2023 Cross Country | Wild Wanderings

2023 Cross Country Road Trip

We had a truly memorable cross country trip, including ice storms, sand storms, 50 mph winds and other challenges that make it difficult to pitch a tent.

But the beautiful, peaceful days in places like Gila Box are what really stand out as we reflect upon our trip.

Check out all our great photos and adventures by clicking on our blog posts below!

March 27: Home!

Well, we made it home safe and sound. As I write this, the clothesline is filled with camping gear and the drying racks are in front of...

March 26: Bentonville, VA to Greentown, PA

Our last night of our trip took us to Greentown, PA and the location of Promised Land State Park, a 12,000+ acre park located on the...

March 25: Marion to Bentonville, VA

You know your organizational systems are breaking down on your road trip when there are pools of water and wet camping gear on the front...

March 24: Layfayette, GA to Marion, VA

In spite of the beauty and potential for hiking at Crockford-Pigeon Mountain, we hit the road relatively early since we knew rain was on...

March 22-23: Millington, TN to Layfayette, GA

Imagine our surprise to realize we were running one day behind for our meet-up in Georgia with our friend, Terry! Totallly my fault....

March 21-22: Mountainar, AR to Millington, TN

One regret I have related to this blog is that I did not share what birds we heard each day. With the Merlin app, you can record bird...

March 19-20: Foss, OK to Mountainair, AR

We're home! Or at least it feels that way now that we are in the land of hills and trees and wildflowers. This is our third stay at Lake...

March 18: Canyon, TX to Foss, OK

Google tells us that we visited Foss State Park on March 9, 2020. Neither of us have any recollection of being here, other than maybe...

March 16-17: Villanueva, NM to Canyon, TX

I finally have a positive image to replace all the ugly images I have of Texas (think oil refineries, natural gas flares, endless...

March 15: Faywood, AZ to Villanueva, NM

Tucked along the Pecos River in a narrow valley is Villanueva State Park, in the tiny town (population 201) of Villanueva, NM. On the...

March 14: Safford, AZ to Faywood, NM

Yes, we've returned to City of Rocks for one night, as we travel north/northeast from Arizona. It just happens the weather is good here...

March 11-13: Mesa to Safford, AZ via Gila Box

The sound started while we were exploring a narrow, rocky canyon this morning. Was it the wind playing in the canyon rocks overhead? Was...

March 10: Mesa, AZ - Day three

This report of the day's activities from Glen: "Nyssa and I hiked up Wind Cave Trail, the most popular trail at Usery Mountain Regional...

March 9: Mesa, AZ

Today is a day when it feels like our trip is starting to turn around and cast its eyes back toward the east coast. At breakfast this...

March 8: Apache Junction to Mesa, AZ

We've landed in our new campsite at Usery Mountain Regional Park, where we will camp and explore for the next three days. More photos...

March 7: Apache Junction

Another warm, beautiful day (I know, where are the sand storms and ice storms?!) in Apache Junction. I cooked up a veggie sautee for...

March 6: Apache Junction

A pretty, warm and dry day offered itself up today, and we had a leisurely breakfast at the picnic table, followed by showers and...

March 5: Apache Junction

Today Glen suggested a hike on Boulder Canyon Trail near Tortilla Flat - about a half hour from our campsite. The morning skies were rosy...

March 4: Surprise to Apache Junction, AZ

We've arrived at Lost Dutchman State Park, where we are enjoying a fabulous, unobstructed view of the Superstition Mountains from our...

March 3: White Tank Mountains, Surprise, AZ

Today was our last full day at White Tank this year - at least as far as we know. I was up early and was greated by a lovely sunrise and...

March 1-2: White Tank Mountains, Surprise, AZ

We woke to another rain-washed desert morning here in Arizona. Yesterday afternoon and last night brought more high winds and downpours....

February 26-28: White Tank Mountains, Surprise, AZ

It's been a beautiful couple of days here in Surprise, AZ. Great weather, great hiking, great tent companions. We've spent equal measures...

February 24-25: White Tank Mountains, Surprise, AZ

A pair of great horned owls sang us awake at 4 am on Saturday morning in Black Canyon at White Tank Mountains Regional Park, where we...

