I took a yoga class on the ocean. My first yoga session by the water. It was amazing.
The sounds of the waves.
The chirps of the birds.
The cool breeze of the wind.
The smell of the sea.
The light beeeze.
A little bit of sand on your body.
The ambience of it all.
The yoga session was simple. Geared towards the intermediate yoga level. Letting your body move and flow with your breath. Letting your mind settle. Letting life set aside while you unwind. Such a blissful time as you allow yourself to get into that sacred shared space of mind, body and spirit. I definitely think the ocean setting helps me to reach that space quickly.
Focusing on the views. Allow my sit bones to sink into the earth. Rising with strength. Lengthening my body. Leveraging my breath. It was all peaceful and fun in such a weird way. The instructor’s voice even had a calming tone. I felt like I had reached such a meditative state.
The ending is always my favorite part of yoga class . The zen moment of reflection. Each instructor always has a different spin or take on it. Today was a one word closing, gratitude. I always like what the instructor gives for thoughts regarding the closure. Almost like a prompt to write about in your mind. Today was all about gratitude. One word. Keep it simple.
The reflection.
What does gratitude mean to you.
In this moment.
The quiet pause.
The simple breeze.
The feeling of freedom.
The moments of reflection.
Close your eyes.
Drift.
Breathe.
Enjoy.
That’s what I did. That’s what I will do again tomorrow. I am greatful for the opportunity to wake again and repeat. Yoga is great way to physically stretch your body but also your mind.
I had breakfast today in West Yellowstone, Montana. Opted to hit the road to visit the famous Grand Tetons in Wyoming. Due to road closures this time of year I took the path less traveled. That meant I had lunch in Idaho and dinner in Wyoming! How much fun is that for a day? I also tried some new snacks: bison jerky and elk sticks. Pretty adventurous for me.
The ride out of Yellowstone put me in the forest so to speak. Trees, wildlife and wide open spaces. I loved it. Before I knew it I was in Idaho. Never been to Idaho so I was looking forward to the brief experience.
As the morning progressed the scenery did not disappoint. From the vacant roadway with the sun shining perfectly to accent to the sky to the view of the Tetons in the distance. This drive I would definitely recommend on a clear day like I had. Farmland galore. Oh all the potatoes hail from Idaho.
The time seemed to pass as I snapped a million photos and made pit stops along the way to enjoy the prestigious views all around. Before I knew it, Wyoming was in sight. A little climb over a mountain but what a spectacular view at the top. It’s hard to read the song in the photo but it stays Howdy Stranger, yonder is Jackson Hole, the last of the old west. Pretty cool sign in my opinion.
The down hill descent was steep. Not going to lie. I would not want to do that downhill trek in inclement weather! As I dumped into the town of Jackson I met some swans by the elk refuge center. No elk today but the swans were entertaining enough. The land reserved for the elk was huge to say the least.
Just a short drive beyond the town was the entrance to the Grand Tetons. What a special place to visit. Every camera angle captured a unique view of the scenic landscape. Words and photos don’t do any justice to the lived experience but I will share a few of my favorite shots.
The reflection of the trees and the peaks were simply amazing. The water was clear as can be. The air was fresh and crisp as it was in the 30 degree temps range on this day. It wasn’t super busy on this day therefore there was peaceful quiet at each viewing point. It seemed like I had the entire wilderness to myself. The trip back was a little hurried as snowfall was on the horizon. I had to beat the snow and ice conditions as the sun went down. And believe it or not the sun is down by around 5 pm and the darkness creeps in just before 6 pm.
I sincerely hope you enjoyed this clip from my travel journal. I would definitely encourage a trip to see the Tetons, if you can.
It’s November and I am on the road for an adventure trip out west. Wyoming, Idaho and Montana to be specific. The vast open land of the United States was the destination to explore.
Snow had made a little presence in the area before I arrived and some was on the forecast horizon. However, not enough to say it’s time to ski and not enough to fuss about. With that in mind I assumed business would be as usual in the areas. Little did I know.
Yellstone National Park for instance closed all but its north gate from November through December 15th for vehicle traffic. On 12/15 the only vehicles allowed are snow-equipped vehicles that mostly do tours of the park. Oddly enough you need nature to provide the snow too. I am sure there are many reasons for the closure of the gates to the south and the west, etc. Safety. Limited resources for plowing and sanding miles of roadways. The list could go on.
The downside of this is mountain towns are ghost towns. Shops, eateries, service businesses, etc. are closed for the season. As in until spring of 2024. I had a million questions about how businesses survived, where the proprietors go during these shutdowns. Just overall crazy to me.
But I did meet some cool workers at the few places who stay open year round. The fishing store guy. He was a wealth of information. He stays open to take calls and reservations for the busy season. Smart! The coffee barista who is also the ski rental girl and the bike rental girl and the retail store attendant. A jack of all trades. A free spirit who willingly shared her adventurous spirit and knowledge of the area.
This led me to a remarkable quest. Bike riding into the west entrance of Yellowstone National park in chilly 30 degree temperatures. An amazing experience that I will cherish in my memory bank. Picturesque scenery. Desolated roads made it seem like the park was just mine for a day. The quiet of the day allowing me to hear all of the sounds of nature. The anticipation of seeing a bison cross my path. All of it.
