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Our Route Across the Country – Part 9

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Traveling the country full time while we also grow our small business is an amazing adventure. But there are sacrifices, one of which is being away from family and friends. So, the next chapter of our journey was highly anticipated because we were meeting up with family in Florida. Direct flights and good weather were excellent reasons for them to meet us on the road during Part 9 of our cross country adventure. If you’ve missed any earlier segments catch up with links to our routes and travel highlights here:

Next up…Floridaaaaa!

Part IX
March 16 – April 13, 2016

After eight months of living on the road full time, we were excited to meet up with family in Florida. Since weather issues had chased us in other areas (cold, wind, rain and storms) we figured Florida in March and April was a safe bet to make plans and meet up. We based ourselves in south central Florida (basically, in the middle of nowhere with cow pastures and orange groves) which was peaceful and beautiful. It made the perfect home base where we could fill orders and work on the business and then take extended trips to the coasts to visit family.

Our driving route is below, and stay tuned for highlights and pictures from Fort Lauderdale, Everglades National Park, Sanibel Island, St. Augustine and more in our next blog post. Thanks for following along!

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

Our Route Across the Country – Part 8

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We often come up with a rough plan of our route as we travel the country on our year long adventure, but weather often plays a stronger role than any destinations we attempt to outline. So, flexibility, acceptance and patience are all well practiced and frequent reminders on our journey especially during Part 8 of our route map below. And of course, here are links to catch up on any earlier segments of our route and travel highlights:

Next up…Sweet Home Aaaalabaaaama…(we’re singing too)

Part VIII
March 8 – March 15, 2016

After enjoying the incredible beauty of Big Bend National Park as well as BBQ, Beer and the Gulf Coast of Texas, we stopped in Livingston, TX (our official residence while on the road) where our RV Club Headquarters is located. We needed to pick up mail and packages and take care of a few odds and ends.

Our plan from there was to spend some time in the south, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. However, weather once again factored into our timing and direction. With a huge storm coming in, we cut our time short in Livingston, and got on the road sooner than planned to try and outrun the storm by heading east as quickly as we could. Threats of severe storms, damaging hail and winds and flooding made us skip right outta Texas, straight through Louisiana and Mississippi until we crossed into Alabama which seemed to be the cutoff for the storms.

We were disappointed we had to bypass part of the south so quickly, however we thoroughly enjoyed AL-a-BAMA (say it like Forrest Gump). We splurged on southern cuisine, explored the U.S.S. Alabama and the Gulf Shores, and just happened to get on the evening news while enjoying a pint at Fairhope Brewery!

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The U.S.S. Alabama
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Don’t mess with a man, his dog, and their tank.

Came across the Alabama War Dogs Memorial the other day and took a moment to let these words sink in: “AN UNHERALDED BREED OF SOLDIER LET ALL WHO READ THESE WORDS OF GRATITUDE AND PRAISE KNOW THAT TENS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICA’S FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN OWE THEIR LIVES TO THE DEEDS AND COURAGE OF WAR DOGS AND THEIR HANDLERS, FURTHER, LET IT BE KNOWN THAT MANY BREEDS OF DOGS, LARGE AND SMALL, SERVED OUR NATION IN TIMES OF WAR, ALL GOING INTO HARM’S WAY WITH DISTINCTION AND VALOR – UNHESITATING. LET US NOT FORGET THESE UNSUNG HEROES ARE SOLDIERS, TOO! THESE VALIANT DOGS PROTECT OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN THROUGH COUNTLESS PERILS, GIVE COMFORT IN UNCERTAINTY, AND SHARE THE SUFFERING AND THE RISKS IN THE TIME OF WAR. OVER THE DECADES, MANY OF THESE DOGS HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE, GIVING THEIR OWN LIVES TO SHIELD OUR ARMED FORCES AND MILITARY ASSETS FROM HOSTILE ACTS. CANINES IN THE ARMED FORCES CONTINUE THAT NOBLE TRADITION AROUND THE WORLD TODAY. THIS MONUMENT IS DEDICATED BY THE PATRIOTIC PEOPLE OF ALABAMA FOR ALL TO BEAR WITNESS IN REMEMBRANCE TO THESE FAITHFUL WAR DOGS AND THEIR ALABAMA HANDLERS. THOSE WHO LEAVE THIS PLACE SHOULD REMEMBER THE DEEDS AND SACRIFICES OF THESE FOUR-LEGGED SOLDIERS. FURTHERMORE, SEE IN EVERY DOG, THE UNCONDITIONAL LOYALTY INHERENT IN WAR DOGS AND GLIMPSE A REFECTION OF THEIR SHOULDER-BROTHERS’ HEROIC ACTIONS. THESE TEAMS UNHESITATNGLY FIGHT FOR RIGHT AND FOR OUR NATION’S FREEDOMS. LEST WE FORGET, WE SHOULD HOLD THEM DEAR IN OUR HEARTS AND HONOR THEIR COURAGE.” #destinationtreeontheroad #wardogs #k9veteransday #dogsofinstagram #alabama #ussalabamabattleshipmemorialpark

A photo posted by Destination Tree (@destinationtree) on

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With the south getting pounded with rain, all the waterways were at capacity, which meant at high tide, the bay was washing on to the freeway in Mobile…we were pretty thankful we traveled as far as we did to avoid the severe storms!
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While exploring the Gulf Shores, we had our first warning of alligators. But they didn’t make an appearance until Florida…

We also caught up on artwork orders and made our plans for the next leg of our journey to Florida. Our driving route from Texas to Alabama is below…stay tuned for Florida!

