Greetings Fellow Travelers!! Whether you travel by boat, plane, train, car, hike or RV, adventure is out there 🥰

Seems surreal that 3 years ago today, my house in Gilbert went into 30 day Escrow! And with a lot of help from friends and neighbors I was able to significantly downsize in that short timeframe so me and Dusty fit into Tiffie and off we went!

I started painting rocks as grief therapy – painting encouraging words – and leaving finished rocks in each RV park I stayed at – it has sort of “blossomed” into an unique side hustle!😳 Come forward to today, I have actually sold my rocks! (Imagine paying money for a rock?) 😂 And my little polymer clay Gnomies continue to be popular items –

So along with selling my rocks, Gnomies and siIk scarves, I was encouraged to try my hand at a recycled art project! Unbelievably my little Gnomie Homes Nite Lights won a ribbon!! Even got a mention in the Belen Art League Newsletter!! “Kimberlie LaMontine’s “Gnomie-Homie Garden Lights” took first place in the plastic division and were sold at the opening.” So I got my 15 minutes of fame! 😂😂

Well along with continuing current art projects I’m adding another project – it may not really be art but does involve some creativity – tying flies for fly fishing and creating spinners for trout!! 🎣🎏 Seems like fishermen (fisherwomen too) are always losing flies and spinners and buying more – my “Craft Guide” (a.k.a. Craft Pimp) is encouraging me to try my hand at making these critters and then wants to take them and some of my other items with as he travels around to different craft fairs so I don’t even hafta go!😁

This year Dusty turns 15 years old and Tiffie is 8, I’m doing really good too 👍😊🥰 Altho’ Tiffie has almost a full tank of gas, with gas at exorbitant prices everywhere and with Tiffie getting 7mpg – I won’t be driving Tiffie this year – I know you’ll understand why I won’t be visiting you onsite anytime soon 💕

So far this year this is where I’m at – got a great location, community and tribe – even a fun side hustle! I am thankful God has kept you in my path and we can keep moving forward together! CHEERS!! 😎

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I have traveled far in September – on an in-depth emotional journey that has plumbed the depths of my heart and soul.  It has also been a healing adventure even when emotions were high and raw traveling over family hurdles.

Now I am fortunate to actually be here in Mission Bay, San Diego! Tiffie is steps away from the beach!

Watching the water gently move and smell the ocean in the air helps cool and bathe my bruised emotions.  I feel I can relax and let go of perceived constraints and just sit and “BE!” for a bit. How Zen?!?  – I highly recommend this experience to you!!

Tiffie sits comfortably – albeit askew – due to a couple of beautiful mature trees on either side of the RV space here.  I think it is an older park not planned for the larger RV models but Location, Location, Location!

Travel planning and blogging is also healing.  Sharing what is and what will be for me is cathartic and satisfying and helps me refocus on the best future possible.  Thank you for sharing in this journey and helping me to continue to move forward.  You mean a lot to me –

I will stay here in Mission Bay RV Park thru October and then will move a wee bit north to stay in La Jolla Sante Fe RV Park starting in November – I will stay there thru the end of this year and perhaps a bit longer.  I believe the upcoming holidays will be a bit easier here in So Cal.

I have experienced some phenomenal revelations in September – both good and not so good and have embraced I am a Liberated, Unique, Vibrant, Empathetic, Dedicated traveler!!  I am L.U.V.E.D.!!

Cheers!!

WOO HOO!!  We are in CALIFORNIA!!

I have a clear view of the Colorado River!  It is just gorgeous! So it is not that far from where I am parked – the site is just incredibly level and is completely grassy too!  No dirt or gravel – also I didn’t lower Tiffie’s levelers as both level bubbles inside are exactly in their middle mark! She’s already as level as she can get!  How cool is that?  Plus it’s a pull thru so Rango (Jeep) can stay attached!

Hidden Beaches in Blythe, CA is a nice, small RV park – I am hooked up to 50 amp but decided not to hook up to water – I filled my fresh water tank up to 3/4 full which is more than I normally do – so would like to lower the level in that tank just a bit – already dumped both grey & black yesterday back in Mesa, AZ –

Now the wind is picking up a bit and trying to rock Tiffie side-to-side – but it’s kind of fun in a weird way – I like it – I think the ol’ girl can handle this wind – if she can handle AZ Monsoons – this is a piece’o’cake!!

So from breaking camp in Mesa to set up here in Blythe (start to finish) was 4 hours – almost to the minute – this was the longest drive I had scheduled coming out to So Cal – doable but me’n’Dusty are both tired – the next legs of my journey are only a couple of hours each – from here to Desert Hot Springs RV park Wednesday and then Friday into Orangeland RV park in Orange, CA – I am blessed to be able to stay at Orangeland thru September – and then it’s on to Mission Bay RV park in San Diego!!

Time now for that Light Peach Margarita on the beach!!

CHEERS!!

WOW!  Yesterday marked 2 months since I officially sold and moved out of my house and today marks another milestone – 2 whole months Full Time RV’ing!!  ❤

I am still a bit overwhelmed at the whole adventure – I feel blessing after blessing and today experiencing a beautiful Thunderstorm while I am staying in Alamogordo NM!

