Tag: Nomad life

Two Days in Zion

April 15-16, 2023


It had been over twenty years since I had last visited Zion National Park, and I was overdue for a trip back.


Zion has beauty and wonders that you must experience firsthand.


First, I recommend arriving early, before 8:00 AM. After a long day of travel on April 14th, I happily slept in and arrived at the park just after 9:00, and the parking lot was full. I’ll admit I was a little frustrated. To see the main canyon in Zion, you must park and take the shuttle (from March-November). Private cars are not allowed in that section of the park.


I’m not opposed to the shuttle system. It makes sense. And I arrived at 7:30 the next day to find plenty of spots in the parking lot.


There is a section of the park where you can drive a private vehicle. It takes you through the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel and out of the park’s east entrance. Since I was unwilling to pay to park outside of the park, I opted to drive on the 15th.


In the end, it was a good plan. I stopped several times and got to enjoy the scenery and took several short walks. When I sat down for lunch, a herd of goats arrived to join me. No complaints.


But if you go to Zion, you must see the canyon.


I started by taking the shuttle to the final stop, the Temple of Sinawava. From this stop, take the Riverside Walk for about a mile along the Virgin River to The Narrows. People hike in the river through the Narrows when the water is low.

The Narrows


Since it was mid-April, there was no possibility of walking upstream. Water was rushing with great force. The abundance of water made for some outstanding waterfalls throughout the park, something you wouldn’t see at other times of the year.


The next stop was Big Bend. The main attraction was the Condors up at the top of the canyon.

On to the next stop.
Weeping Rock was gushing, not weeping. Again, due to the spring melt-off. It’s a short hike up and worth it to stand under the rock ledge and watch the water crash over.

Weeping Rock having a good cry!
Standing under Weeping Rock


I then disembarked at The Grotto for my main hike of the day. Across the road, I got on the Kayenta Trail, which took me to the Upper and Middle Emerald Pools. (I could see the lower pools but didn’t feel the need to hike down to them.)

Hiking the Kayenta Trail
Approaching the Upper and Middle Emerald Pools
Upper Emerald Pool


From there, I hiked to Zion Lodge for a much-needed lunch. Sadly, the menu was limited and disappointing. But the scenery was the star of the day.

Court of the Patriarchs


After briefly stopping at the Court of the Patriarchs, I visited the museum. The shuttle driver suggested walking back to the parking area from there. Since I had one day to take it all in, I took his advice. It was getting pretty warm by then, and I was happily exhausted when I got to my car.

Park City to Hurricane


April 14, 2023
The best part of my nomadic life is days like today.
This morning, I checked out of the condo I’ve been staying in for a week and hit the road. There is something so exciting about exploring new territory, and today did not disappoint.
I got started at about 9:30.
My first stop was at Cove Fort, Utah. I found this stop the old-fashioned way by looking at my road atlas. Yes, I have this actual book. It is indispensable for trip planning!

Cove Fort Main Entrance
Cove Fort interior


Built in 1867, Cove Fort wasn’t a military installation but a haven for travelers. It was a way station for the Pony Express, had a telegraph office, and offered food and lodging for visitors.

Kitchen and Dining Room at Cove Fort
All of the rooms at Cove Fort maintain their original qualities.


The site is beautifully maintained by the Mormon church. Each of the rooms in the fort is decorated to show what life was like there in the mid to late 1800s.
The enthusiastic volunteers are happy to answer questions and share details of the family that operated the fort.
Additionally, the bathrooms are sparkling clean, and the visit is free of charge. I highly recommend this walk through history if traveling south of Salt Lake City.
My next stop was the Parowan Visitors Center. Parowan is a small town off Interstate 15, the gateway to Brian Head and Cedar Breaks National Monument. I was hoping to see Cedar Breaks, but I was pretty sure the road would still be closed due to snow.


I was right. The road was closed, but the stop at the Visitors Center was worth it. This is something I have learned on my trips to Europe. Always stop at the local tourist office. You will almost always gain extra knowledge of the area, usually from pleasant locals.

