Hello from the road! It’s actually almost been 3 weeks since I’ve been out, but the photos below are from the first 2 weeks. I need to post more but it took me a while to get this up due to sloooooow internet, but I finally got it!
My brother, Hunter, was with me for the first week and we hit the road and headed to Colorado. On the way we went through, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and then finally Colorado! Everything kind of looks like Vermont until you get to Ohio, and there were a lot of white cars. Things start to flatten out on the road in Ohio and all the way through until you get to the mountains of CO. Though it was flat, the farmlands of Kansas were really interesting, I actually enjoyed seeing it and we took a detour down one of the long farm roads. You can really see for miles. Another highlight was going up into the St. Louis Arch! It’s huge and I’m totally afraid of heights (how is that thing standing?) and I was pretty nervous but once you see that view and realize how cool that arch really is, you forget about it a little. Plus, it is the ‘Gateway to the West!’ We were on our way. We ran into some hot, hot days. 90’s and almost the 100’s. Phew!
Colorado was beautiful of course and I enjoyed seeing my brother get excited about being in those mountains! We were lucky enough to be able to stay at H Bar G ranch right in Estes Park. Total treat! Thanks to my friend and co editor/founder of Tell! The days were gorgeous and we had fun exploring. Hunter had to head back to school and I continued on my way. After visiting with Erica and Joe (past wedding clients & friends of the family) I headed out to Wyoming and the landscape change dramatically in many ways. The 6 hour journey to my next destination was so diverse! It was also really rainy but it gave it a really neat vibe. I stayed in Dubois, Wyoming which was a quaint little ranch town. Talking to some locals gave me a chance to explore some lesser known spots (so worth it). Staying there, I explored Grand Teton National Park – so amazing!! The mountains against the backdrop of every road, lake, and field were just incredible (my new favorite word for all these places). Jenny Lake was my favorite and I did a small hike. By now the bear threat had been becoming more evident, so hiking alone wasn’t super ideal.
After Grand Teton it was off to Yellowstone National Park and the rainiest weekend I’ve experienced on the trip yet. Perhaps it was because I was only able to get a tent site…I may have stayed in a cabin if I could get anything but since it was Labor Day weekend nothing was available. My tent stayed dry but during the days I got soaked and there were constant downpours, thunderstorms, and even hail storms! All part of the adventure! I slept in my car one night because it was also getting pretty cold. Yellowstone was pretty amazing! The waterfalls and canyons were probably my favorite. I also can’t believe how the huge fires back in 1988 have shaped the landscape so much and all the trees that died are still there. I believe they call them the “standing dead”. However, it is evident that fire is a huge part of the ecosystem in Yellowstone and while it destroys so much, it also seems to cleanse the land for new vegetation to develop. Nature is truly a huge driving force. I love it.
Of course, being in Yellowstone, I saw a lot of bison and elk! I was hoping to see some wolves, bear, and moose. Maybe next time! I will tell you more about bears on my next post.
There’s nothing like the road. Every night I stop and think and can’t believe I’m actually out here doing this. A lot of people stop and see my license plate, look at me, and ask, “Are you by yourself?” Which they either think I’m crazy, brave, or lucky to be able to do this, or they are jealous haha. Shout out to The North Face and Subaru for providing awesome products!
It is pretty crazy. It still doesn’t feel real, but I’m so happy I’ve been able to see so much already. There is SO much out there in this country.
America The Beautiful.
//More to come!//
