A year ago, I built out my Subaru. I had no idea what I was doing, never did I think that my journeys would take me as far as they did. My Subaru became my house, my home, my constant. A year ago this journey began.
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You know the rest.
And now it’s probably stuck in your head as well, you are welcome! Anyway, now that I am settled down back at college I have had multiple people ask about my adventures; so here's a brief recap of everything for y’all! November 2020 - Build out of the Subaru and move to Montana! I ended the fall semester of online classes and jumped into my car eager to travel and get away from the computer screen. I moved to Montana and into a bus with a friend, I worked as an Activities Guide at Paws Up in Greenough, MT. I worked everything from kids camp to hot air balloon crew, and guided activities like skiing, ice-skating, curling, hatchet throwing, shooting, and electric fat bike tours. February 2021 - Move to Moab I left MT in February to start my job in Moab on March 1. My contract with Paws Up was ending and I was itching to travel to someplace sunny and warm. In Moab, I worked at Moab Gear Trader as a Sales Associate. I enjoyed getting to know the community and expanding my knowledge of recreational gear for the outdoors, not to mention how much I loved the location. With my background in geology and a passion for cool rocks, this was the perfect place. My days off were full of climbing, canyoneering, river trips, hiking, and exploring the national parks. While living and travelling in my Subie in Moab I had decided that vehicle dwelling was something that I wanted to do for an extended time - like, years. June 2021 - Move back to Oregon and Van In June I left Moab to drive back to my hometown. The lifestyle on the road of minimizing, simplifying, constant movement, and endless exploration had me completely enthralled. Not to mention that it fulfills my desire to be extremely independent and mobile. At this point in time, I had been looking to upgrade to a bigger vehicle for months and I finally found the van that spoke to me - my 2011 Ford Transit Connect. Mid-June 2021 - Keck Geology Shenandoah Valley, VA I flew to Virginia in June after purchasing my van and leaving it at home. At Washington and Lee University I worked on a team with 8 other researchers and 2 professors to look at Manganese and other trace contaminants in the Shenandoah Valley. I specifically was looking at the geochemical characteristics in legacy sediments; which I will be continuing to study and eventually present for my thesis project. Mid-July 2021 - Van build and Road Trip I flew home in late July to finish building my van and move everything in. It took me about two weeks of working all day to get it to where it is now. I only did two weeks of work because in early August I left to do one last road trip before the semester started. I drove to the Redwoods in California to meet two of my friends who were on motorcycles. We worked our way up 101 all the way to the Olympic Peninsula in a 3 week journey. Today (August 31) is my first day of classes back at college! whew! Oh, how I love to be on the road...
I drove away from my home in Oregon 8 months ago and now I realize that I have gotten to the point where I think of the road as my home, my one constant. Travelling solo has taught me so much about myself and about the world. Some days were really difficult, I struggled or hit low points - my car (aka my home) broke down one night spraying coolant everywhere, and another time the alternator decided it was time to go. Other times I spent evenings feeling all alone or was unable to sleep because of a feeling of fear or discomfort. But the road is where I feel alive - where I feel most true to myself. Driving long dirt roads in the desert, singing songs and the wind whipping my hair, dancing under the stars, hiking, running, climbing, 500 ft high on an exposed cliff face, soaking up the sun, dirt... everywhere, and meeting new incredible people, hearing their unique story, the beauty of community, building a community. My life shifted course one evening while I was sitting alone on a ridge overlooking an arid desert lansdcape. This was day 3 in the backcountry, no phone service, no man made structures, no water sources, and nobody else. This is where I belong. On the road. I have been living full time in my Subaru Impreza now for almost three months!
I can not believe how quickly the time has flown by here in my new home. The fun, fast-paced lifestyle is incredible, it also sweeps me away at times. In the last three months I have started at least five different blog posts but never had the chance to finish and post them. The lack of connection to wifi and the challenge of sitting down in front of a screen has prevented me from this. There are constantly incredible adventures calling me to the outdoors. I am always exploring and learning, growing and pushing boundaries. Soon I will be ending my full-time work at Moab Gear Trader and beginning travels back to Oregon. Hopefully, I will have more time to post some reflections on my time in Utah and the beginning of my journey as a dirtbag and car-dweller. The desert has been kind to me. My last few weeks here will be a beautiful bittersweet concoction. |
AUTHOR: MiaCategories
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"Live in the sunshine,
swim in the sea, drink the wild air." -Ralph Waldo Emerson |