to move in.
Diesel, propane, a pool, showers, a lounge, a dog park, a store and really kind people. It was a good stop.

Saturday was a little easier, about half the elevation but still an adventure.

I started riding through neighborhoods, then got put onto a trail… and once I’m on a trail, I completely lose my sense of direction 😂

I ended up adding a few extra miles thanks to that and another little mishap. Oops.

The ACA route keeps taking me on these backroads that feel so remote but so cool.

The scenery was similar to Friday, but I saw a lot more cyclists, probably around 20 which I actually loved. It’s nice knowing people are around in case something happens.

I rode through Fredericksburg and had my favorite mid-ride snack:
apples, crackers, and a slice of cheese. So simple, so good.

The apples right now? Next level.

Hydration is still a challenge. I can’t seem to get enough water or electrolytes and honestly, I’m kind of over my electrolytes at this point. Cold water tastes amazing, but it warms up fast. Definitely getting insulated bottles in Austin.

We’ve also been eating really well… maybe a little too well 😄

Last night we found a local spot right on the water where I had the biggest Cobb salad ever and somehow ate most of it.

Tonight, we finally tried BBQ at The Pig Pen.
Scott was in heavenm and said it was the best he’s ever had.

I had a pulled pork sandwich with baked potato salad (which I’ve never had before), and it was so good. Scott still makes a mean BBQ, but this was definitely up there.

Tonight’s stay is a little more… rustic 😅
No bathroom or shower code because they’re closed on Saturdays,so we’re just rolling with it.

Tomorrow, we head into Austin…
and we pick up Cody at 5pm ❤️

And just wait until Monday’s update, we’ve got a surprise coming.

Friday was 84 miles, 4000 calories burned, Camp Wood to Kereville, TX

Saturday was 63 miles, 2760 calories burned, Kerrville, TX to Johnson City, TX

March 22, 2026

Today was more of the same when it came to riding conditions… but mentally, it felt different.

I didn’t take many pictures,I was nose to the grindstone.
I just wanted to finish, get settled, and go pick up Cody from the airport.

At one point, I passed a guy while riding, and somehow we ended up talking later back at the RV. His name was Cloud. He shared that his dad started a foundation called Foundation for Dreams. I tried to look it up and could only find their financials, but what stuck with me wasn’t the details, it was what he said next.

He had just lost one of his closest friends to suicide. One of his “core 8.”
Here one day… gone the next. No signs.

And it makes you think…
Are there really no signs?
Or do we just not know how to see them?

That stayed with me the rest of the ride.

Physically, I was dragging today.
My legs were sore, heavy… it took everything just to get them going.

I had to wear pants because all my bike shorts were dirty (real life on the road 😅), so I was hot and of course, my water was hot too. Always hot.

Just one of those days where you keep going because that’s what you do.

We checked into an RV resort tonight and wow, this is the kind of place we’ve been missing.

The guys are in the pool right now while I wait for the washer to finish, and I cannot wait to jump in. It’s going to feel so good.

There’s a Pickathon happening here tonight, tons of activities, and Scott already met our neighbors, they’ve been here a week and said we have to try a breakfast spot called Texas Toast. I was already planning on it, but now I’m even more excited.

We’re staying at Sun Outdoors Lake Travis, and I have to say, I highly recommend it.
We’re tucked into this little inlet off the lake, and the whole area is just beautiful.

I’m officially a fan of Texas 💛

Keeping it short and sweet tonight…
because tomorrow is a big day.

55 miles, 4hrs, 2700 calories, A country Rd near Johnson City to Austin, 

March 23 and 24, 2026

Another combined post for the last two rest days… and this one was something special.

Monday started like normal, walking Winston and easing into the day.
We had plans for someone to pick us up at 10am, but Cody had no idea what was coming.

Scott had arranged for a wakeboarding pro to take us out on the lake, but we told Cody we had just rented a boat and were taking an Uber.

An older truck pulled up… and Cody instantly froze.

It was JB O'Neill.

Cody has been watching his YouTube channel forever even before this trip so when that truck showed up, he thought Scott was messing with him. Like… this can’t be real.

But it was.

JB introduced himself, and just like that, we were off.

And let me tell you, when you think of Southern hospitality, you think of JB.

He offered us his truck for the next day, was willing to take us back out again, and just showed up as such a genuine, kind human. Truly top notch.

We spent the day on the lake, and it was  so nice.
Easy, light, full of laughs Cody and JB had the same kind of humor, so it made it even better.

He shared stories about his time as a pro, the town, the lake, and his life. His dog, Air Bud, and his girlfriend are his world. He even brought Air Bud back from the Philippines when he was living there, just one of those stories that sticks with you.

I loved all of it.

Moments like this remind me

👉 Get out there and live the best life for YOU.
What society tells you isn’t always what you’re meant to do.

Be who you truly are.
That’s when you show up as your best self.

Nothing shines brighter than you!

JB recommended a place called The Oasis on Lake Travis, https://oasis-austin.com  not for the food, but for the view… and he was right.

It did not disappoint.

Cody and I had fish and chips, Scott had chicken, rice, and vegetables which I lovingly referred to as a “weeknight meal” 

Honestly, everything feels like a weekend out here… and we might need to rein it in a little. Next week is mostly camping, so we’ll be back to cooking and keeping it simple.

We ended the day in the pool, then the hot tub, and met a really interesting woman. She and her husband travel for his work, he’s a seasonal head chef, moving from place to place.

And get this, she recommended a place for us to stay when we finish in St. Augustine which I had already picked out for us. 

Funny how those little connections keep happening.

I keep telling Scott he needs an online job so we can just keep living like this. He might be coming around… or maybe it’s a retirement plan.

But like I’ve said before, tomorrow isn’t promised.

Day 2 rest day, today was a slower start.

Lots of work… and a full RV reset cleaning, organizing, getting everything back in order.
It’s funny how quickly it all gets messy and how good it feels to get it dialed back in.

We headed over to Ski Dock https://skidock.com/, the shop that connected us with JB O'Neill.

We ended up having some really great conversations with the owner. He hooked us up with some swag and told us about the foundation they’re involved in. It’s amazing how many people are out there quietly doing good, spreading positivity, helping others and you don’t always hear about it. His foundation is called Operation Get Out Link to Operation Get Out .

He also recommended a book called Blue Mind Link to the Blue Mind Book, and I can’t wait to dive into it. It’s right up my alley water, mindset, mental health… all of it.

Meanwhile, I’m finishing up You Might Die Tomorrow Link to You Might Die Tomorrow Book, I’ve got about an hour left. There’s so much to take in, but the biggest thing that keeps coming through is this:

Most people in this world are good.
And most people want to help.

That’s what I keep seeing over and over again on this trip.

We spent part of the afternoon on a mission trying to find an insulated water bottle.

This has honestly been one of my biggest struggles. My water gets hot so fast out here, and when it’s hot, it’s just not the same.

After hitting three different bike shops, we finally landed at REI. They definitely don’t give those bottles away 😅 but I grabbed two and we found some of Winston’s favorite treats, so it was a win.

Scott is officially becoming a pro at navigating the RV through a city.
We bopped all over Austin and eventually landed at Pecan Grove RV Park, right in downtown. Perfect spot for exploring Austin with a small RV. 

Once we got settled (which doesn’t take long anymore), we walked over to Terry Black's Barbecue.

So good. Classic Texas BBQ.

After that, we rested a bit and then walked to Barton Springs Pool. Barton Springs Pool Link

We swam a few laps, cooled off, and walked back. That water felt amazing! 

Rested again (clearly a theme today 😄), and then headed back out to cruise through downtown and check out Sixth Street.

Austin definitely has a vibe. Music, energy, people everywhere.

Today felt like a reminder that this trip isn’t just about the miles.

It’s about the people you meet.
The conversations you didn’t expect.
The small moments in between.

And more than anything

There are a lot of really good people out there and places to explore. 

March 25, 2026

I rolled out of Austin this morning feeling rip roaring ready to go after two full rest days. Took a beautiful trail into downtown and thought okay, this is going to be a great day.

And then… my bike wouldn’t shift. Again. 

I tried to fix it, no luck, turned back to the RV park. Scott worked his magic, got it rolling, and off I went, take two.

Made it across the river, lots of turns today (so you know what that means… extra miles 😂). But I’m learning. Me and “Gary Garmin” are finally starting to understand each other.

Austin… I think you might love your graffiti art even more than Portland.

Once I got out of the city, things got a little rough. Not unsafe exactly, but just… off. Then I hit a quiet neighborhood road and immediately thought dogs. 

Sure enough!

Two huge German Shepherds came charging down the road. I stopped, trying to figure out my next move, heart pounding. Out of nowhere, a woman in a truck pulled up. I jumped behind her truck, trying to explain I was scared. She didn’t speak English, but somehow, through pointing and gestures, she understood.

Next thing I know, I jump into the back of her truck with my bike. 

Those dogs chased us. One of them got close enough that I honestly thought it might jump in the back of the truck with me.

I don’t even know what I would’ve done if she hadn’t shown up in that exact moment.

It reminded me of The Celestine Prophecy, how things happen for a reason, right when you need them to.

She drove me far enough to get out of sight, and just like that… I was back on my own again. Horn in hand this time.

Trying to make up time, I realized… my shifters weren’t working again. 

At that point, I was riding without support most of the day while Scott and Cody handled RV stuff. Totally fine… just slower than I wanted. Eventually, they found me with about 10 miles to go right as I was walking my bike up a hill.

I had wanted to ride every hill today.
But sometimes… you need to pivot.

And honestly, that might be one of the biggest lessons out here, pivoting is a life skill. Things don’t always go as planned, and that’s okay.

About 20 miles of today were through a state park, green, quiet, beautiful. It would’ve been perfect if my bike had cooperated.

When the guys caught up, I refilled and chugged water (these new bottles are a game changer). I’m still going through about four bottles a day out here.

They had just hit Trader Joe’s, so I got some yogurt-covered pretzels… and let me tell you,TJ’s snacks never miss.

Finished up the last few miles around 4pm (later than I like because traffic gets grumpy 😬), and then…

Bucket list stop: Buc-ee's.

We must’ve walked around for an hour 😂
Dinner there too and honestly, it hit the spot.

We ended up back at the same state park I rode through earlier. Quiet, green, shaded… exactly what we needed. There’s a dried-up lake nearby, but even without it, it feels peaceful.

Today had a little bit of everything.

But what stuck with me most…

While riding, I kept thinking about all the people who’ve done this route before me and all the ones who will come after.

Who are they?
What are they chasing?
What keeps them going?

I think about that a lot even just watching people walk down the street.

Where are they headed?
Are they happy?
What gets them up in the morning?

There are so many stories out here.

And I just love learning and trying to understand what makes people tick. 

Austin, TX to Smithville, TX 60 miles, 2339 calories burned, 85 degrees with a slight breeze. 

March 26, 2026

Sometimes it’s honestly hard to even remember what the day felt like.

I got a later start today. I keep waking up around 7:30am, guess I’m still on home time. I really love having about two hours in the morning to read, work, stretch, and just ease into the day… so when I wake up later, that whole rhythm feels off.

This morning I worked on my yoga class. Normally, I teach it live, but since I’m out here, I’ve had to pivot and find videos and get everything set up differently. I had thought about skipping this term, but another counselor asked me to teach for some of her seniors and I’m really glad I said yes.

I’m only two weeks in, but everything is ready for Monday after spring break, and that alone feels like a huge relief.

I also got my walking class set up today so even though it didn’t look like a “big” morning, it actually was.

Still… I was tired. Scott could see it.

I haven’t been sleeping great, and I just feel a little off. Probably the time change, maybe the bed, maybe just the buildup of everything. Some days out here hit differently.

The ride itself was pretty good overall.

I had two dogs come out of nowhere barking, I was a little blindsided but this time I felt ready. I got off my bike, yelled, hit my horn twice, and walked my bike calmly across their property. No issues after that… but let’s just say the horn stayed very close after that 😅

About halfway through, I rolled into Round Top, TX and wow!