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

Don’t Mess With Texas – Part 2

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Hey, y’all! Don’t mess with Texas! As you may have already read, I proclaimed that the number one, best thing about Texas is Big Bend National Park. And I stand by that claim. However, on this adventurous year-long road trip we discovered there are a lot of other fantastic things to love about Texas. Hopefully, you followed along and saw all the pictures and commentary about why Big Bend is so great, but I promised Big Bend and Beyond…so, beyond Big Bend, here’s a peek into the rest of our journey through Texas…

Beer & BBQ

Anyone who knows Matt, knows that Matt loves meat. This is a man who only BBQ’s over smoked wood and charcoal, who would never consider using a gas grill. He is also a man who doesn’t simply smoke enough for a single meal. He goes for quality AND quantity and quite ridiculously usually BBQ’s enough food for three square meals of meat for a week. So, when we arrived at The Salt Lick, he was literally happier than a kid at Disney meeting Mickey Mouse. Just look at all that smoked meat and the smile on his face. Texas knows BBQ. This is true without a doubt. And we confirmed this by eating massive quantities at The Salt Lick, and promptly licking our fingers clean.

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Famous, and famous for good reason, The Salt Lick is a must-eat-at kinda place. Start salivating the moment you pull in the parking lot and good luck deciding which smoked delicacy you’ll order when you walk by the hot smoked meats. Carnivores rejoice!
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Although we arrived over an hour before they opened, the line out the door, around the block, and down the street reinforced that Franklin BBQ is a Texas institution. Admittedly, we did not wait in line for several hours, instead we snapped a pic, inhaled some sweet smells, and will imagine that the food is as good as the legend.

And really, what pairs best with Texas BBQ? Texas Beer. We stopped for tastings at several Hill Country breweries and confirmed the craft beer scene in Texas is delicious. We loved the warehouse vibe and Texas pride of Real Ale Brewing, the tex-mex attitude and Chupahopra at Twisted X Brewing, and one Hill Country brewery even made our top ten brewery list.

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Enjoyed a tasting flight and a pint at Real Ale Brewing on the second floor tasting room overlooking the brewing equipment. We also couldn’t help but love their Texas pride and love of the craft: Unfiltered. Unpasteurized. Unavailable in 49 states. Gotta get to Texas to try these tasty pints!

San Antonio Riverwalk

We were surprisingly charmed by the San Antonio Riverwalk. Yes, it was touristy, as it’s the hub of the hotels, restaurants and conference center in the middle of downtown, but it’s still an iconic piece of San Antonio. And if you venture north beyond the main loop, you’ll step into San Antonio neighborhoods and find the Riverwalk is beautifully maintained with artwork beneath each overpass and plenty of people enjoying and exercising along the waterfront. Take a nice long walk and go all the way to the Pearl Brewery district for a bite or a pint.

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Even in the heart of the touristy section of restaurants and hotels, the San Antonio Riverwalk is charming and a great place to take a stroll.
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One of the many artwork displays beneath an overpass crossing the river. They all seem to change depending on the time of day, and the light shining on these little fishies, reflecting in the water, and with a river taxi passing through made a great shot capturing the character of the Riverwalk.

Remember the Alamo

The Alamo is considered hallowed ground and the Shrine of Texas Liberty. This iconic site in San Antonio is a contradiction to the surrounding modern buildings, but the old architecture is alluring and the history undeniable. Although, it is troubling to imagine the number of lives lost here. We walked through the main building, the exhibits in the surrounding buildings (it was much larger than either of us realized it would be) and inspected an incredibly detailed tiny model of the battle of The Alamo. Despite Matt’s high hopes, we didn’t see any ghosts.

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A selfie at the Alamo. No ghosts on the roof.
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Inside the courtyard, between buildings and exhibits on the grounds of The Alamo.

Austin

There’s no denying, Austin has a lot of character. It’s a big city, that feels much smaller, and while we spent most of our time in the surrounding Hill Country, we did have part of an afternoon and evening to explore downtown. We couldn’t resist taking a long walk to check out a few authentic Austin neighborhoods. We loved Rainy Street Historic District, which is basically the coolest, cutest stretch of bungalows transformed into lounge-y, hipster cocktail bars and patios with giant trees, complete with a food truck court (see Lucy’s food truck below). And we walked across the Colorado River and down to SOCO (Southern Congress), another hipster-y neighborhood with eclectic shops, restaurants, and overall interesting people watching.  And don’t go to Austin without stopping at The Picnic. An outdoor food court of amazing food trucks and shaded picnic tables. My only regret is I didn’t have enough room for a sweet treat from Hey, Cupcake! Cuz how can you go wrong with homemade cupcakes served out of an Airstream?! You can’t.

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Even in the heart of a downtown city, we can’t help but be drawn to the natural beauty of a sunset over the water. (I didn’t even KNOW the Colorado River snaked through Austin!) We’re pretty certain those paddlers had a stellar vantage point.
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I’m easily amused. Finding out my Little Lucy had a mini donut food truck on Rainey Street made my day. Sneaky little entrepreneur.

The Gulf Coast

You may be surprised to hear that this year long road trip isn’t all about sightseeing and eating and beer tasting. We’re also working our tails off balancing all this fun with growing our biz and making beautiful driftwood artwork. However, if you’re following our route, you probably realize we’ve been in the desert for quite awhile, which meant our driftwood stock was getting low. So, we took a trip to the gulf coast to source new artwork canvases…amid blue skies, along off-road beaches and sunny skies.

