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Menu
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        • Antelope Slot Canyon
        • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
        • Colossal Cave Mountain Park
        • Flagstaff
        • Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
        • Grand Canyon National Park
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          • Grand Canyon National Park South Rim
          • Toroweap
        • Havasu Canyon
        • Horseshoe Bend
        • Jerome
        • Kaibab National Forest
        • Lee’s Ferry
        • Meteor Crater
        • Navajo Bridge
        • Oak Creek Canyon
        • Painted Desert
        • Pipe Springs National Monument
        • Prescott
        • Quartzsite
        • Saguaro National Park
        • Sedona
        • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
        • Vermilion Cliffs
        • Walnut Canyon National Monument
        • Wupatki National Monument
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Tag: travel

31 December 2019

Ramble on to 2020 New Year ahead

I’m not one to make New Year resolutions but am ready to ramble on to 2020.  Big changes in life can happen any time I choose.  Well, almost.  Naw, what the hell.  Who am I to think I’m in control?  I AM!  Or at least I try.  Death occurs.  Accidents happen.  I have less control over them than they over me.  How I react is in my control.  Maybe not if clumsiness causes an accidental trip over a wire then falling down and breaking both wrists.  However, I did have control over my attitude about healing and tried to stay as positive as I could.  There were days when you wouldn’t have wanted to be a fly on my wall.  Yet I am healing.  Yesterday was my last PT and assessment with the left, and most severely injured, at about 65%, and the right at 85%.  I will keep working it completely on my own now.

Over the last decade just posted about, I feel incredibly fortunate having traveled so much, meeting amazing people along the way.  I am full of gratitude that I can still live the way I want in my nomadic lifestyle.  Though it is getting more difficult to find free, remote, uncrowded, boondocking on public land.  The word is out on how wonderful RV living really is.

I am rambling on and gone astray with this post, having lost direction.  Maybe that’s because I’m not sure what direction to go.  Wouldn’t be the first time.

Gaelyn's Disney glasses Never Grow UpMy Disney glasses

Still want to follow my travel dreams which haven’t changed much in many decades except the list keeps growing.  Although as I age my physical abilities change.  I recently slowed down but don’t want that to stop me.  I have gotten physically lazy.  The longer I sit inside, the less I want to go out.  Yet once outside, I am happiest.  What the hell is wrong with me?

There’s healing going on, physiologically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually…

I turn 66 years young in March and start to collect social security, yet I don’t know about living on social security.  Seasonal Rangers don’t earn government retirement.  I really don’t have a Plan B.  And I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be if I grow up.

Now it’s time to look forward and ramble on to 2020.

tree boulders moon reflection Watson Lake Prescott ArizonaI want a new camera and not sure what the budget will allow.  Breaks my photographer heart to think of all the DSLR cameras that were bought and little or never used and probably sit in the original box in a closet.  Maybe after I get back to work.  I want to try more night photography.

I see some coddiwompling in the near future to enjoy the healing apricity found in the desert.

My rent at North Ranch is paid until January 2nd.  Though I could extend that.  It’s been nice here although I really didn’t mingle or get my lazy ass outside enough.  I’m thinking next stop will be boondocking on the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge south of Quartzsite, Arizona.  Perhaps for full moon. And if the nights don’t drop below 40°.  Then slowly work west to Joshua Tree, California to meet up with a friend during the third week of the month.  From there who knows.  Do I stay in expensive California?  I’ve become comfortably spoiled with electricity providing heat so will see how boondocking goes and how low temperatures go.  My mind and body don’t deal with cold.

As usual, I am open to suggestions, friendocking, and company.

Gaelyn at PT Wickenburg ArizonaMe at PT making a fist and twisting my wrist

Thanks for letting me ramble on.  And thank you for leaving comments so I know somebody is listening.  You long-time readers know a lot about me, and I a bit about some of you.  But if you’re not a blogger, I don’t know much about you.  Feel free to introduce yourself.  If not in a comment here maybe go to the contact tab for a private message to me.  Social media is a conversation which to me is easier if I at least kind of know who I’m talking with.

May 2020 bring the most positive energy to us all!

I like to save images from Facebook.

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life, New Year's Eve, RV life health, life, life journey, travel, winter 32 Comments
26 November 2019

Taking a slow ride

cell tower sign Nothing ArizonaI took four days to coddiwomple about 400 miles on my slow ride from Cedar City, Utah to Congress, Arizona, and fit in some friend visits along the way.

My last day in Cedar City, I paid the KOA electric bill and the owner dumped the camper tanks for me as I still don’t have the strength or dexterity to hook up the sewer hose.  Then off I went to my last PT and doctor visits.