Turns out they’re in the middle of their Round Top Antiques & Design Show.

There were so many people… and honestly, mostly women 😂
I told Scott, if a cowboy is looking for a cowgirl, this is the place.

Scott and Cody were already there, sitting at a cute little spot having a drink… which, let’s be honest, is usually my role.

But really, it was such a fun little town. I didn’t stay long, just took a quick peek before heading back to the RV for my classic mid-ride snack: apple, cheese, crackers, and water.

Then I was back at it.

And I swear… these backcountry roads, little homes, and tiny towns? They have my heart.

After my break though… Gary Garmin got me again !
Added about 10 extra miles today.

I think I’m missing turns because of the wind, I can’t hear the beeps. And if you know me… right and left are not always my strong suit 

Still, I made it to Lake Somerville Marina and Campground, and it turned out to be such a great spot.

We waded out into the water, walked around the peninsula, watched a little boat launch chaos (always entertaining), and just slowed down for a bit.

I had dinner, and the guys took off on the Onewheel and bike while I stayed back and rested.

Tomorrow we’re headed toward New Waverly.

Only a few more days in Texas before we hit Louisiana.

I’ve loved Texas… truly.
But I’m also ready for new scenery, greener landscapes, and towns a little closer together.

State park to Somerville, TX 67 miles 2857 calories burned, 88 degrees. 

March 27, 2026

Another slow start… which seems to be the theme lately.

And honestly, I’m okay with it except for riding later in the day. But now that the hills are easing up, I can feel myself picking up speed again and today proved it.

I had 60 miles on the schedule, and it actually went by pretty fast.

Today I was riding between map sections 4 and 5. The first stretch was about 20 miles, and I made it there in just over an hour, felt so good to move like that again. Another cute little town, too. These small towns just keep winning me over!

The second stretch was 42 miles, and I could definitely feel the difference. Longer, quieter… and a little more intense.

The last half took me through Sam Houston National Forest, and it honestly reminded me so much of Oregon, like that stretch from Bend to Klamath Falls.

No shoulder.
Logging trucks flying by.
And a smoky haze hanging over the forest.

I’m not sure if it was a controlled burn or leftover from a fire, but no one else seemed concerned… so I just kept riding.

The guys found me with about 14 miles to go. I hopped in the RV for a quick reset, bathroom break, apple, cheese, water and then back out for the final stretch.

Funny how 14 miles can feel longer than 40.

That last section was a slow, steady uphill no big climbs, just enough to slow you down. Add in fast trucks and barely a shoulder, and it definitely kept me focused.

Along the way, I passed some new construction and saw homes in New Waverly starting around $200K…

I’ll take two 😂

We rolled into a really nice RV park tonight with a pool, hot tub, all the good stuff. The guys went straight to the pool, and I stayed back for a bit, adding a few more RV stops to our plan.

We’re getting closer.

And everything is changing out here,
more green, more trees, flatter roads.

And the humidity?

I actually kind of love it.

It’s warm, a little heavy at times… but it reminds me of Mexico, and there’s something comforting about that.

Independence, TX to New Waverly, TX 60 miles, 2800 calories burned, mid 80's

March 28, 2026

Saturday was a tough one.

I let the dogs get in my head. I went down a rabbit hole and read about a solo female cyclist who was killed by dogs, and it completely shook me. I couldn’t even make my morning video—I just sat there crying.

But… I still got on the bike.

I can’t let fear take this from me. Not this ride. Not any part of it.

Scott and Cody went ahead and helped scout the road, watching for dogs and even coming back for me when there were a few laying out unsupervised. Having them out here with me means everything.

At one point, we stopped at a little roadside bake stand (because Scott will never pass one up 😄). They had lemon scones cranberry white chocolate scones, peanut butter no-bake cookies, mini apple pies… all the good stuff. I wanted to eat everything at once.  

We rolled through a couple of really cute small towns, which I loved. Something about having towns closer together just makes the day feel lighter.

Our planned RV stop didn’t quite work out, the pool was green, and I had been so looking forward to that post ride swim. So we pivoted.

And I’m so glad we did.

We ended up at this place right on Lake Livingston called Lagoon Ranch, and we all instantly fell in love. It’s clean, peaceful, and feels like its own little community, games everywhere, a great workout room (I’ll definitely be using that), a restaurant, and even a swim-up bar.

We liked it so much… we decided to take an unplanned rest day.

Yesterday reminded me that this ride isn’t just about pushing through, it’s also about knowing when to pause, reset, and take care of yourself.

Some days are hard. Really hard.

But I’m still here. And I’m still moving forward. 💛

March 29/30, 2026

Today felt really good.

Scott rode the first 30 miles with me, which was fun and honestly worth the slower start. It was a long, flat stretch with the same scenery, and he kept asking, “How do you look at this for so long?” 

But that’s the thing… you start to notice more.

There were so many birds today, and the air felt thick as we rode through the forest, again it reminded me of Mexico. I kept wondering if there are always this many birds and I just don’t notice at home, or if I’m finally slowing down enough to really hear them.

Scott also pointed out how the roads change at county lines. I’ve felt that before, but never really thought about it. He thought the roads were so bumpy… and I thought they felt great. It’s all about perspective.

I stopped just past halfway for lunch and had a lot of work to catch up on the first day of the term, which is always a busy one as students get settled. After that, I finished the ride into town on a trail and then had two 10-mile stretches.

It is SO flat out here. I was flying, 10–15 miles goes by fast when there are no hills!

No dog chases… until the last three miles. Then, I had five. No time to grab my horn, I just yelled and pedaled hard. And just like I knew I would… I made it through.

Tomorrow, I ride into Louisiana. I can’t believe I’ve made it this far and across Texas. For some reason, that feels like one of the biggest milestones of the whole trip.

Not many pictures today, I don’t love stopping in dog country.

And of course… we found another lake to stay at. Thompson Lake, a small, man-made lake with about a one-mile loop around it. After we got in, I finished up some work, made some bomb burrito bowls (I could eat those every night), and Cody and I took Winston around the lake and let him run. Then we took a loop with Scott. 

I might have worn Scott out on the ride, he hasn’t ridden in a while but he bounced back. He also realized what I’ve been saying this whole time… every direction somehow feels like a headwind. I think I’ve had a tailwind once this entire trip 

And looking ahead… the weather might get a little interesting and wet soon.

But for now I am feeling strong, grateful, and still moving forward! Let's go! 

Gary Garmin din't track my miles or anything today but it was 60 miles, I started in Livingston Texas and rode 60 miles. Temps were in the low 80s again. 

March 31, 2026

The first Tuesday back after spring break is always a doozy at school… but we made it.

I had meetings today and ended up skipping one so I could ride earlier. I’ve learned I don’t love riding late in the afternoon, the heat, traffic, and yes… the dogs… everything just feels more intense.

Today, I actually chose to stay on the main roads instead of the ACA route. It might sound backwards, but I feel safer with some traffic around me than out on isolated backroads. If something were to happen, I want people nearby. Honestly, that mirrors how I am in life too, I don’t need to socialize a lot, but I like being around people. Like in group fitness… you don’t have to know everyone, but when you share an experience, whether it’s a hard workout or a relaxing yoga class, you build a connection. And I’d do anything for my gym and yoga people.

The air felt thick and muggy today. I actually don’t mind humidity, I hate feeling dry, but riding in it is a different kind of heat. At the same time, I kept thinking… this is nothing compared to hot Pilates.

I crossed into Louisiana today! That felt like a HUGE milestone. I don’t know why riding across Texas feels so big but it really does. And then I remind myself… I’ve also crossed California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Wild!

The riding now is so flat and fast and I love it. I was cruising today!

Somewhere along the ride, I even caught myself thinking about what’s next. You’d think I’d be tired of riding… but I’m not. I love it. I’m already thinking about Reach the Beach and putting the Olympic Peninsula on my list for this summer. And on the way home, I want to learn how to fully operate the RV on my own so I can take off on my own adventures someday. 

I also found myself really tuned into everything around today, the smells, the sounds, the little moments. Earlier in the trip it was lilacs… today it was a mix of fresh greenery, birds, butterflies… and yes, the occasional roadkill (I still hold my breath and look away every single time).

We’re staying right on route in DeRidder tonight, which means I can get an early start tomorrow (my favorite). No driving to the start = a much smoother morning.

And I’m thinking… I might go for 100 miles tomorrow !
I have one meeting in the middle of the day, but I think I can do it and I want to try.

The RV park here is great everyone is so kind and welcoming. There’s even an army surplus store and a little treat cart on site. Small town charm at its best.

Also… the guys need to drop their Texas accents STAT, I’m starting to pick it up too.

And Gary Garmin was off again… but what’s new? I think it's operator error or I know it is. 

60 miles, just over three hours, temps in the 80s and about 2000 calories burned, ended in DeRidder, LA. 

April 1, 2026

Somewhere along the way, I got a wild idea… I was going to ride 100 miles.

I don’t even remember exactly when it hit me, but after a fast 60-mile day, I thought I could go farther. So I put it out there to hold myself accountable and make sure I didn’t back out.

And today… I did it.

I flew through the first 50 miles, and it lined up perfectly with a meeting. The guys had Starlink ready, I hopped on, ate, caught up on emails, and then got right back on the bike.

The second half got a little windier, but I just kept pushing.

Today’s ride was so different, miles and miles of crawdad farms, water everywhere, and it honestly felt coastal. You could even smell it. Beautiful white cranes were all around the ponds, and I kept spotting wildlife, dead armadillos (still haven’t seen one alive!), a bunch of snakes (one HUGE), and the cutest little turtle.

And the dogs… still there but I’ve got a system now. I hop off, hit my marine horn, and it works pretty well. Louisiana dogs definitely don’t seem as aggressive as the Texas ones.

At one point, I told Scott I’d go the whole 50 miles without support then he said, “No, I’ll meet you at 25.”  He forgot… but came back once he realized I’d been chugging water planning to refill with him. I drank SO much today and still felt like I couldn’t get enough.

And here’s the funny part… I actually rode over 100 miles but my Garmin didn’t track part of it because I forgot to restart it after lunch, at least I finally figured out what I’ve been doing wrong!

After the ride, it took a bit to find a place to stay, but we ended up at a campground about 30 minutes out of town right on a lake. I finally got a shower (I was SO dirty), and then we walked down to the water and let Winston swim… until we googled it and found out the lake has alligators 

Needless to say… we headed right back to the RV and called it a night.

105ish miles, 4000 calories burned, DeRidder, LA to Bunkie, LA. Very humid and in the 80s, I even had a little rain today which felt pretty good. 

April 2, 2026

I don’t have a ton to say about today… it just wasn’t my favorite.

The ride started out with no shoulder and took me through more rural Louisiana which means… more dogs. I’ve officially gone from scared to mad. I just don’t understand why people let their dogs run loose.

I met the guys around mile 30 for a quick bite and water refill. I planned to take it easy today after my 100 mile ride yesterday… but I ended up going even slower than expected because the wind was strong. I even rode through a few patches of rain, which honestly didn’t bother me. It actually felt kind of refreshing compared to the heat and humidity.

For the second half, I broke it into three 10 mile sections, my go-to mental trick and that made it feel manageable. At this point, my legs are in shape. I’ve done harder days. It’s more mental than anything now.

I’ve also been getting some great advice and encouragement from my Instagram friend Nate, who finished this route earlier this year, and even donated to my fundraiser! That support means a lot out here.

Right now, I’m just ready to get to New Orleans… and we’re slowly getting there.

We have a few extra rest days built in, and I’m hoping we don’t need to use them for weather because this weekend looks stormy. But honestly, storms remind me of being on the boat as a kid, hunkering down until we couldn’t take it anymore, then heading out in our rain gear and waiting for the sun to come back. Sometimes this RV feels like a boat… rocking a little, moving us along. There are a lot of similarities.

I finished riding pretty early, and we thought about switching the nightly plans because Scott wasn’t feeling the first one. We drove through New Roads, which is such a cute little town right on False River (which I’m pretty sure is actually a lake ). It’s fun seeing people out enjoying the Louisiana waterways just like we do back home in Oregon.

