ally-in-wanderland

[ally-in-wanderland]

Th-th-th-that's all folks!

Well y'all that's it!! My trip has come to a conclusion! I've spent the past few days hanging around the Bay Area with family and I can't even tell you how good that has felt! While being independent and having lots of positive alone time has been great, and seeing friends all over the country has been so fun, nothing beats family time! Tonight I finally get to settle in the Sacramento area for my first night!

My theme song for this post is "Coming Home" by Leon Bridges. For obvious reasons 😉 but it's a very sweet song and Leon Bridges smokey, smooth voice is all you need in your life right now.

I honestly can't believe this little brain child trip of mine is over! I'm (almost) officially a California resident! It honestly feels pretty surreal. I'm looking back today on Everything I've seen and done and it feels like such an amazing accomplishment. I can't wait to start planning my next slew of new adventures!

But as great as being a road warrior has been the past 7 weeks, the other half of me is so excited to settle in somewhere for a little bit and mKe strides in finding my new tribe out here. I had two interviews last week, and have a few more lined up for after the holidays. I'm trying out a few new gyms this week too because I've decided that finding a new fitness family is really important to me. I also have plans to try out a few Meetup groups over the next few weeks. It's an exciting time...although different exciting than living on the road for two months lol.

I want to say a huge thank you to all the friends and family that have hosted me the past few weeks...it means the world to me! Also thank you so much to all my friends that have reached out with kind words of encouragement and inspiration along the way! Your kind words have really kept me going!

I'd love to do a follow-up post from my trip, outlining/hyperlinking info for all of the campsites, parks, and trails I took for everyone to use for any future trips they may be taking! I'd also love to do a little Q&A section because I have gotten a lot of individual questions from friends along the way. All the who, what, where, when and whys of my trip... If there is anything you want to know about my trip, I'd love to hear from you!! Send me a text, message, or comment what you want to know about my trip. Seriously! Ask me anything! ❤️❤️❤️

[ally-in-wanderland]

Who do I have to marry in order to live in Big Sur??

Sooooooo, previous to taking this road trip, the Amalfi Coast in Italy was the most beautiful place I'd ever been in my life. After this trip, I think that the number 1 spot may have been won over by Big Sur, CA! Seriously guys, if you've never been to the Central Coast of California, you need to do it some time in your life!!

Before I continue, I need to name this post's theme song (duh!). This post's song is "Dark Days" by Local Natives. It's a sexy, deep song that pairs well with window down cruising in Big Sur. Plus, I've really just been digging the Lical Natives lately!

So I'm rolling my whole central coast trip into this post, starting with Morro Bay. I got in town just in time for absolutely perfect sunset as I settled into my beach side campsite.

From Morro Bay, I had to pop out on the detour to Big Sur due to road damage on highway 1. If y'all didn't know, last year, due to major rains and landslides, a lot of highway 1 was taken out in the central coast actually leaving many people stranded in Big Sur. A lot of the damage has been remedied but there is still a big stretch not accessible just north of the Morrow Bay Area.

The drive in took me through steep, winding roads through the Los Padres national forest until suddenly the hills opened up to endless ocean. I ACTUALLY happy cried when I saw it despite being near the ocean all week. It was breathtaking!!

I spent a service-less night solo at Limekiln state park where I was surrounded by beautiful Redwood trees but had the luxury of having the beach less than a 5 minute walk away.

While day one was pleasant, the next day was a blistery day and it started making me a little sad. I went to sleep and woke up with the sun and made my way towards some civilization at my family’s house in Aptos. I drove up the coast and that reawakened some excitement again. I stopped in Carmel and Monterrey.... I cannot get over how beautiful it is!! Seriously, who do I have to marry to live there?!

After two relaxing nights in Aptos, I finally made my way up to the Bay Area where I will wrap up the last few days of my trip!! I am so so so ecstatic to be around family and to be so close to my new home. It is rather sad that this adventure is coming to an end but that just means that a new one is about to begin!! I am so grateful for the amazing opportunities I've had and all of the beautiful places that I've seen the past few weeks!

[ally-in-wanderland]

SoCal culture shock

Hiya! Did you miss me?! I know I've been really bad about updating everyone this past week. Not gonna lie though, I just needed to unplug a little bit from social media. And I just needed some time to digest all my feelings about finally being in California.

