Honestly, this has been the most amazing summer of my entire life traveling around with my best friend and our dog Honeypot. We started off on the east coast in New Jersey, where we built out the truck, bought a roof basket, our rooftop tent, a new cooler, climbing gear, and a lot more gear we would gain along the way. We left on the 4th of May and the force was definitely with us. Packed the truck said our goodbyes and headed to Pennsylvania to give my mom a visit. It was the first time she was meeting Shane and Honeypot, but she loved them and was very excited for our roadtrip and all it entailed.
We drove after that and did not stop…we got to California in around 38 hours. We kept switching on and off, deciding who would drive through the boring states. Shane does not let just anyone drive his truck, even though I am not the best, but I am pretty special to be able to drive it. We did the job we had to do California and then did a little roadtrip after going from the most northern city in California, Crescant City and down Route 1 to San Cruz.
Let’s put it in rewind for a little. It was the first week of March in Snowmass Village, Colorado and we were getting hammered with snow so many great pow days. Got word of all ski resorts shutting down because of the epidemic known as COVID-19. Yes we shut down, I told my boss, since we are closed and I am not working I might as well fly home to Shane a little earlier than I thought. This summer was supposed to be super fun and a crazy summer, little did I know it would turn 360 degrees around and be the best summer of my entire life. I flew home to Shane that Sunday right after we closed and spent the rest of March, all of April and a little bit of May stuck in a house together. We really got to know each other even better. Most people would say they grew their apart and argued with their significant other. Well, it definitely made us grow together and have to figure out hard situations and be stuck in a house together during the lockdown.
I mean for our first date I drove from my house 6 hours to pick him up at the airport, as I flew home to run some Tough Mudder races and was planning to fly back that next week. Little did I know that I would not get on that plan and drive across the country over 3,000 miles with a man who I barely knew but had a very strong connection and attraction to. We went to 4 national parks together on our first date. Let me tell you driving across the country with someone you barely know in person for me, was the greatest decision ever. Everything just fell in place and it felt so right in every way, our conversations made it seem like we had been together for years, just seemed too easy and too good to be true.
After we left Yellowstone National Park…..I thought it was over for me. We camped in the snow in a tent and I woke up to warm up the truck. Put Honeypot in the truck and oops I accidently locked the truck with the heat blasting at full heat. I thought wow I really messed up, granted it was maybe 7am or so. Was supposed to be an amazing day and I end up crying running around the camp to look for help as Shane walks down to try to get in touch with a ranger. He eventually does and Honeypot is safe and sound. I lost my privileges of holding onto the truck starter or keys. And it was not over for me still doing fun roadtrips and seeing amazing things.
So yes, if anything is meant to be its us. Shane met me volunteering at a Spartan race on Snowmass Mountain. I decided the night before my best friend and I were going to volunteer the next day and then run the race. Well long story short the old guy “Uncle Billy” who was in charge of us was looking at us and told us no joke, I am going to find you the love of your life today. And he was definitely right, I did not know at time I just said “yah sure….”. I saw him in the volunteer room and no joke said I need to meet him, most attractive man I have ever seen. I then got transferred to a new obstacle, ended up being with him, sitting in his truck the entire day talking with him. We ended the day, I did not get his name, or his number, or last name, or anything, I just knew him by his eyes, his kind gesture, and calming voice. Thank goodness I told my friend and she got his number because she “wanted a job with Spartan” wink wink… I finally perked up the courage to text him 2 weeks later, he was at a CPR training and the rest is our history together.
Now back to our roadtrip…..
Off The Grid 