I’ve been slowly working through the book Blue Mind, though it’s been hard to find time between riding, working, and just living out here. We’re planning to listen together on the drive home, but I like to start books ahead of time. I tend to listen to audiobooks more than once anyway becuse I always pick up something new.

We walked around town tonight and ate at a riverfront restaurant, so good. And I have to say… I am eating A LOT on this trip. The guys can’t believe it. I used to try to eat half my plate… now I’m finishing everything and still looking for more. I might need a transition plan when I get home!

We’re staying at a small RV park right on the route tonight, which means I can hop on my bike in the morning and head straight out for 45 miles to Baton Rouge.

Not every day is amazing… but we keep moving forward

60 Miles, A little over 4 hrs., 200 calories burned, De Ridder, LA to Morganza, LA 80s with clouds, rain, sun and lots of dogs

April 3, 2026

This morning, I didn’t want to ride.

I actually wanted to quit. I just wasn’t feeling it. How many more days of rural roads and dogs can a person take?

But Scott wouldn’t let me. So, I went.

I started out on the highway, cars flying by, fast, and not always moving over. Scott kept popping up in random spots to hit the horn and give me a little buffer. We never really have a set plan unless it’s a long or tough day, we just figure it out as we go.

I knocked out the first 30 miles on the highway, wind, traffic, potholes, debris and all of it.

I’d been warned that getting into Baton Rouge could be rough, and they weren’t wrong. I wasn’t exactly sure what kind of “rough” they meant… but I found out. The roads, the neighborhoods, it just didn’t feel great. Around mile 40, I texted Scott and Cody, “Come get me anytime… I don’t think you want me here.” (Yes, I was absolutely trying to get out of riding)

When I met up with Scott, he said, “You’ve got about 19 blocks until a trail.”

And just like that… I was back in.

I LOVE trail riding.

Right after that, everything shifted. I caught my first glimpse of the Mississippi River, found the trail, and rolled into downtown Baton Rouge. It was surprisingly quiet, I actually wondered if something was going on.

Then the rain came.

Not just a sprinkle it was a full on downpour. I was soaked, but it was warm, and at that point, I was just in it. So I kept going.

That 15 mile stretch on the trail felt like the longest of my life, not because of dogs (finally none!), but because the wind was howling and I was moving slow. So I just told myself I was cruising… and somehow that made it better.

I passed LSU in the pouring rain, which was kind of fun, and saw a few runners out there in their gear. One guy flew past me on his bike with a little smirk, and I just thought… “Did you ride a century two days ago?” 

You never know what someone’s carrying with them out here so keep your smirks to yourself!

The trail ended near a casino, and I had to weave through valet parking to find my way to the RV park. But once I got there, wow. This place is nice. Pool, lazy river, hot tub, bar… I can only imagine what it’s like during football season. I worked for a few and I think my comuer is taking is it's way out so that is not good, maybe it's the humidity! We finally left for dog food and an ealry dinner for us. We ended up at a great Mexican place in a shopping mall. Apprently, there is a location in FL as well so I guess we know where we will be stopping! 

We soaked in the hot tub and finally relaxed.

Another day done.

I’ve got about 60 miles tomorrow… and then the next day, we roll into New Orleans.

 60 Miles, 4.5 hours, 2200 calories burned, cloudy, rainy, sunny in the 80s. Morganza, LA to Baton Rouge, LA

April 4, 2026

Yesterday was an easier day, about 60 miles, flat and fast… with a little Louisiana weather thrown in.

I got completely dumped on three different times. Stormy, on and off, and I had no idea where my SAG wagon was, so I just kept riding. Eventually we met up around mile 45, I changed into dry clothes, grabbed a snack, and got back out there.

The last few miles were along the Mississippi River Trail, which was such a nice way to finish the ride.

All along the way, I passed so many family gatherings, big groups out celebrating Easter. People here really go all out with decorations, and there are churches everywhere. I kept wondering how they fill them all. Some even looked like homes turned into churches or churches built right on people’s property. It’s really something to see.

We decided to head into New Orleans instead of staying in LaPlace since there wasn’t much there and it gives me the option to ride the river trail straight from the RV park.

With storms rolling in, we took a rest day today (Sunday), and I’ll ride out from here tomorrow when the weather looks a little better.

Last night, we eased into New Orleans the right way, happy hour at the RV park with a bay view and $5 Hurricanes. We split some Southern appetizers, then Ubered over to Bourbon Street to people watch and take it all in.

Of course, we had to stop at Café du Monde for beignets… and wow, they did not disappoint. Powdered sugar everywhere, a cup of decaf on the side it honestly felt like breakfast.

We wrapped up the night with a walk along the riverfront, watching the boats roll by with lightning in the background, then grabbed an Uber back and called it a night. 

Not a bad way to balance riding, weather, and a little adventure

60 miles Baton Rouge to La Place Riding then New Orleans 2300 calories burned. Temps were in the high 70s with showers and thunder. 

April 5/6, 2026

I'm officially two days behind… and honestly, we’re having way too much fun exploring New Orleans to be mad about it 

Sunday turned into a rest day, kind of a forced one, which I probably needed. I’m not always great at resting unless something makes me slow down.

Saturday night, it rained SO hard it woke me up at 3am. One of those storms where it’s almost eerie. The power even went out for a bit, but I didn’t mind… it actually felt like the humidity dropped after the rain (not sure if that’s real, but it felt that way).

By Sunday morning, it was still raining and didn’t really let up until around noon.

I used the time to catch up on work, thank a new round of donors (so grateful), and even started my real estate CE. I still keep my license, even though I don’t use it much, it was such a big test to get that I’ve never wanted to let it lapse… but maybe next renewal cycle 

Once the rain finally broke, Cody and I got out for a walk and hit the little gym here, it’s actually a perfect setup inside a shipping container. We kept sneaking in walks between rain showers throughout the day.

We ended up having an early dinner… mostly because, well, what else do you do on a rainy day?

But later that evening, we went back out on an exploring walk.

And when I say “walk,” I mean I walk… Cody rides his Onewheel, and Scott cruises on his bike 

Off in the distance, we could hear this huge party, people were really celebrating Easter Sunday. Music, energy, laughter… it felt like the whole city was alive again after the storm.

Not exactly how we planned the day… but sometimes those end up being the best ones

Monday was all about making the most of our time in New Orleans.

We started the day with a swamp tour, figured we’d do it first so we wouldn’t miss it depending on how my ride went (wind and timing can make everything unpredictable out here). And it was 100% worth it. We saw alligators, wild boar, turtles, raccoons, and so many birds… such a cool experience.

By the time we got to my riding route, it was around 2pm, which felt a little strange since I’m so used to morning rides. But I was excited because most of the ride was along the Mississippi River Trail.

I’ll have to look it up because this trail is massive… and one thing I’ve noticed, I haven’t seen homelessness along it. Actually, thinking about it, I’ve only seen a handful of homeless individuals this entire trip.

At one point, the paved trail turned into gravel, and I got a little nervous, but it was just a short section under repair, about two miles and then it was back on smooth path.

The ride took me through some really beautiful parks, including one right next to a university that was hosting a graduation ceremony. It was fun to ride past that kind of energy, people celebrating such a big milestone.

Scott was parked in a nearby neighborhood, so I rode through side streets to find him and wow… some of the homes were incredible. Huge, detailed, and so well cared for. I’ve noticed that a lot in Texas and Louisiana people really take pride in their yards and pools. It stands out to me because back home, it feels like so many lawns are maintained by companies.

After the ride, we made a Costco run (Winston needed more food, and I needed more of that Chipotle chicken Scott found last time), and we also picked up a new GoPro since the other one gave out.

We hung out in the parking lot for a bit, made a plan, and then headed into the city for dinner. Scott is officially getting really good at maneuvering the RV through downtown areas, we found a spot, tucked it into a corner, and had the perfect setup for the bikes.

Dinner was at Mother's Restaurant, and it did not disappoint. I ordered a sampler plate for the table, and Scott and Cody went with fried chicken—so good.

After dinner, we wandered back through the French Quarter for a little more sightseeing (and Scott picked up a T-shirt), then headed back to the RV park for the night.

Full day. Great mix of adventure, riding, and exploring.

Still soaking it all in...

La Place, LA to New Orleans 31 miles, windy temps in he low 70s, 1000 calories burned

April 7, 2026

Well… today was a day.

It started with a completely flat tire but honestly, not a big deal. Scott had it fixed in about an hour. These tires really are kind of magical.

Once I got rolling, things felt a little sketchy, overpasses, rough roads, traffic but I pushed through. I rode past some really beautiful neighborhoods too, and it reminded me how diverse Louisiana is. There are so many different sides to it, and I genuinely love that.

I don’t stop much for pictures because it messes with my Garmin, every stop turns into a whole restart process and with these roads, I need my eyes up watching for potholes. Louisiana roads… not my favorite. But the people? So kind, so helpful. Truly.

Then came Gary Garmin…

I hit Highway 90, made a left like I thought I was supposed to, and suddenly Gary’s telling me to make a U-turn. I second-guessed myself… and followed him.

Bad idea.

Next thing I know, I’m riding through some pretty rough areas, no shoulder, crossing bridges that felt way too narrow. Bridges have been especially hard for me since losing my son, and I could feel the panic creeping in. But I stopped, breathed, and grounded myself and kept going.

Eventually, I realized something was off… and sure enough, Gary Garmin had taken me in a full loop right back to where I was supposed to start. I was trying to start off course by leaving from the RV park. 

Cool cool cool 

I texted Scott, reset my route, and headed out again.

There was one bridge I had tried to avoid earlier and of course, I ended up having to cross it anyway. It was as gnarly as advertised, but thankfully there was construction, so traffic would stop and go, which actually helped.

At one point, I even got stuck at a train that went back and forth forever. Just one of those days.

Scott eventually found me (thankfully he tracks me because I was definitely not where I was supposed to be), and we decided to skip ahead since I had already ridden about 40 miles… just not in the right direction.

I’ll be honest, I was in a mood.

But then… I hit the beach.

And just like that, everything shifted.

I’ve been to this town before and loved it and I still do. I rode a couple miles along the beach boardwalk, and it was exactly what I needed. Calm, open, grounding.

Scott and Cody were a little behind (grocery run), but they found me, and we got settled before heading to the RV park. It was after hours, but true to Southern form, people came out to help us right away. Just so kind.

We ended the night at Cuz's, a place I’d actually been to before on a work trip. Still just as good.

I got mahi tacos, Cody had a cheeseburger with amazing mac and cheese, and Scott ordered mac and cheese with alligator bites. (And yes… I love alligator. I can’t explain it, it’s the texture 😄)

Not the smoothest day… but still an adventure.

And tomorrow is a new one

April 8, 2026

I don’t even have words for today…

If I can see water, everything feels right in my world 

Most of today’s ride was along a coastal boardwalk, absolute heaven. Smooth, peaceful, ocean to my side… just one of those days where you don’t want it to end.

Right after I started, I saw a dolphin playing in the water. I stopped immediately. I’m not great at slowing down, but when you see a dolphin in the wild… you stop. It felt magical!

I had been to Bay St. Louis once before on a work trip to New Orleans and convinced my group to cross into another state just because we could  So, starting my ride there today already had me excited to explore new ground.

As I crossed the big bridge out of town, I noticed these beautiful patina metal mile markers, many with sea turtles on them. And that hit me. Sea turtles always remind me of a bracelet Clayton gave me, with a mom and baby turtle. It broke, but I still have it… and I’ve been thinking it might be time to bring it back to life.

Some things are worth restoring.

Of course… Gary Garmin had other plans today, my route was supposed to be about 60 miles, but I ended up riding close to 70 and was nowhere near the end. At that point, Scott picked me up and we regrouped. I still have no clue what happened today! 

After a little back and forth on where to stay, we landed at Biloxi Bay RV Resort and wow, what a find! Definitely a place we’d come back to.