This post's theme song is "Off She Goes" by Bad Suns. I looooove blasting this song with the windows down as I drive up the PCH 🤗

The past week I have been hanging out in the Los Angeles area, spending most of my time in Long Beach. If you've never been to Long Beach, I highly recommend it. I just get totally different vibes from Long Beach than I do from the rest of LA. I'll just throw it out there- I am so NOT SoCal. I've been to LA once before but this time around...I was not prepared to have to wear regular clothes again and put makeup on. Hello culture shock 😳 Get me back in my leggings, flannel and boots!! But let's just take a moment to celebrate the fact that I drove in Los Angeles rush hour traffic and didn't cry or get in an accident or have a panic attack!

I spent my week doing a LOT of coastal driving, beach walks, and drinking coffee. And I also got to see lots of friends that I haven't seen for a long time. I was reunited with high school friends, college friends, family, and people from all different walks of my life. It's crazy how we all came together in Los Angeles.

But other than that, LA is just not the town for me. There is just way too much going on for my liking, which is why I was actually really happy to be in Long Beach. But I grew weary very quickly of the high maintenance culture and all the driving in traffic.

Now that I'm finally in California, I have a whole array of emotions going on. I am super torn because, on the one hand, I'm so sad because this trip is almost over. This trip has been in the back of my mind since probably December or January and I really started putting things in motion for it in April...so it's been a long time coming. To see it coming to an end is a little bit heartbreaking. However, that doesn't take away at all from all of the amazing experiences I've had. I cannot believe all that I've accomplished in the last month and some change. It's absolutely insane to me and still doesn't feel real. I am really excited to have another week and a half to just explore the coast of California in the last few adventures in.

On the other side of all this, I'm ready to not live out of my car anymore. As sad as I am that this trip is coming to an end. I really am feeling ready to have a homebase for a little bit. I've actually been having dreams about apartment and furniture shopping, how crazy is that? So those are the kind of feelings I've been digesting. And not to mention that now that I'm finally in California this whole lifestyle change is really hitting me. And that's not a bad thing! It's just a lot to process at the moment.

I already miss all my friends in LA, but I really don't miss the city. I'm so excited to be spending the next few days in the Central Coast/Big Sur! I can't wait to share all my photos with you from Big Sur. Stay tuned!

[ally-in-wanderland]

californiAAAAAAA, here we COOOOOOOME.

(You like my O.C. Reference there??)

Okay, first things first.....big news:

I made it to California!!!

Second of all, I have to share this good vibe-y, highway cruising jam that I found this summer that I have been waaaaaiting to play in California. It's called "California" by The Lagoons

And now I'm celebrating by dancing with the Joshua Trees ✌🏼

So although I'm in California, I'm still not going to get to Sacramento for another 3 weeks. So much I get to see along the way 🎉🙌🏻

Anyway, not a ton to update otherwise. I got a lovely 10.5 hours of sleep Wednesday night and got an early start to my day so that I could drive the Las Vegas strip "at night" (because, you know, when you fall asleep at 7:00 pm before you see the strip, you just go at 6 am instead 🤷🏻‍♀️)

It was an easy 3.5 hour drive to Joshua Tree national park where I set up camp for the night and then went and frolicked around the desert for a few hours. I'm not going to lie, in comparison to the rest of my trip, I was totally lame in Joshua Tree. I promised myself I was going to rest for the day so that's what I did. Doesn't mean I didn't go have some fun at sunset though. There really is something so great about a JT silhouette!

Side note: the desert gets really cold really fast at night. I know we learned that in like...4th grade but...DANG.

Today I head to LA for a few days! Not exactly sure what I'm gonna do yet but I have more than enough options!!

[ally-in-wanderland]

Trying to get some zzz's in Zion

Tune your Spotify into "High" by Sir Sly, inspired by my wicked hike this morning for today's post theme song!

OK. I'm throwing in the towel for a few days. My body has officially said "please stop".

Just for a little stat update: I've been through 12 different states since Oct. 1st. Ive driven 4620 miles since I left Charleston on Oct. 9th. I've only eaten Ramen noodles 3 times and I haven't eaten at a single McDonald's. I've hiked about 20 different trails and have hiked approx. 120 miles!! While a majority of my hiking for the trip has already happened, I suspect I will squeeze another 50 miles or so in before this trip is over.

BUT before I totally tuckered out, I got a lot of good miles in at Zion national Park. Zion National Park is in Utah and it is a clean, beautiful park that is everything I could've asked for in late October. The temperature was perfect. The leaves were changing. There was just enough light in the day. It was just heavenly!