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Driving along the gulf coast, right on the beach!
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Do what you love, love what you do.
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Some beaches were a little more accessible than others. This 4×4 only path got into some deeper sand that made us a little nervous…but that didn’t stop us, we’ve got artwork to create and ship all over the world!

Hope you enjoyed following along on our Texas adventures. Stay tuned as we continue through the South!

Cheers y’all,

Kristin

Don’t Mess With Texas

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Yeah, don’t mess with Texas. Why? Cuz it’s a pretty cool place. The saying may be a decades old ad slogan (an anti-littering campaign as a matter of fact), but it’s still representative of the attitude and size and greatness of Texas. Why is Texas so great? Um, BBQ for one. But I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the number one, best thing about Texas is Big Bend National Park. Argue with me all you want, or politely disagree and proclaim your own reason, but Big Bend is still #1 for me. And before this epic year-long road trip, we’d never even BEEN to Texas. (Airports don’t count by the way.) So whether or not you’ve been to Texas, or you’re just itching to see what we may have explored while we were there, scroll on through and check out all the highlights from Big Bend and Beyond. (Trust me, it’s way better than Bed Bath and Beyond…)

Big Bend National Park

It’s definitely an underhyped place. Possibly because it’s waaaaay off the beaten path in southwest Texas.

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Not sure if you can tell, but I was kind of excited to get here.

At first glance, Big Bend can look like a whole lot of nothing. But there are a lot of hidden gems here. Our appreciation of desert terrain continued, and also a great respect for the heat of the day. We strategically planned a lot of our hiking and sightseeing in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid the scorching heat of midday. And while there are paved roads throughout the park, we really enjoyed taking the Old Maverick Road on our trek out to Santa Elena Canyon. We kicked it into four-wheel drive (and reminisced a bit about the Apache Trail), braved the washboard and soaked in the solitude of the desert.

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Old Maverick Road was an unpaved, scenic path that took us on a desert adventure on our way to Santa Elena Canyon.

Santa Elena Canyon

As Old Maverick Road connected back with the park loop road, we approached Santa Elena Canyon. Just to preface, the Rio Grande cuts through and not only gives “Big Bend” it’s name, but carves some impressively huge and beautiful canyons in the mountains, while also creating a natural border between Texas and Mexico. The late afternoon sun was just starting to fall back behind the canyon and took our breath away as we neared.

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Approaching Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park…a HUGE crack between the mountain opens up a canyon between the US and Mexico where the Rio Grande winds through.

This was the perfect time of day to hike the trail that winds up and alongside the canyon, then back down to the river bank. The canyon towered thousands of feet above us on both sides and as we sweated from the heat and the climb, it suddenly felt like we walked into another world when we crossed a thermocline. The temperature dropped and instead of hot and 82 it was cool and breezy.

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By late afternoon, most people were heading back as we were heading out on the trail along Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park.
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Just soaking in the view of the Rio Grande and Santa Elena Canyon walls.
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Need some perspective to grasp how high those cliff walls are? How about that teeny tiny kayak for two?

And a quick little video to give you a 360 degree view. Don’t get dizzy, we moved a little fast.

After an incredible hike, we took the paved Ross Maxwell Scenic loop road back…our reward for a late afternoon hike? A freaking amazing sunset. Seriously. As we looped in and around beautiful rock formations and mountains the setting sun and reflecting colors confirmed Big Bend is a very magical place.

The Chisos Mountains

If someone had told me there are bear and mountain lions in Texas, I would have severely doubted the accuracy of the statement, and probably googled it to prove them wrong. Well, when the National Park posts several signs and includes it in the informational brochures, it’s true. No googling required (which is good, because there isn’t cell service in the park anyway).

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No foolin’. It’s always important to be respectful and aware of wildlife, but even more so when they’re bigger than you and you’re on their turf.

So, we kept an eager eye out for potential wildlife at all times when driving through the park, and especially as we drove the road through the Chisos Mountains toward the Chisos Basin. The best way to describe the drive through the Chisos? A video.

The drive is spectacular and continues to climb in elevation and snake around some hairpin turns before heading down into the Chisos Basin, literally a large circular area surrounded by mountains. Turns out it was a volcano millions of years ago, and the basin is the center of the volcano. A gap between the mountains on one edge creates a “window” to view the horizon and far off mountains in the distance. And one helluva “window” to watch the sunset.

The silhouettes of the Chisos surrounded us, and the “window” framed the colors of the sunset and the endless shades of blue of the far off mountains in the distance. Our pictures and videos failed to capture even a fraction of the color spectrum. Really. So, just take my word for it and go see this in person.

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I hate saying it, but it was so much prettier in person! We just can’t capture the true colors of a sunset…we’re going to keep trying though.

After another exceptional Big Bend sunset, we decided to drive out of the mountains before it got too dark. And just when we least expected it WE SAW A BEAR!!!

Boquillas Canyon

Our second canyon adventure was on the other side of the park at Boquillas Canyon. Not as tall as Santa Elena Canyon, but wider and just as beautiful. Just as before, we hiked up to a beautiful view of the Rio Grande, before we hiked down alongside the river at the base of the canyon.

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Capturing a shot of Matt capturing a shot of the Rio Grande from a high point on the short hike to Boquillas Canyon.
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Because when you stop and look around, this planet is pretty amazing.
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We enjoyed a shady morning hike alongside the Rio Grande in the Boquillas Canyon.