When we got in, I had a few work calls to take (real life doesn’t stop out here), then we headed to the pool and hot tub. Once I got too hot, I offered to make dinner while I caught up on a few more things and let the boys soak up the sun.

After dinner, we went back to the hot tub just in time to watch the sunset. Winston had spent the evening playing his heart out with his new friend Kona, a sweet, slightly English lab who looked so much like Win it was hilarious.

Water, movement, sunset, good company… days like this remind me why I’m out here.

Highly recommend this spot if you’re ever passing through.

Almost 70 miles, windy, high 70s. Bay St. Louis,MS to Pascagula,MS

April 9, 2026

Yesterday was a mellow 30-mile day… and honestly, I needed that.

I did come across four dogs, but none of them chased. Still, I can feel myself getting mentally done with riding through rural residential areas. When there are houses on both sides of the road, it’s constant scanning, always on alert. It’s exhausting in a different way.

I made it into Alabama pretty quickly, which felt like a fun milestone. Scott drove me across one of the bridge, I thought it was one of the sketchy ones, but it actually wasn’t too bad. I think the next one is the one I’ve been warned about.

We arrived on Dauphin Island and checked into our RV park. We were waiting on a package, so we wanted to get settled in. We debated renting a golf cart to explore (seems like the thing to do here), but ended up just taking the RV around the island.

We checked out the ferry landing, a historical site, and drove past all the different beach homes, so many unique styles. It definitely has more of a natural, laid-back feel here rather than a busy beach town.

The weather has been a little stormy, not heavy rain, but windy. It felt like everything was getting stirred up. I didn’t see much surf, but there were surfboard and boogie board rentals around, so I’m guessing it comes and goes.

I also had to do laundry… I’m officially down to my two favorite pairs of shorts. Don't mess around with cheap bike shorts!

After that, we walked around a bit there aren’t a ton of shops here, which I actually liked. It feels quieter, more about the environment than the activity.

There are three public beach access points on the island, and after dinner we walked over to the main one right across from the RV park. It was a bit of a trek to get all the way to the water, but totally worth it. The water was warm, and it felt so good to just be there.

Back to the RV, and we called it a night.

We did run into a little hiccup planning ahead, our usual “book day-of” strategy didn’t work this time. There’s an air show in Pensacola this weekend, and everything is booked… including one RV resort I was really excited to check out for a future stay. But we’ve found great spots along the way, so I’m sure we’ll land somewhere nice to stay. 

Originally, we were planning to take the ferry tomorrow, but after looking into it (and thinking about tides with the RV), we’re probably just going to drive around instead.

Keeping it flexible, like always

April 10/11, 2026

I’m definitely falling behind on my ride blog… which probably means I’m having too much fun living it.

Yesterday, was SO good. I got to ride along the coast for most of the day, my first real Florida coastal ride and I loved every second of it. It was super windy, and yes… I got passed a few times. I even tried to catch them for a bit, but then I thought to myself… I’ve been riding across the country, you haven’t.

I’m not super competitive… except when it comes to things like running and biking. I love that personal push!

There’s just something about Florida, I love it. The wind, the weather, all of it. The waterways especially… I keep thinking I could live here. Sailing, paddleboarding, catamaran, fishing, wakesurfing… I’d be in heaven.

Today started with a pedicure, and I’m not kidding, it was the best one I’ve ever had. The attention to detail was unreal. The place was mostly all men working, and they were so focused and precise. They ran a little late, but it was absolutely worth it.

After that, we hit the dog park (of course), and I met some really great people, a retired Navy couple from Ohio. Winston, however, decided to have a bit of a moment after swimming… so we made a quick exit.  He was totally fine after that.

We headed into town, and it was busy, but somehow we scored an amazing parking spot, one of the perks of our little Minnie Winnie. We ended up having dinner at a great sunset spot, and there happened to be a running race going on. Watching it made me want to jump in, I love that kind of energy.

I also got a message from my friend Hali, who I’ve connected with during this ride. I really hope her and her husband can make it out. to the finish line. There’s something special about connecting with people who just get it. Sometimes you don’t fully understand what someone is going through unless you’ve been there too.

And when I finish this ride… I’m already dreaming of a mimosa brunch and some thick-cut bacon.

Today had a little traffic and congestion along the Florida coast, but once we got through it, everything felt easy again.

Everything is good. Everything is flowing. And I’m just soaking it all in. 

April 12, 2026

Today was a shorter ride,just about 30 miles so I wasn’t in any rush to get going.

I had every intention of getting up early and going for a walk… but that didn’t happen, I haven’t been sleeping great lately, which is unusual for me, so I just let myself ease into the morning.

I rolled out around 10am, which actually worked out perfectly since we couldn’t check into our new spot until noon.

The ride itself took a little longer than expected. There was a lot of loose gravel on the roads, little piles that make you second guess every line you take and some construction and sketchy sections, but overall it was fine.

At one point, I rode over what people call “party island” near Destin, and it honestly didn’t even look real. The water is that blue. Like unreal blue.

Gary Garmin was at it again, telling me I was off route, but after 50 days I’ve learned to double check. Sure enough, I was exactly where I needed to be, just not where he wanted me It’s like he insists I ride on the other side of the road sometimes.

Even though I wasn’t directly riding along the beach, I kept catching glimpses of that crystal blue water, and it just kept lifting my mood.

As always, Scott was tracking me and met me as I rolled into the RV park, perfect timing because we had something fun lined up…

A friend of a friend (and someone Scott went to high school with!) is letting us borrow their golf cart while we’re here. We are SO grateful. And not just any golf cart, this thing is the mac daddy! We hooked up the Bluetooth, lights going, and cruised the strip like locals.

Before that, we hit the pool, then the beach, then back to the pool again. I’m telling you… it’s a pretty good life.

We’ve got another rest day tomorrow, which I’m really excited about even if it’s supposed to be a little cloudy. Honestly, I can’t believe I’ve never been here before. I LOVE the Gulf Coast. It reminds me of the San Juan Islands in a weird way, just bigger, warmer, and bluer. The water, the boats, the laid-back vibe… it just fits.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Blue Mind lately and how much water impacts how we feel. I swear, every time I’m near it, it’s like a weight lifts off my chest.

Tomorrow’s plan:

• one-hour walk

• yoga

• push-ups

• more exploring

The golf cart goes about 15 miles on a charge, so we’ll probably explore one direction, recharge, then head the other way… maybe ending the day at the Crab Shack for dinner.

Not a bad way to spend a rest day.

April 13, 2026

Rest day… and I’m realizing I don’t totally know what to do when I’m not riding 

I’m not much of a “lay by the pool or sit in the sun” person, so I just did what felt natural.

Started the morning with an hour walk with Winston while Cody cruised on his Onewheel. I love those cooler mornings on the boardwalk full of people out walking, slow and peaceful.

After that, I did some laundry, knocked out push-ups, and caught up on work while we waited to head out.

We planned to explore Destin by golf cart, but quickly realized the battery wasn’t going to get us very far. So we pivoted and charged it up and grabbed an Uber to the harbor instead.

And wow… there is a LOT going on down there.

Boat tours, helicopter rides, zip lines, dolphin cruises, island stops, you name it. Total vacation energy!

We wandered through the shops, and I actually bought something for myself (rare), a super cute Billabong fleece with a hibiscus pattern, half off. I saw it and made a beeline, and Scott just laughed because he knew it was happening.

We stopped at Margaritaville Destin for a snack before heading back it worked out perfectly because I had a 4pm work meeting.

I can technically meet from anywhere, but I like having my laptop set up for Zoom. After my birthday, I’ll open my calendar back up to students and get back into my regular rhythm while we take the two weeks to head home.

While I was in my meeting, the guys hit the pool, and afterward we all went down to the beach. The water always feels cold at first (like it does everywhere to me), but once you’re in, it’s so nice and refreshing.

We made a grocery run for the next few days, then headed out to dinner. We weren’t super hungry after our afternoon stop, but we had been wanting to try a seafood spot on the water. Even though Scott isn’t a huge seafood fan, we found a great place and ended the night with key lime pie.

I’m actually excited to get back into riding with longer days again. I still have one rest day left, but I think I’ll save it for when I’m inland… just in case.

From here on out, it’s mostly 60-mile days, one 80, and a short 23-mile day to finish it off.

Rest days are nice… but I think I like moving better.

April 14, 2026

Today was such a good ride.

I was on a trail for most of the way, and I kept passing through the cutest little beach towns, Grayton Beach, Seaside, and Rosemary Beach. All of them made me want to stop, stay, and explore more. The water is still that unreal emerald blue… it doesn’t even look real.

I kept ducking out onto little boardwalks to get a closer look at the beach, those moments never get old.

Today felt a lot calmer than Destin, which I appreciated. It gave me space to actually take it all in.

And I can’t believe I’m almost done.

I keep having these thoughts like… why do I live in Gresham when places like this exist? I know the weather can be extreme and the humidity is real, but still, it makes you think.

The trail riding was beautiful, but also a little slow. Lots of cruiser bikes, people riding side by side, stopping for selfies, talking on the phone… definitely a different pace than what I’m used to. I felt a little out of place flying through there. 

I tried to pop into a state park along the way, but they only took cash (two dollars!) and of course I didn’t have any, so I kept moving.

After the trail ended, I had to hop onto Highway 98… and of course, that’s when things got chaotic. Construction, missed turns, trying to navigate while also needing to be on a work meeting, it was a whole thing.

At one point Scott was laughing as I tried to work my way through the mess, and I told him I was just trying to “write my name” with my route line at that point.

We got to our originally planned RV park, and it just wasn’t the vibe… so we kept going and ended up at a much better spot across from a resort. Bonus, we get access to their beachside pool.

The RV park casually mentioned they have three park gators… so there’s that. 

I took Winston for a walk, we hit the pool, I caught up on some work, and we had dinner in.

Simple, full day… and another step closer

April 15, 2026

Today,  I thought it was going to feel better than it did.

It was flat, which usually helps but it was windy, and honestly… it just felt like a lot. My body is starting to feel it. My seat, my hands… all of it. I usually stay really engaged through my core so I’m not dumping weight into my hands, but clearly I’ve let that slip a bit because they were hurting today.

I even tried adding back in my “normal” routine, an hour walk and 50 push-ups, because 30–60 miles on the bike doesn’t always feel like enough compared to how active I am at home. But today reminded me… this is a lot.

The ride started with about 30 miles of straight road. Nice road… but long, flat, windy, and mentally tough. At the same time, there was something kind of beautiful about it. It felt like I was riding through Mexico, the humidity, the greenery, the sounds of animals moving around in the trees. Quiet in a different way.

Once the road started to curve, it helped. New scenery, new energy.

I also crossed a bridge that was a couple miles long, and that part I actually enjoyed. It wasn’t too high, so I could look down at the water and watch the pelicans diving for fish. I never get tired of that.

I was able to ride straight into our RV park today, which is always such a win, rolling right up to a fully set up home.

Afterward, we hit the pool, took a walk, and had dinner at Fat Daddy's BBQ right at the resort. Honestly… it gave Texas BBQ a run for its money.

Winston had a full night at the dog park, playing with a new friend, Analisa, who reminded us so much of his buddy Brave. They ran around for about an hour and it completely wore him out.

Now I’m winding down before a late work night. I’ve got an info session at 9pm my time (6pm back home), part of my monthly Early College presentations. Thirteen people signed up tonight, so it should be a good one.

As soon as that’s done… I’m calling it.

Tomorrow is a short ride—about 15 miles out and back to this same RV park. It felt silly to move for that distance, so we’re staying put.

Some days feel strong. Some days feel heavy.

Today was both.

Mexico Beach, FL to Eastpoint, FL 50 miles. Mid 70's 

April 16, 2026

Today honestly felt like a rest day… but I still rode 30 miles.

The way the RV parks lined up, it made way more sense to do an out and back than move for just 17 miles. And honestly, staying put felt like the right call. It’s so much more relaxing, and we actually get to enjoy the amenities.

And this place? One of the nicer ones. A great pool with fountains, outdoor speakers playing yacht rock… not a bad setup at all.