Inside the vault at the Parowan Visitors Center


The coolest thing about the office was that it was in a former bank, and the vault was intact. I also learned all about the Cedar City vicinity. For example, did you know there is a Shakespeare festival from Late June until Early October? I’d love to return for some autumn hiking and live theater.
I then drove up to check out Brian Head Resort. It was sunny and hovering around 30 degrees—perfect! Oh, if I only had time for some skiing.

Scenic drive to Brian Head
Skiers enjoying a perfect spring day at Brian Head


I made another stop at the tourism office in Brian Head. I received even more information, including an extensive trail guide. I need to find a hiking buddy before I return.
The next stop was Kolob Canyons, the northwest corner of Zion National Park. Sadly, the road was only open two miles up, but that may have been a good thing because it was already 4:30.


The only activity choices were to hike along Taylor Creek or walk up the road past the closed gate.
I decided to go on the hike. The woman at the visitor center told me that there would be numerous creek crossings, but I could step on stones to get across.
She was right. There were numerous crossings. By crossing #11, I had had enough. I couldn’t see a way across that wouldn’t result in a soaked boot. So, I turned around and completed the ten crossings a second time. Twenty was plenty!


I walked up the road a bit, but my stomach was screaming for dinner, and I felt I had gotten enough exercise.
I arrived at my cozy Airbnb around 6:30, showered, made dinner, and called it a night.

Looking forward to more exploration tomorrow!

Cozy Airbnb in Hurricane, Utah

Skiing the Melt in Park City

April 13, 2023

I arrived in Park City last Friday, April 7th.
When I made the reservation, I was really, really hoping that there would still be snow. My two previous visits to the area were in the summer, another great time to be here. It’s a hiking and biking haven.


But Park City is also the home of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In the summer, I have watched the skiers jump into the pool at Utah Olympic Park. I’ve imagined skiers on the snowless summer slopes. And I could see myself gliding on my cross-country skis across the fields and along the trails.

I had to return to see that beautiful white blanket covering the mountains and valleys.

White Pine Nordic

Last summer, I added “Park City in the Snow” to my bucket list.
With this season’s record snowfall, I got lucky. Sometime in March, I read that the ski resorts would stay open through April 23rd.
Since I was coming solo, I decided to leave my alpine ski gear in the storage unit. You might think that’s crazy. Why would I come to a World-class ski resort and not hit the slopes?

I’m a much better cross-country skier. Honestly, it’s dangerous to downhill ski solo, especially on an unfamiliar mountain. (Maybe I have become slightly more cautious after falling off a horse last summer.)

White Pine Nordic


I skied four out of six days during my visit. Temperatures have been reaching the 50s and 60s, so skiing has been best in the mornings. It gets too slushy in the afternoon.

Skiing the Farm Loop


Yesterday was my best day of skiing. I drove out to Round Valley, which has an extensive network of trails. It’s also an off-leash dog area. What could be better than skiing with happy canines romping through the snow? Sure, they mess up the tracks a bit, but I got out early in the morning, and the conditions were good.

Round Valley
Round Valley: Mountains in every direction!


Today was another story. Temperatures dropped overnight. It was hovering around freezing this morning with light snowfall. Good ski conditions, right? It would have been great except for the 10-20 mph winds. And then there were gusts up to 30.
As the eternal optimist, I bundled up and returned to Round Valley.


It was a different world a day later. I felt like I was on an expedition to the North Pole, fighting the wind and sliding backward in the icy tracks.
Then I would get a reprieve from the wind, enough to keep me going.
When I decided to turn around, I experienced the bliss of the wind pushing me in the tracks. What fun! Suddenly, the initial effort was paying off.
Then, I reached the open field near the parking lot. The track had a barely noticeable downhill slope. It would be the perfect ride back to my car.
Clearly, one of those 30 mph gusts hit my back at just the right time. I was speeding around a curve, initially gleeful but quickly becoming fearful. The wind pushed me out of the tracks and onto the open field. There was no choice but to intentionally crash because it was going to happen anyway.
Luckily the snow was relatively soft, and I landed safely. I chose to take off my skis and walk the rest of the way to the car. Why push my luck?
It was a memorable way to end this year’s ski season.