Unfortunately, my energy level is running on low right now, so I kind of moved in slow motion through the last few days. I didn't let that stop me from hitting the trails that I've had plans on my itinerary for months now though!

The first day I was there I got there bright and early and went to go rent some shoes specifically for water, neoprene socks, a hiking stick and some waders. Then I hopped on the park bus and rode it all the way to the last stop to go to the Narrows. The Narrows is a trail that is primarily through water in a slot canyon. It is one of Zion's most sought out hikes. It is one of those choose-your-own-adventure type hikes that you can really go as far as you want, up to 10 miles. It can get pretty exhausting though working against the current, and having to be extra cautious on the slippery rocks beneath you that you can't even see.

Since I had just hoped out of Supai the day previous, with about 45 pounds on my back, I was planning on taking it easy my first day in Zion. However, when all was said and done by the end of the day, I still did about 9 miles worth of hiking. So much for taking it easy! 😂it was totally worth it though! The Narrows is an amazing experience!

I was so exhausted from my weekend in Havasupai that I was literally just waiting for the sun to go down so that I could go to bed. I could not wait to sleep. Unfortunately it was pretty windy that first night and I kept waking up to my tent flopping around in the strong gusts coming through the canyon. At that point, I was literally just waiting for the sun to come up so that I could go find a place that had coffee. Good grief!

On day two, in attempt to let my body recover, I did the closest thing to adulting as you get on the road- did some laundry, refilled all of my back up water in my car (I keep about 5-6 liters in my trunk for replenishing my backpack bladder, cooking, and emergencies), wrote postcards, and caught up on some reading. Buuuuut then I got antsy and went on a nice easy hike (Emerald Pools)...and then another (Watchman Trail)...sooooo once again I wound up putting in about 10 miles of hiking yesterday 😂

Okay so now we're to my last morning and my body is like "ummm...hi remember me? Can we chill now?" But I still had to complete the infamous Angels Landing...a very steep and challenging 5 miles round trip. "Oh, just 5 miles? Okay, got this." I of course had done my research and knew that it's probably one of the more dangerous hikes in the U.S. but still I felt confident! Although, I REALLY need to start believing trail ratings when they say "Strenuous".

Angels Landing boasts spectacular views... along with a crap ton of switchbacks, 1000 ft steep drops, and trails that literally require to to grasp on to chains. Good times at 7 am!! Luckily I'm not afraid of heights and my stamina is pretty great right now if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, I was just so sore and fatigued at this point in my trip...I think it was slightly more difficult then it would have been on any other day. But I made it!! And feel super accomplished for it.

But okay body, I hear you. We can rest for a few days! Tonight I'm staying in an air bnb just outside of Las Vegas where I intend to just sleep forever. Then tomorrow I'm off to Joshua Tree for 2 days/1 night. Luckily I didn't have a ton planned for Joshua Tree so I truly am going to take it easy there.

Then I head to Los Angels for the week! The deserts, canyons, and just wilderness have been great for the past two weeks but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to a little city time. AND! That will officially mark me being in the WEST COAST!! I can't believe it!

More to come soon!

[ally-in-wanderland]

Havasupai, Part I

I don't even really know where to start with this one. There's so much to tell!

But before I start, I gotta give you theme song for the post because I forgot last time (and I know everyone was SUPER upset. Hate mail and all 😜). This post's song is "La Belle Fleur Sauvage" by Lord Huron. Seriously just google it play it in the background as you imagine yourself floating through this oasis I'm about to share with you.

Okay so, this weekend, starting on Thursday night, I've pretty much been off the grid as I was on my guided backpacking trip into Supai along Havasupai Trail. Here's a few things to note here:

1. You absolutely need a permit (which can be hard to secure if you don't go on a guided trip) to go down into Supai and to access the waterfalls. That costs in the $50-100 range and then there is also a reservation fee. No dayhiking or day visits are allowed. Havasu Falls, Mooney Falls and all the land down there are sacred protected lands belonging to the Supai.

2. There are very few ways that you can even get to Supai and the falls. There is no road that leads directly there by car and there is a 10 mile (very steep at times) trail you must take. You can: a. Backpack in with all of your camping gear on you (which is what the die hards...like me...do.) And in my humble option I think it's the best way to go because you really EARN your destination. b. You can pay to give your pack and coolers to the mules and horses and they carry your stuff to the village and you hike in with a lighter load. c. You can take the helicopter in for $85/one way trip (which annoys the crap out of me how many privileged, lazy Millennials did that).