I rode about an hour out, 15 miles and turned around. It was a quiet coastal ride, really peaceful. There’s some construction on the road right now, so traffic came in waves, which actually made it feel calmer.

At one point, I rode past a jail work crew in their black and white uniforms picking up trash. One of the guys was kind of skipping along, and it made me laugh because I totally get that feeling. It’s the same energy I have leaving school, like finally being free after being inside all day. That little “lightness” hit me seeing him.

The town I rode into, Carrabelle, reminded me a lot of a small coastal town in Oregon. Small, local, fisherman vibes, quiet beach… just simple and real. You can also tell this area is still recovering from hurricanes. It made me wonder, are they always rebuilding? Is construction just part of life here?

Some of the palm trees really stood out to me today. A few were standing completely alone, like they were the only ones that made it through the last storm. It made me wonder what happened to the others… and what made those ones stay.

I was really good at stalling today too.
Wiped down every surface before leaving, took my time getting out the door. When I got back, I did some laundry, caught up on work, had lunch, and eventually made it to the pool before dinner.

Cody and I took Winston for a walk, and we called it a night.

Tomorrow I want to get an early start to beat the 90 degree heat heading into Tallahassee… but we’ll see
We haven’t exactly been crushing the early mornings lately, especially with all the time changes.

April 17, 2026

Today was a great ride, nothing big or flashy, just cruising along and enjoying it.

I spent most of the day on a trail, and honestly, trail riding feels so much less stressful. No cars, no constant scanning, just ride. The only tricky part was watching for potholes in the shaded sections. And with a few homes along the trail, I still had that little awareness in the back of my mind about dogs… but it was pretty quiet overall.

It was a Friday, so not many people were out. I have a feeling it gets a lot busier on the weekends.

Toward the end, I passed one person who was clearly having a tough moment throwing things around. I was glad it was near the finish so I could just keep moving. It’s something I’ve noticed though… Florida has had some of the cleanest roads and bike paths I’ve seen. It’s going to feel different going back home and navigating trails with more congestion and debris. But maybe I’ll hit it at a good time when things are cleaned up.

I’ve been thinking about riding the trail back to Portland when I get home, that 30-mile stretch I used to hesitate on. Funny how things change… I used to worry about the uphill and the wind, and now I feel like I could fly through it. Perspective shifts when you spend weeks riding across the country.

I also want to start adding more leg strength training when I get home. You can really feel the difference in power and I won’t lie, I’m a little tired of watching guys zoom past me.

It’s a weird feeling getting close to the end. I think I’m really going to miss having a new adventure every day, getting on my bike with a purpose. But I’m also excited to get home, back into yoga, workouts, and a more regular rhythm.

This trip has taken so much planning, constantly checking maps, adjusting routes, finding RV parks. I think I’ve made my last big change. Scott always gets the final say on where we stay though… he’s the one parking and hooking up our still-unnamed RV 

We name everything, but for some reason, this one has stumped us. Maybe because Winston already has all the good “Win/Winny/Winnebago” names covered.

Last night we snagged the final spot at a small RV park in Tallahassee, a cute little place that feels like someone turned their own property into a campground.

Tomorrow is a lighter day, about 45 miles. I scaled back what was originally an 80 mile day to something more manageable. Good thing too… I managed to hit my head on the freezer door putting away groceries, and I’ve got a pretty good bump going. Hoping my helmet still fits comfortably 

Looks like I’ll be breaking into the Advil before my ride.

We’re definitely getting used to the heat. Yesterday was 86 and didn’t even feel that hot and later that night on our walk, I threw on a sweatshirt.

Wild how quickly your body adapts.

I didn't get too many pics today, I got them on my 360, it was mostly junlge like trail riding with so many squirrels! So many! 

57 miles, 4 hrs, 2321 calories burned, road into Tallahassee and it was about 86 degrees

April 18, 2026

Today was hot… and a little hilly, finally!

I haven’t seen hills in a while, and honestly, I love them. They wake your legs back up. I did have some random knee pain pop up today (not my meniscus), but it came and went, and I just kept rolling.

Good news, my head felt a lot better once I got moving. The swelling from yesterday’s freezer incident has gone down, so I’m calling that a win!

I wrapped up my ride in Madison, and they happened to have some kind of local market going on. I cruised through pretty quickly and found lots of good smelling food but I had already eaten my bike snacks, so I kept it moving.

The RV park was about 5 miles off route, so Scott picked me up and we headed out there. It’s kind of in the middle of nowhere (though close to I-10), but actually a really nice place, newer too, I think around 2023.

Then… things got interesting 

Scott got everything set up, and suddenly the power went out. In 90-degree heat. He spent about two hours trying to figure it out then calling Johnson RV, troubleshooting everything.

Turns out… I hit a button while swiffering the floor earlier, ooops! 

Yep. That’s what did it.

Why is a major power button located in the mopping zone? I have questions, but now we know.

After that adventure, we hit the pool for a couple hours, which felt amazing. There was also a little bit of drama and some police action at the park. Sounded like someone had overstayed their welcome. They packed up and left, and from the looks of it, they had been there a while… everything but the kitchen sink set up outside their trailer.

It actually got us talking about RV parks and what it takes to run one well. Some of these places really think of everything… and others, not so much. (Like… if the dog park is right next to the pool, shouldn’t we be able to let them play while we keep an eye on them? Just saying!

After all that, we kept it simple, made spaghetti, caught up on a little internet time, and took Winston for a walk and to the dog park.

Another full day.

Tomorrow is 70 miles… and after that, it’s all downhill to the finish

April 19, 2026

Today was my last 70-mile day… it’s all downhill from here 

It was a long one. A lot of rural roads, a lot of run down homes, and honestly… I’m a little tired of scanning everything for dogs. When there’s stuff everywhere, yards, porches, driveways, it’s hard to read what’s coming. I’ve heard there aren’t as many dogs in Florida, but I’m not taking chances.

The ride itself was mostly forest and quiet roads. So many birds today, especially cardinals. That part never gets old. I’m even getting used to seeing roadkill… although it still grosses me out every time. 

It was HOT and muggy. Like next level. When I got back to the RV for a quick stop, Scott looked at me and said, “What is all over you?”
Um… I’m sweating.

The guys had their own adventure, Cody hit his first buffet, and apparently I missed a good one. Fried chicken, mac and cheese, grits, pies… all of it. Usually, I look forward to hearing their stories when I stop, but today they were so full they barely talked.

We rolled into the RV park I picked… which Scott wasn’t loving… and it was closed anyway. So we pivoted (shocking, I know) and found another spot.

Once we got settled, it was our usual routine, pool, laundry, decompress. It was super windy and the pool umbrellas were flying around, and I found a little frog hiding in the umbrella pole. Weird to think that I have enough clean biking outfits till the end! 

We were all pretty wiped, so I made an early dinner. The guys barely ate, just some toast from the convection oven. We’re actually getting pretty good at using all the cooking options in this RV.

I started mapping out our route home a bit more and got lucky, a spot opened up at Anastasia State Park for the end of the ride. Birthday wish come true! It looks incredible, and I’ll be able to ride straight there and dip into the Atlantic Ocean.

After dinner, I noticed it was really smoky outside. I checked maps, no immediate fires near us so we walked out into the woods near the park. We stumbled on some bones and a few tent campers and got the heebie-jeebies pretty quick.

As we looped back, we overheard others talking about fires near Gainesville which is exactly where I’m headed tomorrow.

So… we may need to pivot again!

I might have to push a longer ride and skip staying in Gainsville for the night. We'll see which way the wind goes in the morning. 

I haven't been taking too many pics because it's all been the same! I have some 360 videos I need to make. 

April 20, 2026

60 miles today… and it felt like 100.

I’m telling you, my biking shorts have officially expired
Between the wind, the smoke from nearby fires, and just the mental fatigue, it was a long one.

I was on trails for most of the ride, which is usually my favorite. No cars, just ride. But when you don’t know where you are on a trail, it can feel endless. And when it’s all jungle like and quiet… your mind starts playing tricks on you. Like something, or someone is about to come out of the bushes.

Well… today, something actually did.

A rider passed me while I was stopped taking a picture, and when I caught up to her, she said, “There’s a gator right there.”

Sure enough… a real, live alligator. Just hanging out on the trail.
Not huge, but big enough.

And that wasn’t all, I also saw a live snake shortly after.
At this point, I’m just checking animals off the list.
Still waiting on a live armadillo!

Scott and Cody stopped about halfway, and I jumped in to use the restroom and kept going. They try to follow my route when they can so we can share some of the same sights, but it doesn’t always line up perfectly.

We didn’t have reservations tonight, so we took a little time to find a place while I caught up on emails. We ended up at a huge resort right on a lake, with a restaurant and everything. Of course, the restaurant is closed on Mondays… so we’re on another RV cooked dinner streak.

Not on my birthday though, I’m hoping to get a mimosa brunch with a water view.

After dinner, we walked the property and spotted more gators, three of them, right there at the resort. These Sun Resorts are actually really nice. Lots of long-term setups, little sheds, people fully settled in. It’s a whole lifestyle.

I made a few 360 videos, ate, took Winston to the dog park, and called it a night.

Our nights are getting earlier and earlier… and I am ready to be finished.

I almost forgot that I got stung by a bee today, right in the forehead as I was zooming down the road.

Two more sleeps.

April 21, 2026

Well… this morning was one for the books. 

I woke up with my eyes basically swollen shut, turns out that bee sting yesterday really decided to make an entrance. 

Somewhere in the middle of the night, I also woke up half asleep to what I thought was a completely full toilet and convinced myself I was about to overflow it… so I just left it for Scott to deal with in the morning. 

So, in the morning, there I was icing my eyes, sipping iced coffee, trying to function. I even walked over to the campground shop before it opened (by nine minutes!) only to realize it didn’t have what I needed anyway.

Eventually made it back to the RV (this place is massive, I almost couldn’t find it), and after a few hours, Scott woke up and confirmed… everything was fine. Just my half-asleep brain doing its thing again about the toilet. 

I texted my friend Geneva, who’s a nurse practitioner, mostly joking about my swollen face and within minutes she had called in a prescription for me. Like… is this real life? I thought I was just going to tough it out, and she was immediately on it.

You know those people who are just so good at what they do? That’s her! She genuinely cares about helping people feel better, and it shows. I love that, people who are passionate about what makes them tick.

So… what makes you tick?
I’m realizing I have a lot, movement, art, building, learning… all of it!

We got a bit of a late start (sleeping beauties over here), and I’m not going to lie, Scott was a little startled when he saw my face. But once I picked up the prescription and took it, I could feel it working pretty quickly.

Today’s ride was mostly trail, which I was grateful for. Navigating traffic with limited vision would’ve been a whole different story. Honestly, it made me reflect on yesterday when I got stung, I swerved into traffic for a split second. Thankfully no one was there. I’ve heard that’s when a lot of cycling accidents happen, so I keep reminding myself: stay steady, stay straight.

Once I got going today, I started feeling better. And then… I turned on music. 

Game changer!

I was riding to the beat, cruising, actually enjoying it again. I even stopped at a picnic table to make a quick TikTok (PSA: wear your riding glasses, not your cute ones). Pretty sure that sting wouldn’t have happened if I had my riding glasses on.

Met a random guy who wanted to chat for a while, but once I told him I was wrapping up a cross-country ride, he politely wrapped it up too. 

I rode straight into what might be one of my favorite RV parks of the whole trip. For once, it was even better than the photos, brand new, clean, thoughtful layout, with a pool, marina, laundry, dog wash, and a restaurant nearby and soon to be on site. 

I went into full reset mode tonight, mopped, vacuumed, even gave Winston a bath. Something about having everything clean going into my birthday tomorrow just feels right.

We walked to dinner (0.3 miles) at a little divey spott, fried pickles to start, I had a salad, the guys had burgers. Simple and perfect!

And now… I’m heading to bed.

We’re aiming for an early start tomorrow, finishing this ride and heading straight into a mimosa brunch.