Travel Days and Me Time

April 7, 2023

Yesterday was a travel day with some fun mixed in.
I left my cousin’s place in the morning. Well, we actually went together, each taking our own car. The first stop was a bakery in Hamilton, Montana, that offered several gluten-free items. (River Rising—I highly recommend it if you are in the Bitterroot Valley!)
We then traveled south to Lost Trail Pass and the Chief Joseph Nordic Ski area. The trail grooming ended last weekend, and about two feet of snow fell after. So, there was plenty of snow, but those sweet smooth tracks were lacking. It was a bit of work, but the glorious sunny day made it worth the effort.


We got four challenging miles in, and both felt satisfied with the workout.
Sadly, it was time to say goodbye to my cousin, but we had new memories to share from our visit.
I then took off on my own, heading south as she headed north to go home.
My favorite part of traveling is hitting a new road for the first time. The drive south along Highway 93 was snowy and scenic. Then I took a left turn at the town of Salmon to head southeast to Idaho Falls.
Chunks of snow lay along the sides of the Salmon River as the spring thaw was in full force. Looking back this morning, I wish I had stopped for more pictures. It was a long day of travel, and I had one more pass to conquer.

Snow melting along the Salmon River


The road was mostly clear and dry until I reached a section where the wind picked up, and the snow was blowing across the highway. In the distance, the soft snow-covered peaks continued as I drove.
I finally arrived in Idaho Falls around 5:00 PM. I was starving and more than ready for a shower.
I splurged and ordered an Uber Eats delivery which ended in disaster. My enchiladas arrived wrapped in flour tortillas, and the rice and beans were lacking. The kind young man at the front desk had received the order for me, so I was not able to check the order myself.
This starving gluten-free girl had to find somewhere else to eat.
I got online and found another Mexican place about a mile away. Don Alberto served up massive quantities at reasonable prices. I had enough left over for lunch today.

Don Alberto in Idaho Falls. The two carnitas tacos were enough for dinner!


All’s well that ends well. I caught up with a good friend and enjoyed a little reading and TV time. (Silly as it may seem, I am a nomad who loves HGTV.)
Last night was my first alone in a hotel since leaving “home” almost two weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong—I love visiting friends and family—but it is nice to have my own space.
Now I will be on my own for about three weeks, and I will be trying out some more extended stays. Travel is my life, so I plan to slow down a bit.
I will arrive in Park City, Utah, for a week-long stay tonight. I hope to catch the last of the spring snow and get out for more cross-country skiing. I’m also due for some pampering time—a pedicure and a haircut are in order. Maybe a massage.
Here’s to some Me Time!

Early Spring in Montana’s Flathead Valley

April 3, 2023

Last week, I headed east across Washington State, visiting friends along the way. The great spring road trip has begun!
A few days ago, I arrived in Montana’s Flathead Valley, one of my favorite places in the country. I first passed through in the 1990s. Flathead Lake captivated me then and still does today.

The first view of Flathead Lake!


I had to pull over to take it in as I approached the lake. It literally brings tears to my eyes every time I return. This time, the frozen shores of early spring added a dimension to its beauty.

Frozen shores of Flathead Lake in Somers, Montana


The past few days have been filled with outdoor activities as I captured the end of the long, snowy season here.
No matter the time of year, I’m always happy to return to visit friends and enjoy the area’s natural beauty.

Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park
Skiing at Whitefish Mountain Nordic
Hiking the cross-country ski trail at Dog Creek Nordic Center. They let us hike the Black Diamond run since some of the snow had melted on parts of the trail.
Dog Creek

Loss and Recovery

January 24, 2023

I haven’t written in over a month. I’m still recovering from the most profound shock of my life.
After a three-month, life-changing trip to Europe, I came back “home” on December 7th, energized and optimistic. I was anticipating more travels in 2023 and looked forward to spending time with friends and family through the holidays. I planned my itinerary, including a house-sitting gig for a friend from December 25th through January 6th. Then I would ski before resuming my nomadic life. I thought Costa Rica might be next.
Thankfully, I hadn’t bought a plane ticket yet.
On the evening of December 8th, I called my sister to check-in. From our texts, I knew she had been experiencing lower back pain; she felt like she hadn’t fully recovered from her hip surgery earlier in the year.
When I heard her voice, my heart sank. She was in despair. The pain had kept her from sleeping, she had lost her appetite, and she wasn’t getting a firm answer from her medical providers. Additionally, she had been laid off while on medical leave. She had been hiding her misery from family and close friends, not one to trouble other people, especially at Christmastime.
I took a day to gather my thoughts and figure out a plan of action.
I rented an Airbnb at one of her favorite places on the bay for the next two weeks and then arranged for a three-month house rental through the end of March. That would give us time to figure out her medical needs and get her in a better place emotionally. When I saw her on Saturday, she agreed to the plan without hesitation.


