Tag: nature

Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado

My parents have been rolling across the USA in their RV the past few summers, and they showed us how amazing it is to live life on the road. We’ve definitely lived life on the road for the past decade, but this time, we’d have the freedom to go wherever we wanted, when we wanted. We’d be the bosses of our own adventure!

Aaron asked me where I wanted to go for the summer, and the only place I could think of that I’ve always wanted to see was Mt. Rushmore. So, without any plans, we decided to tie up some loose ends and hit the road on June 8th. We had only one trip under our belt with our 5th wheel a year or so before, so we didn’t want to cram too much into the first day. We rolled out a bit later than expected and headed up the road to Payson, AZ, for our first night of what would turn out to be a 159-day road trip across America!

We had a bunch of new gadgets to test out and make sure we knew what we were doing for the rest of the summer. Aaron did an amazing job getting us all hooked up, and the first night set us up for great success the rest of the summer. After a great night’s sleep, we didn’t want to overdo it, so we headed to Heber, AZ, where we had the chance to sit out with our lawn chairs and enjoy a dreamy star-lit night after hitting up a local brewery. Another successful setup under our belt, and we both thought we could get used to this lifestyle pretty quickly! Our next stop was Gallup, New Mexico. We visited the El Rancho Hotel and and the Petrified Forest National Park. It was our first National Park, and we’re excited to explore more in the future. Dad, thanks for getting us an annual park pass – it’s the best gift ever!  Aaron got himself a new mug for his morning coffee and an arrow from a local Native American selling them around the RV park. That’s a story for another time!

We hit the road again and headed to the colorful state of Colorado. Our first stop in Colorado was Bayfield, CO. We took a break, enjoyed the scenery, did some laundry, and relaxed with the Blackstone in full effect. We then drove to Silverton and Ouray (the Million Dollar Highway) and visited the Mesa Verde National Park. Colorado was such a beautiful state that we took advantage of it and the weather. We visited Pegosa Springs, Del Norte, Hooper, Cañon City, Colorado Springs, and ended our time off in Fort Collins, Colorado.

After a few weeks in the camper, we decided we weren’t done yet. We were loving the adventure, so we decided to tackle Mt. Rushmore or bust!

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Ranch in the Desert

A few years ago Aaron and I were fortunate enough to acquire 20 acres about 25 minutes west of our home in Tonopah, Arizona. We needed a place for Aaron’s dad to call home for the winters and they don’t make any more dirt, so as far as an investment we didn’t think we could go wrong. The property was divided up into about 7 different parcels and on 2 of the 7 parcels were 2 structures that required demolition and major cleanup. Now when I say major cleanup, I mean a demolition crew that took about a week to fully get rid of all of the structures, trash, and debris. The property had 3 wells which all required re-drilling and had electrical to 1 of the larger parcels.

Aaron and I were gone for work the first year we owned it, so not much got done other than getting water and the electricity up and running for his old man. We had to get the septic cleaned up and back to code. We also fenced in about 12 acres of the property for his dogs and security. Once we finally had some time to be home and get serious about the actual aesthetics of the place, we put up a large shade structure that would accommodate his dad’s trailer, my parents 5th wheel, and our own 5th wheel. My dad and I worked tirelessly on adding extra shade on both sides which turned out exceptionally well. Way to go pa!

We bought a 40′ sea container to house all of our goodies. We then decided that we just needed to plant some trees and bushes to give the place a cozy feel and add a little color to the dry desert. Our first quote to install irrigation to the property and plant the plants was about 18K. Aaron and I about fell over. So after many quotes and not one of them sounding reasonable to either of us, we said “hey, we have watched enough DIY tv, let’s do it ourselves. How hard can it be!” Two back breaking weeks later and adding my father to the work roster, we planted 212 plants/trees, laid down 3,684 feet of pvc pipe, and added 4 watering stations to our irrigation system. We brought in about 10 loads of gravel/rock and kept my dad busy on the tractor for days.

I have a few more ideas for the ‘ranch,’ and I’ll share them with you hopefully in the fall. But for now…ranch life has been just another exciting adventure for all of us, and we love spending time outdoors.

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I D A H O

There’s truly no place like home, and after a few long years, the prospect of reconnecting with my roots filled my heart with joy, especially since our summers are typically whisked away by wildfires. With Aaron tirelessly battling fires in Ontario, I seized the opportunity to dedicate a week celebrating Zoey’s early 8th birthday alongside my parents, who were camped out at my brother’s Idaho haven.

Todd has devoted countless summers to transforming his getaway into a dream retreat, and this year was no exception. With our dad— the official “professional”— by his side, Todd seized the moment, building a magnificent lean-to on his pre-existing structure. Each morning unfolded with the promise of shared labor as they worked on that project while Mom and I cherished precious playtime and storytelling with Zoey, all against the backdrop of stunning scenery.

When the boys reached a point where lunch beckoned, it was our turn to share cherished childhood memories with Zoey, introducing her to the thrill of shooting a BB gun and mastering the bow and arrow under Papa’s expert guidance. I even crafted a delightful birthday scavenger hunt, a labor of love that brought immense joy to both of us.

Our adventure included a serene visit to the river, watching others float down while sharing a sweet ice cream cone from town. Yet, as always, the moments with loved ones slipped by too swiftly—filled with laughter, radiant morning sunrises over steaming coffee, card games, storybooks, and Zoey’s entertaining concerts. As we savored every second together, the bittersweet moment arrived to bid adios, holding on to the promise of our next reunion

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NSW, Gold Coast, and Cairns

Little did Aaron and I know this would be our last winter for a while working in Australia for bushfires and flood relief, which I am excited to share more about in a later blog post! Normally, we arrive in Victoria and prepare to respond to bushfires around our Mansfield home base, but we were thrilled to be called in early to assist with flood relief in New South Wales. Our relief efforts took us all over the beautiful state of New South Wales, providing us with the wonderful opportunity to explore and discover new surroundings and environments, which was a delightful change from our usual time spent in Victoria.

We had a few days off this time around to go and explore other parts of Australia so we took advantage of having that time away and headed off to the Gold Coast for a few days and then up to Cairns in Queensland. The one positive about working 24/7 and working all over the globe we are able to collect hotel points along the way. We were able to score an amazing hotel room right on Surfers Paradise Beach.

After a quick trip to the Gold Coast, we made our way up to Cairns. Our first stop was the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway and the Kuranda Riverboat Tour, where we floated just a few meters above the stunning tropical rainforest in the Barron Gorge National Park. Next, we zoomed over to Fitzroy Island for a chill day soaking up the sun and playing in the sand. To wrap things up, we went on a fun croc spotting adventure at Hartley’s. North Queensland is home to the biggest and most dangerous reptiles out there, and we definitely didn’t want to miss seeing those guys!

After spending a few days away, returning to reality reminds us that we’re concluding our final Christmas in Oz and bidding farewell to what may be our last bushfire season in Australia for the foreseeable future. Our time in Australia always fills us with joy, and it truly feels like a second home to us. The warmth of the people, the stunning landscapes, and the rewarding work draw us back year after year. As we leave this beautiful place, it will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Until we meet again, dear Oz… please remain the kind and welcoming haven we’ve always cherished!

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