I can’t believe it’s here!!!

I’m ready to wrap this up… but I’m also not.
I’ve loved every mile, every message, every story shared along the way.

If you’ve been following along, thank you. And truly, reach out anytime. I got you!

April 22-25, 2026

April 22rd

My final day!

I woke up with my face still a little swollen from the bee sting, but I could see, I felt good and I was ready. Showered, got myself together… look good, feel good.

I wanted an early start so I could finish with a mimosa brunch, and for once, I was actually on time.

I had a couple friends ride virtually with me for the last stretch, which ended up being such a fun surprise. Honestly, I should’ve done that more along the way.

The ride itself was easy and flat. A little traffic here and there, but nothing major. Toward the end, I had that weird feeling like something had to go wrong… because everything had gone so smoothly.

And then, construction
A detour into St. Augustine, weaving through one of the most charming little towns. One of the oldest cities in the U.S., full of history and suddenly, I was right in the middle of it.

I got to the bridge that would take me to the Atlantic, and out of nowhere, a woman is yelling at me through a megaphone to stop and get behind the line. No warning, just chaos.
Turns out the bridge was opening… so I stood there, just two miles from the finish, watching boats pass and catching up on birthday messages.

Finally, the bridge dropped and I was on my way.

I made my way through the cutest beach streets, little coastal homes everywhere, thinking… yeah, I need to live by the ocean. Something about the water just brings everything back into place.

And then… I turned into the beach parking lot.

It was crowded, there was a market going on, and I spotted Scott… and then more people… and then it hit me

My family and friends were there. Waiting for me.

I had no idea! Well, I had an idea my uncle was going to be there but in the moment I had forgotten that my uncle had accidnelty text me that he was going to be there. Opps! 

They even had musicians ready to play “Happy Birthday” for me.

I didn’t know what to do. I was overwhelmed in the best way!

I rolled my bike down to the water… and dipped my tire into the Atlantic Ocean 

I made it! It was all over or the at least the ride was but not the mission. 

Then we walked out onto the pier, where riders finish, sign the guest book, and take their photo. The sweetest volunteer helped me sign in and capture the moment.

Friends Geneva and Craig brought cake and champagne (they know me well, just a splash of orange juice in that mimosa please). The cake was incredible, key lime, graham cracker, all the good stuff.

We stayed for a bit, soaking it all in. My family had made me a sign the night before that I’ll be hanging over my Peloton when I get home.

After the celebration, we checked into Anastasia State Park and it was just as beautiful as I imagined. Tucked into tropical greenery, peaceful and quiet.

From there it turned into a full-on birthday day, shopping for flip flops, hotel meetups, drinks with family, and a big dinner with everyone who came to surprise me.

We were all exhausted by the end, between the ride, travel, and everything in between but it was perfect. Cody and I walked Win to the beach and called it a night.

I still can’t believe it.

This ride… these miles… these people.

I did it.

And I didn’t do it alone!

April 23th

The next morning felt like a dream.

I woke up early and took Winston down to the beach for sunrise in St. Augustine… and it was absolutely beautiful. Quiet, peaceful, one of those moments where you just stand there and take it all in.

I knew Scott would be sleeping in after being up all night, so I just soaked it up with Win. Eventually, everyone started waking up, Craig and Geneva included so we got a bit of a later start than planned, but honestly, it worked out perfectly.

We hadn’t planned on staying another night, but with everyone in town, it felt like the right call. We just shifted over to a KOA that ended up being right between both hotels, super convenient and made everything easy and walkable.

Once we got settled, we headed into town with the whole crew, the Richardsons, my cousin and her son, and my mom and hopped on a trolley tour. It was actually the perfect way to see everything without walking miles (not everyone is up for that).

After the trolley, we wandered the main streets. I’m not much of a shopper, but I love browsing, especially for T-shirt ideas. We found this little peanut butter shop and ended up grabbing the most amazing butterscotch peanut butter, plus a sampler pack with flavors like strawberry, chocolate, and apple strudel… so good.

After that, we all split up for a bit to relax before dinner. Geneva met up with her cousin, and the rest of us regrouped later for dinner in town. By then it was a smaller crew, the Jenkins, my mom, and us but we had a nice, relaxed evening.

Dinner turned into one of those long, meaningful hangs, especially getting to spend time with my cousin Scottie. I still picture him as being 18, so it’s always funny to catch up and realize how much time has passed.

After dinner, I convinced everyone to go on a little walk in search of ice cream for Beckett… but we didn’t make it very far .
We got distracted by a cute dog outside the most adorable little Airbnb and ended up chatting with the couple staying there. Turns out she used to work at Channel 12 News and lived in Beaverton, Oregon.

Such a small world.

By then it was getting late, so we headed back and called it a night.

Just another one of those days I’ll never forget

April 24th

I woke up and took Winston back to the beach again… because when you’re that close, you go 

It was early and quiet still more people than an Oregon coast morning, but nothing like the crowds from the other day. Just that peaceful, slow start I love.

Scott had one mission: find a tank top from St. Augustine 😄
So we headed back toward the main strip, but first, coffee.

We stopped at a great little bagel shop with self-serve iced coffee, oat milk, and simple syrup… YES PLEASE. It was so good. I’ve gone on and off coffee so many times this trip, but I finally found a cold brew that doesn’t send my heart into orbit, which is key because I really do love the taste.

I grabbed a bacon croissant and added avocado, exactly what I’ve been craving for weeks. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it again.

And what do you know… we all found shirts at that stop.
I’ve had some ideas brewing for a palm tree T-shirt line, and I found one that felt like exactly what I’ve been envisioning. I don’t usually buy things for myself, but this was one of those moments where I just knew. Even the color isn’t typically “me,” but I love it.

After that, we hit the road.

Originally, we were going to stay a night in Savannah and then Charleston, but we combined the two. Moving the RV is like riding, I’m not doing all that setup for under five hours.

We drove through historic Savannah, and wow… it looked incredible. Definitely a place you could spend a full weekend exploring. One thing I’ve noticed in the South, people are dressed up like they’ve got somewhere to be. There’s just a vibe.

We made our way to Charleston, and I actually drove the last stretch. The RV park there was the longest we’ve stayed at, the laundry was about half a mile away… and of course, it was laundry day.

I had already packed away my “street clothes” earlier in the trip, living mostly in biking gear… and now, packing up my biking clothes felt like a moment. A little sad, honestly. I’ll give my legs a rest, but I really do miss riding already.

That night we found a fun dinner spot with live music, nailed it.

April 25th

Full rest mode.

It was a “wash your hair, do nothing” kind of day. I didn’t even go for a walk.

We headed out to explore Charleston, but let’s be honest, we’re not exactly set up for walking downtown areas, and Scott is not a big walker anyway. So… we did a driving tour again.

And honestly? It works great!

We saw so much from the comfort of the RV. It was hot out, so we kept it easy and stopped here and there (windows down for Win, of course).

We tried to find the main market but realized it was about a mile walk… so that was a no. We did stop at a smaller farmers market, but nothing really caught our eye.

Back on the road we went.

By this point, it was about 1pm and the guys hadn’t eaten yet, I don’t understand how they do that. I wake up ready to eat immediately!  They kept saying they’d stop when they saw something good… but nothing popped up, so when we stopped for gas, I made them sandwiches in the RV.

As we got closer to Asheville, it started dumping rain. Like really dumping.

We pulled into an empty lot to regroup and figure out dinner. Found a pizza place that had been recommended, solid choice but apparently not enough food for the guys, because they grabbed cheeseburgers on the way to the KOA.

We’ve definitely stayed at a lot of KOAs. They’re not the fanciest, but you know what you’re getting and they always come through. Some even have little stores, which is clutch.

We did another “driving tour” through Asheville (we might be professionals at this point). Seems like a cool little town, like a cross between Portland and Hood River. 

We pulled into camp late, in the dark, surrounded by forest… and it felt just like home. Cool, quiet, and very Oregon.

April 26, 2026

We left Asheville for Nashville, and honestly… it must have been a pretty uneventful drive because I don’t remember much of it.

We woke up tucked into the woods at the KOA, got cleaned up, did our usual RV reset, and hit the road. It was only about a five hour drive, which at this point feels like nothing. Those shorter days go by fast now.

When we got into Nashville, we headed to my aunt’s house. She was out at an event for her granddaughter, so we had a little time to figure out our parking situation. She has guest parking where we could put the RV, but we weren’t sure if we’d need to be plugged in. The last time we boondocked, the fridge battery alarm went off in the middle of the night that is not exactly the kind of wake up call we were looking for again.

We also considered parking at my cousin’s, but same issue through, no power and we would have blocked their cars in the garage. So we checked out both spots, weighed our options, and then headed to Michael’s.

I’ve been wanting to try that kneadable eraser stamp thing I’ve seen all over Instagram, so I grabbed a few supplies. Of course, I had to try it immediately when we got back to the RV… and let’s just say it wasn’t as easy as it looks. The eraser was way too hard, and I couldn’t get it to carve the way I wanted. I’ve heard softer erasers or even play dough might work better, so I’ll have to experiment a bit more. Another project for later.

Once my aunt’s event wrapped up, we headed over to my cousin’s house to meet everyone. His girls had been so excited to meet Winston, and he was absolutely in heaven with two little girls giving him nonstop attention. It’s always fun watching him in those moments he knows exactly when he’s the center of it all.

My cousin is also a school counselor, and he works at a private school where a lot of country singers’ kids attend. He gave us a tour, and it was incredible such a beautiful campus and a really strong sense of community. It turns out both he and his wife now work there, and it’s only about five minutes from their house. It just felt like one of those places where everything aligns.

After spending time there, we decided to park the RV in my aunt’s guest spot and stay the night in her house. It worked out perfectly, especially being so close to the RV because, funny enough, when you’re not used to sleeping outside of it, you suddenly don’t know what you need. We’ve gotten into such a routine everything has its place, and the RV really does feel like home now.

It’s also made me realize how little you actually need. A small space, the right people, and a few simple routines, it’s enough.

I always love catching up with my aunt and her family. I didn’t see them much growing up, but I’ve gotten to know her so much more as an adult. She’s an incredible seamstress, and I love hearing about whatever she’s working on or creating next. 

It was a simple day, but a good one. The kind that reminds you how important it is to pause and just be with those around you.

April 27, 2026

It’s our Nashville day, and I knew it was time to get back to some kind of routine, movement, food, a little structure again.

I started the morning with a 20-minute bodyweight workout, nothing crazy, just enough to wake everything up. Then I took Win for an hour walk. I’ve missed that rhythm moving just to move, not because I have miles to hit.

When we got back, I caught up on a bit of work and then took Win to Petco for a nail trim. I had cut them super short before we left, but we couldn’t make it the last few times and they were driving me nuts. Luckily, my aunt lives just outside Nashville and about a mile from everything, so we were able to walk there and back. It’s always nice when things feel easy.

Then it was a quick turnaround, get ready, hustle out the door because we were heading to the Bluebird Cafe.

Well… kind of.

We went to 3rd & Lindsley, which is like an extension of the Bluebird experience since you need tickets weeks in advance for the actual cafe. My aunt knows how to travel, discounts, tickets, all of it so I knew we were in good hands. We got there right when doors opened and grabbed our reserved table.

The food took a while, but it didn’t matter. We had plenty to look at and talk about, and honestly, I kind of love just sitting and taking it all in. The show started right on time, and we got to hear five country singers and songwriters share their stories and play their music.

It was so inspiring.

I’ve always kind of wished I was musically inclined, but that gene skipped me. So I’ll just sit back, listen, and appreciate the people who have it. There’s something really special about hearing the story behind a song.

They wrapped up around 2:15, and we Ubered downtown for a 3pm open-air bus tour. It was a Monday, so Broadway wasn’t wild, but it was still busy and every place seemed packed. The tour was actually perfect. We got to see a lot without having to walk miles, which felt like a nice change of pace.

After the tour, we headed back to my aunt’s to check on Win and feed him. We all took turns in her massage chair, which, let me tell you, would have been real nice somewhere around day 30 of my ride.

