Some of you reading are now smiling, thinking, “Oh! She is writing about the Netflix sci-fi thriller, ‘Stranger Things’!”  In a way, I think maybe I am.  I have been exploring my feelings about being upside-down.

Last year, I rekindled my love of travel and adventure when Katie Q and I trekked across the country.  Visiting the national parks, seeing sights unseen, and getting a glimpse of some great fishing waters reminded me that I needed to get back out there.  I have been getting out to visit friends and enjoying the eastern part of the country.  Hubby and I decided that this year, we would make a trip out west.

As I have shared many times before, I like my routines.  My day-to-day makes me feel secure.  I think many of us are like that in some way or another.  There is a rhythm to routine.  However, it can also become a trap.

I can get stuck in the comfort zone.

When I am flowing through my days without effort, I do not push myself.  When I do not push myself, nothing changes.  I am not saying every day needs to be a full-court press to conquering the world.  However, making even small changes in my routine stimulates me to grow and expand the world around me.

I am in love with food.  That is, of course, the biggest reason I have had a difficult time with maintaining a healthy body.  I love food that is good for me, and unfortunately, food that is not.  Such is the way of a food lover!  I do work hard to do the best I can… hence my journey through the winter months.

We had a good night’s rest for our last night “on the road”.   I say that because we will be spending the rest of our trip in the comfort of Katie Q and her hubby’s new home in California. 

Wow.

It is hard to believe this adventure is coming to a close!

We spent the night in Oxnard, California in a large house we found on Air BnB.  It was a huge house in a residential area.  The houses were literally four to five feet apart.  There were six bedrooms and this was the first place we stayed where there was a communal bathroom.  Strange, but comfortable.

We were up before sunrise.  Our destination was over three hours drive-time away and we wanted to get an early start.  We stopped at a McDonalds for a cup of coffee and hopped back on Highway 101 headed north, then getting on Interstate 5.  

The Day 9 blog was cut a bit short as we were not sure about the ability of “connectivity” to post, so the ramblings today will bring you up to speed.

Yesterday we spent a good deal of the day on the road going from the Grand Canyon in Arizona, southwest, under the tip of Nevada, and into southern California.  It was a desolate trip for many of the miles. 

We thought Kansas was a long, wide-open state.  Kansas had signs of life.  Large, sprawling fields, cows, and traffic on the highway.

Our stay at the Parkway Motel in Orderville, Utah last night was pleasant.  Katie Q booked it through Air BnB and we were not sure what to expect.  Our host was pleasant, and welcomed us with information about the area including food and recreation.  The bonus was that we were only about 30 minutes from our destination for today.

Last evening we found our Air BnB room in a victorian home in the Capitol Hill area of Denver.  It was a very nice room in a big, beautiful old house. We were hungry and shortly after we settled, headed out to find food.

Despite the room we had for the night being in a big neighborhood just outside of St. Louis, Missouri, the room was surprisingly quiet.  Katie Q and I rested well and felt good to start Day 2.  We were packed and ready to roll by 7:00 AM.  Right on schedule!