I15 Virgin River Gorge UtahThe first time I’d driven in over a month and it felt good to be behind the wheel.  I felt different after a 1 1/2 hour drive through the beautiful windy Virgin River Gorge and on to Mesquite, Nevada.

truckcamper Mesquite NevadaThe truck just barely fit in Mary and Michael’s driveway and was easy to mostly level.  They fed me, we chatted and I went to the camper about 8:30pm. They also fed me breakfast and sent leftovers.

last light mountains Poverty Flats Nevada

last light mountains Poverty Flats Nevada

truckcamper sunset clouds Poverty Flats NevadaThe next day I hit the road around noon and in barely an hour was parked and somewhat level at Poverty Flats. I took a short walk with the small camera and phone.  A man in a golf cart caught up with me and asked if I was Geogypsy. A lurker blog reader from Wyoming.

sunset Poverty Flats NevadaHow I love the quiet and warm desert.

Gaelyn Poverty Flats NevadaSo much that I stayed an extra night instead of driving an hour to Boulder City.  Good thing, as the free parking above the casino was closed.

Lake Road Nevada

Lake Mead Lake Road Nevada

Gaelyn truckcamper Kingman Arizona by TerriInstead I made the 2 ½ hour slow ride to Kingman and visited with another friend.  Thanks Terri.

Dazzos Wikeup Arizona

stormy SR93 South ArizonaFor the next day rain was predicted all over the SW so I made a two hour run for it with a stop at Dazzos for Italian Beef for lunch.

truckcamper North Ranch Congress Arizona

Curve bill thrasher bird Yucca plant North Ranch Congress ArizonaBy late afternoon I was parked at North Ranch in tiny space #74, on a corner, next to a birdy bush that could be some kind of Yucca.

Pickleball court North Ranch Congress ArizonaI’m across the street from the Pickleball court.

truckcamper sunset clouds North Ranch Congress ArizonaAnd have a decent view west for sunset.

After several days of rain I went up the hill to Yarnell where I gave up my post office box and had lunch at Gilligans.

Vulture Mine Road West clouds Wickenburg ArizonaNow I’m set up with PT in Wickenburg three days a week for the next month.  I am healing, slowly, and getting better every day.

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RV lifestyle boondocking, friendocking, travel 29 Comments
12 November 2019

Time to coddiwomple southward

Coddiwomple (v.) to travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination.  I typically live like this during winter while making a plan for where to next.

I paid too much rent to stay for another week in Cedar City for three more PT appointments on my slowly improving wrists.  Very nice that daytime highs in the 60s makes a pleasant two block walk to PT.  The time here has been well spent.  Although honestly it doesn’t feel like I’ve done much else besides waste a lot of time online.

I have another doctor visit and PT assessment on my last day in town, the 15th.  Then I’ll coddiwomple southward probably just out of Utah to Black Rock Road on free BLM for the night.  Will be my first stay in this location.  That’s only a little over an hour driving.  Long enough for my first major drive in 2 1/2 months.

Sunset Snowbird Mesa Overton NevadaEven the clouds at sunset were windblown

Then the next day, two hours to Snowbird Mesa, aka Poverty Flats, Nevada.  Last I stayed there in March 2017 the wind almost blew me away.

truck camper Hoover Dam Lodge Casino sunset Boulder City NevadaFrom November 2017

And another hour to Boulder City and free camping by the casino.

Dazzo's Chicago Hot Dogs Wikeup Arizona

truck camper Burro Creek campground Nothing ArizonaAlso November 2017

Followed by a two hour drive to Burro Creek campground with a stop along the way in Wikeup for Chicago style Italian Beef sandwiches, to eat and to go.

And a final hour to Wickenburg.  About 450 miles total.  I used to drive that in a day instead of five.

bent handicap parking poles Bashas Wickenburg ArizonaI have PT set up in Wickenburg starting November 25th, the soonest I could get in.  And that means a week with only at home PT, something I’m not really good at.

desert cactus rocky outcrop Vulture Mine Road Wickenburg ArizonaThere is some desert boondocking not far out of Wickenburg.

houses Weaver Mountains Vulture Mine Road East Wickenburg ArizonaCongress at base of far mountains, Yarnell on top

Another option is a RV Park with the most affordable in Congress, North Ranch, about 10 miles to PT.  Guess I won’t be walking that.

Other than that I don’t have a plan except changing my mailing address as I no longer live in Yarnell.  For now I’m going to pay for a mail service in Wickenburg, Arizona that will give me a physical address and make the few government offices that still use snail-mail happy.  Plus I love receiving postcards from people/travelers.  Yes that’s still a thing.

Sonoran Desert Kofa Mountains clouds Palm Canyon Road Kofa National Wildlife Refuge ArizonaI am desperately hoping after more PT I’ll be closer to normal mobility.  Then I can properly go coddiwomple in the desert for the rest of the winter.

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RV lifestyle boondocking, coddiwomple, moving, RV, travel 29 Comments
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Hi, I’m Gaelyn, the Geogypsy

I retired after 29 summer seasons as a Park Ranger, traveling solo for 40+ years. My passions include travel, connecting to nature, photography, and sharing stories.

I started exploring US National Parks in 1977 and 20 years later became a seasonal Park Ranger.  I’ve lived full-time in a RV for 30 years working summers and playing winters.  I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow old, other than grow up.

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