3. The only option for accommodations down there is first-come-first-serve camping. No fires allowed. No alcohol or drugs. Just good vibes!

Thursday night I met up with my group who, up until that moment was a complete mystery to me. I will say I really lucked out with this crew. We had our super hip, nature savvy guide Stephanie, Karina and Bridget, nursing friends from Massachusetts, and spunky Jennifer who was truly my travel spirit animal. And that's it! Just us five girls in our mid twenties to early thirties. It was perfect!

That night we received all of our gear (at a location off of the reservation) and were briefed on what our weekend was going to look like. We all got to know each other a little and then headed off to bed for our early wake up call.

Friday morning we packed our big 60 L backpacks with all gear, food and clothing needed for the weekend and we were at hilltop to start our descent by 9 am.

So of this 10 miles hike (with about 40-50lbs on your back, mind you) the first 1.5 miles is the doozy. You lose 1500 ft in elevation in that short distance alone. After that careful descent you get mostly just desert and canyon for the next 5-6 miles. However, Supai IS part of the Grand Canyon so even then, the sites are pretty spectacular.

At about mile 7 you start to hear the soft bubbling of a stream and you get your first site of the infamous blue water of havasupai. The desert starts to turn into lush greens, and the gravel turns to soft red sand. This takes you about a mile until you reach the village at around mile 8.

FUN FACT: the Supai village is the only place in the United States where mail is still delivered (and taken out) by mules!

So at this point in the hike you're getting antsy for the falls, 'cause you know they’re comin'. (And you're hungry...and hot...and pretty pooped.) 2 more miles of soft sand and lush greens, blue streams, and dodging horses and mules and you finally get to lay your eyes on what you came for...Havasu Falls.

I'll tell ya, there really is nothing like the first time you see it in person. We all started shrieking and freaking out because honestly we didn't know what else to do!! After we snapped a few quick pics, we had to go grab a good campsite. We got one right along a lively stream that was AMAZING for helping to get me to sleep at night. After tents were up, we had some free time to just go gawk at the fall and frolic in the water a little bit. It was such a great way to wrap up a long morning/afternoon of hiking.

[ally-in-wanderland]

Havasupai, Part II

Saturday morning was my favorite part of the trip. We went to head down to Mooney Falls (which I was super excited for since I had done a ton of research leading up to this trip). Mooney and everything below it are really special because you have to take a rather unusual way down.

You must descend down the canyon wall through these caverns and ladders which can get pretty dark, slippery, and steep. (You can peek a picture below).

Then Stephanie lead us over the river and through the woods to a bunch of little cascade falls and pools and hidden caves that were just...magical. I don't even know how to describe it. The water was perfect, the trees were amazing and conversation was light hearted and full of laughing.It just really was magical. And most of the time we had these special little spots just to the 5 of us! We all really bonded that morning and honestly couldn't have asked for a better group!

A hot lunch break back at camp rejuvenated our now, slightly chilly bodies and then we headed to Upper and Rock falls to jump off of some more cascades and rocks and wade in the pools and then back down to Havasu Falls to wrap up our day. I couldn't believe I had access to so many flawless waterfalls within a mile of me 😍 time seemed to stop while I was down there. I felt like I had been there for days!

Sunday was our last day and another early wake call. We packed up camp and started our 10 mile hike out. Y'all. Steph swears our packs were lighter but I never would have known on that last 1.5 mile, 1500ft ascent back to hill top. But MAN, when you finally reached the top...it was such a ridiculously amazing feeling! I was definitely waddling a little bit once I got that pack off though...and I still am today!

Guys, if you ever have the chance to hike Havasupai, pleaseeeeee do it! I was ACTUALLY crying happy tears as I drove away at the completion of my trip. And I highly recommend going in guided. I used a company called AOA. While the price may seem steep, you get every penny’s worth if you do your research. I had flawless, top of the line gear, amazing food at every meal, and influx of snacks, and more importantly I had someone who knew the land like the back of their hand. I would have never experienced all of that if I went alone!

Off to Zion today for ...more hiking?? Haha well, we'll see how my body is feeling!

[ally-in-wanderland]

Discovering the Grand Canyon

I'm really starting to hit a stride and comfort in my trip! I've spent the last four nights in a tent, I've hiked various trails, and I've seen some awe- inspiring sites. The Grand Canyon was nothing short of spectacular.

