Here you will find travel stories about being on the road by myself. Solo travel can be intimidating but also exhilarating.
It always perplexes me when I am at a micro brewery and I see someone order a macro brew from one of the big three. And the dude didn’t just do it once, but three times he ordered a Coors Light. I thought about asking him if there was something wrong with him, but I kept my questions to myself. Mostly because it meant more handcrafted beer for me and clearly there was something wrong with him. Who orders watered down crap beer anyways?
Another travel year in the books! Here is our Paws For Beer Travel Round Up 2016.
Our 2016 travel schedule started early this year with a January trip to Thayne Wyoming to pick up the newest addition to our family, Jovi. Jovi had been patiently waiting for about a month for us to come and get her from the shelter she had been at for about 6 months. With a break in the weather Boomer and I took a quick three day trip to pick her up. I could not have asked for a more perfect match for Boomer. Jovi and Boomer are the best of friends. Which made the treacherous drive through a snowy Montana and Idaho in January worth it!
Before I left on my trip, just as I stepped out the door from work, I said to my co-workers “I will never taste the Beard Beer”.
I zig-zagged up the narrow two-lane mountain highway leaving behind daylight. The climb seemed almost never-ending. Each switch back led me to another until I had finally reached the town of Taos New Mexico. It was late in the night when we arrived to the hotel. As soon as I opened the car door an unwanted rush of cold air filled the car. Our mountainous climb had brought us to a staggering 6,967 feet in elevation (2,124 m).
It was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37 C) in Portland Oregon on the day I arrived to Pacific City Oregon. Pacific City is a town of just over 1000 inhabitants and my mouth was agape at the amount of people who had crammed themselves into this tiny seaside town. It was almost as though the entire city of Portland had left the inferno to seek shelter at the coast.
A white orb zipped across the sky in front of me as I drove along the highway. It was round in shape and could not be confused with an aircraft. Even if it were a plane, it’s movement was quick and nimble, unlike any plane I had ever seen. Had I just seen a UFO?
I’ve been told I have RBF. And when I say I’ve been told, like I’ve told myself. I believe my RBF keeps people from approaching me because I look scary. But something magical happened while at Carlsbad Caverns as my RBF, or resting bitch face must have vanished. Strangers from all walks were having me take photos of them at the caverns, asked for advice about the dog kennels at the caverns, and sought motivation from me on the hike up out of the cavern.
Honestly it was strange. Not to the point that Tony Robbins should be worried however!
To say that the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is underrated is an understatement. I realized this as I stood in a hotel lobby in Gunnison Colorado, a mere 1 hour away from the national park. As I checked out the clerk asked me what I was going to do for the day. I told her I would be visiting the Black Canyon Of The Gunnison National Park. She responded “Oh I’ve never heard of that”. Wait, what? We will give her the benefit of the doubt that she was new to the area.
When I tell people I am from Idaho they often say “oh do you grow potatoes?” and chuckle at the fact that they know at least one thing about Idaho. This comment often results in an eye roll from me. But I guess I should be glad that they know at least something about Idaho.
Yes our state grows potatoes, but I will be honest I have never grown a potato. I will pause now for the collective gasp. Even more shocking than that, when I do eat a potato it is often not even from my state, but from the neighboring state of Washington. Idaho is busy exporting their potatoes to the East Coast of the country. You’re welcome East Coast, those Idaho potatoes are tasty… so I’ve heard 🙂
You know the saying “don’t poke the bear”? So it means don’t provoke the person, right? Well I have a similar saying except I replace the bear with a badger. Why? Because a badger is way more scary than a bear. Badgers are rarely seen, somewhat vicious and nocturnal. These are all things I can relate to.
OK… sometimes I’m awake during the day.