Cabin in the Woods

Amiable. There's nothing better than a good old-fashioned girls weekend getaway, unless you get the opportunity to have said girls weekend at a private cabin along a beautiful river. That's exactly what Julia and I had planned one weekend last month at a gorgeous cabin owned by one of Julia's relatives where we got direct access to the Blue River and the nearby Tishamingo National Wildlife Refuge. Knowing me, you can bet our weekend had something to do with being outside.

Julia and I both have a thing for fine wine (I'm a wine snob, no shame) so as soon as we met at the cabin Friday night we broke out the wine and some dinner. Our night consisted of catching up, wine, movies and chocolate. Saturday, though, the exploring began. Of course, we chose the weekend that Mother Nature decided to plunge southern Oklahoma into sub-freezing temperatures... but that didn't stop us! We bundled up and headed out the back door to scale the riverbanks, hunting for shells and pretty photos. We also explored the surrounding woods, commenting that we probably wouldn't have been walking through the leaf litter during the summer because of the likelihood of venomous snakes.

It wasn't too long before it became apparent that the temperature would continue to drop, and that the fine drizzle that was showering us might possibly change into sleet or even snow. From the river banks at the cabin we decided to check out Tishamingo National Wildlife Refuge, maybe hike a few trails or at least find a place for a picnic. On our arrival to the refuge, though, the wind seemed to really kick up and we were shivering after just a minute or two outside the car, even with layers on. We mostly decided to tour by car from that point, only getting out a few times to check out overlooks or buildings. Turns out the refuge used to be a chicken farm, with the buildings and houses still standing, though either turned into storage/maintenance buildings or otherwise off-limits to the public. There were a few buildings that were open however, including one that looked drab from the outside but when we actually went inside we found the walls, ceilings and even part of the floor covered in bright, colorful paintings. It was completely unexpected and absolutely gorgeous, and I took more pictures of it than I'd like to admit. After the painted building due to the continuously dropping temperatures and the persistant drizzle we decided to call it a day and head back to the cabin for more movies and wine. We threw in breakfast for dinner as well and settled in for the night.

We woke up the next morning to brilliant sunshine, a crystal clear day, and temperatures in the teens. Brrr!!  Neither of us were in a hurry to go home, especially with the likely ice on the roads, so we popped in a few more movies and wrapped ourselves in blankets while we waited for it to warm up. Once we deemed it warm enough and late enough in the day we started to pack and load up our cars. In the bustle of getting ready to leave, the cabin door got shut behind us...and locked us out! Luckily we had our car keys on us and Julia had her phone, but my phone and most of our stuff was still inside. Oops! Eventually we ended up getting ahold of the cabin owner and got ourselves back into the cabin, but I decided right then and there I wanted to learn how to pick locks. I feel like it's a good skill to have! (Side note: Julia got me a practice lock for Christmas so I can learn! Thank you!!) After our bit of excitement, we got all loaded up and reluctantly took our leave. It was an awesome weekend, if a little cold, and I can't wait to do it again!

2016 Wrap-Up: Do What You Love

It's that time again, the time of year where I reflect on each of my travels, compile a list of stats such as how much I drove, how long I travelled, the number of miles I hiked, and so on. I've been a lot of places this year, and done a lot, but the definite highlight of my entire year is getting engaged to my best friend at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Read on below to see what else I've been up to.

At the beginning of January I spent a week in the high deserts of southern Utah and northern Arizona. Starting in Canyonlands National Park and winding my way through four of the big five national parks in southern Utah (Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion - I only missed Arches) plus several smaller parks in Arizona, I got my first real taste of winter camping in below freezing temperatures, blizzards, bad roads, and ice. Even with getting pretty sick during the first few days of the trip it was still an awesome taste of a new season in a familiar location, and something that I would love to do again. 