I can't believe that it's taken me this long to get there. I will say though, I am so glad that I chose this time of year to go. The crowds were manageable and so are the temperatures. I honestly can't imagine coming here in the summer.

Yesterday I set up camp at Mather campground and hit the south Kaibab trail. The funny thing with hiking in the Grand Canyon is that it's all fun and games going down but man, on the way back up? Death. It's just so different than most hikes that I've been doing on this trip. Yesterday was actually pretty exciting too because I made some friends on the trail! One of them was even from South Carolina. What are the chances!?

So after the trail I went to find a spot to watch the sunset. Powell Point was my site of choice. Then I went and met up with my trail friends and talked around the fire with a few cocktails. It really was the perfect end to a great day.

Today I got up bright and early and made myself a nice hot breakfast of potatoes and eggs (I'm getting SO SAVVY with my camp cooking, guys 😂) and set out for Bright Angel trail. Now Bright Angel, like South Kaibab, trail leads all the way down into the canyon. But there's lots of good stops along the way. I did not have the time or energy to hike all the way to the bottom and they don't advise it unless you have an overnight permit. So I spent a few hours this morning just taking in the sights, chugging some water, and soaking up my last day in the Grand Canyon. I can't wait to come back some day. And next time I come back, I WILLLLLL be hiking and camping at the bottom. I'm determinedz Seriously friends, if any of you want to take a trip here, I want to come with!

Tonight, I'm treating myself to a bed. I know I haven't been tenting it all that long, but tomorrow starts another four days of camping and backpacking. I'm heading into Havasu Falls on Friday! I can't even contain my excitement!! But to ensure I'm feeling strong and rested for my 4 day tour, I'm taking the next day to just relax until I meet up with my backpacking group tomorrow afternoon! 😬

It still hasn't hit me yet that I'm actually driving to California and will be living there full-time. Like, my brain has not registered it yet. It's insane to me that I left Florida 3 weeks ago because it feels like two days ago. I can't even wrap my head around the fact that I'm going to be camping at Havasu Falls in two days. And I still can't fathom just what the next few weeks on the road is going to bring me. What an exciting/slightly scary time it is!

More than likely I won't have service at Havasu so, don't get too worried if you don't hear from me for a few days :) I get back on Sunday!!

[ally-in-wanderland]

36 hours.

Alright soooooooo I just had the most eventful 36 hours of my life. But before I tell you about it, you KNOW I gotta give you my theme song of today. The tune of the day is "After the Disco" by Broken Bells. Because, I'm doing a happy dance and I imagine this is the kind of high people get after a disco.

Y'all. I am just so giddy right now. If I wasn't so excited to be living near family in California, I would probably just stop and stay right here in Arizona. Talk about a beautiful state. Mind you it is completely different than what I'm used to living in Charleston. I mean, I've barely even seen any water at all. But I can't believe the array of activities I've completed in just the past four days. It kind of blows my mind.

It started nice and easy with setting up camp at Lee's ferry campground, a nice populated campground that has perfect temps for sleeping and lots of neighbors so I feel nice and safe. But then this is where it gets good:

Yesterday afternoon I made my first visit to the Grand Canyon ever. I was closest to the north rim so that's where I started. Holy crap. Everybody wasn't kidding when they said pictures just don't do it justice. And my pictures don't even do it justice but here's one that I snapped. I'll be spending Tuesday and Wednesday at the South Rim where I will be doing more hiking, so I have more pictures for you then :)

Then this morning I woke up at 4:30 AM to drive out to page Arizona to see the sunrise at Horseshoe Bend. Again, literally no picture can truly capture how incredible this landmark is. And to be there as the sun was coming up with just a few fellow tourists? Absolutely magical.

After an amazing hot breakfast at this cute-ass diner, I made my way to my tour at Upper Antelope Canyon. Now, I honestly had never heard of Antelope Canyon before I started doing research for this trip. But oh man, I am so glad that I found this. Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon also in Page, Arizona known for its beautiful red/orange rocks and sun beams. The experience was absolutely indescribable.

And then last stop for activities of the day (mind you it was on 12:30 in the afternoon when I finished at Antelope) I drove out into Southern Utah to do a trail called Wire Pass trail. It is an extension of the Buckskin Gulch (which, Buckskin is a really awesome trail, but you need a permit to enter). It was an easy, roughly 4 miles, that lead me to explore inside another slot canyon for a little bit. It was really a great way to wrap up this amazing day and I probably would have been even more fascinated with it if I hadn't done Antelope earlier in the day. Now I'm WIPED OUT and laying in my tent, drinking a local IPA as my night cap!

