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I don't usually enter Instagram contests, but I have a deep love for @benchmarkmaps and would love to have a complete set, so I can't resist this one. ⁣ ⁣ When I was in Montana, I used their Road and Recreation Atlas religiously. I'd go weeks without a phone signal (and Google maps aren't always accurate when it comes to Forest Roads anyway), but I never worried because I could always whip out my atlas and navigate with confidence. It's easy to identify boundaries of National Forests, BLM lands, parks, state lands, Indian Reservations, and private lands, which is superb. Forest Roads are differentiated by thickness of line, so I know my van is not equipped to travel down the thin red squiggles, no matter how enticing the area might look. I love that even the most obscure trailheads and campgrounds are noted, along with useful tidbits such as Bigfoot sightings. So much more information than any apps can provide (at least that I've found). ⁣ I now have a small library of Benchmark Road and Recreation Atlases from my travels. I've still got a lot of ground to cover though, but living in a van and traveling around the country, I've no doubt I'll find my way - and new ways - easily using these atlases. I'm also the nerdy type who loves studying maps, so there's that too. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤓⁣ ⁣ I've got my Arizona atlas out now to figure out where @punkypaco and I will head next. We've been in the desert so long, I'm fairly certain Paco is looking for a lake. 🐶🌵🏖 🤞🐾🤞
We’ve spent the past couple of weeks hanging out around the Tucson area. While I’ve driven through the city and camped perched high above it, we haven’t actually done anything in town. That’s been the same for everywhere this year on the road. Maybe I’m just overly paranoid about COVID, but I avoid crowds as much as possible. When we pass through a town, the only sightseeing is done in the aisles of grocery stores. I drive through National Parks and pass by the overly crowded trails filled with people not wearing masks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m by no means complaining. I absolutely love spending time out in the vast public lands that we've called home. There are always people around, but in National Forests and BLM lands, there is ample space between me and the next camper, and plenty of places to hike and explore. I’ve got a running list of places I want to return to once it’s safe to do so, but for now, @punkypaco and I are thoroughly enjoying our adventures on the outer fringes of towns, spending quality time with trees, cactuses, coyotes, jackrabbits, quail, rocks, and the always awe-inspiring canopy of the sky.
Maybe I've been in the desert too long, but I seem to have stumbled upon a meeting of conspiring cacti today. 🤨🤔🌵
It feels right to usher in the New Year surrounded by a forest of centenarian cacti. Ancient Indian tribes regarded the Saguaro cactus as members of their own tribe, inhabiting souls of their ancestors. I can definitely understand why. Did you know it takes 100 years before a Saguaro cactus can grow arms? They can reach heights of 60', which would put them at 200+ years old. Remarkable. 🌵 There's a calm, quiet, peacefulness here that I'm hoping eases into the New Year along with us.  As you'll see in the last photo, Paco has brought all his friends out for our big NYE party tonight. 😆🐶🥂
Nature's lava lamp.
Christmas looks different for a lot of people this year. I'm celebrating with peanut butter topped blueberry pancakes, mountains, cows, and @kutx holiday music streaming. No complaints here. 😊
Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada did not disappoint. We arrived early in the morning before the crowds, and before the sun got too hot for Paco's black fur. The rising sun set the giant rocks ablaze and was absolutely amazing. I didn't even doctor any of these photos, the rocks are that vibrant in real life. 😍 Thanks for putting this Park in my radar @diehmsrvdreams! @valley.of.fire 🙌
I thought I'd only spend a few days at this spot in the Mojave Desert, but ended up staying ten days instead. It was a serene and much needed pause. Complete solitude. No other campers or people in sight. The full moon over the desert was amazing, and the sunrises and sunsets were always delights. Now time to move on to other adventures. 👱‍♀️🐶🏜
I know I've posted this drawing before, but I still can't help but think my second grade self had life figured out. Even today, if I had all the money in the world, I'd still choose this.  I'm just grateful I have hands in real life.  👐👱‍♀️🐶🌳