A few days later, an MRI showed irregularities in her liver.
The following Monday, we were in the ER. Another scan revealed tumors in her liver and pancreas, likely cancerous. That was December 19th.
On December 22nd, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—she would not survive. She remained in the hospital for five more days due to low sodium levels.
On December 27th, we moved her into the house I had rented. One of her oldest friends arrived to help me care for her. A small group of friends and family members came to visit and support her.


She passed away on January 3rd.

Pancreatic cancer is sneaky. In most cases, people don’t receive a diagnosis until it’s advanced, often stage four. I’ve never seen someone decline so rapidly. She slipped visibly every day. I didn’t even have time to contact all our relatives and her friends to tell them she was sick.
Over the past three weeks, I have told the story countless times to friends and relatives, every time experiencing the pain again.

You know how some people say, “Man makes plans, and God laughs”? That sums up the past few years of my life. Every time that I have it all mapped out, something changes. I’ve learned to accept and embrace those changes.
Losing my sister was certainly not in my plan, but I’m grateful I was with her at the end of her life. The best thing is that I have no regrets regarding our relationship. We talked on the phone often and supported each other through the bad days. We had a lot of fun over the past decade, too. We enjoyed some great sister trips; we swam with the dolphins in Mexico, and I finally took her to Hawaii in 2021.
We have all heard the advice: “Be grateful every day. Tell people you love them. Live with no regrets.”
We really don’t know when our time will come. What keeps you from chasing your dreams and checking off that bucket list?
Right now, I’m taking my time and allowing myself to grieve. We need to do that, too. I have this beautiful lake-view home for two more months. It wasn’t in my plan, but I’m doing my best. My kids and friends have been coming to visit, I’m taking long restorative walks, and I’m helping my nieces with the work that’s involved in wrapping up my sister’s affairs. Every day the pain lifts a little. I embrace the happy moments, the tears, and the time to read, meditate, and enjoy this place’s peacefulness.

Treasuring Downtime

October 27, 2022

When you travel for several weeks, or in my case, months at a time, there is a certain pressure to go and see things every day. After all, I’m in a new city, state, or country; I can’t just sit around and read a book all day. There is always some downtime in the evenings—usually required due to aching feet—which is certainly welcome. But I absolutely treasure days when I have no particular agenda.

My days in Valencia are numbered. Today is Thursday, and I leave Monday morning. You might think I would be rushing around to see and do things before I go, but I’ve been here for almost a month. I have seen much and don’t feel any pressure to see or do more. I do need to do some shopping, but that’s it. I can get to that later.

One of my favorite features of the Valencia apartment: the tiny balcony

So today, I’m enjoying the ultimate leisurely morning.

I love breakfast. I wake up starving every day. Believe me, I consider myself lucky to have a strong metabolism at my age. (By the way, my dream man would wake up just a bit earlier than I and serve me a splendid offering of fruit, tea, and an omelet. That’s not asking too much, is it?)

Today, I got up, put on the tea water, peeled a Mandarin orange, and took some blueberries out of the frig. So, here’s the quirky part: I eat my fruit and drink my tea first. Then, ideally, I wait thirty minutes or so to eat breakfast, part two, the omelet, or whatever I’m craving that morning. (Today’s consisted of bacon, mushroom, and avocado with a small slice of Spanish tortilla on the side.) Then I finished with a second cup of tea, my vitamins, and a small piece of chocolate. I guess that’s another quirk. Dark chocolate is my coffee replacement.

I also ran a load of laundry at one point and will get into my morning yoga routine after I finish writing.

It may be noon before I get out the door. But I remind myself that I’m free. I’m no longer tied to the intense schedule of a classroom teacher. As my friend the produce man said, I’m “living.” I get to choose how to spend my days. And I cherish each one of them.