I'm happy I can share all of these amazing experiences with everyone! Thanks to all who have been following! Also, I've been sending out post cards along the way so if you want one, drop me a line and I'll send some out later in my trip :)

[ally-in-wanderland]

How many calories does shivering burn?

This post's theme song is "The Gold" by Manchester Orchestra. Look at the pictures below and you'll get why. 😉

Stealing some wifi for a little bit to update everyone on how my night went last night! Yesterday I went to an area outside of Flagstaff called Lockett meadow and Inner Basin. There's a campground there right at the head of Inner Basin Trail. The reason I chose this spot (which I don't think a ton of people know about) is because I heard that the aspen trees are absolutely breathtaking.

So on the drive of a extremely bumpy and steep dirt road, I was driving up and up and didn't see a single aspen tree. I was starting to get confused until all of a sudden you turn into the campground and BAM! aspen trees everywhere! It was like being in a fairytale. I got there really early because these sites are first-come-first-serve and I didn't want to be without a place to stay. However, full disclosure, going without any contact with people that you know even if it's just to be on the phone is really kind scary at for me. Although I am rather introverted at times, I still like to have the option to be in touch with people if I need to, especially when traveling alone. But there was absolutely no service at the site or the trail so after setting up my campsite, I drove back out a few miles to pick up a few supplies and let people know that they weren't going to be able to be in touch with me for a day.

Once I shook out the nerves of isolation, I hit the trail. It's probably the most beautiful trail that I've been on to date. The aspen trees are just breathtaking, even though they had lost all their leaves. The leaves that they had lost littered the forest floor like a grand golden carpet. It really was like being in a children's fairytale book. I hiked about 8 miles out and back which took me about 3 1/2 hours.

Guys, if you don't know, I'm not exactly an outdoorsy/camping kinda girl. I definitely don't mind getting dirty but I'm certainly no expert on all things outdoors. This is all sort of new to me and I really just done a lot of research and I making it up as I go. So last night was a night full of lots of accomplishments for me. I cooked my first meal on a propane stove and I made my first (super lame) fire!

Perhaps my biggest accomplishment of the whole trip was being able to fall asleep in my tent. No, wait correction...fall asleep in 30 DEGREE TEMPS. Btw y'all...that's really cold. But with the help of my Marmot cold temp sleeping bag, 3 layers, a down vest, 4 melatonin tablets, and a podcast playing softly in the background, I did get the most sleep I've ever gotten outdoors. I'm not going to lie, around 9 pm last night I almost packed up my shit and drove back down to Flagstaff to find a motel/hotel. But I stuck it out and I'm so proud of myself for doing it.

On the agenda today: my first look at the Grand Canyon, via the North Rim!

[ally-in-wanderland]

A nature induced technology break

Just wanted to give a heads up to all of my friends and family: if you text me or message me over the next few days/two weeks please don't worry if I don't get back to you right away. I suspect that I'm going to have a lot of days and nights where I really don't have service. But I will be sure to check in and let everyone know that I'm OK! I'll also continue to post blog updates, but they may not be quite in real time. I may have to just post whenever I happened to find some service. But I will be right on schedule and don't plan on straying from my itinerary that I posted the first week, so that way y'all just know where I'm at.

I know it probably seems like my trip has gotten to a pretty slow start. I honestly don't feel as though I really posted that many pictures or have been super thorough with my posts. So far, my trip has really just been a lot of driving and visits with friends. Which is great! But not a whole lot that I feel inclined to tell everyone about. And it's crazy, because it kind of feels like "oh I'm already in Arizona my trip is almost over". That's the thing, this is where it gets good. For the next few weeks I have so much planned for myself and this is where you're really going to see a lot more updates and pictures out of me.

This is the longest stretch of my trip that I'm going to go without seeing a familiar face. It's kind of terrifying but so exciting too. I'm glad I set it up with way though, I've gotten a lot of my nerves out and progressively gotten more comfortable being on my own. By the end of this stretch I'm going to feel like one independent KWEEEEEEN.

Thanks to everyone that's been following along so far! Your interest and caring really makes this trip even more special!

[ally-in-wanderland]

Sedona. Just Sedona.