Mud-issippi!

Deluge!

Tiffie is watertight and continues to surprise me with her novelties – such as the sound of rain on her roof – I have always enjoyed listening to, being surrounded by and chasing Thunderstorms – AZ Monsoons are the best!  The energy, dynamics and speed are amazing – and today’s thunderstorm just helped me remember and to celebrate life –

New life lessons continue too – Tiffie is a big girl and driving and maneuvering 12 tons thru mountain passes on slick, wet roads gives new meaning to prayer!  Feels great to feel our Lord’s loving presence so near –  even Dusty came out from behind the bed and sat by me listening to the Thunderstorm today!!

I continue my journey westward tomorrow – back towards the AZ heat – it’s a dry heat – LOL – but maybe just maybe I can pull/push some cooling moisture with me??

Cheers!!

And so is the truth!!  Of course only in Roswell, NM – where I have landed for the next 3 weeks!!

I’ve met some friendlies and some not so friendly but have immensely enjoyed this experience so far!

This one was friendly – altho’ quite stoic –

Yep – Alien Invasion in the whole town! ‘Cept the old Walker Air force Base?

This one (yes on the right!) was not so friendly – sorta scary!

Klaatu barada nikto

The weather also soothed my Monsoon Heart and gave up some beautiful rain!  The wind really rocked Tiffie but no hail – NM weather person says it will rain here again early next week – hope so!!

Thought why not fully extend the Sofa

Water tight and rockin’ to the rainy rhythm!!

So now I’m watching Ancient Aliens: Declassified – it’s a Marathon showing on the History channel – how coincidental and appropriate is that?   LOL

Cheers!!

It would appear that time passes VERY quickly when one is traveling visiting friends and family – who knew?

I have also renamed my blog to include my travel buddies.

I am now preparing to leave Greeley CO – time just flew by!  I did take today as a complete me’n’Tiffie’n’Dusty day.  Tiffie is now all cleaned & dusted and items are stored for travel.  Dusty had a complete change out in his litter paraphernalia and an extra spritz of Feliway – it does help to calm him. I think he knows that tomorrow will be yet another travel day.  I suggested that he journal his anxiety thoughts – I may let him blog a bit – if he can control his outbursts!  He sure gives me an earful when I’m driving over really rough roads and hit potholes!!  Tiffie doesn’t “swerve” well – LOL

My niece was kind and took some great pics.  She is a professional photographer. She has that “knack”!

I love the one with me “splatted” like bug all over Tiffie’s grill – it is too funny.  And she gave Tiffie Holly Shiftwell eyes – Luvin’ It!!  (used that one for my blog pic)

And then she captured Mr. Bill and I didn’t even know it until she shared the pics with me – I mean how? We were both inside Tiffie and she’s only 300sqft!?!  My niece is one kool kid!

My travel days will be 7/30 & 7/31. I will arrive in Roswell, NM 8/1.

I am in no hurry to be anywhere or do anything and that is a fabulous feeling!!

God has blessed me with excellent and safe travels –

The first leg of my journey was to Flagstaff, AZ – such a rush!  Not only first day on the road and first time driving solo to Flagstaff but first time driving Tiffie on the road to Flagstaff!!  She is a big girl and takes up the whole lane – but drives really responsive to touch – altho’ she don’t go fast up hills and hills are what we are going over!!

Sunday will go over Raton Pass in norther New Mexico which is 7,835 feet!  I’m sticking to Interstate roads to help lessen anxiety about clearing underpasses – if those big truckers can make it under those bridges then Tiffie’s AC’s sure can! 😊 Sunday night will stay in Colorado City KOA –

Monday I will pull into Greeley, CO – and will stay there for a couple weeks or so – visiting with family and finally relaxing – I’m learning it is a bit tiring to drive more than 4 hours at a stretch – I think I will need to add in an extra day for travel days – and make shorter jumps down the road – here’s some stops so far –

Letting go of my old, familiar ways and things and stuff opened a plethora of new opportunities for challenges, breakthru’s and freedom.  I have not experienced this much personal growth and forward momentum since learning how to cope with such a huge loss in 2017.

I’m not saying it was easy on the contrary there was much I would rather not have faced or had to do or had to work thru to complete – but a lot of the changes were blessings and only now can I look back and see a big difference.

So today I have paid off my RV loan and “Tiffie” is all mine now – much to the chagrin of the bank, who loved my interest payments!  Plus just last week I paid off my 2 credit cards so I have zero debt – that in itself is a liberating and emancipating feeling too!

Dear friends (and family) have always cheered me on and I may have failed to notice it at the time but Thank You! I see it now.  Another reason why I want you along with me for the ride – Your positive encouragement and acceptance genuinely helps to keep me moving forward and I hope you continue to get a giggle or two out of my sometimes silly exploits!  Tiffie is definitely the handful!  Now I gotta go dump the tanks – 😎

Next step – literally moving on down the road to Flagstaff and then points east toward Colorado!

Cheers!