And just for good measure, a video to help share the majesty of this special place. Yes, those are donkeys across the Rio Grande in Mexico!

Nature’s Hot Tub

Another memorable adventure in Big Bend National Park were the hot springs. Not knowing how crowded they might get, we got up SUPER early and took a SUPER narrow and bumpy dirt trail back to the trail head for the springs.

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Oh, hey there! Fortunately, the narrowest parts were one-way only, which is good because there wasn’t anywhere to pull over…

We walked a short and easy trail past some old historic buildings and some tall cliffs alongside the Rio Grande to the Hot Springs.

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On our way to the Hot Springs in Big Bend National Park…

And then we arrived! It was nature’s hot tub! Steaming and hot, right next to the cold, gurgling Rio Grande! Crazy. We unzipped our pant legs, took off our hiking boots and socks and sat on the edge up to our knees in the 104 degree water. We really wanted to sit and soak all morning, but the thought of wearing wet swimsuits on our next hike changed our minds. In the chilly morning air, with the sun rising over the horizon, the hot water felt great.

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Nature’s hot tub is also nature’s infinity pool…at the right angle the edges melted and merged with the Rio Grande as the sun’s reflections peeked over the horizon.

Now, I hope you can see why Big Bend ranks as the number one best thing about Texas. Canyons, cliffs, sunsets, mountains, bears, hot springs, petroglyphs and more won us over. And if you’re still not convinced, maybe this exceptional Big Bend sunrise will help close the deal.

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We woke up before dawn on our departure day and as we drove through the park the most spectacular sunrise bid us farewell and reminded us to come back again soon. Good-bye, Big Bend!

So, that’s Big Bend. But I promised you Big Bend and Beyond. Well, Texas is soooo big I had to break that into Part 2…

Cheers! And don’t mess with Texas, y’all!

Kristin

Our Route Across the Country – Part 7

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We’ve celebrated some big milestones on our year long adventure. Over 25,000 miles  traveled. Over 800 pieces of artwork created. But more importantly, finding peace, joy and gratitude each and every single day. We’re up to Part 7 of our route map now, but if you missed any earlier segments or highlight blogs (lots of pictures!), catch up with any of the links here:

And now…on to TEXAS!

Part VII
February 9 – March 7, 2016

Our desert exploration continued as we left Arizona and headed to Texas, through El Paso and on to Marfa, TX. We actually wanted to spend some time in New Mexico, but due to freezing temperatures (weather is always a factor for our travel trailer), we decided we would circle back to NM at a later point.

Marfa, TX was our stopping point from Arizona to Big Bend National Park, and home to “The Marfa Lights”. A strange and unexplained phenomena of bouncing lights on the horizon, although to us, they looked like they could very likely be headlights in the distance. Regardless, Texas is home to possibly the darkest skies we’ve seen yet. You haven’t seen the stars or the milky way until you’ve seen them on a clear night in the middle of nowhere Texas.

From there we continued on to Big Bend National Park. Located in southwest Texas, Big Bend was a biggie on our bucket list. It’s a long way from anything but it’s absolutely beautiful. Our awe of desert beauty continued here and included exploration of ancient petroglyphs and major gawking at the impressive canyons the Rio Grande carves into the mountains.

We left the bright lights of the stars in Big Bend for the bright lights of some city life in San Antonio and Austin. (Texas BBQ? Yes, please!) And took care of some “work” (it’s not really work when you love what you do!) by visiting the Texas Gulf Coast for some driftwood sourcing! Because no matter where we go, we’re creating and shipping driftwood artwork, and the driftwood supply in the desert is hard to come by…

Our driving route is below, and of course you can check out highlights and pictures from Big Bend National Park, The Alamo and the Texas Gulf Coast in our detailed blog posts. Thanks for following along!

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

 

 

Exploring Ancient Petroglyphs

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Come take a walk with me… to the Petroglyphs

What is it like to see the world’s oldest artwork up close and in person? In my opinion, it’s pretty damn awesome! It’s like an ancient ‘choose your own adventure’ novel, except rather than being written onto paper, they’re etched into stone.

It’s been said many times that a picture is worth a thousand words. In the world of pictographs (painted) and petroglyphs (carved) a picture can be worth just a single word. Putting those rock hewn pictures together however, leads me to imagine a riveting story.

On our year-long adventure, Kristin and I have journeyed to two different ancient sites. One site on a long, narrow winding road high up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and the other in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park, Texas.

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This huge pictograph, named Hospital Rock, is painted on an enormous quartzite rock and is estimated to date back as far as 1350 A.D. Drive through hairpin turns and along sheer cliffs to a split rock partially protecting this incredible piece of history.
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This huge petroglyph, in an area known as Indian Head in Big Bend National Park, is carved into the rock. It’s one of thousands of archeological sites preserved within the park and just a tiny glimpse into the remains of civilizations that existed in the area for over 10,000 years.

Both areas come with their own legends of humans who lived there thousands of years ago. And on both occasions after attempting to decipher them, I left with more questions than answers. But that’s half the fun, the other half is the trek…many of these sites require a bit of an Indiana Jones type spirit for exploration to get to. So, come take a walk with me to Indian Head…

Indian Head, Big Bend National Park, Texas

Along the Rio Grande, in Southwest Texas, we ventured to a remote location within Big Bend National Park simply called “Indian Head”. It is an ancient, mystical place that we found out about from a kind, local Native American woman (a fascinating lady to talk with who was also married to a shaman!). She approached us one morning while we were staying in Marfa, TX and asked about our Destination Tree RV Decals.

