Meditation and sabbaticals. They are precious gifts I’ve only recently enjoyed. If it was possible to go back in time, I’d say this to my younger self. I’d tell her no matter the cost, do these two things NOW. These gifts will feel extravagant, especially for a working girl raised by a single mother. Where’s the value in taking time to sit in stillness accomplishing nothing? And who has resources to walk away from daily life for extended “me time”?

My Tribe

At long last, I do. Meditation has become a trusted tool for regulating my nervous system. Learning to observe my thoughts and feelings instead of being consumed by them makes life so much more manageable.

Friends cheer me on when I take my trips. My son tells me he thinks my trips are “cool.” During my first solo sabbatical in summer 2022, I took both the family dogs. My husband complained that he felt lonely. Now he keeps Nova Barbie home when I leave on a trip. It’s worked out well. My girl Cleo is a much more agreeable travel companion than the Princess Barbie who requires constant attention. Four summers later, Mark has adapted to making the most of my time away. He’s made new friends and has joined a weekly study group. He finished his second novel this summer.

2025 Summer Escape

This year Cleo and I escaped the Florida summer sauna with a road trip to Madison, Wisconsin. After three years of these sabbaticals, I’ve got the hang of the ups and downs. I’m accustomed to being lonely the first few weeks until I hit my travel groove. It helps to meet new friends at campgrounds along the way. We find most campers friendly, generous and open to sharing dinner and a fire.

Cleo and I have become efficient. Once we pull into a new campsite, she sniffs out the area, inspecting any suspicious critters. Then, she has a drink of water. Finally, she finds some shade to nap while I’m popping up the Aliner. I take my time positioning the camper. I like to wake up to a nice view from my little bedroom window. It could be a sunrise, open sky to view the stars, or a beautiful tree.

There are so many little details to attend to when setting up camp. Every camper knows the importance of having a routine, even more as a solo camper. I’ve also learned to limit supplies to the essentials.

Each campground is unique in topography and layout. Finding the trail heads, the showers and available WiFi are top of list tasks. I make a point to shower before nightfall at a new campground. There is always some challenge.

When we arrived at Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Park, Illinois, I discovered an issue. The thread of the bolt on my truck hitch was stripped. This is a moment when a good camp host can be particularly helpful. Camp hosts are volunteers who supplement services at the park, checking in guests or other duties as assigned. They don’t pay campsite fees, enjoying free electric and water. It’s a popular job for retirees looking to travel on a budget.

The camp host Jo introduced me to her friend, a retired GM worker knowledgeable in all things car related. He inspected the hitch and offered to repair it, but the better route he said is to replace it entirely. The local Tractor Supply was only a few miles away. I had a brand new hitch in short order.

Golf Course at Eagle Creek

When I discovered a golf course at the heart of 34,000 acres of woods and prairies, I judged hard. The golf course winds around the banks of Lake Shelbyville within Eagle Creek State Park. Pouring chemicals to make magic grass where wildlife live? Just for little balls to roll softly into little holes. And the use of ALL THAT WATER, what about toxic water run off? Just so a few people can play a game even fewer care to watch? WHATEVER

All THAT said, I made use of the paved golf cart paths for bike rides. There were many beautiful deer families grazing on the course. One golfer told me that the deer found on the golf course are “lucky.” They are off limits to hunters. I replied, “good thing, that deer meat is toxic from eating chemical grass.”

This idea of golf courses in parks was resoundingly rejected this year by citizens in my home state of Florida. I expect that fight will prove evergreen.

WiFi

WiFi availability at individual campsites is typically 50/50. At some campgrounds a signal is available the welcome center. There was no WiFi at the Kentucky parks we visited in the area known as Land Between the Lakes. The lack of WiFi signal also extended for many miles outside the parks.

I discover the forced disconnect makes the insufferable edicts coming from the President and his government officials easier to ignore.

The latest threat is withholding DOT funds for local road projects. This will happen unless road paintings are removed. These paintings are often created by community groups. They are beloved, like the one commemorating the shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. Local governments respond as if they have no choice but to remove the paintings or lose funds. Social media posts have suggested painting rainbows around potholes to get them fixed.

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Taking Breaks

We occasionally get tired of buggy public showers and late-night outdoor bathroom breaks. I was very tired after our stay at the dreadful Energy Lake. What deficits make a campsite dreadful to me? A poorly maintained campground, nasty bathrooms, staff living in nearby campsites in their broken down RVs, no potable water nearby. I did leave a review of Energy Lake to warn other campers.

We quickly moved on from there and had a wonderful experience at our next stop. We rented a cabin at the Cumberland Falls State Park.

Located in Kentucky within the Daniel Boone National Forest, the property for Cumberland was acquired by the state in 1931. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) developed park facilities during Great Depression era—roads, trails, lodges constructed with local materials.

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Itinerary

Coming next:

Part II Embrace the Journey – UNESCO Mammoth Caves, Civil Rights, Legacy Museum and the Freedom Riders