I went into the city that afternoon to buy a new suitcase and boots.

My Biggest Dilemma (Which Eventually Resolved Itself)

October 11, 2022

I’m truly enjoying my time in Valencia despite my aching feet. Since visiting with the Spanish family last weekend, I have probably been thinking too much about where I want to live when I return next year. In fact, I’m a bit obsessed. I keep researching smaller towns in eastern Spain. Then I look at the real estate sites. But do I really want to live in a small town? Won’t I get bored? Would I have social life? Is there a city that is big enough but not too big? If I were closer to the mountains, I could ski…

Valencia’s Botanical Garden

Then I worry about Valencia being too noisy for me. In some ways, I like the noise. I never feel entirely alone. Other neighborhoods would be quieter, though. I like the botanical garden. What if I could get an apartment that backs on the garden? That would be sweet!

My friends talked about the possibility of finding an area that was accessible by metro on the outskirts of the city. But again, I don’t want to live in the suburbs, and when people visit, they want to see the city.

Now, do you understand what I’ve been going through? I know. It has to be where I want to live. Don’t choose your home based on potential visitors.

How many Airbnb’s have a bookcase like this?

I fell in love with this apartment the moment I walked in. It has super-high ceilings, over ten feet, more like twelve. The desk sits in front of the “wall of windows.” I love the natural daylight, but I have the privacy of frosted and colored glass. Throughout the apartment, the walls are bright white with sparse décor. It’s clean and happy without being cluttered. The preserved original tile mosaic floors are charming, as are many other details in this turn-of-the-century home. I couldn’t imagine a better place to write. And the built-in bookcase has some interesting reading material. It would be great if the owner were willing to lease it to me at a lower rate for a longer term.

Sometimes the Universe, God, or our higher power hears us. Yesterday, I received a message from my host:

Hi Shannon.

 Hope you are well, I wanted to ask you because I thought I understood that you wanted to stay longer in Valencia (maybe you were thinking of staying a year, or am I wrong?).

 I mention it because I’m interested in long-term rentals and you might be interested in staying at my house longer.

We then proceeded to message back and forth. Me with questions and he with answers. He’s looking at the numbers and has promised to get back to me with a price and terms. I’ll stop obsessing for a while.

January 24, 2023

By the time my month-long stay in Valencia had ended, I had come to an important realization. I’m not ready to settle in one spot—adventure is what I want now. 

Cape Sagres, Portugal

When my host got back to me with a number, I had already decided to continue my wandering life. There’s so much more of the world that I want to see. I’ve loved Costa Rica for decades, but somehow, I have never visited. Machu Pichu, the Galapagos…the list goes on.

She Needed a Shower

October 6, 2022

Yesterday there was rain in the forecast. The skies were cloudy, and a few drops fell here and there. I enjoyed a three-hour Spanish lunch with an old friend from high school and three of her Spanish friends. The most expressive of the group kept joking about the threat of rain, saying things like, “I think four drops just fell.”

Murals in the neighborhood where we had lunch (near the port)


Throughout the afternoon, it was like that, a little spit from the sky here and there.


After I arrived home, I decided an early evening walk was needed to work off the three-course lunch. The spit turned into a steady sprinkle, and once I sat down for a light dinner of soup and salad, it was legitimately raining.

Making the most of the fresh produce from Ruzafa Market


It rained steadily through the night, and I woke up to that familiar pitter-patter of perfect rainfall this morning—not an out-and-out downpour, but pleasant, steady drops that require a rain jacket or umbrella.


Valencia needed a shower in the worst way. Just yesterday, my friend commented that the streets seemed dirtier than she remembered. She was concerned that her favorite Spanish city was going downhill.


At lunch, her Spanish friends told us about the rising electricity cost and water scarcity. I imagine people aren’t going out and washing down the sidewalks in front of their businesses as Spanish usually do. Also, dog ownership grew dramatically during the pandemic. Even though most people clean up after their pets, there is residue of poop and pee. It all made sense now.


The rain is supposed to taper off by 9:00 or so. After I finish this second cup of tea, it looks like a good day for the archaeological museum.

Valencia’s Archeological Musem is not to be missed. You’ll want to see what is under the water feature!