Eat to Live. Live to Hike.
We love the great outdoors and we love the trail. Each trail offers something different, a different aspect of Mother Gaia, different plants and animals, and a different web of life. It gives us perspective. And we love to write about our adventures. Some end up in print (which we’ll cite in the post if we share them here) because they have some special “hook” of interest for the publisher. Most don’t, however, since they’re usually just about an average trail, the mundane bits of a hike, or about us. We hope you like them anyway!
- Adventures in Newfoundland
Rusty and I finally decided we needed to get back to Newfoundland. So, when Donna and Bob suggested to come the last 2 weeks in February (for the best snow) we booked our flights. And boy did it snow! - Exploring Niagara Falls
For Rusty’s 61st birthday, we toured the Northeast, including Niagara Falls. I had been there back in the 1970s, and was interested in seeing how it had changed. - A Visit to Badlands National Park
This year as we were heading west through the northern states, Rusty and I made a pact not to miss this wild and mysterious place called “mako sica” by members of the Lakota tribe, translated to “bad lands.” - Accidental Vacation: summer at the Finger Lakes
One thing about van life, you have to be spontaneous and willing to change your plans. - Mammoth Cave
On our way through Kentucky, we stopped at Mammoth Cave National Park for a few days. Surprisingly, neither of us had ever been there before. - Hiking the Ozark Trail
On our way from Tulsa and northern Arkansas (and several weeks of visits with family and friends) toward Kentucky and the east coast, we found ourselves passing through the Ozarks. The Ozarks are old… really old. - Tired of the Winter? These 7 Southeast Adventures Will Warm You Up
If you’ve had enough cold and snow for the season, why not plan a late-winter/early-spring vacation in the Southeast? In just a few hours you can fly into Atlanta, Georgia, or Jacksonville, and feel the sun on your face! - Birds of Padre Island
During our stay at Padre Island National Seashore, there were lots and lots of birds to see and identify. - Wintering at Quartzsite
Tired of wintering over in buggy and humid south Florida, we decided to try the BLM lands in the desert southwest. We’d heard a lot about Quartzsite and the surrounding areas, so we decided this was the year to check it out. - Rim to Rim to Rim
It was a year ago, while were hiking on the Colorado Trail, that the idea of hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in two days began to take shape in my head. - Bears Ears National Monument
On our way to the Grand Canyon, we had to stop at Bears Ears National Monument, one of the newest in the country. It’s full of trails, amazing rock formations, and archeological treasures. So what’s not to like? - Summiting Colorado’s Highest 14er
On our way out of Colorado, I agreed to join Rusty for one more adventure and attempt to summit Mount Elbert with him. But, the prospect of climbing the Rockies’ highest peak was daunting, to say the least. - Exploring Colorado’s Great Sand Dunes
One of the things we love about vanlife is the ability to be spontaneous and adjust our plans when a novel adventure comes our way. - Which Trail to Hike Next?
