adventure travel Archives

Wind, Sand & Travel Plan Changes; This is Just Day One!

May 8, 2025April 21, 2025Posted in adventure travel, blogging, environment, safety, Travel, writingTagged Nature, New Mexico, travel, weather3 Comments

Wind blowing. Sand blowing. My high-profile van is rocking and swaying as I drive the interstate into New Mexico. The last 20 years I have seen the signs about low visibility possible when the wind and sand are blowing across the road. I’ve read the signs posted at various intervals along the hundreds of interstate miles here in New Mexico.

Don’t stop in travel lane. Pull over, get off the road. Turn off your vehicle. Turn off vehicle’s lights. Keep your seat belt on. Do not put your feet on the brakes. Signs posted in areas that during this trip did not even have wind and sand blowing. I was ready, if need be.

And then it happened. Traffic slowed as the wind-blown sand created low visibility. I thought, let’s be careful folks, no multi-vehicular accident today please. We crept along … so very slow … and we were going okay keeping a distance between vehicles. Then … there was no vehicle in front of me. Sand filled the air! With my van moving slowly, still in a driving lane, the next moment I saw the vehicle in front of me. It had stopped. So did I, and thankfully so did the vehicle behind me. We all sat … for numerous minutes. Here was a parking lot on the interstate!

I never saw the police car till it passed me on the shoulder.

Any minutes when the air cleared, traffic slowly moved forward, then stopped for minutes at a time on the road. I was so thankful to be surrounded by patient drivers as this would have been awful if we did not all cooperate in our stopping. We were at this for a long period of time to only travel a few miles. Emergency messages were numerous on my phone. Here is one still after I had stopped for the night … road may have still been closed.

My destination was Hatch, New Mexico. However, the direct road to Hatch and the round-about longer drive on the interstate to Hatch were both closed to traffic. The sandstorm prompted the officials to close the roads. We all descended upon Deming, New Mexico. We could go no further. My travel plan changed and I slept in my van at a Walmart parking lot along with many others who could travel no further. I don’t know what time the roads eventually opened. My van rocked in the wind till at least 9:30pm despite the weather predictions of less wind at 7pm.

Van travel: My 5-4-3 Plan

May 4, 2025April 14, 2025Posted in adventure travel, blogging, Travel, writingTagged USA, Van travel2 Comments

My van is my “home on the road”. There is nothing particularly luxurious about it, but I am able to accomplish what I wish for a couple of months at a time while driving across the USA. Maintaining joy is about creating a rhythm while on the road. Just as we have daily habits at home, I maintain a few while traveling in my van. The major ones are what I refer to as my 5-4-3 plan.

Five: no more than 500 miles driven per day. Since I often stop at various local places during a day’s travel, which do take time, driving less than 500 miles is a major part of my van travel.

Four: stop and set up camp by 4PM. Or maybe it will be a visit with friend or family, or a hotel night. Whatever; I find the 4PM time to be the start of a relaxing late afternoon/evening. Whether that be a walk, glass of wine, mug of beer, or time to sketch. It is nice to know my driving is done. I can stretch my legs outside of the van. It’s time for something else to be enjoyed.

Three: stay for 3 nights. It is necessary to knock off many miles day after day while traveling across the USA. So I choose specific places to allow for rest, thus a 3 night stay someplace, every so often. Once in an area, I may stay 3 nights or more and enjoy all I can with no rush off a next morning. Three nights allows for 2 full days of activity! I love these breaks!

Of course, since I have no additional heat or air-conditioning in my van, I have been known to cut short a stay to travel elsewhere away from wildfire smoke, hot or cold temperatures, or whatever is just not making my stay enjoyable. But for the most part, my 5-4-3 plan works for me.

Do you have a plan when you travel? What works for you? I’m always interested in hearing from others about their travel. In the meantime, travel safely. Maybe I will see you on the road!

Reimbursed for Bad Weather!

May 1, 2025April 7, 2025Posted in adventure travel, blogging, environment, Travel, wildlifeTagged Nature, travel, weatherLeave a comment

Bad weather happens when you are home, when you travel, it happens whenever. It’s nature at work; a reality at times. In the southwest USA, we truly look forward to our bad weather being a good rain storm! Is this monsoon season or is this just a good rain? Shall I change my outdoor plans or not?