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The back of our RV displays our Destination Tree mantra…Live Life Inspired. And has initiated friendships and conversations all across the country, including Marfa, TX. Each and every day is a gift to be grateful for!

After telling her our story, she must have appreciated our ‘positive energy aura’ because she let us in on the secret location of this ancient spiritual site.

Indian Head is not the kind of place you’ll find on a map. The only way you’ll find it is if someone who knows about it is willing to tell you its location. So with no maps, no cell coverage, and with our 4X4 truck we followed her exact directions across the dry, arid desert, looking for the landscape reference points she described in order to find this ancient site where petroglyphs could be found.

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We may have questioned if we were going the right direction a few times, but we did end up in the right place and found Indian Head, an ancient archeological site.

Our Petroglyph Expedition

Wanting to get an early start before the scorching heat of the day, it was in the pre-dawn hours that we arrived.

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Sunrise in the desert is a soul stirring experience ushering in a clean slate with a brand new day and a sense of peace rising over the mountains.
The contradiction of cold nights has us bundled up for the sunrise before we shed layers as the extreme heat of the day sets in at Big Bend National Park.

There are no parking areas or trail heads, just a bit of flat desert ground at the base of a series of small mountains that were pockmarked high up with what appeared to be caves. Caves, mind you, that a person would have to literally repel down to get into as climbing was not an option, unless you have some professional gear and skills. I really wish I knew what was up in them… or at least I think I do.

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High up towards the top, in the middle, you can make out two of many dark looking caves that dotted the mountains.

From the moment that the dogs hopped out of the truck we could tell they were disturbed by this place. They love car rides. They love walks and hikes. Normally, they’d be bouncing from excitement. But we’ve never seen them act so fearful and antsy before.

With the sun creeping up over the horizon, we loaded up with water and hiked towards the back of the mountain range where the woman told us we could find the petroglyphs.

In a sort of unnerving way she had also informed us that there would be a veil of energy we would have to walk through on the edge of a dry riverbed where evil spirits had been cast down in the past by the natives who occupied this area. No problem, right!?

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Dark spirits followed us along as we walked. Oh wait, that’s just Dobie and Lucy. However, do you know the number one way to keep any unfriendly spirits at bay? Protective Dobie Kisses. Does the trick every time. Whether you want ’em or not.

As we carried on, even I had to admit that it felt as though we were never alone out there. The vibe I was getting was one of being watched by unseen eyes. Well, after a half hour hike, we reached the site of the petroglyphs. There they were in all their glory! It was in this place, long ago in a time now forgotten, where many chapters of a far older race had been carved out on boulders of various immense sizes.

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See?! I’m not alone…there is a shadow figure just across from me! Just kidding. The morning shadows make it difficult to see the petroglyphs, but the perspective helps show some scale for the size of some of these boulders!
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Here’s a close up and better view of the same petroglyph.

On one particular rock, I read about a sky queen giving birth to mankind in the mountain area of the four corners of the earth.

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And on another, the story told of two giant bubble headed snakes battling it out in the presence of excitedly dancing spectators. (Kristin says I have quite an imagination.) Take a look and decipher some of your own stories…

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With so many artistic stories being told on the numerous earthen canvases, we could have been entertained for hours. However with the heat of the day approaching rapidly and two scared and tired dogs in tow, we decided to leave this amazing place of legend behind, head out through the spirit veil, and find our way back to society again for water and a break from the heat.

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Climbing up and around and weaving in and out of the boulders in search of petroglyphs.
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Hot and tired Pup 1 and Pup 2.

Fading Relics

Seeing some of the world’s oldest artwork up close and in person is truly a super cool experience. And it is the only way to see them. Pictures just don’t do the whole experience justice, although we tried. We plan to visit many more parts of the country where they can be found. (By the way, we learned that there are 26 states were these artistic relics are located…And those are just the ones where they’ve actually been discovered!)

Although sites like these are all around our country, time and human desecration is putting their staying power to the test. Sadly, for every one stony story we could still read on the boulders, there were many more that were no longer visible or legible. However, for those that are willing to look, there’s still an opportunity to seek these ancient stories.

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So, if you’re feeling up to the challenge, choose a petroglyph site, put on your brown hat, grab your satchel & whip and go have fun using your imagination Indy style.

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I’d love to hear your adventure story.

Cheers to the ancient and modern storytellers,

Matt

What Does 25,000 Miles Look Like?

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25,000 miles. Twenty five thousand miles.

That’s a lot of driving. We’ve been called crazy. And inspiring. We’ve visited some amazing destinations on our year-long road trip, but you gotta get there somehow. So, we’ve done a LOT of driving. We paused to think about all the states we’ve driven through (THIRTY!!! Scroll all the way to the bottom to check out the map!) and all the landscapes we’ve seen along the way when our odometer recently read 25,000 miles.

We’ve taken plenty of great pictures of a hard earned view from a tough hike, or from an isolated mountain top, but there’s no denying we’ve seen some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country without the need to even step outside our vehicle. The miles and moments in between the destinations have filled the pages of our journey.

Are you ready for a view from the front seat? Great. Here’s what 25,000 miles looks like.

