Category Archives: Inspiration

Day 4 – #SoloRoadTrip 2026

08 Saturday Aug 2026

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Wild Rose Country, Pit Stops & Five Ways to Feel Better

Shorter drive today and got into Calgary with plenty of time to do some work catchup, grab dinner and let’s be honest, have some wine. 🍷

🚻 Ask the Universe and You Shall Receive

I needed a pit stop somewhere along the way (my cadence is about once every two hours LOL). But I didn’t want to do the gas-station thing. So I saw a sign for Yahk Provincial Park and pulled in. Quiet and off the highway, exactly what I needed.

Then I saw it. The sign. For the bathroom. But for a second I genuinely wasn’t sure what I was walking into.

The “Pit Toilet” turned out to be the normal kind of park, public bathroom, but I have never seen it called that.

But I needed a “pit stop”, and I literally found one. Ask the universe and you shall receive. 😄

🚙 The Drive … 

Single lanes. Driving through the mountains. Farmland. Cows. Hay Bales! Combines! 

You’ll get tired of me saying the drive was Drop.Dead.Gorgeous.

🌹 Welcome to Alberta

I missed taking a snap of the Welcome to Oregon sign because there wasn’t a place for me to pull over.  I LOVE taking pictures of road signs as you can tell if you read enough of my blogs. And I was SO disappointed because there was no “Welcome to Canada” at the Border Crossing or “Welcome to the beautiful British Columbia”.

So I for sure didn’t want to miss Alberta welcoming me!  

🌈 Podcasts, Books & Five Ways to Feel Better

I shared a Mel Robbins episode with Scott yesterday and bless his heart, he tried to listen to it. But to his credit, it was three women with very high energy for an hour. What was I thinking? I’ll give him the Coles Notes on all future episodes as I figure that’s a better approach (link for those not familiar with this reference 🙂.

But I love Mel’s podcasts so I continued to enjoy another on the five things that shift your mood instantly. My AI Chief of Staff, Clarissa, is going to make sure I pick up one of the new habits each week. And she will ensure I don’t try to start all five at once. Because that is my usual Mode of Operandi. 

Also really enjoyed Smartless with David Duchovny. I LOVED the X-Files and David mentioned an episode that he wrote and directed – The Unnatural – so that on my watchlist!

The Art of Gathering – Yep, downloaded the Audible and started listening.

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Women and Health

This is such an important and overlooked topic on so many levels. I’m lucky to be in the heart of innovation that I get to witness a lot of new technology and effort being put towards this. But it’s nuanced and complicated and we are so far behind that it will take awhile. 

My friend Chris recommended The New Menopause to me and I started it today on my drive. It has opened my eyes to so many things, and the most important one is that I need to be more proactive in my own health and menopause journey. And I just love it when an author narratives her own book! 

🔮 The Daily Ritual

🐾 Being a Dog Mom 

So I never (and I mean, never), thought I would be a dog mom. But, you know the old saying. Never say never. 

I already mentioned that I have come to love Ms. Torrie. But you don’t really know the half of it. Scott sent me a text the other day and said she was doing great. And I’m like, wait, what, no picture. LOL … Yes, I am now requiring daily pictures!

So here is a collection that Scott has been sending me. Awe … 🙂 

🍟 Since I rolled into Calgary ahead of senior’s dinner hour, I was able to enjoy my favo(u)rite meal (and drink), at my favo(u)rite restaurant when I am in Canada. 

Tomorrow, a few meetings and then onward to give my Mom, Dad and Sis the biggest hug! 

Day 3 – #SoloRoadTrip 2026

07 Friday Aug 2026

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Back Roads, Birthdays & Border Crossings

And I thought I wouldn’t have anything to write about since today was going to be a 12-hour drive day without any meetups or interesting stops. Boy was I wrong! 

🌳 First, the Backroads

The roads I ended up driving today are exactly the reason why I love my #SoloRoadTrips. I found myself on single-lane highways with gorgeous bodies of water on one side and forests on the other, and often both at once. Completely off the beaten path. I had to take this route to avoid the Spokane fires, but I am so glad I did. Breathtaking the entire way. 

🎂 Two Birthdays Today

Happy birthday to two people I love dearly. My friend Linda and my sister, Trish. I am wishing them a year ahead more magical than they could have ever imagined! 