Today's song of the post is "Sedona" by Houndmouth. This one is so cliché that it hurts, but I have no shame over it. I've literally been dreaming for years of blasting the song with the windows down as I drove through Sedona. Sooooo just let me live my best life 😜

I've had my eyes on Sedona for about three years or so now and it was so painfully exciting to actually be here. I didn't have a ton of time but certainly soaked it all in and got my fill. The main trails I covered were Devil's Bridge and Cathedral Rock. It's honestly one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in my life and I may or may not have shed a tear or ten because I was so happy to be here. I'm just going to let the pictures speak for itself.

Tonight I'm back in Phoenix hanging out with my best friend for the last time in a while and tomorrow starts a long stretch of really amazing stuff. I'll post one more update tomorrow kind of giving you the rundown of what my next two weeks are going to look like and then it's off into the Arizona wilderness (I mean...not really but, I'll be getting pretty rugged). Stay tuned! It's bound to be entertaining even if it is just stories of me horribly failing at camping and discovering how out of shape I am as I hike.

[ally-in-wanderland]

Conquering I-40 and Rt. 66

Alright y'all, this post's featured song is "Highway Tune" by Greta Van Fleet. Slightly cliche based on all the driving I'm doing but...sue me. It's a fantastic "pump me up" song for a long drive. If you're interested, follow me on Spotify and check out my "CRUISING." Playlist for all my favorite road tunes!!

It's getting real here, people. I'm getting into uncharted territory for me personally. I'm traveling to states that I've never been to before, taking roads that I've never taken before, and reaching destinations that I've yet to visit. Which, of course, I've done all of that before ...but never in such a grand magnitude and all at once. I've definitely had nerves on and off the past week or so while I am on the road in new places. Luckily, that has subsided as I get more comfortable being on my own. Also, the REALLY exciting stuff I have planned is creeping up in the weeks to come!!

I was going to wait till I got through Phoenix to post buuuuut, I figured it's been a few days! So this I-40 journey started on a rough foot as I arrived to Little Rock, AR (which, by the way, there is NOTHING there) where I came to find my Air Bnb was in a super sketchy area and I began to panic (aka I cried like a baby) because I was in a rather fragile state that day and have honestly, as a solo female traveler, been really conscious of my safety. But, since my MOM IS AN ABSOLUTE F**KING ROCKSTAR, she helped me out with a not-so-sketchy hotel for the night.

All-in-all, I don't have much to say about my drive through Arkansas and Oklahoma. It was a snore and I didn't stop for anything but to pee. This was also the longest distance I will be driving at once in my whole trip (9 hours).

So, I've heard that driving through Texas is really boring, but I'll be honest-it took my breath away. Yea, there isn't much there...BUT it was just such an unfamiliar, new kind of landscape for me that I was really soaking it in. Especially when I got to my air bnb in Amarillo/Canyon, TX to find the amazing Palo Duro Canyon State Park just down the road.

So today, I had a nice little 4.5 hour morning drive splitting my time between I-40 and historic Rt 66 to Santa Fe, NM. I must say, I'm pretty much obsessed. Such a quaint, cultural, clean little city 😍 Currently I'm treating myself to an IPA and my first cooked/hot meal since Monday and getting ready to take myself out to the Meow Wolf art exhibit which I hear is AMAZING and a concert tonight.

Next stop: Phoenix, AZ!!!

[ally-in-wanderland]

Trading in oceans for mountains

Today's post theme song is "I Know" by Shovels and Rope. It's got that funky, modern blue grass-y vibe that is perfect for cruising through the mountains.

I've spent the past two days making my way through the Blue Ridge Parkway and Smoky Mountains and, let me tell you, driving through the mountains NEVER gets old. I started with a stroll around downtown Asheville consuming a local brew before checking into my hostel and heading up the Blue Ridge for a sunset hike.

I went up to my my favorite spot, Black Balsam Knob in hopes of seeing a stellar panoramic sunset but unfortunately it was so foggy up that high that visibility was minimal. But, I really can't complain about the views along the way. It was all spooky and October-y!

The next morning I packed up at 6 am and heading towards the NC-TN state line for a hike at Mount Sterling. It was, what I thought to be a nice, scenic 5.6 mile in-and-out hike that would be a nice way to start my day. What I failed to read ahead of time was that there's 2000ft elevation gain over the course of 2.8 miles. That's a LOT of uphill.

Atop the summit, you can't actually see the view. In order to see the surrounding terrain you actually have to climb an old rickety fire tower. Now, I'll tell ya, I don't consider myself to be afraid of heights but...I may reconsider after this. But take a look at what you're rewarded with at the top!