Recently I was absolutely amazed to have come upon a new item on camping reservation forms! I was making travel plans. Simply I wanted to reserve a campsite in the USA. While entering payment info, this pops up:

This business must be a great idea for the person collecting the money and the camper who needs a guarantee. I needed to reserve a camping site in another state. I knew it would have a different weather pattern so I was curious to see if there is a weather guarantee. Here is what came up:

Okay, a lower per day rate for my 3 day camping stay in this other state, plus it has to rain 3 plus hours. Very interesting! Still, not interested in purchasing the “Sensible weather”. The whole point of being outdoors is to enjoy the outdoors, whatever it may be. Rain, hurricanes, tornadoes, high winds … OMG, maybe high winds is the next need for peace of mind! But I did wonder about the rain at night. How many times did I wish to mountain bike the day after a rainstorm at night and could not ride the trails? (Do not ride your bike on muddy trails as it creates ruts and begins to ruin a trail.) Now that might be a guarantee I would be interested in … or not!

Weather can ruin or force changes in a planned event. I know that; been there myself. Outdoor high school graduations were when I was forced to watch weather patterns across New York State for a week ahead of the event. I am sure people do the same for their outdoor picnic, wedding, or whatever. Just when I think I have seen it all, “Sensible Weather” is now on people’s radar to have, if needed and available in your area. And don’t forget, you’ll still need an umbrella and/or raincoat. (Could it please rain in AZ!)

Coins or Bills? It’s About the Money …

March 30, 2025March 13, 2025Posted in adventure travel, blogging, Travel, writingTagged currency, Ecuador, travel4 Comments

Gotta get Ecuadorian money … While prepping for my trip to Ecuador, I discovered there was no need to get foreign currency. Ecuador, like Panama, are the only two countries also using US currency as we do in this country. Yeah, one less thing to do on my checklist! But, be sure to use small bills and coins as a $20.00 bill is easier to get change with your purchase.

Ecuador switched over to US currency in 2000. What I found interesting though, Ecuador receives all their bank notes/bills from the USA and some coins. Ecuador can print their own coins for any denomination less than a dollar. Those coins are similar to ours; however, they lack the rough edges found on our US-made coins. Their coins are not accepted in the USA.

Ecuador gets their bills and dollar coins from the US. Notice Sacagawea’s portrait on the coin below. Ecuadorian’s prefer that coin, over the US one-dollar bill, because it resembles Ecuadorian women. Coins also are more durable in tropical climates than paper bills, so many more one-dollar coins are in Ecuador than the USA.

Ecuadorian coin with appreciation of Sacagawea having looked similar to Ecuadorian women. — Ecuadorian’s love this coin!

Below are photos of the front and back of dollar coins. I enjoyed having those coins in my pocket as many things were easily purchased for a dollar and the coins were quicker to access than any bill. Whatever your preference, remember to check your coins before you come back to the USA … no Ecuadorian con will be valid here.

To Ecuador… & For the Birds!

February 27, 2025February 2, 2025Posted in adventure travel, Animals, Birds, blogging, environment, TravelTagged birds, Ecuador, travel2 Comments

I spent time reading about Ecuador’s food, history, and what birds I may see in the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands. Ceviche (seafood “cooked” in citrus juice), humitas (similar to tamales, which I love), empanadas (also love the crescent-shaped pastry stuffed with meat or cheese and baked or fried), and whatever other foods I can try will be exciting! My snack food on the road is often Snickers. If I cannot find that candy bar, I am going to look for “Manicho”. This is to be a milk chocolate bar filled with peanuts. Sounds good…hope to let you know!

The birds in the Amazon will probably be scraping around the ground or high in the tree canopy. I am excited to hear the sounds at night of all the wildlife. But in the meantime, I started to very-roughly sketch a few birds I might see:

Then I thought I could roughly sketch some birds I might see in the Galapagos. As I was reading some material I got caught up in a story about “Lonesome George”. I hope to hear more of it while on my trip.

Galapagos birds were interesting to read about. Some are not shy around people! Unfortunately some are near threatened or endangered. Will definitely want to hear more about this concern!

Well who knows what we will see while we float around the Galapagos islands and step onto some. I hope I remember to chart the path we take around the islands and can enter some new birds onto my life list. I’ll be back in touch to keep you posted!

Ecuador: See, Eat & Learn While Here!

February 23, 2025January 20, 2025Posted in adventure travel, Animals, Birds, history, TravelTagged Ecuador, travel, wildlife2 Comments

My travel begins in Quito, a city in Ecuador with a population close to 3 million people. It is the oldest South American capital, UNESCO World Heritage site. Quito is the second highest capital in the world at 9,350 feet. (There is debate about it possibly being the highest … check out LaPaz and Sucre, Bolivia for details.)