☎️ A Mini Mastermind on the Way Out

I timed my departure out of Portland so I could join a call with a small mastermind of three women who I adore. The goal is to support each other as we grow our businesses. Such a good way to start the day.

⛽ Oregon, You Quirky Thing

Small delight: I stopped for gas at Costco on the way out of town and quickly remembered that in Oregon, you don’t pump your own gas. An attendant does it for you. I got to sit in the car, hand over my card, and receive a receipt like it was 1988. A small treat especially since I was multi-tasking with my phone call. 

🏞️ The Columbia River Gorge

The drive along the Columbia River was drop-dead gorgeous. The only hard part is that you’re driving it, so you can only take it in with your eyes and heart. I’ve done this drive before, on my very first SoloRoadTrip in 2019, and I know I’ll do it again. It’s just so beautiful. Truly, truly breathtaking. I did stop at a state park along the way, walked down to the river, and grabbed a few photos before getting back on the road.

🏃‍♀️ Throwback to 2007: Hood to Coast

Seeing the Hood River made me remember one of the best running experiences of my life – running the Hood to Coast Relay with a small group of friends. 196 miles – from the iconic top of Mount Hood to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. Two teams of six runners .. two caravans, and we each had four legs of about 4-miles. We slept on strangers’ floors, or in the van, or on the grass. We ran through the rain, the complete darkness of night, the bright sun of the day, and up (and down) many hills. It took us something like 27 hours to finish but oh what fun we had!  

That race, in many ways, was the start of my long-distance running years: the trail runs, the long runs, the ultra marathons that followed for years after. 

A huge part of that Hood to Coast memory is my friend Joe Whelan, who passed away four years ago now. Ironically enough, he died while running the Hood to Coast relay. But he died doing what he absolutely loved. Joe was a friend. For a moment, he was a boyfriend. He was, above all, a wonderful spirit, a great guy, and the the BIGGEST supporter of any runner out there, deeply involved with Team in Training. And man did he love his Guinness. 🍻 Thinking about him today was a good reminder: life is precious, and it can change on a dime, in either direction. You are missed, Joe. 

💭 The Daily Ritual

🎧 An Inspirational Kind of Day

My podcast lineup today turned into an unintentional theme:

Every single one was good. I have so many action items from these podcasts including to buy Priya’s The Art of Gathering. My events and gatherings are about to get 10x better! 

🛂 Border Crossing Into Canada

As I mentioned yesterday, I LOVE the smaller border crossings into Canada. I had to confess that I had more than my 2-bottle of alcohol limit and while every other time I’ve been over they let me go. This time he said I’d have to pay duty on the overage. Which I was perfectly fine to do because I am going to love experiencing my mom’s reaction when she sees I brought home so much wine. It’s one of the things she and I have in common.  

🍷 Here is to a successful, and safe, Day 3.   Still two more days of glorious open roads and #windshieldtime.  

Cheers!

Day 2 – #SoloRoadTrip 2026

06 Thursday Aug 2026

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Smoke, Selfies & the Story Behind the Name

I stayed up a wee bit late last night. I was having way too much fun putting together my blog and well, maybe, having another glass of 🍷. But it was worth every yawn this morning. I woke up, went for a quiet walk (it was 24C at 0830!), grabbed (an iced) coffee, and got a surprise call from one of my besties before hitting the road. A good, gentle start to the day.

🚗💨 A Smoky Drive North

Today was a shorter drive, only about 4.5 hours from Ashland up to Portland, but the smoke and traffic made it feel longer. Lots of haze in the air but the drive was gorgeous. Oregon just doesn’t disappoint. An absolutely breathtaking drive. The photos never do it justice.

✈️ Medford and over a Decade-Old Memory

Driving past Medford pulled up a memory from my Airship Ventures days. We flew the airship (her name was Eureka btw … so another reason that I should name my Audi)! … but anyway, we flew her up North to see if Seattle could be a base for us to do our flight seeing tours (it was based in Moffett Field, in Hangar 2, which sadly has been torn down … but … I digress). The Airship had found great success in Long Beach and wanted to see if Seattle held that same magic.  It did not. But that isn’t the point of this story.

More often than not, you don’t know when you’re making really incredible memories. So it’s funny when you look back at moments years, decades, later and you realize that, huh, that was actually pretty cool. All the good, fun, and unique things about a moment come into focus later. Today’s drive brought a lot of memories flooding back, so I wanted to include them with today’s recap. Here are some memories from when we took Eureka across the country with Farmers Insurance as our sponsor. There was a lot of driving. And of course, a wee bit of drinking. 🍻 But wow, am I incredibly lucky to have those unique experiences. 