A short and sweet visit to some friends in Stillwater, Oklahoma at the beginning of February reminded me that the southern states get cold, but not cold enough to ice the lakes during winter months. We spent the weekend chatting, drinking wine, and exploring the area in and around Stillwater, a new town to add to my list of places visted!

I took off on Valentine's Day to explore my own little slice of East Texas, starting at Martin Creek Lake State Park, passing through a couple national forests and ending with Mission Tejas State Park. I made it clear to the Louisiana border and halfway south to Houston before completing my loop and heading home. 

The last weekend of February found me in and around Hill Country of central Texas. I visited several state parks, including Guadalupe River State Park, before meeting my little brother at the River Walk in San Antonio. Austin was stationed in San Antonio at the time and had the weekend off, so I made the drive to the area over a weekend and got to know the hills. I loved them so much I went back later!

At the beginning of March my sister came to visit me, and we took off to the gulf coast at Sea Rim State Park. I was kicking myself for not getting to the coast before! The ocean is amazing, and when we can camp right on the beach, falling asleep to the sound of waves and wind, it is heaven. Plus the sunrises are long and lingering, and perfect. Also, beach weather in March is something I can get on board with! Lisha and I made a stop at NASA too, taking one of their tours of the facility and making the nice weather in Houston last a little while longer before heading home. 

The weekend after St. Patrick's Day I headed north and east to Hot Springs National Park, the most urbanized national park I've ever visited. While I wasn't prepared for the buildings and crowds, even on the "nature" trails, I managed to find some solitude on the more remote paths. I also visited Ouichita National Forest on a whim, discovering several little recreation sites that I made a mental note to visit again during the summer.

I finally went backpacking in April! I received my backpack for Christmas last year but didn't have a chance to use it until April, when I ran away to Palo Duro Canyon State Park in west Texas. I took my favorite little adventure dog with me, and we spend two days exploring the second biggest canyon in the states, hiking 16+ miles and weathering a couple of thunderstorms while out in the backcountry. At least my first night was memorable!

At the end of April my dad and sister came down to Texas for a long weekend, and they, Jared and myself took off to San Antonio for our time together. We had originally meant to go to Houston, the coast and NASA, but Houston was under water at the time and we had to go with Plan B. Cue long days and nights full of drinking on the River Walk! We stopped at Longhorn Cavern State Park on the way, taking a tour of the cave I had visited on my February Hill Country adventure. It was the third year in a row that I had taken a trip with my dad, and I can't wait for next year's adventure!

Jared and I flew in to Orlando in May, visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and got engaged!!! He really did everything right, planned it all out, and just in general made our short stay in Florida amazing. Best trip of the year right here!

A short visit to Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend included lots of family time, a visit to a winery and a chocolate factory, and meals with friends. Long weekends seemed to be the main form of my travels this year, and there is nothing wrong with that. Short visits but plenty of them make the months in between seem not so long. 

The first weekend of June found me and Callie back in west Texas at Caprock Canyons State Park where we backpacked out onto a loop trail, hiked up and down bluffs and canyons, found a fern oasis and a bison herd, and located the sloppiest puddle of red mud for Callie to roll in. I turned my white dog orange.  

I went back to Sea Rim State Park over a weekend in June, spending two nights and two spectacular sunrises on the beach, with a full day of sunbathing and shell-searching in between. I finally saw a pack of feral hogs at a nearby national wildlife refuge (a Texan animal I hadn't seen yet) and tried to canoe out into the salt marshes with limited success. But really, there is nothing like those cotton candy sunrises. 

Also in June myself and two of my best friends managed to find a weekend that we all had off and met in Stillwater, OK again, this time to take a much-needed girls' weekend. We talked, drank wine, made s'mores and kayaked for the first time (at least, my first time)! I discovered a boat that I actually liked, and can see myself owning a kayak just as soon as I get a vehicle that can transport it. 