Around 6pm, we headed out to a brewery for dinner. It sits on this huge seven-acre property and had such a fun vibe. We ordered a honey pizza that was so good, definitely a redemption from the last one we had that was… basically crustless.

As the night went on, the place filled up fast. Turns out Mondays are trivia night, and suddenly it was packed with 30-year-olds who absolutely knew everything. We didn’t officially play, but we tried and confirmed that, once again, I am terrible at trivia. Always have been!

After dinner, we made a quick stop for gas and then hit Trader Joe’s to restock. We usually shop for about three days at a time partly for space, partly because we like trying new restaurants. Although, I’ll be honest… I’m kind of over restaurants right now. Never thought I’d say that. I think I’m ready to cook again.

We got back, and it was straight to bed for me. The time changes have me all over the place, and I was wiped. 

April 28, 2026

It was stormy overnight with thunder, lightning, the whole show. I woke up to everything still wet but took Win out for a walk anyway. We had a long drive ahead, about seven hours, so I wanted to get moving early.

I also picked up some weights yesterday because I officially cannot go any longer without lifting. If you’ve never lifted weights, I’m telling you, try it. You won’t regret it.

Scott woke up earlier than usual, which threw off my timing a bit, but I still got in an arm workout and a 30-minute walk with Win. Good enough.

We planned for me to drive from about 7 to 11 before my first meeting. I got into a groove and ended up just listening to that meeting from the driver’s seat. Right as it was wrapping up, we had to pull over for diesel. Scott and Cody grabbed some lunch, and we kept rolling.

I had another meeting at 1, so I hopped into the RV dining area and logged in like normal. It still cracks me up how “normal” this has become.

We were driving straight toward a storm, which had me a little on edge. Severe thunderstorm warning until 6pm, and we were aiming to arrive just before 5. We usually love a shady campsite… but not today. No trees, please.

We made another quick store stop for sandwich supplies, we were thinking about renting a boat, but it was pretty cold, so that might be a no go tomorrow. 

I had one more meeting at 5:15, and by the time that wrapped up, it was late. We grabbed some Mexican food for dinner, simple, but really good and then did a quick nighttime loop around the lake.

It was dark, so we didn’t see much, but from what we could tell, it feels like a little beach town… just on a lake. We saw some cruise boat options but when we looked online, it looked like they were fully booked! 

We’ll check it out more tomorrow, hopefully we can find a little something to get us out on the water. I almost forgot, I am listing to the Blue Mind while walking again. Pretty facinating and rings true for me. 

April 29, 2026

Yesterday started slow, but honestly, that seems to be our rhythm lately. Slower mornings, a little more ease. After so many days of riding and driving, it’s been nice to let things unfold instead of rushing into them.

I got up, did some work, threw in a load of laundry, and got ready for the day. We kept breakfast simple, turkey bagel sandwiches and they hit the spot. I added cucumbers to mine, which I love. Something about that crunch just makes it better.

Scott had quite the time getting our Supercross tickets for Colorado. It turned into a whole thing, but he finally got them secured. Once that was done, we got ourselves together and headed out.

Originally, we wanted to get on the water and explore the lake, but it was cold and a lot of places weren’t operating, it’s still off-season here. We’ve been hitting that pattern everywhere lately: pools closed, boat rentals limited, things just not quite open yet. It is what it is.

By the time we got into town, it was around 12:30. I thought I had a 1:00 meeting, so we wandered through a couple of shops before heading back to the RV so I could get set up. Turns out my meeting wasn’t until 1:15, so we had a little extra time to just sit and relax.

I logged on and met with one of my walking students. I’m teaching PE walking and yoga this term, and I really enjoy it. It’s funny, I keep thinking… maybe I’ll lean into this more. Personal training? Teaching yoga at a studio? Who knows. It’s all kind of opening up in a new way.

After my meetings wrapped up, we walked the strip and popped into a few more shops. Usually, the guys are into it, but they seemed to have lost interest pretty quickly. I’ve never really been a shopper anyway, quick look and I’m good, unless it’s an art gallery or there are murals.

I love murals.

Clayton and I used to text each other photos of street art all the time. Seeing pieces like that always brings me back to him in the best way.

After wandering through town, we drove to a state park. I really wanted to see more of the lake itself. Most of the shoreline here is privately owned, so access is limited, but it was still nice to get closer to the water and take it in.

We thought about finding a waterfront dinner spot, but again, off-season. A lot of places were closed or required reservations. So we pivoted, made a quick stop back at the store for a few things we forgot, and put Cody in charge of dinner.

He delivered.

We ended up at a great BBQ spot where I had a loaded Cobb salad, so good. While we were there, I grabbed some real estate magazines from the lobby, and I couldn’t believe the prices. Waterfront condos and houses under $400K… I even saw one for $235K. I knew nothing about this lake before we came, this was Cody’s pick but apparently it gets pretty wild here in season. And the size of it? About three times larger than Lake Shasta. That surprised me.

We got back while it was still light, and I went straight into wind down mode. I’ve been staying up too late lately, missing my Netflix time, so it felt good to actually settle in early. I watched a little, then crashed from 9 to 5.

Put my Oura ring back on and woke up to a sleep score of 90.

Let’s go.

April 30, 2026

Today we just drove from Osage Beach to a Kansas KOA had a nice home cooked meal and ran the dog, it was almost an 8hr drive day! 

May 1, 2026

Today was supposed to be an easy, fun stop in Golden… and instead it turned into one of those travel days.

Around 2pm we blew a tire and ended up sitting on the side of the road for a couple hours waiting for a tow. Quick lesson learned: AAA doesn’t cover dually RVs under their RV membership. The warranty we thought we had? Nope, we had opted out because we already had coverage through AAA for the RV and boat.

Thankfully, State Farm came through. We paid upfront ($500… could’ve been worse honestly) and they’ll reimburse us.

We got towed to Les Schwab Tire Center where they got the spare on. Of course, Scott being Scott, now we’re talking full tire upgrades because he wants the best and longest lasting setup. Then, because why not, our oil light came on, so we added multiple stops hunting down oil before finally getting back on the road.

By the time we rolled into Clear Creek RV Park it was almost 9pm.

I had been so excited for this stop, there’s an amazing trail here that runs all the way toward Denver and I was picturing a sunset ride along the water. Instead, it was a quick Trader Joe’s dinner (thank goodness for that place), getting set up in the dark, and just being grateful we made it safely.

Not every day on the road is scenic views and smooth miles. Some days are flat tires, long waits, and problem solving. But we’re here, we’re safe, and tomorrow is a new day.

Hoping to wake up early and finally explore Golden.

May 2, 2026

We rolled into camp late last night, in the dark and freezing so I didn’t take in much before calling it a night.

This morning, I sprang out of bed, knowing I wanted to get up early and explore. I pulled up the shade and was immediately in awe… we were backed right up to a rushing river. Instant mood boost.

I got dressed and headed out for a walk. It reminded me so much of Central Oregon, the crisp mountain air, the sun coming in strong even though it was barely above freezing. That perfect combo where it’s cold, but the sunshine warms everything up.

I wandered through downtown doing my usual window shopping. There’s something I love about early mornings, the quiet, the stillness, feeling like you have the whole place to yourself.

Halfway through my walk, I realized… no coffee. And I’m officially out of my mushroom coffee. I spotted a little shop called Higher Grounds Coffee, and it instantly brought me back to a place with the same name in Eugene when I was in school. Funny how certain names or places just stick with you because of how they made you feel.

To this day, sitting down with a coffee and something small to eat just puts me in that focused, ready to take on the-day mindset. So I grabbed a latte and a couple of burritos and headed back.

I had left Win behind since I figured I might stop somewhere, and by the time I got back, Cody heard me moving around and started waking up. He hates missing out on walks and exploring and honestly, I love that both boys have always been that way. Even when Cody hops on his OneWheel instead of walking, it’s still our time together.

Scott was working on the tire situation but saw us heading out again and dropped everything to join us. We hit the trail right behind camp, thinking we’d find a whitewater park I thought I saw on a sign about half a mile down but we never did. Still, the river and trail were incredible. I can totally picture people tubing here in the summer.

We walked about 15 minutes out before turning back. By then it was getting close to 11, and I needed to shower and get ready to roll. On the way back, the trail had completely filled up walkers, joggers, lots of people. Not a single biker though. And weirdly… no one said good morning. We all noticed it. Definitely not the South… and not Oregon either.

We tried to extend our stay another night, but they were fully booked. Left our number just in case of a cancellation but no luck.

Next stop was Red Rocks Amphitheatre, only about 6 miles away. We weren’t sure if we’d even get in, but we did and it was packed. Some people sightseeing, a lot of people working out. Such a cool vibe. They were setting up for a concert later that night, and the acoustics were unreal. I would LOVE to come back for a show… or even better, catch a yoga session there someday.

After that, we headed to the tire shop. They said there were going to call in a couple of hours but it had been much longer. When we arrived, hey told us they could have everything done by 4pm… but we had AMA Supercross Championship tickets, so that wasn’t happening. They were a little pushy about it, but we stuck to our plan, we weren’t missing Supercross.

We scrambled to find an RV park, either close to the stadium or on the edge of town for an easy exit the next morning. One place we pulled into felt… rough (giving strong 82nd Ave vibes). We tried another, dealt with some heavy traffic, and finally just committed: this is the one.

We hooked up quickly and headed out. Our AC is still out, but thankfully it wasn’t too hot for Win.

We grabbed an Uber and got to the stadium around 3:45. Turns out Fan Fest closed at 4, so we barely made it. 

We found our seats and settled in. I’m still learning Supercross, but honestly… the people-watching alone is worth it. So many black and white checkered outfits and no one told me to wear my checkered biking socks 😂.

After the show, we had to walk a bit to catch our Uber which, of course, I didn’t mind at all.

May 3, 2026

Today was a full-on travel day and we were on the road by 7am… a record for us! Scott had to get up early for his work schedule. They self-schedule months in advance, so if you’re not up early on those days, you miss out on the shifts you want.

Cody was actually still asleep when we pulled out. I drove the first three hours, and then we found another Buc-ee's. We had to stop. We tried their breakfast this time and stocked up on our usual nuts and popcorn. Honestly, it’s probably a good thing there aren’t too many of these… we might be 300 lbs by the end of this trip. This one was almost as big as the Nashville location but way less busy.

Back on the road, Scott took over driving. Wyoming is… empty. Like, no traffic, straight roads, and just wide-open space. We’ve come to the conclusion that no one actually lives here. But it’s also incredibly beautiful and peaceful. I looked up the ACA route and the transamerica cycling route goes through here. 

We stopped at Hot Springs State Park and waded into the water, it was so warm and relaxing. Then we drove up through the hills and saw a few bison just resting. We thought one might get up and walk around, but nope… just stretching. They are massive. Like, pictures do not do them justice.

Originally, we were planning a shorter 6-hour day, but we decided to push on to Cody. Turns out we’re a little early in the season, only a few campgrounds are open but we found a KOA and made it work. This one is great: tons of outdoor games, a huge dog park, and even an indoor game room.

Cody is such a cute town… and yes, the name has absolutely gone straight to Cody’s head. We’re all excited to explore more tomorrow.

Tomorrow is Clayton’s birthday. He’s the one who named Cody, so when the town popped up on the map, I felt like we had to go. And somehow, we ended up here on Clay’s birthday… it feels like a little sign.

The stretch between my birthday and Clay’s birthday is always hard. Truthfully, not a day goes by that I don’t think about him but his birthday and his death day carry a little more weight. Sometimes it’s the anticipation that’s the hardest part. I just try to stay grounded in the good memories.

His high school crew continues to amaze me. One of his friends messaged to say they all went out to dinner to celebrate his birthday. That meant so much. I can’t wait to see them all at Tavish and Katherine’s wedding this summer.

After exploring town, we came back to the RV which looked like a tornado had hit it. I hadn’t showered that morning, so I was feeling extra dirty and a little grumpy. I powered through five loads of laundry (after wrestling with yet another laundry app… why do they all need different apps?!). First world problems, I know.