After my days in Quito, we will be in the Amazon rainforest. We follow that time with close to a week to visit the Galápagos Islands, another UNESCO World Heritage site! It’s a quick trip with plenty to accomplish while I am in Ecuador.

Quito was founded in 1534. I love old architecture, plus South American cuisine, so walking the city’s plazas will be fascinating! We’ll fly, then take a motorized canoe to a village in the Amazonian rainforest. There are 40 families at this village and my chance to learn about their shift to eco-tourism. We’ll return to Quito and fly to the Galápagos Islands. There we will board a small ship for 7 nights as we tour what we can on the islands. There are 13 islands; however, all is protected … including surrounding waters. With permission from the Galápagos National Park, our visits will be allowed on certain islands. They work to maintain low impact to the land, water and animals. No doubt, many other tourists will arrive and I’ll be looking for birds and giant tortoises!

I have begun my research of interesting Ecuadorian foods for me to try. Plus, places to visit and birds to look for while in the city, rainforest and on an island or two. It was Charles Darwin, a naturalist in the 1800’s, who first proposed the scientific theory of evolution through natural selection. Now I’ll have my chance to see finches, mockingbirds, tortoises and iguanas that prompted his conclusions!

I’ll keep you posted! Adiós!

While Columbia is to the north and Peru to the south of Ecuador, please know there are more countries in South America! This map is just a start for all to know where Ecuador is.

Do Quiet Places in the World Exist?

February 20, 2025December 31, 2024Posted in adventure travel, Animals, Birds, blogging, environment, Travel, writingTagged Quiet, travel1 Comment

Where is quiet? Where is silence? When I walk in nature, I want to hear the sounds of nature and see the biodiversity in the area. I do not want to hear anything else, not even my foot steps. With practice, I have become a better stepper on and over various surfaces, so my footsteps are not heard. Bird songs, the wind, and sounds of nature are what I want to hear. I also love seeing the bird singing or pecking at a tree. The tree leaves moving with a breeze. A surprise croak, gurgle or splash is always a joy too! However, the opportunity to be in a quiet place away from modern life’s sounds is extremely rare. Some acoustic ecologists would even suggest quiet is on the way to extinction. I actually worry when there is silence on my walks; where did everything go?

Soon I will visit a village in Ecuador’s rainforest, part of the Amazon jungle. I have fond memories of my five days in Peru’s Amazon rainforest eight years ago. We heard and saw 100 birds in 5 days, other local wildlife, along with the hum of the village people’s daily lives. I am hoping for a similar experience while visiting a village with indigenous people in Ecuador’s rainforest.

Recently I read about camping in remote places in Ecuador. I suspect my travel will not be that deep into the rainforest, but time will tell! How wonderful it would it be to simply listen to the sounds of quiet in nature!

Extra note: This book may be worth checking out! Gordon Hempton’s One Square Inch of Silence: One Man’s Search for Natural Silence in a Noisy World. Hempton is an acoustic ecologist who has recorded natural sounds around the world for the past 4 decades.

Also … Hempton is co-founder of Quiet Parks International. The website is fascinating with audio from various places around the world so we can hear sounds of nature. Plus, I noticed there were places close to my home. Here they are:

Desert Mountain Quiet Conservation Area … the first to be awarded Quiet Conservation Area status by Quiet Parks International. It is located between Phoenix, Arizona and Tonto National Forest, but it is on private property. Hmmm… will need to research this further.

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park in southern California was awarded Quiet Conservation Area status too. I can really appreciate learning this information. A couple of months ago I was hiking some trails there and made a comment about how quiet it was. Little did I know then there was such a thing as “Quiet” status! And it is a state park … easy access for all with a day pass fee! Check it out if you are in the area!

Many places are being nominated; however, to receive an award there needs to be a guarantee of quietness, a huge hurdle for most of our planet! So, cherish the quiet you have in your life when you have it! There is no guarantee it will happen often.

Another CA Anza – Borrego Desert State Park Trail to Hike!

January 16, 2025December 15, 2024Posted in adventure travel, blogging, environment, Travel, wildlifeTagged California hike, travel, wildlifeLeave a comment

If your goal is to see a variety of cacti in California, then the Cactus Loop Nature Trail is the hike for you! It’s about a 20 minute drive from the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park’s visitor center to this trailhead. If you did not buy a day pass at the visitor center, then buy it at the parking lot. Be sure to carry some water even on this one mile hike. It is a rocky trail with a short strenuous start, but take your time and look for the various cacti!

Teddy-bear Cholla Cacti, front and center.

