How will you remember years 2020 and 2021?
My whirlwind was filled with self discovery and gaining back control of my life. I dug really deep and reclaimed my sense of purpose. I actually accomplished everything I had set out to do on my massive wanderlust list and exploded even beyond my wildest dreams.
I was frugal but didn’t hold back if I really wanted to experience something.
I lived very simply without much baggage and thoroughly enjoyed the spontaneous detours since I wasn’t held back by “stuff”.
I didn’t get caught up in any negativity or toxicity to actually find another layer within my personality that I can retreat to when threatened.
I set out to explore the unknown, conquer some new feats and found my inner peace again.
I had the perfect mixture of alone time and meeting up with some amazing friends along the way.
I truly lived out my motto of being FEARLESS!
And I recaptured my joy in taking pictures to document this amazing journey. I became a better storyteller and found a new outlet in penning my thoughts onto paper so that the memories didn’t fade away only in my brain.
After taking an astounding 4,176 good pictures and videos, I am closing this WONDERFUL chapter in my crazy life. I’m proud of my resilience and making things happen amongst all the uncertainty in the world. It could have been easy to retreat and be heart broken in not being able to complete my original 8 month international plan of Bali, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Greece, Norway and Spain. BUT I gained so much more by exploring our own beautiful country and found such crazy deals that I was able to extend to just over 10 months of nomad life.
What an awesome, life changing experience that I had the courage to pursue with all my heart. To quote P!NK…. “Dream BIG because what if it comes true”!!!
A quick recap:
- 4 continents 🗺
- 4 countries 🇪🇬 🇬🇷 🇹🇷 🇩🇪 = total 55 or 22%🌍
- 32 states 🇺🇸 = total 47 or 94% 🤩
- 30 National Parks 🏞 = total 42 or 67% 🥾
- 54 National Monuments = total 88 or 26%🏛
- 261 different stops 🛑
- 258 days traveling 🧳
- 5 scuba dives 🤿
- 14 bucket list destinations ✅
- Only 3 minor hiccups which is crazy considering all the prep & unknowns involved – flat tire, skateboard accident & took the wrong Covid test 😬
- Started my travel adventure blog, created my own logo & wrote 156 stories along the way ✍️
Leg #0 – took off immediately for our 3rd annual FL friends getaway, first timer to Mackinac Island & rolled into a relaxing week in Myrtle Beach with family to plot out my year ahead
Leg #1 – one way flight to launch 11 days touring the upper west states with my dad in all new territory for me
Leg #2 – most definitely my favorite month getting lost in the rugged and otherworldly landscapes that can only be found deep in the backcountry of Utah & northern Arizona AND my grand finale of conquering the Grand Canyon rim to canyon to rim hike on my birthday + bonus of just beating out all the crowds & had picture perfect weather
Leg #3 – 2 weeks of family time with both of my younger brothers’ beautiful families
Leg #4 – a thrilling week circling the Pacific Northwest with a great friend
Leg #5 – exploring the eastern national parks of California and culminating in Vegas with one of my best friends
Leg #6 – a chill week visiting amazing college besties in NC and dipping into the FL Keys
Leg #7 – 3 weeks looping around the arid Southwestern states with 2 stops in dreamy Sedona (New Years Eve sunset from the cliff top of Catheral Rock plus sunrise on 1/1/21 from the south rim of the Grand Canyon with 2 rad ladies)
Leg #8 – fulfilling a dream of 3 weeks in Hawaii (minus an unfortunate skateboard accident)
Leg #9 – spontaneous extension for a week of discovery in Northern Cali and culminating with a great friend’s family in San Fran
Leg #10 – Northern roadtrip covering 3k miles over 5 states
Leg #11 – caught the Amtrak train to Boston and took off to the Northeast to conquer 3 more states getting me up to 47 of 50
Leg #12 – another 2 weeks in Cali with family (have to take advantage of auntie time while they still want to hang out with me)
Leg #13 – international 5 week grand finale trio to Egypt, Greece and Turkey (1st tour to return to each in 15 months!)……… the perfect endcap!
My next professional journey begins now…… NO REGRETS!!
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FearlessAdventures 