Tomorrow is my first appointment with my new primary care doctor, and in two weeks I see my new cardiologist. It will be such a relief to finally have my medical care established here. I’m also going to see if they will finish up my checkup for the kidney stone so all my records are together.

It was a beautiful day today. The rest of the week looks nice with the typical mountain showers. I will take advantage of it and start to sort the stuff in the storage unit. One thing I am going to grab is my travel pack; I used a small sport duffel this past weekend and it was just not enough room for three days.

🌲🏕️🚐🚙

Well, school is out most everywhere and starting to see more out of state plates. last week’s adventure was not bad as far as crowds but I can see a little difference in the traffic. Spokane is ALWAYS crazy with traffic and rush hour is horrible and last weekend was no exception.

I’m glad I have gotten some trips done since I usually avoid travel in summer. I might get one more popular destinations trip in before it gets really busy, but I will be doing more summer camping in places that are not tourist spots.

As I posted over the weekend, I have considered selling my trailer. Two nights of hotels – nothing fancy – cost more than my trailer payment and that really shows you the savings of having your own space. Dining out is way too expensive, with garbage food and lousy service.

Yeah you have fuel costs, but you have to eat wherever you go and it’s much cheaper to cook good food that is healthier with ingredients you know. If you go somewhere and hang out a week or even 10 days you can save fuel and have enough time to explore without being rushed plus have the added benefit of plenty of time to do nothing.

One thing I do as I travel is I look at everything around me constantly. Look at the rock formations jutting out of the ground and think of the force that took. Do a quick search on geology 101 and just learn a few basic things.

Look at this mountain:. What do you see?

Those angled lines across the mountain are probably Forest Service roads – many of which were built for logging. These roads are the very same ones we used to spend hours driving many miles, off-roading every weekend. Some are eventually decommissioned but most are left alone for access to backcountry recreation of all sorts.

Sometimes you will see what looks like old roads along rivers. Some are fairly flat with a gradual incline. These started out as a wagon or stagecoach trail. Many were converted into railroad tracks, and some went on to become roads. Some of those might have been abandoned when a wider road was necessary.

Then there’s all the numerous little towns we drive through. Look at the scenery along the way. Check out the old buildings in the towns and around the area. Stop and take a walk, get a local baked good, sit outside at a table if possible and just observe.

We tend to set our sights on the biggest or tallest or most popular things everyone else puts on their social media accounts. In the days before social media I was certainly guilty of it, but I learned to travel a little differently several years ago. By that time I had already seen a lot of the big, popular places so I could look more at smaller attractions. Then I went on the road doing concerts and we would go places on our time off – Niagara Falls (both sides); afterwards we stopped at the birthplace of hot wings to eat, Cape Kennedy, Redstone Rocket Base in Alabama, all the things to see in Washington, D.C. We had a big time when we could.

Then I learned an even more different type of travel going to Europe and it’s how I now travel everywhere I go. First thing is this: you gotta travel for YOU, not social media or to impress anyone. It has to be for you only, and it should be an incredible experience every time. You should learn about other people, places, cultures and foods. Big or small, it’s worth a look. If you do, you will learn so much about yourself and YOUR own culture.

I hope we can all get out someplace – ANYPLACE – that brings us some peace in our lives even for just a short time. I know the last two road trips were some good therapy for me. That forest bathing really is for real.

Be curious about the world around you…wherever you are. You gotta be in the moment.

Thanks for reading.

Shawn