The spines of the Teddy-bear Cholla Cactus, sometimes called “jumping cholla”, truly did not jump on you! Your mistake was in getting to close to the cactus. The spines have barbs that cling to your skin or your clothing. An easy fix to getting it off your clothing is to use a hair pick or comb …. see photo below:

Pick or comb can remove cactus spines easily!

Sometimes however, the situation is worse with some cacti and you’ll need to use tweezers to pull out spines … and the smaller the spine, the more work it is to get them all out! So, watch your step when walking in any cacti area.

Here are some cacti you will find on this trail, photos below. Thanks also to the use of the iNaturalist app, I have the names of each cactus. If you do not have this app, check it out as it is very easy to use and you’ll be a citizen scientist!

Echinocereus engelmannii ssp … no common name given …

Finally, we left Anza – Borrego Desert State Park, with the realization there is so much more to hike and an Erosion Road Driving Tour to take with our own vehicle on a paved road … next time … along with other hikes! Be sure to follow your map, especially where there is no cell service, in this park. There are many, many dirt roads within a 600,000 acre area, you do not want to run out of gas or water. Stay safe everyone!

E-sim and WhatsApp … My Go-to Travel Needs

December 26, 2024November 29, 2024Posted in adventure travel, blogging, Travel, writingTagged e-sim, travel, whatsappLeave a comment

Truth be told, for the majority of my travel time I unplug from the rest of the world. My adventure in a new place is to learn about where I am with the people I am visiting. It is not time for me to be scrolling through texts, emails, games and whatever else is on my phone’s screen! I know it is a challenge to be unplugged, but also worth it for me! Two tech tools I do use however are an E-sim and WhatsApp in my phone.

E-sim … is an electronic sim card. In the old days we actually took out our Verizon or AT&T sim cards, for examples, and put in a sim card for the country we were visiting. Then we were now able to plug into the country’s phone and Internet service. Today if one has an unlocked, check with your carrier, new smart phone, the e-sim is downloaded via the Internet once you purchase a plan. I typically get one for the days of my trip and for “data”, not for phone calls or texting. The access to “data” is most useful for me to navigate a city or town with Google maps. I can locate places of interest without a physical map. If a museum’s hours of operation or looking for a place that serves specific food is needed, the information is at my fingertips.

WhatsApp is an actual app, check your app store, often used with tour groups, but people around the world can create their own groups and use it too. You need to be in wifi area to use it for sending encrypted texts, photos and making a phone call. It is a free app and takes a few minutes to set it up.

Since I remain unplugged most of my travel time, I do tell family and friends I will check e-mail every so often when I am with wifi at a campground or hotel. That is the best way to communicate with me when I travel. There are many e-sim companies … I’m not getting paid to state this … but the one I have used most often is Airalo and have had no issues with their single and multiple country plans.

Decide how connected you wish to be while you travel and get the technology best for you. Safe travels!

Travelers, Check Out the BBC for News of the World

December 19, 2024November 29, 2024Posted in adventure travel, blogging, Travel, writingTagged travel2 Comments

As a world traveler, I believe there is additional importance in knowing what is happening across my country and the world. Information about an area’s economy, weather, politics, and culture allows me to plan a safe, fun-filled itinerary. Travelers want to explore new places and safely immerse within the daily life during a visit to learn about the people and their culture; that’s what travel is all about!

News about a particular area is tough to find at times. I may get encouraged to check out an area in the USA or world because I read an opinion piece, travel guide or been told about a wonderful place by a friend. However, before actually deciding to visit anywhere I also need to know the facts about an area. Is that the weather I wish to spend a couple of weeks in? How does the USA dollar’s value hold up to a foreign currency? Is there political unrest or worries that could cause a concern and possibly make it an unsafe place to visit? Any museum or place not to miss while in the area? What local foods should be tried?

I do my research about an area through various means, but one radio station I am finding myself listening to more often is the British Broadcasting Channel (BBC). The reporters take time to interview people and discuss topics from around the world. There is no rush to be done with a story and I find the story more informative than other news sources. I love first-hand accounts which are often about happenings making news. In a morning of news, I may hear about a few different countries and that is informative. It allows me to dream, consider, and maybe start a future travel plan since the information is allowing me to think about an area of the world worth spending time in at some point.

BBC has many programs, but my first choice is the BBC “World Service Newshour” with news from around the world. It’s fascinating to me also when I hear an American story. The BBC seems to spend more time telling the story than my usual hometown radio. So many other radio programs on BBC, such as Outlook, Crowd Science and Discovery … 3 interesting ones. If you have never turned to that channel on your radio, check it out sometime! Discover factually-based information about places in the world with the BBC, along with other resources as you plan your future travel! It’s important to do your homework!