If I Were a Bird

Here in Houston, the hot, humid weather has my migratory instincts in high gear.  If I were a bird I would be leaving this nest for cooler, less humid environs.  And...if I were a bird, I could just flap my wings and be on my way, no reservations or passports required, no Covid restrictions and no bags to pack.  Alas, I am not a bird so in order to address those migratory instincts, I have to make a plan, make some reservations, pack my bags, and organize my house before I can leave the nest. 

The pull of the red sand is very strong!

Normally, you know...pre 2020, my migration would be to Nova Scotia.  I had the drill down to a science.  I had a good idea of what to pack, what to do with the house, what flights to book, what awaited me once I arrived and what to look forward to for another summer, just like the past 50...or so...summers.  That all changed last year.  A giant wrench had been thrown into my migratory pattern in the form of a pandemic.  Much has changed in our world since last summer but in at least one respect things are just the same.  Unless I am a bird...I am not getting to Nova Scotia as things stand today.  This sad reality has forced me to commit to Plan B...again.  Plan B is getting a lot of play time and I sincerely hope it does not become Plan A in my life because I really, really liked Plan A.

I have spent many hours contemplating this summer's plans.  Do we stay home and hope and pray that the Canadian border opens sooner rather than later or do we go ahead and make plans based on the current data?  Currently, it does not look like the border will be open to us (fully vaccinated Americans who own property in Canada) any time soon.  Soon being by July 1 in my book.  I could stay home and sweat it out, literally, if I knew with confidence that on July 1 I could fly up to Nova Scotia.  Some things are worth the sweat.  But...I don't have much confidence that this will happen.  So rather than hang around, sweating it out and waiting for news that may never come, we have made plans to migrate elsewhere again this summer.

We figured our trip out west last year was a once in a lifetime adventure.  Who knew we would be doing a similar road trip again this year?  I still think last year was a once in a lifetime!  Already, I am treasuring the memories of that trip.  I remember the tentative feelings we had when we left home in a pandemic.  We were diligent in our safety protocols while we were on the road.  There were adrenalin rushes to invigorate us when we entered  a state we had never visited before and saw things we had only read about in history books and seen in photographs. All of those emotions paired with a constant need to be on our guard against an invisible virus made us feel very alive and aware.  We will never forget to appreciate the lack of traffic last year, the empty parking lots, the ease with which we came and went in and out of our national parks, or the creativity it took to eat, drink, travel and exist safely on the road during a pandemic.  For some reason, I don't think we are going to have the parks to ourselves this year.  We also won't live in constant fear of an invisible virus either, assuming vaccines indeed do what they are meant to do.  Win some...lose some.

Pretty sure things will not look like this again this summer.

This parking lot scene will be fondly remembered this summer.  I will try to channel this vision when we find ourselves circling a parking lot in one of our National Parks hoping to find a parking place.  Seems we were really onto something last year!  Who knew?  Hindsight...once again 20/20 or in this case 2020.

Our plans this summer started with our anniversary friends asking if they could stop by and visit us on their way up to Montana.  They were taking a road trip through several National Parks on their way up to Montana to visit their daughter, Marathon Girl.  They were going to see Big Bend National Park, which we missed last year and vowed to go back and visit someday.  We got to thinking, talked to our friends, and decided we would join them on their National Park visits.  They would continue to Montana and we would drop off in Park City where we have some amazingly generous friends.  

One night, TJ and I were sitting around and I had a thought.  It happens occasionally!  "If we can't go to Canada...or really anywhere other than the U.S., where would we like to go that we haven't been yet?".  The answer was, Alaska!  I proceeded to take a virtual trip to Alaska and saw many of the same summer flowers that grow in Nova Scotia, read about the similar summer weather and oohed and aahed at the photos and suggested we go to Alaska.  He was all in!  I love that guy!  He took the ball and ran with it!  

It has been nice dreaming about and planning another summer on the road.  I do think we may not be the only ones with this idea this summer.  I just hope Alaska isn't on everyone else's summer itinerary.  It would be nice to have that special feeling of seeing the beauty of our National Parks without having to stand in long lines or dodge and weave our way around hundreds of other well intended visitors.  We were so spoiled last year!

I have also upgraded my outdoor gear.  If we are going to do this, let's do it right this time.  I am now the proud owner of real hiking shoes.  My Brooks running shoes took a real beating last year.  I also think we will be doing some more serious hiking this year and need all the help I can get...sturdy shoes to the rescue.  TJ also decided I needed better biking equipment.  His decision...not mine.  The only way I am ever going to keep up with him on a bike is if my bike has super powers.  After witnessing several people cruising up the mountains in Zion last summer on their e-bikes, TJ decided I needed one.  Happy birthday to me.  

This is me after my first organized ride last weekend.
17 miles...uphill all the way 😂
and I have the tee shirt to prove it!

He has big plans for me to accompany him on some of those hilly bike rides on the road.  Not sure who this gift is for....him or me?!  At least this year I will be able to keep up with him and breathe at the same time.  I think it's time I sign him up for some yoga classes just to make it even!

Stay tuned for tales of life on the road.  We may not be escaping the heat for a week or two but we will certainly escape the humidity. "It will be a dry heat"...like that matters!  Say a prayer that the Edge Café (our car) continues to be trusty and road worthy and that we are able to keep our sense of humor and wonder during our hundreds of miles on the road!  One...or both of us does not do traffic very well.  Also, after a year and a half of social distancing...we really like our space!  And...believe me...if I were a bird...I would be on my way to Nova Scotia!  If the border opens...we will turn around (after Alaska) and make a beeline home and head to our farmhouse!

Finally, if I were a bird I would be a bluebird.  They winter down here and summer as far north as Canada.  Sounds good to me!  They are also beautiful...even the females.  Then there is this:

The bluebird is a symbol of hope, love, and renewal and is also a part of many Native American legends. The Bluebird is actually a bird that symbolizes the essence of life and beauty. Dreaming of bluebirds often represents happiness, joy, fulfillment, hope, prosperity, and good luck.

Wishing all of you a bluebird kind of summer!