The Big Trip Part 1

Hello there friends! As many of you know, I took a very big trip over thanksgiving break! It was amazing and I wanted to share my insights, pictures, favorite things, and some things I would do differently. It's going to take me a couple of posts because there's a lot to share, especially photos (if you've been following along for any length of time, this will not be a shocker to you!). So let's get started.

First Leg

The first part of my trip was flying to Los Angeles for a couple of days. I flew from Binghamton to Detroit to LAX. I haven't been on a plane since before COVID happened and I used to be a very nervous flyer. I didn't take my first airplane trip until I was 25 and it was not a very good experience for me (I mean, I started my first airplane trip going to Germany. So it was a. big. deal. LOL). I think it was mostly my anxiety about life that held me back. I mean, isn't that always the case? We'll be discussing this in more detail over the next few blog posts. Well. We'll probably be discussing this for more than a few blog posts.

Anyway. I had major anxiety about flying, but not this time. I've found that most of the things that made me anxious pre-separation don't actually make me anxious now. I don't have that overwhelming fear of things or new experiences. My anxiety results from other things. But, again, we'll talk about that later.

So I flew to LAX which is 3 times zones behind where I live. I was so discombobulated throughout the flight from Detroit to LA. I couldn't figure out what time it was! The plane from Binghamton to Detroit was relatively empty. I left after school on a Wednesday so I guess that was a good time to fly! But then the plane from Detroit to LA was packed. We were three across then an aisle and then three more seats. It was a relatively big plane and I chose a window seat. I felt the claustrophobia of feeling trapped with two other people sitting next to me. It didn't help that the fella sitting in the middle seat was trying to hit on me and the other female sitting with us. I mean, seriously? Yeah dude, I'm here to pick up men. Get a life. It was gross and uncomfortable. I decided that having my headphones with me was a really good thing. I couldn't wait to get off that plane!

But I didn't have the general fear and anxiety that I used to have. In fact, I was so excited! I didn't check my bag. I've been flying on flights were you can have a carry on and then another bag, such as a purse. My purse happens to be a relatively big bag that I carry my electronics in. I always travel with my laptop, camera, and ipad so I need an extra roomy bag. But I did manage to get all my clothes, shoes, and other items into a small carry on suitcase. I had to borrow a suitcase, but I think it's the way to go, especially if you are flying. It's amazing how light you can pack and also how much you can fit into one suitcase.

So I traveled very light! It was such an accomplishment. I would do a couple of things differently though. First, it was hard to pack because I was going to be in LA for a couple of days. It wasn't warm there either. It was actually quite cool--probably a high somewhere in the 60's. Nights were in the 40's. We didn't actually go out at night so I didn't need anything dressy, not that I took anything dressy. But I did have a nicer top and sweater just in case. The shoes were an issue too. I didn't pack sneakers so I ended up buying sneakers that I wore one time. That was a mistake. I mean, I'm glad I have them now but I didn't need them for the trip. I could have gotten away with the shoes I brought on the trip.

I ended up wearing leggings the majority of the trip. They were perfect for traveling. I did have some jeans and such, but didn't really even need them. I took a nice dress, tights, and ballet flats for Thanksgiving dinner but, again, didn't end up wearing them. Since this was my first trip like this there was bound to be trial and error. What else? I took a very fluffy, warm fleece thing that I ended up wearing instead of my heavy peacoat. I could have gotten away with a puffy jacket and been just fine. And then I ended up buying a beautiful sweater coat in Cheyenne that I wore for the rest of the trip. If I'd known I would buy that, I would have left the rest at home. But it wasn't a big deal.

While in LA

Okay. Enough about the packing. I just want to keep a record of things so I can look back and plan accordingly for my next trip. Because friends, there will be a next trip. I am not done with traveling the United States!

Onwards. LA was fun. The person I was visiting lives right in Hollywood so I walked around a lot. I had to gather some things while I was there--toiletries and some pajamas (thank goodness. More on why in a minute). I walked to a coffee shop and worked one day. I had some things to take care of before I could really let go and have fun. It was amazing sitting at a coffee shop in Hollywood, looking at the Hollywood hills. I was sending videos back to my students in NY and they had to figure out where I was. One of the videos has me sitting at some shops with the Hollywood sign in the background.