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Calm, tranquil, peaceful heaven. Lake Abanakee, Adirondack Park, New York
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Out the passenger window, I-91, Vermont. They don’t call it the Green Mountain State for nothin’.
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One of the many bays on the coast of Maine.
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A storm rolling in across the corn fields in Pennsylvania, near Gettysburg.
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Sometimes the clouds, architecture, and angle at which you hang out the side window, make for the perfect shot. Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge, St. Louis, MO
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Early sunrise on the road in South Dakota.
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Near Mount Rushmore we drove through this sweet, little tunnel…can’t go around, can’t go over, so let’s go right through. The trees on top don’t even mind.
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As far as the eye can see in Wyoming…
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After an endless flat horizon through most of Wyoming, it makes Devil’s Tower even more of a mystery in the middle of this flat land…and this stunning sunset as we drove away closed out a beautiful day.
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The winding, scenic road weaving through the National Bison Range, wildlife refuge, Missoula, MT
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The incomparable Glacier National Park, MT.
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It was a quick pass through Idaho as we had our eyes set on the Pacific Northwest. Hi and Bye!
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Driving along Upper Hoh Road, towards Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, WA
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Along the same road, we sited several Elk across the Hoh River!
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We witnessed very sobering sights as well. Logging is a big industry and while there are controls in place and re-plantings, it is still sad to see the remains. Olympic Peninsula, WA.
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Witness every sunset you possibly can. Especially over the water. Olympic National Park, WA.
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We called Oregon home for seven weeks and while the rain provided some challenges, we NEVER got tired of this coastline.
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This is one of the reasons Oregon is so special…the mist, the fog, the coastline, and then when the sun comes out it shines magical rays right through the trees.
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We feature lots of famous, mammoth Redwoods of Northern California in other posts, but not too far away is the surprising Lost Coast, where cows graze alongside the Pacific Ocean!
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Mountains, palm trees and orange trees, all in the same shot. Only in California!
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Winding our way up the mountains of Sequoia National Park.
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The indescribable winter wonderland of snowy King’s Canyon National Park.
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Harnessing the power of the wind in California, and seriously the most wind turbines we’ve ever seen. It felt like a weird dream as they went on for miles and miles.
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Dusk and dawn in Joshua Tree National Park are an otherworldly experience.
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We loved the beauty and peace within the red rocks of Sedona, AZ.
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Along the Apache Trail in Arizona…scenic and smooth to start, and then an awesome off-road adventure (with scenery as the second priority behind safe driving).
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A refreshing sight to see a body of water along the dry, cacti covered Apache Trail in Arizona.
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Arriving at Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend National Park, TX.


We hope you enjoyed a brief highlight tour capturing a glimpse of 25,000 miles on the road. Check out more of our life on the road via our blog or Instagram and stay tuned for more sights and adventures.

Cheers!
Kristin

Below is a map of all the states (in brown) that we’ve been through so far…still more to go!

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Desert Drifters

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Drifters. Gypsies. Adventurers. Roaming Entrepreneurs.

Call us what you want, but full-time life on the road is pretty awesome, regardless of semantics. We have each other, our two crazy pups, our tiny home, our growing business, and an endless horizon of new places to explore and share.

We checked off a lot of “bucket list” destinations like Napa, Yosemite and Sequoia on the last segment of our trip. However, we were looking forward to warmer temperatures as we continued on and prepared for a drastic change in scenery. Good-bye, Giant Sequoias. Hello, Southwest Saguaros.

We were a little worried to leave giant trees and forests, turns out we just traded them for giant cacti. Matt's always useful for showing scale, since he's 6'6", this is obviously a big Saguaro.
We were a little sad to leave giant trees and forests, turns out we just traded them for giant cacti. Matt’s always useful for showing scale, since he’s 6’6″, this is obviously a gi-nor-mous Saguaro.

Joshua Tree National Park

First up, Joshua Tree National Park. I’m going to come right out and say that just because it’s not one of the most hyped, or well-known national parks, doesn’t mean it’s not spectacular. I’m ashamed to admit we probably wouldn’t have planned a visit here if we hadn’t already been on a road trip through the area with a strong interest in visiting as many national parks along our way as possible. It would have been our loss. Each of our national parks are preserved and protected for very good reason, and Joshua Tree is no exception.

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Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park…the chollas spanned as far as you could see in this area. And with zero self control, (look don’t touch!) I proved they’re pokey and not fuzzy.

Three Reasons to Love Joshua Tree National Park

REASON 1 – SUNRISES. Let’s be real, sunrises are pretty hard to mess up. Whether your horizon is the coast, forest, mountains or desert, chances are the sunrise will be beautiful. However, sunrises in Joshua Tree National Park were extra special. Now, I’m not the kind of gal who pops outta bed when it’s still dark outside with an eager smile and instant go-get-em attitude. Not even when the reward is a stunningly beautiful sunrise to kick start the day. I usually require at least 30 minutes and 2 ½ cups of coffee to really admit I’m ready to kick ass and take names. So, if I of all people recommend getting up in the pre-dawn hours to experience a desert sunrise, trust me, you should do it.

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See?! I told you it was worth it. The low clouds, pitch black mountains and Joshua Tree silhouette make for a stunning sunrise canvas.
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As the sun continues to rise, the desert changes from dark to pastel colors and all the Cholla Cacti and Joshua Trees seem to glow in soft light. (P.S. Don’t touch that Cholla.)
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Get that sunrise shot! I promise, we did put down the cameras and actually sit and enjoy the sunrise each day. We were just a little camera-happy the first morning.

REASON 2 – ROCKS. Yes, rocks. I wasn’t overly excited either, until I saw them in person. Unless you’re an avid rock climber, you’re probably like me and wonder what all the fuss is about. Just wait ’til you see them. Mounds of rocks all around the park beckon to be explored. Walk around them, scramble up them, play king of the mountain and enjoy the view.