My sister and I decided on a whim to go backpacking in Great Sand Dunes National Park, and went for it over the weekend of the 4th of July. She hadn't backpacked before and I'd never backpacked in the park, so it was a learning experience for both of us. Our first night we actually stayed in a local campground and endured hail, lightning, thunder and torrential rain, making me very thankful we weren't on the dunes at the time. The next night, however, the rain cleared off and we headed out. It was amazing. I also took Lisha to Zapata Falls, introducing her to the so-cold-it-burns waters of the creek and the little canyon the falls cut for themselves out of the cliff. 

The last week of July wasn't a happy one; I lost my little love, Meeka, and ran away with Callie and a friend for a day just to get away from my own head. I find peace when I'm on the road and in destinations that are beautiful, so we headed to central Arkansas and Ouichita National Forest to do some exploring on the forest service roads. We spent all day in the Ouichita Mountains, revisiting the recreation sites I had found during my March visit, and finding a few new ones along the way. I also found the peace I was looking for, so that definitely helped. 

Julia came to visit me the first weekend of August and we spent a few hours one day canoeing around Caddo Lake State Park and the surrounding waterways. Hot summer days, green forests, good friends, and my dog make everything better, and were just what I needed.

My next big adventure of the year was the week I spent in Colorado with Torrey. We went all over the place, but focused our time on hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park (we touched a glacier!), backpacking a couple nights in Great Sand Dunes National Park, and being in Manitou Springs for the Pike's Peak Ascent and Marathon, as we have the past two years. 

I took nearly six weeks off of travelling to try to get myself pulled back together, but finally got back on the road at the beginning of October. I took my dog to Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas where we spent two days hiking all over the small park, most notably to Cedar Falls, where Callie became the star of the day by diving into the plunge pool and entertaining the hoards of people lined up around the edge.

On one of the last days of October I took Callie out again, this time to Brazos Bend State Park and Galveston Island State Park along the gulf coast of Texas. We looked for and found alligators at Brazos Bend, and Callie saw the ocean for the first time at Galveston Island. It's safe to say she's a water dog!

I made a surprise trip back home to Nebraska mid-November, much to my mother's delight. It really was a three day visit where I mostly hung out with my family and took pictures of their cats. Ya know, as you do. 

Ten days before the anniversary of my personal-record-breaking hike I was at it again at Big Thicket National Preserve, hiking 20.42 miles in 7 hours, 8 minutes and breaking my personal best distance record yet again. This time, however, I had my little white dog to keep me motivated and entertained for the duration of the hike. This little terrier led me almost the whole way, and if she wasn't leading me she was right in step with me. She's the perfect hiking companion!

Weekend before last I met up with Julia again, this time at a cabin on the Blue River in southern Oklahoma. We talked, explored the river and woods, scouted out the nearby Tishamingo National Wildlife Refuge, and otherwise enjoyed the time we had together. 

My last trip of the year is the one I just got back from. I headed back up to Nebraska to see my family and friends for Christmas, and spent the week getting a taste of the winter I don't miss. I spent lots of time with family, had a little time to spend with friends, and started to wedding plan with my sister. I also took way too many pictures of my parent's cats. Yay for family!

I have obviously been busy this year, though I have to admit that my heart was into it more before I lost Meeka. Not only did I mourn for a long time, sucking a lot of my energy from me, but I also lost interest in planning any of my travels. I'm sure that has something to do with the lack of energy I've felt lately. I've also been sucking at writing, both on this blog and in my travel journals, but I've promised myself to get back into it during the new year. I have picked my travels back up in the past couple months, and I'm already planning several longer adventures for 2017, but I don't know about the smaller ones. I guess we'll see.

Below I've listed out my usual stats for the year. I have definitely increased my travels over last year, and I'm excited for what 2017 will hold!

