At Black Mesa, we stumbled upon a major lesson in geology, plate tectonics, and volcanism! Next stop: Capulin Volcano National Monument to learn more.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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!