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I’m not sure why I’m dressed like a ninja, but it’s rather fitting considering I’m holding up Split Rock with one finger. Such a badass. Or a dork. Take your pick.
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Once again Matt does a spectacular job providing scale to demonstrate how huge these boulders are! We can’t claim to have the gear or skills to call ourselves rock climbers, but it’s fun as hell to scramble up and around and then enjoy the view.
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This is a rock scramblin’ sunrise selfie. Say that ten times fast.

REASON 3 – JOSHUA TREES. Pretty obvious, as the park’s namesake, but really they are amazing. Each one a different shape, size and configuration. Oh, and the apt comparison to a Dr. Seuss creation is 100% accurate.

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Joshua meet Matt. Matt meet Joshua.

Our drifting continued as we moved on to Arizona…

Falling in Love With Red Rocks

Matt had always wanted to go to Sedona. However, I didn’t know much about it. I must have been living under a rock. A red rock. Of course, as soon as I started researching, I had a lengthy list of all the must-do sights and hikes and couldn’t wait to go. Sedona is gorgeous. I can understand why Native Americans and many others consider it a spiritual and healing place. We were in awe as soon as we saw the red striped giant formations dotted with green pines and shrubbery set against the blue backdrop of the Arizona sky.

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Oh, you know, just a little snapshot out of the truck window.

We couldn’t wait to hit the trails and started with a 4 mile round trip hike to Devil’s Bridge, the largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona. What started as a fairly flat desert hike soon gained in elevation and our terrain transitioned from red dirt, to red mud, to red snow to icy red rocks.

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Lucy got a first class ticket across this small stream in an effort to keep her paws, legs and belly white instead of red. Fairly funny considering I gave her a makeshift bath in this stream on the way back to wash red mud off her entire underside. Dogs, paws and boots all got up close and personal with Sedona Red Soil. (Totally worth it, mind you).
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This is where the transition started…our red dirt trail slowly turned into red mud..
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…and some red mud/ice/snow mix which took a little extra time to navigate while staying upright..especially while staring at the surrounding stunning views.
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The snow as we gained elevation…and no solid explanation why I decided to strike a post like that. The ninja is long gone.
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That’s it! Devil’s Bridge, the largest natural sandstone arch in Sedona.
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I immediately regretted telling Matt to go stand on the bridge so I could take a picture. That’s a sheet of ice to his right, and a several hundred foot drop below. Not my proudest moment.

Doe Mountain trail was another favorite hike with a series of switchbacks up the side of the mountain to the flat top mesa with some of the most spectacular panoramic views.

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Matt was starting to get a little tired here…and almost ten-year-old Dobie proved to be part mountain goat as he deftly hiked and hopped his way up the side of this mountain. Age is just a number, baby! And they are both quite handsome, if I do say so myself.
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Moutain-top selfie with panoramic views! Hope you’re not too tired of our close up mugs.
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This was a much safer lookout than Devil’s Bridge. And seriously, the top of Doe Mountain has the best 360 degree views of Sedona. We didn’t actually compare it to every other mountain, so the claim is limited but seems accurate.
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Tired of looking at the gorgeous views of Sedona? Good, me either.
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We added a topper to this little trail marker before heading back down. Helluva good hike.

If you make it to Sedona, you won’t be disappointed…hike, bike or hop a jeep tour to experience this stunning, red striped piece of heaven.

History Lessons

It can’t be ALL hiking and beautiful scenery, right? So, we hit up some historic and educational Arizona destinations along the way including The Apache Trail (which you can experience first-hand with Matt), Tombstone, Bisbee, Pima Air & Space Museum and Kartchner Caverns State Park. (No pictures of Karchner Caverns because they don’t allow photography, but if you find yourself near Tucson, Arizona these beautifully preserved caverns are ABSOLUTELY worth a visit).

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Hold out for Matt’s next paranormal blog to hear about any spookiness in Tombstone. As for recommendations, the town is pretty touristy, but the Tombstone Courthouse turned museum is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the area. Now, whaddya want on your Tombstone?!
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The Bisbee Queen Mine tour was SO MUCH FUN! We got gear, helmets, lights and hopped on the train into the mine. The guides were retired miners and full of great knowledge. A Bisbee Must.
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With over three hundred aircraft in hangars and on the grounds, Matt was in heaven at the Pima Air and Space Museum. I thought it was pretty cool too, but was more impressed it was pet friendly and included soaking up some sunshine.

Our desert drifting continues to Texas next…so stay tuned, and Don’t Mess With Texas!

Cheers,

Kristin

Our Route Across the Country – Part 6

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We’ve reached the half way point…SIX months into our year long adventure traversing the country. We’re full-time RV-er’s with our truck, travel trailer and mobile business, creating and shipping driftwood artwork everywhere we go. We’re up to Part 6 of our route map now, but feel free to check out previous segments. Here’s a breakdown of each leg of our journey:

And now…

Part VI
January 15 – February 8, 2016

We had a harrowing experience on our way from Southern California towards Twenty Nine Palms, CA. I hate to tease and not elaborate, but I’ll leave the details to an upcoming blog post from Matt. Just know that some SEVERE winds threatened to blow us away, and through the kindness of a Good Samaritan, we found a safe spot to wait out better driving conditions.