👨‍👩‍👧 Followed by My Dad (in the Best Way)

My dad has been chiming into my #SoloRoadTrip family text thread, tracking where I am and comparing notes. You see, road trips are in the blood I guess, as my parents drove parts of this very route years ago on their own cross-country fifth-wheel journey. It’s been fun seeing his memories pop up, or the suggested stops based on my location. My dad’s memory is incredible. A trait he didn’t pass along to me, sadly. So while, yes, I’m being followed by my father, thanks to technology, it sort of makes him part of this journey with me. Which means, at least one of us will remember it. 😄 Hence why I write a blog post every day! Ha ha.

🎧 Finished Acquired’s Amazon Episode

I finished up “the pod” (as the cool kids say) and … just, really, all I can say is how unbelievable it was to hear the story about Amazon. And Ben and David (the hosts) are such great story tellers. I also appreciated hearing more about the people and companies that had an outsized impact on the success of Amazon. So I’m super excited to look at the show notes and follow up on some of the links. Starting with the link to Bezos’s shareholder letters, and the famous first one in 1997, I think. I can’t say that I have admired Bezos in the recent years, given some of his choices, but there is no denying he is an incredible visionary and a relentlessly determined leader. The success he has created is off the charts and worth a listen.

🐔😂 Roadside Finds

A couple of things made me laugh out loud today:

a chicken coop for sale that reminded me so much of the farm (although our chicken coop was like, 1,000 times bigger than this one). And this sign caught my eye as I was going into a gas station to buy my lotto ticket. I guess sometimes people really do need you to spell it out for them. LOL  😂

🎰⛽ Tradition Holds

Lotto tickets: purchased. Gas: Costco (and yes I’ll be listening to that story on Acquired very soon). Starbucks, of course. Some habits are worth keeping.

🥃🍷 The IRL Moments

Portland delivered exactly what I needed today: time with two women that inspire me and make me smile.

First, Bonnie, and the chance to visit Soho House Portland. So many wonderful stories and connection points for us to follow up on!

And then dinner with Karen, who has playing a key role in helping me grow my business.

While both of these badass women are more recent colleagues, it amazing how much the time with them oddly feels like being with girlfriend I’ve known for years and could stay up talking for hours. And these two amazing women live in the same city but haven’t met yet. So we’re going to change that.

🔮 Ace of Water & A Frog

This was a cool card to pull today. I have had a vision for my company for many years that includes (okay I’ll be honest), money flowing from above and into the various passions I have – host events, bring women together, angel invest, drink wine while I host women events (okay, maybe not that one, but I do love to do that). 🤣 Anyway, I thought the card was very fitting, especially with how Karen has been helping me bring all of the things I do under one platform. And apparently frogs “carry themes of transformation, opportunity, sensitivity, and moving between worlds.” 🐸

💃 Why “Being Superwoman”

I had a good catchup today with one of my dearest friends. Moselle is the most curious person that I know.  And incredibly thoughtful and kind. But her curiosity is what prompted her to ask “remind me why your blog is called Being Superwoman?”

Good question that I’m sure many of you have. Or the five people that read my blog. 🤣

I came up with the name over a decade ago when I wanted to start blogging. At the time, I was married, and my husband’s daughter came to live with us. She was 10 years old. She didn’t know English, and I didn’t really know Spanish. Overnight I stepped into a full time parenting role. You know the deal- from making breakfast, lunch and dinner, to driving hours for volleyball tournaments, helping with homework (or trying!), organizing play dates, and doing my best to be a good role model, all while working full-time. Somewhere in the middle of all of it, it hit me — oh, this is why mothers are called “superwoman”. Holding down a career and a marriage and a parenting role all at once is a lot.

I didn’t launch the blog until after my husband and I separated so I was no longer in that step-mom role. But I loved the name – not because I’m unique and the only Superwoman out there, but because women everyday are pulling off heroic efforts, most of which really do go unnoticed. One of my team members calls me Superwoman for all the things I juggle (I’m sure she also calls me crazy equally as often but probably keeps that as her inside voice).  

But since this blog has always been personal, not professional, the name, while it might be aspirational, still makes me smile to this day. 

That’s a wrap on Day 2.

