Best Laid Plans
Ziggy gets a lot of airtime, but these two cuties deserve their day in the sun.
Welp, that didn’t go the way we expected. We had a lovely few days in Bend, Oregon and then the world burned down.
At least it feels that way.
Doesn’t it feel that way?
I suppose it has felt that way for a while now, and we have just now entered the phase where the world literally burns down.
You need to work on your subtlety, 2020, it’s all a little obvious, don’t you think? Please get more creative with your end times antics.
Bend is one of my very favorite places. We’ve been going there for family vacations since I was little, and as an adult I appreciate it even more. We were excited to get to spend some extended time and really get down and dirty with Central Oregon, but just as we were settling in the smoke started getting serious. Looking at the containment level of the fires (very low), how quickly they were spreading (fast), and the weather forecast (no rain in sight), we made the decision to get out of dodge and head East.
It was the right decision, but guess what? Everyone else had the same idea.
Fun in Bend before the exodus…
We made it to the border of Oregon/Idaho the first night, and then stopped in Pocatello, ID the second night to stay at a Harvest Host that had amusingly good reviews. The Museum of Clean. You guys, it’s a thing. And it is glorious. The curator was super friendly and after getting us settled in the parking lot next to a grassy knoll (not the grassy knoll, he was quick to inform us), we had just enough time to tour the museum before hitting a local brewery for dinner. In the morning we took a stroll downtown to the Farmer’s Market to pick up the most delicious peaches I have ever experienced, then hit the road for Wyoming. All in all, a surprisingly lovely little stop.
I see you, Pocatello, and I like what you’ve got going on.
We recently joined a network of campgrounds called Thousand Trails and have been excited to explore the options, as it will hopefully save us a ton of money on campground costs over the next year. It works kind of like a timeshare, except there is really no limit on how much you can use it. Their “in-network” campgrounds are mostly located along both coasts, but they have a partnership with other groups which allows you to visit an extended number of places inland at reduced prices. We snagged a couple nights at one such resort in Star Valley, Wyoming. Such a beautiful location, you can definitely see how the valley got its name. It’s an interesting little spot; there are a few spaces that they rent out nightly, but it is mostly full of plots that people purchase and use to park their campers/trailers during the summer. There is definite pride of ownership in these plots, and it was cute to see how everyone went about designing/decorating/landscaping their spaces to create their own little oasis. It might go without saying, but while there are no actual age restrictions, the community is primarily 65+. I could totally see the appeal, though, they have a ton of amenities and the location is gorgeous. We mostly used the time to regroup and catch up on laundry, while the kids dusted the cobwebs off the lonely playground and gave it some much needed attention.
Interesting note: Pickle Ball is SERIOUS BUSINESS in Star Valley; don’t even try to get a court during league play from 8:00-Noon, you amateurs, you will get laughed out of the trailer park. We snagged a court in the afternoon and snuck in some family play and it is FUN.
Warning: Potential new Pickle Ball obsession has been ignited.
Our goal was always to get up to Teton, so after a couple days of retirement living, we decided to head North. Olive and I took off early in the car to try to scope out a First-Come, First-Serve campsite at Gros Ventre.
You guys. The drive between Alpine, WY and Jackson… I just… there are no words. Even with the haze from the wildfire smoke, it was stunning. I can’t even imagine what it looks like on a clear day. I would probably go blind from the beauty.
As we were driving along, Olive and I were noticing all of the colors of the changing leaves. Pockets of trees with full branches, red like fire (though not actually on fire, thank goodness). Each new turn more beautiful than the last.
After a bit of silence, Olive says out of the blue, “Mama, I wish we could live on this road by these branches.”
Girl, me too.
That’s when the crying started (Me, not Olive). I’m telling you, I cried it was so beautiful.
So… apparently Wyoming is on the list. I mean, any place that makes me cry should at least get a fair shake? We’ll see how Brent feels about commuting from here. ;)
(No pics of the drive, I was busy… wait for it… driving).
Once we made it to the campground, we were reminded that we are complete rookies. Who shows up at 10:00am for a First-Come, First-Serve campsite? Rookies. That’s who.
Which is how I ended up here: 5:30am sitting in line waiting for the office to open at 8:00am so I can get a damn campsite.
They were kind enough to let us sit in the amphitheater overflow parking last night (along with all of the other rookie slackers), so we could be close enough to get an early jump on things in the morning. Admittedly, it was a fun atmosphere. Everyone set up their camp chairs and shouted conversations across the parking lot. We threw the football around with the kids. It felt very much like a tailgate party, with the main event being an early morning neighborhood brawl for a campsite with an Electrical hookup (the holy grail).
I sized up my competition. I made a plan. I thought I had it nailed; setting my alarm and brewing my French Press to prepare for a couple hours of sitting in the car. I snuck out of the parking lot, giggling mischievously as I drove by all of my lazy-ass competition, still snuggled in their beds. Turned the corner to the ranger station, and Mother Plucker! Six people beat me to the punch. Sneaky bastards. So here I sit, watching the sun rise on a beautiful (if smoky) day in Teton, waiting to see if we will be awarded a spot, or if we will be relegated back to tailgate land for another night.
I will admit, I jumped at the chance to spend a few quiet, guilt-free hours alone in the car. Moving around this much is hard. Our plan for this year was to spend longer chunks of time in each place, allowing us to get into a daily rhythm. When you only spend 2-3 nights in each spot, most of your time is spent packing and unpacking, loading and unloading. I haven’t found much time for meditation, and it shows.
So this morning I sat. And it felt SO GOOD. I’ve felt out of balance and short-tempered since we left Vegas, so during this meditation I really tried to focus on realignment. I grounded myself and then focused on each chakra, repeating the words that popped into my head for that specific energy center, until it felt open and clear. Here is what I used if you want to try it for yourself:
Root: I am Safe.
Sacral: I am Creative.
Solar Plexus: I am Joy.
Heart: I am Love.
Throat: I am Truth.
Third-Eye: I See.
Crown: I Am.
With so much going on it sometimes feels impossible to hold space for myself to sit and breathe, but every time I do I am reminded that it is not a luxury. It is a necessity. Not just for me, but for everyone around me.
When Mama is calm and balanced, everyone benefits.
I am worthy and deserving of space. We all are. Take it.
8:30am Update: No luck on the Electric hookup spot, only five of those opened and I was number seven (sneaky bastards). We did get a spot where we can use our generator, so we’re upgrading from the tailgate party and settling in for the next nine days. Hopefully the smoke clears out soon and we’ll get a glimpse of the mountains surrounding us! Still glad I woke up early to try, it gave me the stillness I needed and a chance to connect with all of you. Now we’re off to gallivant in the mountains!
In Joy, Truth, & Love,
~lisa
Random pics from the road…