Oh, and I finished Blue Mind during my driving shift. So good. Now comes the fun part, actually implementing what I learned. I have a lot of ideas brewing.

But first… I think it’s time for a move. I’m not sure where yet, but after seeing so much of the country, I know one thing for sure, I’m ready for something new. 

May 4, 2026

Today was Clayton’s birthday. Like I said… always a hard day.

I was supposed to log into work for a PD day, but I just couldn’t do it. Everything felt heavy, and even the smallest things were making me emotional. I texted my admin and told her I wouldn’t be logging on. She was so understanding and said “no problem.” I don’t like feeling like I need special treatment, but I also know I don’t need to force myself through something like a staff meeting on a day like this. Those are already hard for me. In big groups, it’s like everything turns into noise and I can’t focus.

I started the day the way I like to, going for a walk. It was freezing and so windy, but I still needed it. I started a new book about writing memoirs… not sure yet if it’ll hold my attention, but we’ll see.

I got back close to 9, and the guys were just waking up. As we were getting ready to leave, Scott checked the tire pressure and something went wrong, he tried to take a piece off and the whole thing came off. A few choice words later, we were back on track.

I know I’m supposed to take everything with a grain of salt, but the medium I talked to once said Clayton would mess with his dad… so while Scott was frustrated, I just said out loud, “Clayton, knock it off. Today is not the day.”

And earlier on my walk, I passed the most beautiful feather lying in the street. They say feathers can be signs from loved ones who have passed. I don’t know… but it felt like something.

We spent the morning exploring Cody,WY. It felt really special to be there on Clay's birthday because Clayton is the one who named Cody. We had some guidelines, but in the end, Clay chose the name… and it fits him perfectly (even though I still call him “Mo” most of the time).

We walked around town and stopped into a local bar for lunch, it had that perfect Wyoming feel. We started later than planned, but honestly… we showed up, and that’s what mattered.

Getting into the park was a little confusing with all the conflicting road info, so we stopped at a dam visitor center on the way. That ended up being a great decision they had maps and gave us a clear picture of what was open and where to go.

Then we headed into Yellowstone National Park… and just wow. Every turn felt like something out of a movie.

We saw so many animals. At one point, we noticed a crowd gathered and pulled over to see what was going on, two wolves were eating from a carcass. One guy had a telescope and let us look through it. It didn’t even feel real. He also took a photo for Scott through the lens and somehow captured an eagle holding a fish. Scott looked at me and just knew… Clayton was with us in that moment.

We had to pick up the pace to see everything we wanted, but we kept getting pulled into more moments, more views, more wildlife, more awe.

At one point, we passed what felt like every emergency vehicle in the park. Not exactly sure what happened something medical, maybe—but it was a lot.

We timed things out so we could catch Old Faithful. It erupts about every hour and a half, and we were hoping to make the 6:30 window. We rolled in right on time but had no idea where to go. I was thinking, “Please don’t let us miss this…” because I knew Scott would absolutely wait another hour and a half if we did.

Luckily, some kids told us we had about 30 minutes. So we stood out there in the cold, windy air and waited and it was so worth it. Watching it erupt was incredible. Hot water shooting into the sky… just wild.

After that, we headed to the Grand Prismatic Spring, and it was pure magic. The colors were so vivid, like a sunset on the ground and the warm steam felt amazing in the freezing air. We walked the loop, taking it all in, and then started heading out through the west entrance.

We did it. We saw everything we hoped to see and more.

And just when we thought the day couldn’t give us anything else… we spotted a bear on the way out. Again, I just looked at Scott like… okay, Clay’s definitely helping his dad out today.

We had planned to push on to Bozeman, but I suddenly remembered a pizza place an old friend had recommended. Cue the screeching brakes, we stopped. Totally worth it!

By then, it was late, so we decided to stay in West Yellowstone. The KOA was closed, another place wanted $123 for the night and it was already almost 11pm… so we did what RV people do we parked in a hotel lot and called it good.

I love this little house on wheels. I’m already wondering what it’s going to feel like when we get home. I think I’m going to miss it.

Overall… it was the best day we could have had without Clay physically here with us.

Tomorrow we head to Bozeman for a couple of nights. We’ll drop Cody off with Norah so he can help her move and then head home for the summer. I have a feeling Bozeman might be his next chapter this fall. We’re going to miss him so much but we’re also so excited for him.

And I’m just really grateful he got to be part of this once in a lifetime trip. Not everyone gets this expereince.

We’ve laughed, explored, figured things out as we go and somehow haven’t killed each other and we are already talking about where to go next.

May 5, 2026

We woke up on the side of the road this morning, RV life at its finest and I took a few laps around the city park we had parked by. Honestly, it worked out perfectly.

We hit the road early and headed to Bozeman. The drive was beautiful, one of those easy, peaceful stretches where you just take it all in.

When we got into town, we stopped by Norah’s new apartment and it is so nice. Bright, clean, and full of light, with a gym, yoga space, sparkling pool, and hot tub. Such a great setup for her.

I had some work to get done, so we left the kids there while I jumped into a meeting around noon. Meanwhile, Scott spent hours working on the tire situation… still no solution.

By the time we got to the RV park, I was feeling a little restless, so I headed out for a walk. I started one direction until it didn’t feel super safe anymore, then turned around and realized we were only about a mile from downtown.

So naturally… I kept going.

I walked all through Main Street and ended up being out for almost an hour and a half. Bozeman is way bigger than I expected and I really like it. It has such a good energy.

After that, I came back, chilled for a bit, and took a much needed shower.

The kids picked us up around 7, and we went to dinner at Revelry great food and a nice setting.

When we got back, I took Win to the dog park and ended up chatting with a woman who’s working at the RV park for the summer. She and her husband (and their dog) have been traveling full-time since 2024.

And the best surprise of the day, I found a hot yoga studio within walking distance. I signed up for a trial and plan to get in three classes before we head to Missoula. I’m so excited. I’ve really missed my group fitness.

May 6, 2026

May 7, 2026

We got to Tony and Julisa’s place mid afternoon. Tony was doing a little work from home, so I joined him out on the back patio. We chatted and worked until about 4pm, right around the time Julisa got home.

Meanwhile, Scott helped Tony fix a few things around the house while Winston proudly undid all the stick cleanup Tony had just finished for the graduation party they were hosting in a few days. Tony’s daughter had just earned her AA degree, so they were getting ready to celebrate her on Saturday.

Once Julisa got home, we all hung out and caught up for a while before heading to a distillery above a steakhouse they love.

The distillery was amazing. I usually don’t order  “well” drinks, but this one was huckleberry flavored and only five dollars… so obviously I had to try it. It was delicious. I was sipping it so slowly that I ended up being the last one to finish my drink, which is unusual for me.

The views from the distillary were incredible! Most Montana views are incredible! 

Originally, we had gone to the distillary first because the steakhouse usually has a wait, but since it was getting later in the evening, it had cleared out quite a bit. After our drinks, we headed downstairs for dinner.

I ordered a massive chicken salad and somehow ate the entire thing. I was so full afterward I could barely move. I thought about going for a walk after dinner, but there was absolutely no chance of that happening.

By the end of the night, we were all completely exhausted. We headed back, parked in their driveway, and called it a night. Honestly, it worked out perfectly.

Good thing too… because we had another early start the next morning.

May 8, 2026

Julisa had a charity golf tournament planned with her uncle, so she was out the door by 7:30am—right about the time we were waking up.

The guys were heading to Hamilton Golf Club to play 18 holes, and I was heading out for a bike ride. We took the RV to Hamilton so we could all ride together and keep Winston with us.

Once we got to the course, I hopped on my bike and rode 30 miles toward Lolo before turning around for a 60-mile ride total. It was a beautiful trail ride, though definitely a little bumpy—especially on the way back because my bike shorts are officially retired 😅. Well… maybe I’ll give them one more chance, but probably only for 30 miles.

Honestly though, it felt so good to be back on the bike. I was definitely a little sore the next day, but overall I felt strong and really happy to be riding again.

After golf, we stopped at Bitter Root Brewing, where Scott and I split a warm turkey sandwich with sweet potato fries that was SO good. The bread tasted like homemade buttery sourdough… mmmm.

While we were eating, Scott started acting a little suspicious—quiet, glued to his phone—which usually means he’s thinking about something 😂. Sure enough, he wanted to get back on the road and make some progress toward home.

Honestly, I was totally okay with it. I really wanted to be home by Saturday so I’d have Sunday to unpack and reset before real life kicked back in. And if I’m being honest, I also felt a little in the way since they had a party to prepare for.

We left Missoula around 5pm and made it to Coeur d'Alene around 7:15pm. We gained an hour with the time change, so it worked out perfectly.

We ended up with a little RV spot on an island, which felt pretty ideal. I was exhausted from the day, so I skipped exploring that night while Scott wandered around a bit. Instead, I did my own exploring the next morning and found a really nice little park nearby.

There must have been a soccer tournament in town because there were kids everywhere in soccer jerseys. I also noticed several people working out around the campground—one woman bouncing on a trampoline, another couple doing a kettlebell workout outside their camper. I loved seeing it. Let’s go, people! 😂

It inspired me to grab my own weights while Scott showered.

We hit the road a little later than I would’ve liked, but it all worked out. We made it home around 5pm. Thankfully, there was no wind through the Gorge this time—a huge win.

As we were driving, we realized that around this same time last year we were bringing home Big Bertha. And honestly… I am SO glad we left her at home and went with the smaller RV for this trip.

May 9, 2026

We started our trek home, and honestly, it felt a little sad. We had such an amazing trip.

The drive actually flew by, and we made it home around 5pm. Before we got back, I had arranged for a house cleaner and someone to tidy up the yard while we were gone. Best money I’ve ever spent. Walking into a clean house after weeks on the road felt amazing and I can definitely see how people get used to having a house cleaner.

As soon as we got home, I started unloading the RV and sorting through the mountain of mail that had piled up while we were gone. Scott had his gallbladder surgery right before we left, so now I have to sort through all the medical bills too. One statement said $123,000 for a gallbladder removal… WHAT?! 

I’m hoping that’s just the pre insurance total because I don’t think the claim is fully processed yet. Right now, it looks like we owe around $1,000, but I’m pretty sure things are still being adjusted. I’ll have Scott check the portal soon and see what’s actually going on.

Most of the mail was junk, but honestly… I still love flipping through catalogs.

For dinner, I threw together some Trader Joe’s frozen food and called it a night. I’m definitely one of those people who functions way better in the morning, so I decided I’d tackle everything else fresh the next day.

The trip is finally over, and unloading the RV felt surprisingly emotional. It’s hard wrapping up a chapter that held so many memories, adventures, laughs, hard moments, and beautiful places all packed into one little home on wheels.

What a trip!

May 10, 2026

The trip is officially over, and tomorrow I’ll be back on the Metro East Web Academy campus.

Apparently, my brain decided it was time to re-enter real life because I woke up at 1am completely ready to go . So instead of fighting it, I got up and started doing laundry and putting things away.

I’ve never really felt overwhelmed by my stuff before because I’m usually pretty good about getting rid of things that don’t bring me joy. But walking into the house after this trip? Whew. Suddenly, all the things felt overwhelming.

I think part of it is because we left the garage looking like a tornado hit it while we were preparing for the trip, and Scott was a little tied up right before we left with his surgery. Everything just piled up all at once.

Let’s just say… someone is about to start purging things, so the guys better watch out. Although, I probably need supervision because one time I accidentally threw away one of Scott’s shoes during a cleaning spree.

I could probably fall back asleep right now, but I already had some mushroom coffee, so I think that ship has sailed.

Honestly though, I’m mostly looking forward to yoga at 9am. One of my favorite teachers is teaching at Columbia Flow now, and I’m excited to take her class. She just started there, and I really hope she sticks around even though I don’t see her on the schedule very often yet.

It feels good to slowly settle back into normal life again… even if part of me still wishes I was waking up somewhere new in the RV.