Snow under my tires. Ice at times. Thicker in spots but then sunny and dry pavement in other areas. The fresh air was clean and crisp. A little cold at times but then warmth hit in the break of the trees when the sun shined through. Mile after mile of peace and tranquility. I pedaled and enjoyed the ambiance in the air.
About 8 miles from the bike shop to the 7 mile bridge. About 1.5 hours with pit stops for absolutely stunning photos. Rolling alongside a river for a few of those miles was another level of awesome. Hearing the current hit rocks or logs showed the power of the flow. Seeing the fresh and clear mountain water was a reminder of how precious our land is. Observing nature. Being present in the environment. It was a great way to exercise.
From paw prints in the snow to animal droppings on the road. Suspense was lurking around each bend. A wolf? A bear? A deer? A bison? An elk? The options of wildlife were abundant. An experience worth my time. Unplanned yet unprecedented. While many may shy away from a non-peak travel time, I actually enjoyed the emptiness. It felt like my own private playground for miles and miles.
This particular trek had me starting in Montana while working my way into Wyoming. Two more states added to my biking list. I enjoyed it so much I’m planning my next ride to Idaho in a few days on a rail trail should the weather permit my excursion.
So many views of the mountains. Just above the tall pines. Between breaks in trees the white caps of the mountains shined bright. Pictures don’t even come close to magnifying the beauty of the lived experience. However sharing these photos may spark an interest for you to travel or learn about Yellowstone: the national park not the television series.
A quick road trip popped up on the calendar. The destination was tucked away in the mountains of North Carolina in a place called Bryson City. My first time to the area and I really had no expectations. A little fun. A little friends. Some time away.
The map took a twist and planted my RV on a narrow dirt road winding around the river. Impressive by sight of beauty, but more nerve wracking to be a passenger looking over the embankment of a narrow gravel road just after rain had hit. Oncoming trucks squeezing into the already thin road definitely made me bite my nails a few times.
My first stop was the rustic campground I booked on a whim. Not much more than a gravel pad laid by a creek with a sewer, water and power connection. The few bells and whistles consisted of three log benches by a firepit and a picnic table by each site. Simplicity. Quiet. Efficient for a short stay. Rain on the roof top by night. Coffee by the creek by morning. Topped off with a great group picnic in the afternoon after our big adventure. With little planning the rustic camp spot ended up being the perfect destination and photo backdrop.
In between the rest and picnicking was was the adventure that brought me to Bryson City. White water rafting with 12 friends on the Nantahala River. Two boats. Two guides. Safety training. Life jackets. Paddles. Good to head to the drop point. Wait! We are one guide short. Not even sure how this happens. Somehow I was volunteered to guide a raft down a river I’ve never been on. What on Earth? I drew the short straw for this one.
I didn’t hesitate. Maybe I didn’t think about how much responsibility it came with. Maybe I didn’t trust others with my life. I don’t even know why the company allowed the customer to guide the boat. Nonetheless it happened. I had a great group of brave souls to do it with. We all paddled. We all stayed in the boat. We had an amazing time: memories to last a lifetime. Adrenaline to last for days. Pictures to prove I was a captain for a couple of hours!
Get yourself a group of adventurous pals and do things. Take risks. Be brave. Step out of your comfort zone. You will never grow or know what you are capable of if you don’t.
We conquered these rapids on July 16, 2023. We had a young one on the boat at age 17. A vintage captain at age 51. A non-swimmer. Five first-time rafters. A nurse, just in case. A smorgasbord of a crew but a damn good one at that. Living life to the fullest. One adventure at a time.
Travel buddies may change but fun is always on the menu. Hope you enjoyed a glimpse of our adventure through this post. This also makes the 8th state I’ve camped in with my RV. Slowly filling up my state map. Alabama and Arkansas are on the radar for future trips. Going for the left A states that are nearby.
A vetwod challenge to benefit Stop Soldier Suicide.
Mental health for military members has been on my mind and heart for years. It was my focus of organizing and fundraising way back in 2019. I am not entirely sure why it tugs at my attention and effort, but it has, it still does, and it will.
Turned out I was able to borrow a pack from a veteran, which meant every time I put it on it held that much more meaning. Sometimes I listened to music. Other times I just walked in silence, as a sort of meditation. Often, when I walked the early morning miles, I would put my hand over his name and just send him and other vets positive, strengthening thoughts.
It’s really just walking with a few extra pounds, right? I never did weigh it. It’s true, after the first few days of putting the vest on, it didn’t seem extremely heavy. I did some really light jogging once I got used to having it on. Finding the extra time to ruck was the big challenge some days.
Even so, I certainly felt lighter every time I took it off. And my body told me, through tightened hips, sore back, and stiff legs, that whatever the weight was, it wore me out in new ways. Life was different when I wasn’t carrying it.
We recently wrote about burdens on this blog. Being a burden to others. The burdens we carry. This 50 miles of rucking made me think about how so many are weighted down in ways both visible and hidden. I was lucky to get the daily relief of taking the extra weights off. I could look forward to the feelings of lightness. What about those who are walking weighted in ways we cannot see? Through depression? PTSD? Weariness from taking care of others? Poor sleep from anxiety or nightmares?
I appreciate when my fitness efforts have an extra layer of meaning and thoughtfulness. A post for those, especially in military circles, who shoulder unspeakable burdens. May they find some relief, some lightness, knowing others care and appreciate what they have done.
2 Chicks and a blog 