Category Archives: Escapism

Abandoned America, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Hiking, Road Trips, Skiing

The Way Back from Breck

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There are ways home from the well-known ski resorts that do not involve traveling 85 miles per hour on I-25. It takes longer, and involves long stretches of minimal civilization, but it’s worth the detour.

In 2022, it was time to head home from our bi-annual family ski trip to Breckenridge. Instead of taking the main thoroughfare with all the other travelers, we headed north out of Breck, toward Dillon Lake and Frisco, areas that aren’t unique and similar to Breckenridge. Large SUVs fill the roads with traffic, carrying families dressed in their winter gear, ready for expensive outdoor or indoor entertainment. The snow on the roads is slushy and sloppy, as cars spin their wheels on top of it. Scattered through Frisco are businesses that cater to tourists: gift shops, bars, ski gear, all sitting behind fancy retail entry ways.

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Abandoned America, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Plane Trips, Road Trips

We’re Going To Kansas City

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Waaaay too early …

First, some back story. In the far away year of 2016, while minding my own business and taking to co-workers on a drive back from the airport, my 2007 Kia Sorento got totaled when the driver of the giant Dodge Ram behind me on traffic-jam central (114W in rush hour traffic) decided that brakes weren’t a thing and plowed into my car. Not only did that wipe out the Sorento, but collateral damage was inflicted on my first really nice road bike – my 2012 Specialized Roubaix. Thanks …

From there, I scrounged enough couch change and lint to buy a burnished copper colored AWD Kia Sportage, which was the de facto transport for almost every driving trip since. 157000 miles and planned for 100000 more – had in fact just replaced struts and shocks and fixed a minor trim issue, given this was the car we’d be taking to New Mexico and beyond.

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Escapism, Road Trips, Running

Midnight Train to Georgia

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We had 48 hours. Make a round trip to Atlanta, Georgia, from DFW, in a Sportage. Retrieve a very specific desk from IKEA, and make it back in one piece. Optionally, visit some new cities and squeeze in exercise while driving over 1600 miles.

Expanding on this a bit … after yearly relocations for the past several years, accompanied by downsizing in line with The More of Less, one of our party had finally hit the point where furniture consolidation dictated getting rid of the two desk combination from Container Store and IKEA. To replace the work desk and the music desk with one piece of furniture was going to require some inventive squeezing, and after a long search, IKEA won again with … FREDDE.

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Escapism, Hiking, Nature, Road Trips

Make Oklahoma OK Again

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…it was never that great.

Prior trips to Oklahoma have been variably successful. In 2012, while we were looking for graveyards of interest across the driveable radius from DFW, we wound up in Davis, OK, toured the area around Chickasaw National Recreation Area, explored some seriously hot and dusty cemeteries, and consumed questionable food in a variety of locations. We chose southern Oklahoma in mid-summer, which is less pleasant than say, St. Croix. Between the limited scenery, beverages, and frankly edible food, we drove home that weekend telling ourselves we would not return. And we didn’t. With the exception of stops on the way to and from Arkansas over the years, we have remained Oklahoma-free. This year, we were looking to squeeze in a quick road trip around kid’s schedules and COVID restrictions. Despite our lingering reservations, pictures of the Wichita Mountain region and taking a look at the terrain maps on Google convinced us to try one more time …

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Abandoned America, Bicycling, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Graveyards, Road Trips

Plague Travels Under Open Skies

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In early 2020, our world was turned upside down with the news of a global pandemic. We were one of the last groups of travelers allowed on the slopes in Breckenridge that year, and as we drove home in the middle of March, we tuned into the unbelievable news. Ski resorts in Colorado and New Mexico were closing down for the season. Restaurants in most states would limit their service to takeout only. Masks, at first were discouraged. Then encouraged. Then required, depending on the state. And then fought over. Arriving home in Texas that March, we resigned ourselves to the idea that we’d be stuck at home for a while, along with the rest of the country (and in fact, the world).

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Abandoned America, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Graveyards, Hiking, Holidays, Nature, Road Trips, Running, State Parks

A Masked Tour of Southwest Texas

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The summer of 2020 was a chaotic time. The pandemic was still in full force, coming back with another wave after declining in cases for a month or so. Business were open to varying degrees, with varying restrictions, tending on the more lenient side in our part of the country. We had settled into a comfortable routine of working from home, cooking from home, exercising from home, entertaining adult and teenage children at home … the list goes on. July was the perfect time for a break from all that. Yes, travel would still present challenges, given the lack of available dining opportunities, but it was also an excellent time for exploring the world on a socially distanced agenda, which is our preference anyway.

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Bicycling, Escapism, Road Trips, Running

Ninja Style Kung-Fu Grip!

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In 2018, we decided we needed some specific goals oriented around physical activity. The year before had been chaotic, with work and kid schedules. Anticipating a more routine year ahead, we decided it was time for stability. Also, aging bodies needed something to offset excessive food and alcohol. Simple math – more (many more) calories need to be burned to compensate for diets like ours. Someone recommended the Austin Marathon – the half would be 13.1 miles of hills, starting in the city, wandering around the river, and finishing up downtown. Easy enough, said the sacrificial victims …

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Abandoned America, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Graveyards, Road Trips, Weddings

Santa Fe, because Dave’s getting married

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A year after our first trip to Santa Fe, we had the opportunity to return for a wedding. There wouldn’t be a flight for this trip like the previous one. We would need to get to Santa Fe in a car, which created a challenge since days off from work weren’t available. Santa Fe is about a 10 hour drive from home. But… we enjoy road trips – how difficult could this be?

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Bicycling, Escapism, Graveyards, Holidays, Plane Trips

The Locals Just Don’t Understand

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Having started a slow cadence of travel when we could arrange child care and time off from work, we approached the end of 2011 and started checking calendars. Schedules being what they were, it turned out that children would be cared for during the New Year’s holiday., and we considered the possibility to get out of town for a few days. So, where to? The West Coast would involve a lengthy flights, the Midwest at the time didn’t seem particularly interesting (at least the parts within driving distance), and we’d already been to Arkansas, New Mexico and chunks of east Texas. Scanning the maps of the east coast, we spotted Savannah, tucked into the tall pines trees and coastal swamps and fields of southeast Georgia. The city itself is not directly on the coast, but its proximity to the Atlantic would allow for some time on the beach, the city history looked interesting, and neither of us had ever been there. Savannah it was.

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Abandoned America, Bicycling, Boats, Canoeing, Escapism, Ghost Towns, Graveyards, Hiking, Holidays, National Parks, Road Trips

The First (Accidental) Tripping on a River

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Arkansas was more of an accident than an organized adventure. Mid-2011, we found ourselves with an unexpectedly obligation-free holiday weekend (this is normally how the trips start) and debated our options.  We had taken a few short road trips, mainly in Texas, and one quick trip to Santa Fe, NM, which involved air travel.  Up until now, free time was limited with two school-aged kids in one house, full-time, chaotic work, school and sports schedules, and life. 

The goal was to do something different, go somewhere new but within driving distance.  A cabin in the woods sounded appealing, but … Texas.  “Cabin in the woods” options are limited.  We considered Oklahoma again, but since we had some extra time, one state further out seemed manageable.  Neither one of us had ever explored Arkansas (or even been there), so the Ozarks it was.  Searching the ever-expanding Internet, we found a tiny cabin on VRBO (exciting newness in the ancient year of 2011) which fit the requirements. Located in a town called Snowball, smack in the middle of the rolling hills of Arkansas, it looked like a promising fit for a weekend escape.

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