One of the great things about being a writer and a hiker is the adventure. I’ve planned multiple hiking excursions that have taken me over 10,000 miles (yeah that’s a lot!) along trails in the east from Florida to Maine and, as of this writing, as far west as Colorado.
But I also like to travel which entails driving and times car camping—a whole other kind of adventure. This season I am endeavoring to hit some major national parks and monuments out west, particularly Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. The trip planning didn’t start out that way though.
These days people plan trips via cell phone apps, but many years ago the large road atlas was the go-to for trip planning. I can see the roads laid out before me and interesting places to visit along the way. Since I have family in Missouri and my husband plans to fly out of Denver, I checked the trusty atlas for ideas on where to go. Travel the state of Colorado? Or head north into Wyoming and some of the state’s great and beautiful country.
I had basically set my sights on touring around Colorado until I was reminded of a novella I wanted to write that takes place in Yellowstone during its founding days. Suddenly I was trip planning with Yellowstone in mind all the campsites and hikes. Then west to Craters of the Moon in Idaho which I once visited as a youngster and impressed me greatly. And so the wheels of a plan were moving to bring the parks of Wyoming and Idaho into my adventure realm and use it for future books.
Now I am hip deep or rather room deep, gathering the gear necessary for camping and traveling. A roomy tent and sleeping bag, my thick and comfy air mattress I would never lug in a backpack, cooking equipment, first aid, a headlamp, and clothing for a variety of temperatures and elements. It’s an adventure all its own—getting ready for the trip and making sure I have what I need to be safe. I also have to budget, particularly for gas as it’s the highest it’s ever been on record at over $5.00/gallon. Money is a major factor in planning. Budget for the gas, lodging, and food, and cut where you can to make it manageable. The Dyrt app, for instance, can point you to free or cheap places to camp.
The other area is planning the homefront in my absence. Gardens and houseplants watered. Arrange sitters for the pups and house. I unplug electronics in case of thunder boomers. Pay any bills. Stop mail delivery. Clean out the fridge, and take out any remaining garbage. And I like to vacuum.
So there is my list for trip planning on a car adventure. Stay tuned for future blogs as I bring the fruit of that planning to you.
Listen to my podcast on trip planning for hiking and backpacking!