Number of Adventures: 23
Time Spent Travelling: 1,504 hours, 46 minutes
Number of Nights Camping: 19
Number of Nights in Someone's House: 22
Number of Nights in a Hotel: 10
Number of Nights Driving: 2
Total Cost: $5.152.38
Number of States Visited: 10
Distance Driven: 23,387 miles
Distance Hiked: 148.39 miles
Number of National Parks/Monuments/Rec Areas/Wildlife Refuges:16
Number of State Parks: 11
Number of Human Companions: 44
Number of Furry Companions: 18

A huge shout out to every single person who accompanied me on my travels, and I hope you all know how much you mean to me. I wouldn't have traveled with you if I didn't enjoy your company!

Bring it, 2017!

A Snapshot and The Scoop: A Simple Request

While visiting Julia and Mark in Oklahoma this past winter, my only request (other than plenty of girl time) was to visit a nearby park at sunset. I got my wish! We went to Lake McMurty, and we were treated to a brilliant sunset over the lake, owls calling, a kayaker paddling in the calm, and even a pack of coyotes howling from the opposite shore. It was incredibly peaceful, and even though it was a touch chilly, I really could have just pitched a tent and stayed the night. Next time I visit, we just might do that!

Leave me a comment below and tell me if you ever have requests when you visit friend. A favorite meal or a shop? Or do you prefer parks like I do?

A Snapshot and The Scoop: Posing with Bumblebee

I'm just as big of a nerd as the next person, so you can imagine my excitement while visiting Julia in Stillwater, and she took me to this awesome tribute to Bumblebee! Do I care if the Transformers movies are marketed to teenage/young adult boys? NOPE! We took turns taking pictures of him, and stood underneath to measure up. We didn't even reach his knees!

Leave me a comment below and tell me if you would have pulled off the road just to get your picture with Bumblebee, like Julia and I did!

2015 Wrap-Up: A Peek Into My Crazy

Blown Away. How is it the end of the year?? This has just been a year of incredible changes. I sat down to try and get my head around everything that has happened, all the places I've traveled to and people I've visited, and frankly I'm a little overwhelmed. I'll start at the beginning, and hope I don't miss anything!

Over my birthday weekend in January one of my best friends and I took a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and snowshoed to our heart's content. Megan and I hiked several miles worth of snow-coverd trails and frozen lake surfaces, and I developed a taste for snowsports.

Once I'd finally developed that taste for snow, I moved south. The end of February found me packing up everything I own, leaving my job at the vet clinic, and setting off on the biggest adventure of my life: moving to Texas. It's turned out to be the best thing I've ever done.

For the majority of March I was trying to settle in to a new home, new community and new culture. Oh, and a new job. Jared and I were figuring out how to live together, mesh our insane number of pets, and make new friends. I still managed to get out and explore my chosen home a little bit, even though it rained for the first six weeks after I moved to Texas.

In April, I picked up my travels again by taking a short trip north to McGee Creek State Park in southern Oklahoma. It was just me and many miles of poorly marked trail. That was the first time this year that I broke my hiking distance record.

I also took a trip south to visit friends in San Antonio. We managed to pack a cave tour, the River Walk and wine tasting into under two full days. I still don't know how we managed it!

May found me settled in and adjusting to life in Texas. And then I spent the last week of the month back home in Nebraska for my little brother's graduation, a 90 mile bike ride, and several days driving around in the Sandhills on the hunt for historical markers with my dad and sister. Because why not?

In June, things started getting crazy(er). I first took a weekend to meet up with Julia at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, which we spent camping and hiking. And drinking really cold spring water right from the source.

I also drove myself to Buena Vista, Colorado to white water raft with Megan, as well as visit a ghost town, the coolest waterfall I've ever seen, and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Oh, and I stopped at a volcano. I also got the worst sunburn of my life and couldn't stand to be touched for days.

In July I went back to Utah! I met my whole family for a sort of throw-back family vacation in one of our favorite places. We hiked Arches National Park, bounced around on jeep trails near Canyonlands National Park, camped, floated the Colorado River and otherwise spent time together. When we parted, Alisha came with me and we explored Hovenweep National Monument and Mesa Verde National Park. When she went home, I headed south and hit several more national parks and monuments (here, here and here) before I returned home as well.

