Friday, January 8, 2021
Travel Day | Lake Livingston, Onalaska, TX to Choke Canyon, TX
ODOMETER: 82,294 | TODAY’S MILES: 312 | MILES TRAVELED: 4,349
by Grant
We had an early start to get across to Three Rivers, TX before dark and stop off in Houston on the way. We need some groceries and Jana and I both need new trail shoes. Ours are both well past their useful life and we have a big hike planned in Big Bend National Park in a few days.
We navigated our way through downtown Houston to an REI and picked up some really nice Hokas, which we’ve found to be incredible. A trip to Kroger and a full pantry and fridge later, we’re off to Choke Canyon Recreation Area, just outside of Three Rivers, TX.
The drive is becoming more and more barren and desolate and you can see the struggle that many people are having in these remote parts of the U.S. The oil industry which rims the roads as we drive has slowed enormously, primarily due to demand drops from COVID and probably less than ⅓ of the well heads are operational.
We arrive at Choke Canyon State Park just before sunset and our campsite is on the edge of the lake with a lot of dry brush, stunted trees and bushes rimming the edge. The ground is relatively dry and there are lots of burrs that
plague the dogs and us when we return to the bus with them and slip into socks.
We reheat last night’s stew and settle in for an early night after a big day of travel.
The drive is becoming more and more barren and desolate and you can see the struggle that many people are having in these remote parts of the U.S.
Travel with us:
Travel Diary
Travel
This is a daily log and photos of what we’re up to.
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 4: Fiji to Brisbane Passage
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 4: Fiji to Brisbane Passage A Long-Awaited Departure After having waited in French Polynesia for two and a half months, we excitedly sailed out of Bora Bora around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 4th. Like the rest of French...
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 3: Bora Bora to Fiji Passage
After having waited in French Polynesia for two and a half months, we excitedly sailed out of Bora Bora around 7:30 am on Saturday, September 4th. Like the rest of French Polynesia, Bora Bora was in COVID lockdown, and we had spent the last week waiting for our departure paperwork to go through all the requisite bureaucratic channels. This required multiple trips to the local gendarmerie (police station), where Grant quickly befriended the two kind and helpful officers, Alex and Bruno.
Sailing Tahiti to Australia | Leg 2: Mo’orea to Bora Bora
It took us about 24 hours to get from Mo’orea to Bora Bora on August 28 2021. Like the rest of French Polynesia, Bora Bora was in COVID lockdown, and we spent a week there waiting for our departure paperwork to go through all the requisite bureaucratic channels. This required multiple trips to the local gendarmerie (police station), where Grant quickly befriended the two kind and helpful officers, Alex and Bruno.
We made trips to get water, fuel and provisions, but apart from that we had to stay on the boat. We passed the time snorkeling (saw a giant moray eel!) and inventing new water sports.
Once we received our exit paperwork, we were finally free to leave for Fiji.
Reflections
Reflections
These are our personal thoughts on some of our experiences.
How Big Is Too Big?
Lessons From the Road | How Big Is Too Big?Does Our Built Environment Affect Our Relationships? The “Big Mac” symbolizes the belief that more is better. If one beef patty is good, wouldn’t two beef patties be better? Similarly, the colloquialism of the “McMansion”...
Lessons from the Road | Less is More: Adventure over Stuff
Lessons From the Road | Less is More: Adventure Over StuffWe have been on the road for about four months, and while that’s a relatively short time, I think that some of the big lessons happen in the initial “adjustment period” of an experience like this. One thing is...
My 10 Favorite Books of 2020
My 10 Favorite Books of 2020Welcome to 2021! Most of us couldn't wait to see the back of 2020, looking forward to better times with hope and anticipation. If you are at all astrologically inclined like I am, you know that on December 21st, our world experienced a rare...
Our Trip
Trip
Our Trip
Trip
TRAVEL WITH US!
We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.
Thank you for joining us, have a great day!