February 23: Mojave Desert, CA to Waddell, AZ

With a winter storm warning hanging over our heads, and the possibility of 6" of snow and 45 MPH winds and possible road closures, we...

February 21-22: Cottonwood, AZ to Mojave Desert, CA

Just a quick post to share a few photos. Didn't expect to have a signal - also didn't expect to have 25-degree temps, wind gusts of 50...

February 20: Cottonwood, AZ

It's our last day in Cottonwood - as far as we know. I'm sipping wine and hangin' with Twyla at our new peaceful campsite. While I've got...

February 19: Cottonwood and Sycamore Canyon

I must admit, I worried a little the whole time we hiked in Sycamore Canyon whether we would be able to drive the car back out on the...

February 17 and 18: Cottonwood

The last two days have been comprised of slow starts to the mornings, good breakfasts, long hikes, and relaxed suppers. We have views...

February 16: Cave Creek to Cottonwood, AZ

What's that sound, we wondered at 6:15 this morning. It was just the trash truck coming to empty the dumpster about 25 feet away from us,...

February 15: Cave Creek

Somehow, we've not previously noticed that state park and regional park restrooms in Arizona are not heated. But, since it's been below...

February 14: Gila Box to Cave Creek, AZ

Today was a day of transitions, as we left Gila Box and drove north through Phoenix to Cave Creek Regional Park - leaving the solitude...

February 12-13: Gila Box Riparian

What a difference two days and nights of quiet and solitude make - especially off-grid! We hiked and oohed and ahhed our way along and...

February 11: Safford, AZ

I will admit I was less than thrilled with staying at Roper Lake State Park but, after today, I am so glad we did. We took a day trip to...

Feb 10: Deming, NM to Safford, AZ

What a land of contrasts we are in - in our country, as a whole - and here in the southeastern corner of Arizona. From our little...

February 9: Deming, NM

The wind! Oy vey! Although it's been sunny and in the upper 50s, low 60s, the wind has been blowing non-stop. Twenty miles per hour, with...

February 8: Deming, NM

We're taking a pause and resting our paws. Stay tuned for more adventures soon.

February 7: Faywood to Deming, NM

Well, I guess there comes a time in many people's lives when they turn 62. Today is just such a day for me. I suppose if you have to age,...

February 6: Faywood, NM day two

The sun was already on our campsite when I crawled out of the tent this morning, so making hot beverages in 38-degree weather was a...

February 5: Alamogordo to Faywood, NM

Imagine our surprise when the owners of Henion Bakery in Amherst, MA, came walking into our campsite at City of Rocks State Park in New...

February 4: Alamogordo too!

Today is the kind of day I long for when we are traveling - a day when we sit still for a while, with no big plans. I read The Unquiet...

February 3: Alamogordo, NM and White Sands

Otherwordly is an apt description of White Sands National Park. Happily, it is one of the few National Parks that allow dogs, so we had a...

February 2: Alamogordo, NM

Well, we did end up hiking up Dog Canyon, but only a four-mile round trip outing. It was quite beautiful - and almost completely...

February 1: Alamogordo, NM

The desert songbirds were already in full chorus when we woke in our little tent around 7 AM. I hoofed it up to the comfort station to...

January 31: Monahans, TX to Alamogordo, NM

The speed limit on I-10 in west Texas is 80 MPH, but we inched our way along the westbound lanes at about 25 to 30 MPH, as ice and fog(?)...

January 30: Valley View to Monahans, TX

You know the phrase "the best laid plans of mice and men"? Well, our plans have been subject to several changes due to trying to avoid...

January 29: Bismark, AR to Valley View, TX

The best sign seen on the trip so far: CONTROLLED CLIMATE WEDDINGS | WILD HOG HUNTS - at the same location. Yep, that's right, we're in...

January 27: Marion, VA to Burns, TN

What a long day! Another car-related challenge - a shimmy/wobble in the front of the car making us fear for our lives on the highway,...

January 26: Carlisle, PA to Marion, VA

The best part of today for me came at 2 in the morning. We were all jammed into the back of the Kia Niro, pretending to sleep. As I lay...

January 25: Greenfield, MA to Carlisle, PA

Let me start by saying that it amazes me that we left on a two-month road trip with nary a thought about making sure our car was ready...