Road Trips of the Past and Lessons Learned

I’ve done trips like this before. There was a time I spent three months crossing all 48 contiguous states, traveling with nothing but my car and my camping gear. That journey was about learning – learning what I enjoyed, who I met, and how to just be in the moment without documenting every second. I always had my camera with me, capturing scenes as they happened, but I didn’t blog or spend much time recording it all. That trip was just for me.

Now, things are different. After all those experiences, I feel I’ve learned how to share the adventure in a way that’s meaningful. This time, I’m taking you with me through photos, timelapse videos, writing, and maybe even some vlogging. It’s like creating a digital photo album I can look back on, but it’s also an invitation to anyone curious about the road less traveled. During my studies in Australia and Indonesia, I worked on documenting fieldwork and photographing community moments. I learned that capturing experiences for others means truly being present myself. And that’s what I aim to do here.

The Memory of a Night with a Bear

One of my most vivid memories from that first cross-country trip was camping in the Redwoods. If you’ve ever been, you’ll know it’s one of the most awe-inspiring places in the world. I’d secured a permit to camp in the open wilderness and, with my pack on, headed down a trail that led to a riverbank. There, surrounded by smooth river stones and towering redwoods, I set up camp. The rangers had warned me this was bear country, so I took every precaution. No food in the tent, and I brushed my teeth back at the car – anything that could smell edible had to be far away from where I slept.

As the sun dipped below the treetops, I watched one of the most beautiful sunsets of my life. The air was cool, the river sounds steady, and I settled into my tent for the night. But then, a crunch. It was unmistakably something big moving through the forest. I held my breath, knowing that whatever it was – probably a bear – was close. I thought I’d panic, but instead, something instinctual kicked in. I relaxed, lay still, and felt an odd sense of calm wash over me. Eventually, it moved on, but that night reminded me of the humbling power of nature and what it means to truly be present. I’ve carried that moment with me ever since.

A Wildercraft Check-In from the Road

After a few hours of driving today, I took a break at a rest stop, just in time for our weekly Wildercraft staff meeting. As an Admin, I help run everything from community events to marketing for Wildercraft, our cooperative survival Minecraft server. Even on the road, I make sure to stay connected and keep the momentum going for our players. I logged in from my laptop, tethered to my phone, and joined the team.

It’s a lot to manage, keeping a server active and engaging with so many options out there, but Wildercraft has a real sense of community that keeps players coming back. We have over 1,400 members in the Discord, and most of our regular players have been part of the server for more than two years. It’s almost like a virtual neighborhood. We’re gearing up for Thanksgiving and celebrating our eighth anniversary soon, so there are a lot of exciting things planned. Nothing beats logging in and seeing people connect, create, and share on the server.

Snow in Colorado, Clear Skies in Nebraska

With the meeting wrapped up, I got back on the road. The route today took me from the mountains of Colorado into the vast plains of Nebraska, and the scenery was unforgettable. As I began the drive, I climbed up into the Rockies, winding around the mountain roads. Suddenly, the sky darkened, and out of nowhere, the first snow of the season started falling! There’s something surreal about watching autumn fade into winter in real-time. One moment I was driving through golden trees, and the next, everything was covered in a layer of snow, dusting the pines and clinging to the road.