People often ask us how we decide on our next adventure. Usually, it’s a hike, but not always. We love our history, so sometimes it’s a day (or more) spent at a museum or a battlefield. Sometimes it’s a paddle or exploring a deep spring. But how do we decide?… well, that’s complicated. - Hiking the Collegiate Loop ~ Part Two
The second half of my Collegiate Loop adventure would take me back south, along the Western Route and cross the Continental Divide several times. I would also travel elevations a thousand feet higher than anything on the Eastern Route, much of it above the tree line and through a truly alpine environment. - Jack Knob Trail and Brasstown Bald
Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest peak at 4,784 feet above sea level, and we were eager to hike just about anything once the Covid lockdown eased. - Hiking the Collegiate Loop ~ Part One
Ever since we started hiking segments of the Colorado Trail last year, I’ve had my eye on the Collegiate Loop, a 160.2-mile loop that encircles the vast Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains in Central Colorado. - 102 Miles on the Colorado Trail
This year we’re fortunate to be back in the Colorado Mountains and we’re eager to do some more segments of the beautiful, but grueling, Colorado Trail. - 3 Weeks at the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
Even with fires raging in Carson National Forest, the nearby Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, and its trails and campgrounds, was open. Lucky us. - A Visit to Sugarite Canyon
Sugarite Canyon State Park was a convenient stopover with water and hot showers to boot, a real treat for us. - Black Mesa, OK to Capulin Volcano, NM
At Black Mesa, we stumbled upon a major lesson in geology, plate tectonics, and volcanism! Next stop: Capulin Volcano National Monument to learn more. - A Visit to a Real “Ghost” Campground
On our way west to New Mexico, we decided to spend a few days at the Optima National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) last week. It’s located smack-dabbed in the Oklahoma Panhandle along Highway 412. - Adventuring on the Buffalo River Trail
With the promise of scenic bluffs, ridgelines and cascading creeks through the highlands of the Ozark wilderness, the Buffalo River Trail lured us to its banks in late April for a hopefully spectacular hiking experience. - Flowers of the Buffalo River Valley
A sign at the Pruitt end of the Buffalo River Trail proudly informs, “Along the way, look for some of the more than 800 species of flowering plants that bloom between February and October.” - Remembering Selma
This year, we opted to explore Alabama and some of the national forests there. We also decided to wind our way through Selma, site of some of the most famous marches of the Civil Rights era. - Exploring Florida’s Torreya State Park
Rusty and I were on our way to Alabama, when I suddenly remembered the park. “Will you take me to the trees?” I asked Rusty, and of course he agreed. - The Ocean to Lake Trail ~ 2022
The 61-mile Ocean to Lake Trail is a noteworthy and fascinating trek through “Real Florida.” We hiked it in 2019, but this year Rusty invited his friend Tom to join him. - A Visit to Antietam National Battlefield
As Rusty and I made our way back to Florida we decided to stop in Sharpsburg, Maryland, to visit the battlefield and find the grave of Robert Morgan. - Bison Dreams
After test hiking a section of the Colorado Trail, we headed north to the Black Hills in South Dakota and the 124-mile Centennial Trail. - A Visit to Bandelier National Monument
The Bandelier National Monument preserves the homes and territory of the Ancestral Puebloans of the Southwest. There were so many places to explore here, we hardly knew where to start. - Test-Hiking the Colorado Trail
The Colorado Trail is one of the premiere hiking trails in the country. We decided to test it out first before we attempt a thru-hike of its 486 miles. - Hiking the Lincoln National Forest
We didn’t realize until we arrived that this campground was just reopened this year after the massive Little Bear Fire of 2012 that consumed more than 44,000 acres. - Adventures in Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Naturally, Rusty wanted to hike Texas’ highest peak, so we headed to Guadalupe Mountains National Park to spend five nights at the park’s main campground, Pine Springs. - San Antonio Missions
Neither of us had ever visited nor been to the Alamo, the site of a renowned battle in the Texans’ Revolution against Mexico. After a little Googling, we learned that the Alamo was just one of a chain of five missions Spain established along the San Antonio River. Sounds like a history adventure! - Hiking the Ouachita Trail
On our way through Oklahoma, we passed the Talimena State Park, which is also the western terminus of the Ouachita Trail. What a perfect opportunity to stop and share one of my favorite hikes with my life partner. - Oklahoma’s Sordid History
I grew up in Tulsa in the 1960s and 70s. I learned math and science. I took woodworking and metal shop. I learned French and US history. But one thing I never learned about was the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921. - A Visit to Tallgrass Prairie Preserve
