Ponderings of my Solo Trip “Out West” in My RAV4

As a true Michigander, my time “out west” has been limited. Many more vacations have found me in Florida or the east coast. So in June when I sold my house and all my belongings for a year of travel starting out west, I was nervous. Nervous to leave that beautiful bubble of love that I had built for myself in order to step into the unknown. To travel to a part of the country I had never been to. And to do it alone. 

When I finally departed from my best friend’s house in Indiana that Monday, I turned on the playlist that all my friends/family had created for me, and the first song to play was “On My Way” by Shepperd. Yes, I was on my way.

From Indiana, to Iowa, hightailing it across Nebraska into Wyoming for a couple nights and finally into Idaho what I learned is this: not only can I do this, but I can do this with pure joy and contentment.

Iowa – June 7, 2021

For those of you who think Iowa is just farmland, I just want to share that this is also Iowa:

I visited Wild Cat Den for lunch and enjoyed a brief (but very hot) walk through these caverns.

But honestly, what I mostly saw really was cornfields.

Nebraska/Wyoming – June 8, 2021

Left with my thoughts, I sped through Nebraska. Quite honestly, I just wanted to get through it. I was itching for a glimpse of the mountains, leaving my suggested stops in Nebraska behind. When I entered Wyoming, the view instantly brought me to tears. Not tears of pain and sorrow that I had grown accustomed to, but tears of awe. Tears that fall silently, warm and hot as they roll down your cheek. I hope that the sight of mountains never ceases to bring my tears, that it never stops bringing me to peace.

Just inside the state, I stayed at Vedauwoo Recreation Area as part of Medicine Bow National Forest. With an incredible free camping spot, I enjoyed a wonderful sunset and then stowed away in my vehicle for the night to allow the hail storm and tornado warning to pass. Only two hours into the state, and I was already in love with the west. I’ll never forget how that evening felt like a coming home, a returning to self.

Wyoming – June 9, 2021

I took the morning to enjoy hiking around the recreation area, jealous of those who were climbing the cliffs (mental note to go back there now that I’m hooked on climbing!). I got my first taste of what it feels like to exercise at higher elevation, to wake up with contacts so dry they stick to your eyeballs, to need twice the amount of water intake just to make it through the morning.

I got my first scenic drive through the mountains, got out to trudge through a couple feet of snow and throw a snowball in the 90 degree heat, and marveled at the views I feel I’ve been craving my whole life.

After a visit to my first hot springs pool, I ended at another amazing free campsite at what felt like the top of the world. Yoga at sunset and some of the best sleep I’ve ever had in a car.

Idaho – June 10, 2021

With a wind storm warning hitting in the morning, I hightailed it out of Wyoming pretty early to enjoy Bear Lake (dipping into Utah for 20 minutes to get there). This was my first taste of cold water dips surrounded by beautiful mountains. Right away I took deep breaths, again feeling at peace and at home.

I almost bypassed Craters of the Moon, noting it as a national monument and perhaps not much to do. Word to the wise: make the stop. I camped here for only $7 with my park pass (and later made $20 helping a family explore a cave!) and traversed the caves in the 45 degree weather (a relief from my 90 degree days).  It was the first time I’ve been in caves that I was free to explore on my own.

In one cave (the one I later got paid by a nice family to go in), I walked to the end, sat down on a cold rock, and turned off my flashlight. Nobody else was there, and it was silent except for the small patter of ice melting. Absolute darkness. If you get the opportunity, definitely meditate this way.

Idaho – June 11, 2021

I had a fabulous morning hike over the hardened lava and across the peaks. What a very beautiful park. I highly recommend a visit.

Then, off to the greatest adventure of all: traveling to my new home at a guest ranch near Stanley, Idaho to work for the summer. This would be the first time in a year and a half that I met new people. Here I was, in a state I had never been in, in a place where I didn’t know a soul for hundreds of miles. Would I enjoy it? Would I be accepted?

I have to tell you. Taking this job: greatest decision. The people are incredible, and I’m well taken care of here. I took a leap, and I landed. For now, I’m home.