Halloween Homecoming

From Wisconsin, we began winding our way through Illinois backroads (making a big loop to avoid Chicago), over familiar midwestern terrain. We spent one last night in a Walmart parking lot. These sometimes sketchy boondocking nights (in a place we otherwise boycott) had by now become so familiar and dare-I-say a quite special and memorable part of our trip. I'll just say we know how to party after a long day of driving. And it's always pretty cool, the weird sense of comradery you have with the other over-nighters as you circle up your wagons.

Walmarts, despite being unremarkable in their overall existence, have proven to also been an interesting gauge for local vibes. As mundane as these behemoth monuments to capitalism are...the surrounding landscapes can still be breathtaking, the sunsets stunning, and the surrounding development revealing. I've written before how state and county parks are incredible for learning the social and political climate of a state or region (Alabama begging for donations, their gift shop full of of stuff from China vs. Oregon with endless local business sponsors, and boutique-style gift shops full of locally made goods). Post offices across the country are really interesting too. Their size, age, architecture, presidential plaques, and community billboards are always telling of that specific town. (Art deco in Oklahoma under Kennedy, vs. 100 sq ft wooden storefront in smalltown Iowa) 

So we were back east, heading toward home. It was strange to cross the Indiana border. Being on the back roads, we just happened to recognize that we crossed into Lake County. Very anticlimactic after being gone so far, for so long. But we had one last big camping trip to look forward to - the annual McCabe Halloween Camp at Tippecanoe River State Park. It was surreal pulling into a familiar park, having a reservation, and the biggest hugs waiting for us from Ed's mom and dad. Such a comfort, a relief, a daze. We made it back alive! No major catastrophes, every prayer answered. We had such a great week, camping with family and seeing our loved ones again after so long. 

Our last campsite of the journey

Bird watching, and catching up with cousin John

Required trek up the firetower

Fascinating history - new informational signs since our last visit, yay Indiana

Camping in the trees, like God intended!

Park signage

Getting re-acquainted with the locals

Naturally..

Halloween is taken pretty seriously around here

My mountain man - back in the midwest.

The following December, we suddenly lost Ed's mom Sandi. We are enormously thankful to have returned home, and were able to enjoy this time with her. We had all agreed it was the best Halloween camping trip yet. It's always been a very special tradition, and Sandi is the one who made it so.

It's been a major adjustment this past year. Life comes and goes. We lost Sandi, and were given Juniper. The year has held the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Everything is different, and we'll never see things the same again. We miss the road and think of that big wilderness every single day. It's comforting just to know it's out there. Being. We still have ol' Hodor, and will always have plans swirling in our minds for future travels. We hope to get out on some weeks or maybe a month long trip with Juniper in 2016. The older she gets, hopefully the longer our trips and hikes can be. So excited to teach her all about the planet.

She's already been on a few hiking trails

  I hope to chronicle our future travels, and park geekery here on the blog, so stay tuned.

Birthday Trip

Just completed my 29th revolution around the sun! To celebrate my perfect attendance, Ed and I took a trip to Turkey Run State Park and stayed at the Inn. We did some hiking, had some dinner, then half-watched the superbowl with a bottle (or two) of wine from Wildcat Creek Winery (had to stop for a tasting on the way out of town - of course). Didn't you know Sunday is "Drink Local, Indiana" day? Next morning it was more hiking, and a sushi dinner, making me a very happy birthday girl.

We are pretty familiar with Turkey Run, but holy wow it's a different world in the winter time. There is water and ice doing the strangest things everywhere you look. Cracking, dripping, freezing on top, draining underneath, floating, slushing...making weird sounds too. It is strange terrain out there. It had snowed the day before we arrived, all the snow was still sitting on the branches. Just beautiful.

The suspension bridge was ruined last spring in a flood, the wood has been repaired/replaced, and just re-opened last October. So new, you can smell it!

Flooded Rocky Hollow. Many of the trails ended in floods or sheets of uphill ice. 

Col. Lieber Memorial, and final resting place. He is known as the father of Indiana State Parks.

 Snow tunnel on the way to Lieber Cabin.

Coal seams

No Degrees

Winter has been brutal. Snow days on the block are pretty wonderful though. Ed and I spend most of our time hibernating at home (& dreaming of the road) but we've been making an effort to get outside on the weekends. This month we've explored a nice handful of parks and nature preserves with Tyler. Winter hiking is new to me, and I'm hooked. Here are some photos from Shades State Park and Pine Hills Nature Preserve. 

Thin Ice

 Tree Portal

Trying out our new binoculars - thanks Erik & Alyssa!

White Winter view from the Devil's Backbone

Preparing for spring!

My mountain man

Current soundtrack - Fleet Foxes
More photos on Instagram

Deam Lake

It's been a fabulously chill week here at Deam Lake. I've made some progress on preparing to open my shop (Trail & Compass), and Ed's been able to fine-tune our internet functionality. We visited Huber Winery, got some hilly miles in on our bikes, and have done quite a bit of star-gazing next to the lake, in the company of what I can only guess are beavers (thonk-splash)

This shot is from the first time we visited Deam Lake with Chris & Amanda

Next stop: Kentucky!

The Journey Begins

It's been a hectic month, and we've been so insanely busy, that I am not even going to attempt a re-cap. But we're thankful to have been able to see so many of our friends and family before hitting the road.

As of the fall equinox, we are officially on our own schedule for Life on the Road, or, "LotR" which is the acronym we'll be using. Got it? It is also the acronym for Lord of the Rings, which we think is a pretty perfect coincidence for this adventure.

 Beautiful Indiana prairie at Prophetstown State Park, during a pretty glorious bike ride with some friends on Ed's birthday.