North of Tulsa, on the border with Kansas, the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve is home to 2,300 bison, rolling prairie and stunning vistas. It’s not to be missed! - Natchez Trace Parkway ~ Final Chapter
We had gone into this hike, enamored by the history of the Natchez Trace, the beautiful pictures on the NPS website, and our previous experience with the amazing Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia/North Carolina. This adventure failed on all three counts. - Natchez Trace Parkway ~ Part 3
The Yockanookany Section of the Natchez Trace Scenic Trail had both good bits and very bad parts. But in the end it was too much, even for us. - A Visit to Vicksburg National Military Park
Located about an hour away from the city of Jackson, Mississippi, Vicksburg National Military Park seemed like an appropriate place to visit this Memorial Day weekend. - Two Mississippi Museums in One
We love our hiking and rustic adventures, but every now and then we like to explore our close-by urban environments. - Natchez Trace Parkway – Part 2
Our first 27 miles on the Natchez Scenic Trail are challenging, with both good parts and bad. But it’s definitely good to stretch our legs with some serious hiking again. - Natchez Trace Parkway – Part One
Natchez Trace has three decent first-come first-served campgrounds, lots of interesting historical attractions, and five linear hikes, totaling 61 miles. Sounds like this could be fun! - Beginning Our Western Adventure
The day after Mother’s Day, Rusty and I left Amelia Island heading west toward Florida’s panhandle. We had planned to do this trip out west last year, but then Covid happened. - A Weekend at the Springs
Two of Florida’s most beautiful springs, Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs, are located in the heart of “Old Florida.” These springs are rich in history and chronicle the world of tourism back in the mid-century. - Lake Conasauga Recreation Area
A hidden gem named Lake Conasauga Recreation Area sits atop the northeastern Georgia mountains, and is home to a primitive campground, lake, and more. But getting here is not for the faint of heart. - Trail Hygiene 101:How to stay clean on the trail
If you love to hike, you probably don’t mind getting down and dirty. But there are a few good reasons to practice good hygiene while out in the woods. - Kissimmee Prairie
Our second Florida hike together was at the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve in the middle of winter. It was a breathtaking expanse of grassland below an infinite blue sky above. - Hopkins Prairie Wilderness
Karen took me to her favorite place in Florida, where the Florida Trail ambles through the Ocala National Forest in north central Florida. - How to Shoot a Civil War Cannon
Shoot a cannon? Not something that was on my bucket list, but dang, who wouldn’t want to shoot a real Civil War cannon! - Hiking Jennings State Forest
We set out on a mini-adventure to Jennings State Forest to hike two new trails – The Dunn’s Farm Trail and The Pioneer Trail – and help get them online for more people to explore. - Florida’s Ocean to Lake Trail
We have hiked several sections of the 1,280-mile long Florida Trail, which we love. But while we were staying at a campground in the Lake Okeechobee area in the early spring of 2019, we decided to hike a connected spur trail, the 61-mile Ocean-to-Lake Trail. - Paddling the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
It was a brisk winter morning when my beau, Rusty, and I headed to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge for a 2-day guided paddling trip with Okefenokee Adventures in Folkston, Georgia. Less than an hour from Amelia Island, the Okefenokee swamp is a great place to visit this time of year, when the weather is cool and insects are at a minimum… - Primitive Camping on Cumberland Island
I’ve visited Cumberland Island so many times I feel I could hike the backcountry blindfolded. But Troy had only taken a day trip there, and was eager to explore the trails with me… - Day Four, Return to Thunder Rock
The first half of our 1.5 mile ascent back up Big Frog Mountain was straight up as we knew it would be, stopping every few hundred feet to catch our breath. We’d gone less than a quarter mile before the rain started to pour again and the trail slowly became more muddy and slippery… - Day Three on the Benton MacKaye
The rain ended overnight. But it was so dark on this slope under the trees we woke up late. Still, we made time for coffee, love and breakfast before we packed up and started back the way we came… - Day Two, at the BMT/AT Junction
Once, when the trail dipped down below the ridge, we spooked a bear that was on the ridge only a few feet above us. We didn’t see it through the brush but it sounded big… - Day One, Big Frog Mountain
As the path turned upwards again to climb Big Frog Mountain there was no rest from the ascent. Our hearts started pounding and we started to sweat pretty good.. - The Art of the Supported Hike
When my husband Troy told me he wanted to hike Vermont’s 272-mile Long Trail with his friend Brock, I was surprised…
We are Girl Hobo and Rusty (Ren and Troy), two greys who met on the Appalachian Trail. We started a life together, converted a van to travel and hike across the country, and we like to eat well. Now, we’re sharing what we’re learning on the road, and we’d love you to join us!