$4,600 for 19 Weekends of Travel During COVID
Almost blew up my car, EPIC fail, camping in multiple states, fabulous gal pal adventures and memories, $4,600 for transportation, lodging, and a few activities, and traveled to 8 states……June 11, 2021 to October 18, 2021. Y’all, I said, “Let the adventures begin”….and they just keep going!
“When are you checking off your bucket list “traveling for three months straight?” – asked a friend. That is what started my traveling every weekend for 19 weekends straight. I changed my bucket list to travel every weekend for three months and it turned into 19 weeks. From June 11 – October 18. I traveled 95 out of the 130 days, crossed of my bucket list of traveling for three months!
I wanted to share with you my adventures and expenses!
June 11-14, 2020: Broken Bow, Oklahoma Camping. It all started with a road trip and camping trip in Broken Bow! This also started my 21 days social media fast. Camping, no cell service, recent breakup, and my heart needed to heal. Camping for three nights in Broken Bow was an adventure. We had not reserved a camping site in advance, so we went to a campsite that was first come first serve, the bathrooms were closed due to COVID, washing out hair under the water hose was quite the adventure and no shower for 3 days. Going to the bathroom in the porta-potties at night OR basically hanging out with the raccoons around the smelly dumpsters. Made for an adventure.
My car battery died, we thought we were super women, so we tried to jump my car, that almost blew up my car. BUT the Lord was watching over us and only the jumper cables melted, and the battery did not blow up and no fires. No worries, AAA saved the day and came to the rescue and changed my battery! (I am now a proud member of AAA).
Travel Expenses: Gas $30 & camping fee $27
June 19-28: Iowa office and Altoona family camping. Normal work trip to Iowa which usually consists of catching up with my two best girlfriends from middle school and high school (SO SO grateful for their amazing friendships). Family camping at Lake Ahquabi State Park in Indianola, Iowa. Nothing like multiple campers full of my family members!
Expenses: $90 gas for driving to camping.
July 3-6: Branson, Missouri with my parents and brother! Dad got a pontoon boat for his birthday SO had to go to the lake! No expenses other than gas to Branson and back which is about 12 hours round trip and only around $50 gas (if that).
Travel Expenses: $50 gas (12 hour round trip Dallas, Texas to Branson, Missouri).
July 8-14: Dallas to Seattle for my 32nd birthday! Brooke and I got tattoos on our arms. Together they say love unconditionally and it is in our mom’s handwriting. Washington state has a few of my favorite hikes, it is so green and lush and gorgeous in the summer there. My favorite hike on this trip was the Sourdough Mountain Trail in the North Cascades National Park. This hike is around 12 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 5,104 ft. This might be the hardest hike I have hiked; Brooke and I were basically breathing like we had just finished a marathon .5 miles in.
Travel Expenses: Flight $211 & tattoo $90
July 17-21: Branson, Missouri with my parents and ALL my brother’s friends! It was a lot of fun to just hangout on the boat and be in Branson with my family. My parents have vacation rentals in Branson, Missouri so we all enjoy going to Branson and it is a perfect meeting point between Dallas (where I live) and Iowa (where my parents live). If you are looking for a place to stay in Branson my mom has some beautiful homes, check them out at Beth's Breakaways.
Travel Expenses: $50 gas
July 24-26: Camping in Austin, Texas! Y’all, I highly recommend you go camping when the temperature goes BELOW 88 degrees at 11 pm. We didn’t get much sleep both nights we camped in Austin, the first night was SO hot out we sweat all night, the second night we had some crazy drunk man beating and yelling at some chic at various times during the night. Don’t worry, I told my gal pal we were safe because I had pepper spray, LOL! She wasn’t worries, she was just annoyed…but me I was a little nervous. But camping with my girlfriend was SO great and we celebrated what the Lord had done in our lives over the past year. Nothing like chatting and catching up while we sweat just hanging out in Austin.
Expenses: Gas $20. We camped at Krause Springs and it was $12 per night per person.
July 30-August 3: Scott’s Valley, California with one of my Iowa girlfriends! Highlight of our Cali trip was probably just being with my girl and catching up, sleeping in until we wanted, and then going out and exploring. Some things in California were closed due to COVID and the restaurants were outdoor dining only. We went to Monterey, Red Wood Forest, Shark Fin Cove Beach in Davenport, explored Santa Cruz, and Lovers Point Beach. We went hiking in the mornings and ran 13.1 miles in the Red Woods because we were originally supposed to run a half together there but due to COVID it was cancelled. We did some boutique shopping, wine and pizza night, and endless chats and laughs with my girl! This trip was perfect and so thankful for the travel memories!
Expenses: $114 round trip plane ticket, $473.59 for Airbnb, car rental/gas $160.
August 8: Home in Dallas for my girlfriend's wedding!
August 11-16: Tacoma, Washington. My younger sister is a traveling nurse and she was living in Tacoma for 3 months so I didn’t pay for a place to stay, car rental, and we cooked a lot of our meals. Thank you sister for saving me a lot of money and letting me invade your space ALL the time, you are a gem! The original plan was to go run a half marathon in Idaho, but that was cancelled due to COVID. My girlfriend from Dallas came out and we explored Portland, Seattle, Bainbridge Island, and hiked Tolmie Peak Trail. Tolmie Peak is in Mount Rainier National Park, it is a 6.4 mile hike round trip and elevation gain of 1,522 ft. Great hike! Exploring and just hanging out with my girl was so much fun.
Expenses: $200 round trip plane ticket
August 27-31: Tacoma, Washington with my mom and sister. We originally were going to Banff in Canada but due to COVID the border wasn’t open, so we went to Washington state. My mom is a fan of hiking and she is the ENERGIZER BUNNY! We hiked Blanca Lake which was a 9 mile round trip and 3,200 elevation gain. We also hiked to Comet Falls! Both were great hikes and just tried to keep up with my momma!
We also went whale watching, it was a bit chilly but a fun little excursion. I didn’t pay for the excursion so not sure the price.
Expenses: Airfare $185
September 4-6: Chicago, Illinois to visit my sister and her family for the holiday. I drove from Dallas to Chicago and didn’t want to pay for a hotel just to sleep a few hours overnight.
CAR CAMPING ADVENUTERS! That was fun. I wasn’t sure where to park, but I parked behind a McDonalds that was at a rest stop/gas station. I laid down my cars back seats so I could lay flat and rest up. I was honestly a little nervous at first, I was afraid I was going to get in trouble or someone was going to come scare me. But I got some rest and it was great!
Expenses: Gas $50
September 7-11: Iowa office for the week. Normal week preparing for our fiscal year end! I work remotely and live in the Dallas, Texas area!
Expenses: None, work pays for my trip to the office.
September 12 - October 12: Colorado for a month. First time staying in a different state for a month and I loved it! I had girlfriends come visit most weekends. I drove my car from Dallas to Denver. When friends came into town we went hiking, out to eat, explored different areas of Colorado, and just enjoyed the beautiful fall leaves and weather! I am now a big fan of traveling to one place for a month!
Expenses: Airbnb $2,378, cooking class and half marathon $204., gas to Colorado $50. Total $2,632.
October 13-16: Iowa office
Expenses: Gas $50
October 16-18: Illinois to visit my sister and her family before heading back to Texas.
Expenses: Gas $20
October 18: FINALLY home in Texas until November 1st! Y’all, I love traveling but I also LOVE community and being home. Finding a balance between the two is not easy! BUT it is a work in process!
Below is my breakout of travel places, expenses, and miles traveled!
