Follow Your Heart…

…all the way to Texas. Because that’s where it is taking you. Leaving all your family, friends and job behind for the unknowns. Taking that chance on

Half Moon Bay – 1.10.15 – California

Finally, another adventure! This one I was really excited about. I was going down for the weekend to pre-celebrate my birthday with my boyfriend. He was working down in the Bay Area, so I made the trek on a Friday to go see him. We didn’t know what we were going to do that weekend, so it made me even more excited. The drive was smooth sailing… until Berkeley. Traffic. An hour sitting in traffic wasn’t my idea of a good start, until I got to the hotel and the sunset made it all worth it.

Burney Falls – 12.26.14 – California

After leaving Lassen, we headed up Highway 44 towards our turnoff to Susanville. Matt asked me, “Want to go to Burney Falls? We have the time.” “Umm, I don’t want to get home too late because of the dogs. But I think…” “Screw it. We’re going.” And off we went up Highway 89.

On the drive, it was pretty neat to see all of the burn area from recent wildfires and how much land it covered. They saved so many homes from danger. It even crossed the road and threatened some homes on that side. I wish I had taken pictures of it, but I didn’t think of it until just now.

Lassen National Park – 12.26.14 – California

I haven’t been to Lassen National Park since I was 8 years old. And about the only thing I remember about it was that it smelled like rotten eggs. I had gone with my best friend and her family. We went camping at Lake Almanor and this was a side trip for one of the days. I honestly can’t remember much more of the park than that.

This time though, was with Matt and we were driving home from Redding. Matt had worked for the forest service, so he knew a good deal about the park. He wanted to see if the road through was open. He wasn’t sure because it had just snowed two days before. We made the turn onto Highway 89 from Highway 44 towards Manzanita Lake. We got about as far as the Loomis Ranger Station before the road was blocked stating it was closed. So we turned around and headed back down.

Hunting in the Great Outdoors – 11.6.14 – Northeast Nevada

If you’ve read my About Me section, you know that I am a hunter. I’m very proud to be one and I will never apologize for it. So this year when I drew THREE hunting tags for mule deer, cow elk and bull elk, I was beyond ecstatic. I was stoked to be going on my first bull elk hunt. A thrill of a lifetime.

I ended up having to turn in my mule deer and cow elk tags for bonus points because I didn’t have enough vacation time. So I prepped myself for my bull elk hunt. November 5th couldn’t come soon enough. I was going with my dad (my trusty hunting buddy) and my boyfriend was coming along as well (his first time on a big game hunt)!

Iowa is My Friend – 7.3.14 – Shelby, IA

Five weeks pass. Fourth of July weekend. Midwest… Again. Except this time to another tiny town in Iowa about 100 miles west of Des Moines. A quaint, quiet little town by the name of Shelby. Surrounded by the never ending rolling hills of corn. Literally, it was corn as far as the eye could see.

Off to the Midwest Again – Memorial Day Weekend 2014 – Sioux City, IA

Flying… I’m becoming a pro at it after all the trips I’ve made. This time I was flying at night, from Reno to Salt Lake then to Omaha with an hour and a half car ride up to Sloan, IA. I was beyond excited. It was a long weekend for me and I got to spend time with my boyfriend in a place we both have never been before.

Off to the Midwest – 2.14.14 – Northwest Arkansas

St. Valentine’s Day… A day of flowers, chocolates, romantic dinners and full blown love. Or in my case, flying for 6 hours starting at 6AM.

I had been to the Midwest once before, in Kansas City, when I was 18 for a drafting competition. So all I had really seen of it was the city life. This time, I was going to visit my boyfriend who was working building power lines. Unfortunately, he had to work late the WHOLE weekend, so I didn’t get to spend that much time with him. But I did get to explore the northern part of Arkansas with his sister. It was a great bonding experience!