Quit my job, sold my stuff, packed up the dogs and went on the road!

[dawnhoyden]

Hi all!

Last November, I left a job looking at computers all day to get out into the natural space.
Me 'n the doggies left Prescott, Arizona and have been on the road since.
I've been posting photos and write-ups on my website/blog here: www.no-destination.org

 

[Andrew24]

wicked! will check it out. thats take alot of balls ive got mad respect for you !

 

[Overdrive]

thats take alot of balls...

Probably not the right thing to say to a female. LOL

Dawn, thanks for sharing and I'll follow you on your site.

 

[mtnbike28]

Nice!

 

[dawnhoyden]

Probably not the right thing to say to a female. LOL

Dawn, thanks for sharing and I'll follow you on your site.

Hahaha! That's funny!

Thank you all! I kept meaning to post here too, but I get lazy....

The dogs and I are currently in southern Illinois helping my mom and step-dad with some house-work and dodging tornadoes. We had a rather exciting night last night with multiple tornado warnings and hallway sitting with the dogs and BoBs. Yikes! Luckily (for us anyway) the tornado hit north of us. Unluckily, it destroyed a number of homes, and there are so far three fatalities reported. :-( Stay safe out there all you fellow travelers!

 

[bigskypylot]

Hahaha! That's funny!

Thank you all! I kept meaning to post here too, but I get lazy....

The dogs and I are currently in southern Illinois helping my mom and step-dad with some house-work and dodging tornadoes. We had a rather exciting night last night with multiple tornado warnings and hallway sitting with the dogs and BoBs. Yikes! Luckily (for us anyway) the tornado hit north of us. Unluckily, it destroyed a number of homes, and there are so far three fatalities reported. :-( Stay safe out there all you fellow travelers!

Always nice to spend time with family! Where in Southern, IL? Springfield area? I know there was some nasty weather that rolled through there last night. I have friends in the central IL area that got hit last night as well

 

[owyheerat]

Love it...those dogs look awful comfy...living the good life.

Be safe

 

[dawnhoyden]

I'm in Carbondale, Illinois. Elkville (about 10 miles north), and Vergennes, IL got hit pretty good.
I didn't realize Central Illinois got it too. I saw some news reports on Central IL a few mins ago and whoa. Some serious damage.

A month ago I finally bought a weather radio for in my camper. I'm so glad. It helps.

 

[dawnhoyden]

Love it...those dogs look awful comfy...living the good life.

Be safe

Doggies love it! Argos is the heeler mix. He's about 2 years old. He jumps right into the back seat of the truck, or into the camper. Loves it! And all the new smells at each new place....
Pugsly is around 13 years old and a bit gimpy. I think she likes it because she gets to curl up next to me while I'm driving (she gets the passenger seat), and then when in the camper, I'm close-by or we are curled up reading. Her idea of a great day is me watching movies or reading, and her curled up in my lap.

 

[bigskypylot]

I'm in Carbondale, Illinois. Elkville (about 10 miles north), and Vergennes, IL got hit pretty good.
I didn't realize Central Illinois got it too. I saw some news reports on Central IL a few mins ago and whoa. Some serious damage.

A month ago I finally bought a weather radio for in my camper. I'm so glad. It helps.

Ah okay, haven't been down that way a whole lot.... have a friend that goes to school down there at Carbondale. Yes, they got hit pretty good in central part of the state. As for a wx radio, those are always handy to have and really, a must when on the road. I would suggest a good wx app on your phone if you dont have one already. Weather Underground (WU), My Radar Pro (pay app) they also make a free one and Radar Scope are all good radar apps. Weather Underground and Intellicast are good wx apps overall. Do you have a cell repeater/booster? That will be one of my first purchases when i start spending long periods of time on the road.

Where are you headed next??

 

[dawnhoyden]

I've got the weather(dot)com app, but I'll get the Wunderground one too. I don't have a cell repeater/booster. Considered it, but then forgot. I haven't researched them much. Maybe I'll do that this evening.

I think I'm going up towards Chicago on Friday to visit an old friend, then head West. I need some desert time, although if I can find a way to include some big water too I'd like that. Or maybe just a bunch of hot springs! I have one upcoming 'destination' and that's camping at Tuweep with some friends at the end of March.

I'll need to consult my dice because part of me wants to spend March relaxedly meandering around my beloved SouthWest, and the other part wants to cannonball out to the NorthWest to visit some friends and have some fresh fishes on the coast before heading back SW for Tuweep.

 

[bigskypylot]

I've got the weather(dot)com app, but I'll get the Wunderground one too. I don't have a cell repeater/booster. Considered it, but then forgot. I haven't researched them much. Maybe I'll do that this evening.

I think I'm going up towards Chicago on Friday to visit an old friend, then head West. I need some desert time, although if I can find a way to include some big water too I'd like that. Or maybe just a bunch of hot springs! I have one upcoming 'destination' and that's camping at Tuweep with some friends at the end of March.

I'll need to consult my dice because part of me wants to spend March relaxedly meandering around my beloved SouthWest, and the other part wants to cannonball out to the NorthWest to visit some friends and have some fresh fishes on the coast before heading back SW for Tuweep.

Weather Underground and My Radar will serve you well. I would head up to Lake Geneva after Chicago and then up to Devils Lake (outside of Baraboo)< You can check out the trails on the East Bluff and Devils Doorway

There is Parfrey's Glen just down the road and not too much further is Pewits Nest. Lots of good exploring around there.

http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/2016/07/27/the-one-trail-you-have-to-see-at-devils-lake/

http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/activities/hiking/devils-lake-trail-details-descriptions/

http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/parfreys-glen/

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=1

http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/pewits-nest/

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=200

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/naturalbridge/

http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/baxters-hollow/

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=82

http://www.devilslakewisconsin.com/pine-hollow/

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=45

Over north of Lake Geneva is the Kettle Moraine South Unit. Lots of good hiking there. The LaGrange General Store has good eats to treat yourself to after a hike (sandwiches, soup, beer etc) Great biking and XC Skiing there too.

There's a few places I could recommend up by Devils Lake and in Madison too. I grew up in the Southeast area of WI and Madison area. Spring Green area is nice too. The Driftless area and on up to Lacrosse is beautiful

http://driftlesswisconsin.com/

http://driftlesswisconsin.com/getting-here/

If you head up that way and have any questions, feel free to let me know!

 

[dawnhoyden]

Hi bigskypylot! I ended up running south.... but thanks for the info. I'm probably ending up back in the midwest for a while, so I'll have to check some of those places out!

 

[dawnhoyden]

I've been posting a lot of photos on my Facebook and Instagram pages! When I started this trip, I decided to subscribe to (full-time RVers) Technomadia's "2-2-2" rule: Drive no more than 2 hours, stay no less than 2 nights and be in to your next spot by 2pm. Over the past few months I've done pretty good adhering to that rule.
[ 1,015 more words ]

https://no-destination.org/index.php/2017/03/15/cannonball-run/

City of Rocks State Park, NM

 

[dawnhoyden]

Goodbyes and More Adventures

I'm currently sitting outside at my friend's ranch in Skull Valley, Arizona. I stopped in for a quick visit on Monday, and got stuck. RB Paradise Ranch is a difficult place to leave. Open arms, horsies, rock clambering, good food, Argos romping... easy to get stuck here. You see, Richard is the kind of guy who has a big heart and loves company.
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http://no-destination.org/index.php/2017/03/18/goodbyes-and-more-adventures/