Despite that delay, we made it safely to Twenty Nine Palms, CA which was our base for exploring Joshua Tree National Park.  Predawn sunrises and early morning hikes (before the heat of midday) were our favorite times of day to experience the park. The Joshua Trees, cholla cacti and huge rocks are the icons of this park and gave us a true appreciation for the desert.

From there we continued on to Arizona. We soaked in the beauty and peace of the red rocks in Sedona, 4×4’d the Apache Trail outside of Phoenix, and took several day trips exploring extended areas around Tucson, including Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, Bisbee, Pima Air & Space Museum and Chiricahua National Monument.

Any worries about leaving the coastline and forests behind were unnecessary…the cacti and mountains proved themselves worthy of admiration.

This is just the route overview, so check out our next blog post with highlights and pictures from Joshua Tree National Park and Arizona. Thanks for following along!

Tips: Zoom in and out on the map, and move the map around to get a better look at the route. Or click “View Larger Map” below to get an even better view.

A Walk Through a Redwood Forest

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How does it feel to stand among the tallest living trees? To be present with these time travelers of enormous proportions? To gaze up hundreds of feet to their towering canopy and to spread your arms around a fraction of their 90+ foot circumference? I had always wanted to know what it was like and for those that would share the same desire, I’ll describe it to you as best I can. So, come take a walk with me through a Redwood Forest.

A walk among the Redwoods is a magical and soul stirring experience.
A walk among the Redwoods is a magical and soul stirring experience.

Kristin and I were fortunate to spend several weeks exploring and hiking among these gentle giants on our year long journey across the country and never lost our sense of wonder at the magnificence of these forests.

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Just when we think we’ve seen the biggest Redwood there is, we find another, and another. (Although, we’re pretty sure this one was the record holder on our hikes) And ultimately, each and every one is awe-inspiring.

The first sense to awaken when I encounter them is my vision. My eyes explode open to the site of a darkly enchanting greenish hued city of living sky scrapers. It really stuns you. You want to say something, but all that comes out is the faint sound of awe, escaping your lungs through your mouth.

Weaving between each Redwood takes your senses into overload.
Weaving between each Redwood takes your senses into overload.

No forest you’ve ever been to, nor movie you’ve ever watched, can even come close to preparing you for the moment. It’s not just the towering trees, but everything around you that your eyes absorb. Carpets of emerald and lavender colored clover greet you from below.

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The clover lined trail is like stepping into a fairy tale, and each clover leaf hid a purple hue on the other side.

Every step is cushioned with a springy softness from rust-colored needles. Nurse logs sheltering tiny insects and animals turn into dark, rich, living soil with ferns and new life bursting from their trunks. Soft green lichens coat the sides of auburn-brown trunks as your eyes take in this foreign environment.

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A glimpse at a fallen giant, who’s life renews as it nurses new growth and allows new light to the forest below.

Then comes the smell. The scent in the air is next to overwhelm you. Earthy and grounding, yet freshly enlightening, with a slight feeling of a chill that surrounds you. In essence, the smell of life untainted by human influence. The thick bark smells of an unyielding strength, the kind of strength that has outlasted fires, floods, droughts and animals. The earthiness of your path is like nature’s perfume from the near constant falling of needles and twigs that rains down from the forest above. All of these important characters play a role in a collective aroma that breathes new life into you as you inhale the forest atmosphere.

Lastly, I find myself immersed in the sound of the trees. Or lack thereof. We don’t think of the trees as talking to one another, probably because their language is foreign to us. But they do. Like the birds in the air or the whales in the sea, I fully believe all life forms have their way of communicating. Trees are no exception to that. With no pocket translator to decipher, I attempt to hear what they are saying. Are they trying to teach me something? Are they simply talking amongst themselves? I don’t know for certain, but I’m intrigued.

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These giants have a language…in silence, in soft breezes and in creaking settling, as one with the earth.

At other times, I hear nothing. A nothingness so quiet, absent of all sound that the only sound I hear is that of my heart beating in my ear. I feel the giant sentinels are looking down on me with curious thoughts of my intentions. Unlike the loggers of a past era, I stand now in their midst with an appreciation of them, and somehow I think they know that. And then seemingly all at once, the sound of 300 pipe organs erupts, all playing on their deepest key as the trees begin talking to one another through the breeze now setting in. The swaying and creaking and shaking and bending produce an unreal bellowing sound that can be felt all through the ground, up into my feet, and clear through to my spine.

And with the breeze, comes yet another round of tiny detached pieces of these living specimens fluttering down from high up in the canopy above. For hundreds of feet there are no branches on these auburn pillars to catch the plummeting, tiny particles raining down.

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Your path is soft and springy, strewn with needles, branches, leaves and soil. Making each step feel like you’re being lifted by the Redwood Forest.

We remove our hats and attempt to catch falling needles for good luck, before they fall to the forest floor, and indeed we do. Fortune favors us today. With my senses clearly overwhelmed, I have a love for this ancient landscape.

So what is it like to stand in the presence of a giant redwood forest? In a word, to me anyways, it’s like heaven. Forget puffy clouds and pearly gates, and putting aside the numerous religions and their afterlife, if heaven truly exists, this is how I would imagine it to be.

Cheers to the tall ones,

Matt

About Us

At Destination Tree we create handcrafted driftwood signs, collages and centerpieces. Each piece of artwork is completely unique and inspired by your story.

Our Mission

To create handcrafted, meaningful artwork that helps tell the story of your journey, one destination at a time.

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PO Box 156, Petoskey, MI 49770
info@destinationtree.com