What's Next?

Hollywood was nice but I was so ready to get on the road! We left LA on Saturday morning and traveled to Zion National Park in Utah. We traveled across southern California and headed into Las Vegas. I've never really felt the need to visit Las Vegas, but since we were there we stopped and visited a gift shop and took some pictures, although most of the pictures are from the car! We were on a tight schedule and decided that we'd seen enough of Vegas. And, quite randomly, we found the best restaurant in north Las Vegas! It's a BBQ joint and the owner, Mike, and the rest of the staff were super friendly. The food was excellent. They even gave us some bread pudding for the road!

After leaving Las Vegas, it was pretty much a full driving day to get to our campsite in Zion. So we went through southern Nevada into Arizona then into Utah. Our trip to Zion National Park took us around the bottom edge and very, very close to the Grand Canyon. But it was dark so we didn't know what we were missing! The bottom edge of Zion also took us back into Arizona and through the cutest little town in Utah-Kanab. Unfortunately we only saw it at night but I would venture back there someday! And I just looked at the map up close--we traveled through an Indian Reservation while in Arizona. Perhaps on my return trip to explore more of southern Utah. More on that in a minute.

We showed up at the campsite, yes, campsite, around 9PM or so. Our trip to Zion took longer than expected, but I think we were just enjoying the scenery and really just taking our time, overall. We decided, back in August, that staying in a glamping tent was the way to go. I'm not sure now why we decided to do such a thing, especially considering that it was 14 degrees outside! Yikes! There was a heater but it wasn't big enough to really warm the space up. So we slept in lots and lots of layers. Needless to say, I was not a happy camper. There was a very friendly fella there, Kevin, who showed us to our tent. He showed us all about the propane heater but it wasn't turned on before we got there (because, well, they didn't know when we would arrive. And quite frankly, neither did we!). Unfortunately the propane heater just wasn't big enough to heat against the 14 degree weather. Moving on...

Zion

But. Regardless of the glamping situation, the next day I awoke to a perfect setting! It was gorgeous. We had to use a bath house and I was up early and ready to get going! I took my time getting ready, packing up, and then heading to the dining room for breakfast. Breakfast was included and I couldn't wait to get a cup of coffee. This trip should be known as the trip in which I spent most of my money on coffee. I will discuss my budget, my successes, my failures, and what I would do different in another post. But let's make record of it here that I drank a lot of coffee.

Anyway, Zion! Wow! After breakfast we headed out on a jeep tour of the property surrounding the glamping stations (and for the record, there were cabins. With actual walls. And heat. But did I mention that we wanted to glamp?). So we loaded into that jeep you see and off we went! Around gulches. Through the mud! But boy, it was worth it. Our driver was from back east...North Carolina in fact! He told us all about the area, some of the history, and showed us some beautiful scenery. I've forgotten almost everything he told us though. And, if I go back I will definitely do the horseback tour!

After the jeep tour, we loaded up and made our way through Zion. It was spectacular! Oh my goodness. I fell in love. I hadn't seen anything so beautiful (until later, but we'll get there eventually) as those red rocks and it just took my breath away. We made lots and lots of stops to enjoy the view and just take it all in. But then we had to get back on the road. We had to be in Moab that night. To stay in a hostel. Oh boy! Just wait for that story!

But before I leave you for today, dear reader, I will say that one of my favorite parts about this whole trip was being able to stay off the highway for long stretches. You never know what you will come across when you are on a secondary road. And we stumbled upon some really great things. One of those things was Butch Cassidy's childhood home. It's on some back road leading out of Zion National Park as we headed north to Moab. I can't believe that 13 kids and 2 parents lived in that tiny cabin! But that's what they did. It makes me rethink the way we live and how good we have it now.

That's where we'll stop for now. I'll be back soon with part 2. I don't know how many parts there will be in order to tell this story, but we'll find out together!

'til next time
-k
xoxo