Life Elevated! On the road with the Teardrop in Utah.
Hey Everybody, I hope you haven’t missed me too much this week. I’ve been fighting off the flu. Ick! It was a good week to be out of commission: I finally got around to sending my beloved camera into Olympus for a much needed cleaning and tune up. But while I’ve been sick and camera-less, I haven’t been idle. I’m always scheming!
Camping on the Lost Coast… definitely scheming!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed spending this winter in Virginia, essentially camping indoors in an unheated house right by the Appalachian Trail. (It’s below freezing but we have a space heater, a fire place, an electric blanket, three dogs and each other. No oil bill … priceless!) And while I always have to put a great deal of effort into avoiding the restless vagabond’s trap of always wanting to be somewhere else, I have been thinking about my next adventure. I miss my Teardrop! Not to mention the freewheelin’ life on the road.
One of my favorite free campsites last summer, near Cedar Breaks, Utah
So here’s my plan for the spring/ summer/ fall: In mid-February, Drew has a week off school so we’re going to head south … to the Florida Keys! We’ll stop in Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA and the Everglades on the way and then head for the southernmost point in the U.S. I’ve actually been there once before, in college, (and wrote a Travels in Geology for EARTH magazine on the ephemeral Keys) but Drew’s never been and I’d love to hit Alaska and the Keys in the same year (damn, 30 was a good one!).
Camping by the Salmon Glacier in Alaska!
Right after we return from the Keys, I turn 31! There’s no way to top last year’s 5-day Grand Canyon birthday epic, so I’m planning to spend my 31st birthday doing what I love most: climbing a mountain. I’m still deciding on the peak, but Virginia offers lots of options. I might even get to use my Xmas ice axe!
After celebrating my 31st birthday on a mountain, followed by a good meal, I’ll get ready to hit the road West. I’d like to set sail in early March, first heading east to the Outer Banks, where I’ve never been — the Teardrop hasn’t yet met the Atlantic — and then to the desert! To the Rockies! To my home on the road!
The Teardrop meets the Pacific
So that’s the plan. For now. Everything is always subject to change. Oh, one more thing: this week, with the flu bearing down, I went on kayak.com and bought a plane ticket: TO DUBLIN! See you in September! Stay tuned… 🙂
Travels with the Blonde Coyote 
looking forward to it and love the teardrop.
Thanks, Candy! Me too! That’s my baby. 🙂
Love the camper! We are heading to Utah this summer, I can’t wait to see your pictures!
Utah is my favorite! I’ll be there in April. Summer is too hot for me and my furry black dogs!
Mary~ If you make it to the Outer Banks, consider coming to Knotts Island- we have a huge yard you could set up in and also access to a couple places on the water…
Wow, thanks for the invite! I’ll keep that in mind. Any other Outer Banks tips? Like I said, I’ve never been! Cheers, Mary
Knotts Island is actually part of the “inner banks”, one of the small islands inside the line of the outer banks. It’s reachable by a short bridge from Va. Beach, Va, or by ferry from Currituck, NC. Going south down the coast, you can skip from island to island of the Outer Banks by a system of ferries, down to Ocracoke Island. It’s a pretty cool way to travel. Check the ferry schedules though, because sometimes they are closed: http://www.ncdot.gov/ferry/ Would love to see you and the dogs and the Teardrop!
Good to know. I’ll have to check if I can get the Teardrop and the dogs on a ferry…
Love the blog! My hubby and I are new to tear-dropping and have been looking for an awning for the side of the trailer. Yours looks very handy and similar to what we have been looking for. Can I ask where you found it?
Thanks for sharing your photos and blog!
Kerry
Hi Kerry, Congrats on your Teardrop! I’d love to see a pic. My awning came with my Teardrop. Both were made by an 80-year old retired cabinetmaker in his garage. It’s a very simple design and very lightweight materials: two flexible wooden poles on the sides and a stouter wooden pole on the front of the awning. The fabric is very lightweight, almost flag-like. The whole thing rolls up up and shashes under the bed inside. I’ve only used it a few times, at the beach and at a rodeo and it does help keep the Teardrop cooler when there’s no shade. Thanks for reading! M
You have such wonderful adventures planned this year. Sorry to hear that you’ve been under the weather and hope you’re feeling better now.
Thanks, Emily. I’m definitely on the upswing! I even got out this weekend for a couple of snowy hikes. 🙂
Hi Mary, That flu is a nasty one. I’ll bet you don’t get sick often and this January was the first time I’ve been sick in years. But it looks like you are not being held back from your wonderful adventures. Looking forward to meeting you when you make it to New Mexico. We did a little road trip in the Pony this weekend down to the Three Rivers Campground on the boundary of the White Mountain Wilderness (about 10 miles beyond the petroglyphs – but maybe you already know that). Anyway, it was great and we are eager to head out again as soon as we can manage another 3 or 4 day weekend. Happy Travels, Carol
Hi Carol! Yep, I’ve camped there! My dogs came home covered in ticks! It was disgusting and I haven’t been back. That’s what you get for camping near water in the dry dry desert: infestation! Hope your weekend there was better than mine! Cheers, M
Sorry to hear about the ticks. We camped there a couple of times with our dog before she passed on and never had a problem with ticks. Must have been a bad tick season when you were there. it is one of our favorite campgrounds. We are planning a backpacking trip up the mountain sometime this spring if we can pull it off.
Hi Mary! hope that you are feeling better! Can’t wait to hear more about your upcoming plans! Love the first picture…could your smile be any bigger? Mary
Haha thanks! I was loving the Lost Coast! 😉
There is true sense of place on third picture from top (near Cedar Breaks, Utah). Wonderful picture!!!
There is true sense of place on third picture from top (near Cedar Breaks, Utah)!
Wonderful picture!!!
Thanks! That was one of my favorite camping spots last summer, a free site on National Forest land near Cedar Breaks National Monument. 🙂
Gorgeous pics – I want to go off on an adventure like that 🙂
I actually have somewhat similar travel plans to yours this spring. I have a campsite reserved at Bahia Honda Key in April, and will be stopping in Savannah each way, it’s about halfway on a long drive, and a fun city.
I was just in the Outer Banks a few weeks ago, for a day trip to Jockeys Ridge State park. The area around Kitty Hawk is pretty built up, but the National Seashore is beautiful. The nicest campground is the one in Frisco. The NPS campgrounds arent open all year.
Sounds like an awesome trip, Ryan! All the campground in the Keys are booked so we’ll be improvising. Thanks for the OBX tips. I’ll keep those in mind! Cheers, M
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