The last weekend of July interns from work and I spent a day at Caddo Lake State Park, the only natural lake in Texas. Did I mention it's full of alligators? And that I went canoeing for the first time? And that I didn't panic even though I wanted to? We also drove through Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge and into Louisiana and Arkansas, just because.

I retraced some steps from last year and cheered on Torrey at Pike's Peak, Colorado as I watched her run her first ascent half marathon in August. I also finally accomplished the Manitou Incline, one of my top three most difficult physical activities to date.

I also camped out at Caddo Lake in late August with some interns from work, where we hit the bayou in canoes to look for alligators with no luck.

And for the last weekend in August Jared and I took a trip just for ourselves! We spent the weekend in Dallas, relaxing, visiting the Dallas World Aquarium, the Dallas Zoo, and drinking and swimming at our hotel. Also, room service.

The for first full week of September I received some major alone-time at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where I spent the week camping, hiking (breaking my distance record again), driving, and looking for bears. I found 'em, too! Can I just say: Take me back!

With October came a trip to Lawton, Oklahoma with Jared to watch my baby brother graduate from BCT, visit with my mom, dad and aunt, and explore nearby Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge.

The following weekend I went back to Nebraska for the wedding of my sister's best friend. It was a short and sweet trip, but all the more fun for it!

Over the week of Thanksgiving Jared and I and some of our pets headed north to Nebraska to spend time with our families. We ate, drank, visited with family and friends, and tried to cram as many leftovers as possible into the car to take home with us. Did I mention the ice? The week was far too short.

For the first time ever, I went camping in December. Seeing that it was in Texas at my local state park, it really felt more like an autumn camping trip than a camping trip in winter, but whatever. Temps around freezing, a nice fire, warm food, and a nighttime visitor made it memorable!

I managed to squeeze in one last adventure before the new year when I visited Big Thicket National Preserve in southeast Texas. I drove 2.5 hours south, broke my hiking distance record (AGAIN) with a 19.65 mile hike, and drove 2.5 hours back home, all in thirteen and a half hours. It was a gorgeous day, a brisk morning with temperatures around freezing, warming up to a wonderful day with highs in the 60s. It was bright, sunny, the trail was mostly flat (but a little muddy), and I saw a grand total of five other people. I could not have asked for a more perfect December day to smash my hiking record!

As you can see, I've been busy. My 2014 happy jar didn't even come close to being as full as this year's jar, but I'll write about that when the year is over. With all of the changes in my life recently, traveling is my way of injecting some sanity into my whirlwind, but also lets me live. There are many nights where I go to bed content, and I can count every night I've spent in a tent among them. I love my home, I love the life I've built here around my boyfriend and my pets (kids), my new and old friends, and my job, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't travel. I can't wait to see what new trips I get to go on in 2016, and am already in the planning stages of two, possibly three grand adventures!

Below I've listed out my stats from this year's travels. I'm probably the only one who finds this interesting, but whatever.

Total Number of Adventures: 18
Total Time Spent Traveling: about 45.5 days
Number of Nights Camping: 25
Number of Nights In Someone's House: 16
Number of Nights In a Hotel: 15
Number of Nights Driving: 1
Total Cost: $6,452.22
Number of States Visited: 15
Total Distance I've Driven: 17,928 miles
Total Distance I've Been Driven: 3,740 miles
Total Distance in a Car: 21,668 miles
Total Distance Hiked: 144.21 miles
Total Distance Biked: 90.22 miles
Total Distance Canoed: 7.42 miles
Total Distance Rafted: roughly 30 river miles
Number of National Parks/Monuments/Rec Areas/Refuges: 17
Number of State Parks: 7
Number of Human Companions: 33
Number of Furry Companions: 13

I hope your 2015 was as fulfilling as mine... Now bring on 2016!

What I'm listening to: Christmas at Hogwarts by John Williams