Saturday, January 9, 2021
Travel Day | Choke Canyon, TX to Rough Canyon, TX
ODOMETER: 82,505 | TODAY’S MILES: 211 | MILES TRAVELED: 4,560
by Grant
We awake to a cacophony of gunshots which continue unabated for hours. It is duck season and even though we’re in a State Park, the surrounding area is open for duck hunting. We had planned a paddle on the lake, but given the hunting activity and traffic on the lake we decided against it.
We had booked Choke Canyon State Park for four nights, but the lack of trails (almost non-existent), the hunting activity on the lake and the lack of internet for the kids’ school on Monday made us decide to head further west to hopefully better accomodations.
We decided on Rough Canyon, which is part of the Amistad National Recreational Area. It’s another good stint of driving across this massive state and we are amazed by the barren landscapes and spartan towns.
We made it to the Amistad National Recreational Area and headed for the Rough Canyon camping area. It is first in first serve, and there are only 4 sites. Luckily, there are only 2 other campers when we arrive and we pick a great spot looking out on the Amistad Reservoir.
The reservoir is bounded by Mexico and the U.S. We have driven a lot along the border and gone through several border towns to get to the lake. The lake was built in the 60’s and Amistad means “friendship” in Spanish. With a shared resource like this, friendship is obviously a good thing.
We were amazed by the landscape and went for a small hike around the boat ramps, ranger facilities and shoreline. The shore is rocky and covered with scrub and cactus. It is so different to our experience on the Florida Coast and we are loving the transformation of landscape as we ply our way across this great country.
Jack pulled out the camera and the drone and went off to get some images and video of this desert vista. The water in the lake is really clear and the whitewashed shores paint an amazing relief against the water.
Jana, Ellie, and I wandered a bit and caught up with Jack for a while. Eventually, we headed back at the RV to prepare dinner. It’s veggie chili nigh.
Jack arrived back after dark and said it had gotten pretty cold. It was going to be in the late thirties overnight. Not too cold for the RV, but chilly for us after the warmth of the Gulf Coast.
The veggie chili is great and with really poor internet here as well, we decided on an early night. We’re all pretty tired and needing a good night’s sleep. It is funny when you’re camping and up at dawn, when the sun goes down you often feel like following it.
We had chatted about our current campsite and decided to try to head to Big Bend early. There are no hook ups here and even though the coverage map showed good signal, we have barely any internet. It’s critical we find a spot with good cell service, or WiFi, for Jack and Ellie to do school on Monday.
The lake was built in the 60’s and Amistad means “friendship” in Spanish. With a shared resource like this, friendship is obviously a good thing.
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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?
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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...
Happy Aussie Father’s Day to @grantiangamble ♥️
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Pottsville Beach, NSW, Australia.
Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia
Cape Moreton Lighthouse, Moreton Island, Queensland, Australia 🎥 @jack_gamble_shoots
We recently had the incredible opportunity to share our year-long family travel adventure on the @age.rebels Podcast with @sommerlouiseb @theixmethod . (Link in bio)
Manila, Philippines
Join us as we delve into @culture_nomads new book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives.” We share the story of how embracing the unknown turned our lives upside down in the most extraordinary way.
In this podcast episode, we open up about our decision to break free from the mainstream and embark on a year-long family adventure around the globe, exploring diverse cultures, breathtaking landscapes, and discovering the true essence of the human spirit.
We share heartwarming tales of personal growth, unbreakable family bonds, and the invaluable lessons we learned along the way. From traveling the U.S. and Mexico on a bus for 8 months to our intrepid crossing of the South Pacific ocean on a 38-foot catamaran, our experiences will ignite your wanderlust and leave you yearning for your own transformative journey.
Join us on the Age Rebels Podcast as we discuss the joys and challenges of living life as Culture Nomads, and how this incredible odyssey has forever altered our perspectives on the world, our family, and ourselves.
If you’re passionate about travel, adventure, and the power of embracing different cultures, you won’t want to miss this episode. Get ready to be inspired, captivated, and motivated to embark on your own extraordinary journey of self-discovery and family connection.
Don’t forget to check out our book, “Culture Nomads: How Giving Up Everything for a Year of Travel Transformed Our Family and Our Lives,” available now on Amazon. (Link in bio). It’s your ultimate guide to crafting a life filled with adventure, love, and unforgettable memories.
#CultureNomads #AgeRebelsPodcast #FamilyAdventure #TravelTransforms #Wanderlust #travel #familytravel #travelbook #sailing #rv #podcast
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TRAVEL WITH US!
We are currently sailing the South Pacific to Australia.
Thank you for joining us, have a great day!