From the bluest of oceans and most winding of rivers to the deepest of canyons and tallest of mountains, travel allows us to take in the monumental, breathtaking sights of Mother Nature’s creations, millions of years in the making. Towering giants of rock, rows of hoodoos carved by wind and rain, and vast canyons as far as the eye can see reminds us not only of how small we are, but of how brief our time here is. But in that time, we can use her to explore ourselves; our courage, artistry, strength, resiliency and so much more.
Whether it’s a two-wheeled trek down Rocky Mountain terrain, kayaking pristine lakes at high altitudes, or standing at the edge of a vast ocean, these formations inspire awe and creativity as well as places for self-discovery. Among the red rocks just outside of Utah’s Canyonland National Park, there was no better place to discover things about myself than standing on the ledge of a stunning 400-foot canyon at the Moab Rope Swing finding the courage to face my fear of heights and jump.
Intense, paralyzing emotion held me captive for several minutes before my legs overruled my brain and set to accomplish the task. Mind blank, a rock floor rapidly approaching, until the swing caught hold. Then… empowerment. I knew there was nothing I couldn’t overcome. I also knew it was time to stop procrastinating when it came to living out my dreams.
Travel to state and national parks has been a huge part of my life since childhood and I have longed to do more. Work had limited my travels, until now. This summer, many more explorations lay ahead as I set out on a cross-country road trip. In August, I will follow a trek my parents took in 2001. My mother had kept a detailed journal of all of their trips. In them, she detailed not only the roads but their entire adventure, from restaurant meals and tours to the campgrounds with the site numbers they had reserved.
I look forward to re-enacting the trip, experiencing what they experienced. Navigating the same roads as my father in my truck and travel trailer. Fortunately, I was able to book a couple of nights at the very same campground and site number they had stayed in 24 years ago. Even a few of the restaurants are still around, so it looks like there will be a pizza night in Moab in my future.
Many friends are excited to live vicariously through me. So much so, I plan to set up a YouTube channel of my trip. I hope it will inspire them to live out dreams of their own. Our lifetime passes in a blink. There’s so much to explore and not nearly enough time to do it all. I’m sure this will be just the start of following in the tire tracks of my parents, exploring the country as I had always dreamed.
Who knows what adventures I may find or what new things I may learn about myself along the way. But that’s part of the fun.