After that I headed into the Smoky Mountain National Park to set up camp for the night at the Elkmont Campground. And I may or may not have needed a little bourbon assistance to get to sleep for my first night in a tent this trip 😏

Now I'm here in Nashville, all showered and in a big comfy bed next to one of my best friends. Looking forward to a weekend with a shenanigan-filled weekend!

[ally-in-wanderland]

Leaving Charleston

So two things to preface this post with:

1. the majority of my posts will be light hearted and filled with pictures of my trip. This one is a tad bit lengthier and more personal but hopefully relatable and will help everyone feel a little more connected to me. I will keep it as brief as I can. If the length just isn't your jam, please just scroll through my pretty pictures and tune in later for more trip updates! 2. I'm going to share a theme song for each post I make because: a. I really enjoy sharing good music with people. b. Music is a super important part of my every day life that helps me digest and relate to my experiences. c. I'm a weirdo and legit like to connect songs to my life experiences like a movie soundtrack. So consider this my road trip soundtrack. This post's theme track is City and Colour's "Lover Come Back".

While I actually "kicked off" my road trip last week when I left my parents in Florida, my official parting from Charleston makes it real. It was a great, relaxing weekend filled with my favorite people, good food, great drinks, my favorite local spots and a slight hangover. Oh, and I chopped off my hair off which was exciting. But this weekend definitely made packing up for the last time REALLY hard.

Here's the thing, I outgrew Charleston a while ago but it took me a while to realize it. I have experienced almost all of my twenties in Charleston and in that time I have had a lot of really high highs but also some really ridiculous lows. Probably a little over 2 years ago I got to a place where I just felt "stuck". Suffocated by my surroundings, I felt financially strained and aggravated, I felt creatively snuffed, I wasn't passionate about anything, and I was yearning to feel like I belonged somewhere socially...geographically... career-wise. I had grown tired of having really surface level connections with people and the constant party scene that is Charleston had worn me down. I just really felt like I had fallen out of love with this city that I had previously spent so many great years in. Life began feeling just mediocre on so many levels.

I found myself stuck in the same boring routine, crippled by this weird social anxiety I developed because I was having such a hard time relating to my peers. I was always cranky, I would angrily lash out a people, and I was tired all the time. Where I had once considered myself an empathetic, considerate, and fairly optimistic person, I had become straight-up mean. It wasn't until early this year after I finished 2-3 months of constant travel that I had to come to terms with the fact that I felt dread and anxiety every time I came home to Charleston.

I have spent months counting down till I finally got to wash my hands of Charleston. I realized it isn't up to anyone else to make me happy and that if I needed things to change I had to do that for myself. I have been so excited about just starting this trip and starting a new life that my sights were set so far beyond Charleston a long time ago. So needless to say I wasn't prepared for the flood of emotions that hit me in my last few hours this morning as I packed up to leave. My heart was suddenly very heavy with remorse and longing for more time...a longing I wasn't expecting to feel at this point. All of a sudden this lifestyle change didn't seem exciting, it felt scary and lonely. At the end of the day I have to remind myself of this: I'm a very different person than I was when I first arrived in Charleston over 7 years ago. Although it (surprisingly) broke my heart to leave this morning I know it's for the best because I know I've been yearning for something else for so long. As I drove up I-26 towards Asheville, I felt a huge weight lifted and it was such a relief. Life is way too short to stay in one place forever and I know it's time for me to fill this void I've been feeling and embark on a new adventure!

[ally-in-wanderland]

“Would you like an adventure now or should we have our tea first?”

Guys. It’s happening. Today was my first day of having no job. I’ve packed up what is left of my belongings and my car is packed. Tomorrow I start my road trip across the United States to a new life in Northern California.

I’ve literally had this plan hatching in my mind for MONTHS and it is finally here. I’ve researched multiple states, hundreds of attractions, calculated hours and hours of driving, put away thousands of dollars and after what felt like a life time of waiting it’s here. And it’s absolutely surreal.

I really can’t wait to share my journey with everyone and can’t wait to give you updates as I go! Check in here every now and then for new pictures, trails, background and trip stories, and new experiences.

First up: Here you can find my itinerary for the next 7+ weeks just to give you an idea of everything I have in store.

Stay tuned, the best is yet to come!  You can also follow my updates on my Instagram @that_salvucci_girl