Tomorrow is a long day with at least an extra hour, or two, tacked on to avoid the fires. I’ll be entering Canada at a new border crossing, and I can’t wait. These small town border crossings are so very interesting.  #StayTuned!

So now that that blog is published, off to bed! Along with another tradition I have … my night time sleeping buddy, inspired by my sister. Love you, Trish!

Day 1 – #SoloRoadTrip 2026

05 Wednesday Aug 2026

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Aisle 9, Audi Miles & Ashland Arrivals

Today marked the official start of my sixth annual [minus Covid] #SoloRoadTrip. It’s me and my Audi together for the 1,800-mile journey north. 🚗

I wonder if I should name my Audi since we spend so much time together. My sister has a name for her vehicles. Boats and airplanes have names. We named our adventure van. Hmmm … something to think about as I continue with my tradition.

💩🐾 Cleanup on Aisle 9

Before I could even think about hitting the road, the morning had other plans for me. I got out for a quick 20-minute walk … and wouldn’t you know it … I came back to a full-blown “clean up on aisle 9” situation, courtesy of Ms. Torrie. 😅

A year ago this morning surprise would have tripped me up, but the past six months I’ve experienced a real shift in the love I have with Torrie. I finally get why people truly love animals so much, especially dogs and cats but I am sure it extends to other animals as well.

So today, I walked in to the complete disaster and just smiled and got to cleaning up.

My neighbor Cheryl summed it up perfectly when she told me texted me that our job is to “observe and serve”. #TrueStory.

We all deserve support and love as we age – animals and of course, humans too. Shout out to my sister and Dad for all they do and the many “clean up on aisle 9” that they have had to do. Love you guys.

A big thanks to our amazing dog-sitter for looking after Ms. Torrie on the days Scott and I are both away. Because I’ve come to love that little dog so much, it’s honestly going to feel strange being gone this long without my favorite work-from-home team member curled up nearby.

🔮 The Future Unfolding

Another part of my morning ritual is pulling a Tarot Card with a question for the day. I know some of you might be rolling your eyes, so feel free to skip to the next paragraph. But I love it. And I use ChatGPT to help translate. Today’s message was “I am tending to what has already taken root.” And that is entirely, 100%, true. I love this part of my daily ritual.

🔧🚙 Tip-Top Shape

Huge thank you to Nadar for giving my Audi a proper once-over before sending her off on 1,800 miles of highway. She’s been with me since 2015, thanks to my friend Hilary for gong car shopping with me! I always feel super safe when I’m driving here and although she is 12 years old .. she still looks (and acts) like she is brand new. Guess we’re all trying to grow old gracefully, huh.

🎰⛽ Lotto Tickets & Costco Gas

Some traditions never change — lotto ticket, check. ✔️ Gas at Costco, check. ✔️ Even at Costco, it was still $5.80 a gallon in the Bay Area. 😩 Painful, but the price we pay for living in California!

Getting out later than planned actually worked in my favor … no traffic at all so smooth sailing the whole way.

🌡️ Watching the Thermometer

The temperature was the story of the day. I left the Peninsula at a pleasant 22°C (72°F) and by the time I hit Redding, it had climbed to a blistering 44°C (111°F). I could never live in that kind of heat. Redding, you’re gorgeous, but no thank you.

And of course, I had to stop for the obligatory photo of the store that makes Scott and me laugh out loud every single time we drive by it. He loves it wshen I say “I LOVE …” and then the store’s name. 🤣 

🏔️ Shasta, Every Time

No matter how many times I drive the I-5 past Mount Shasta, that aqua blue water gets me. Genuinely breathtaking. No pictures because I was driving but the beauty is forever kept in my memory. And my sister will be the first to chime in and say .. so it will be forgotten by tomorrow. ha ha. #BrainInjury!

📚🎧 Books, Podcasts & Getting to Know Jeff

I started my September’s book club book, Porcupines, and I’m liking it so far. Thanks, gang! Then I switched over to the Acquired podcast and dug into their Amazon episode — thank you for the recommendation, Amit! It’s fascinating getting the full history and really “get to know” Jeff Bezos along the way. Ha ha

🤖✍️ Keeping Clarissa in the Loop

Between stops, I fired off a few voice notes to Clarissa, my AI chief of staff (thank you, Claude), so nothing got lost to the windshield. She kept a running list of “all the things” so I could just … enjoy the drive. I love being productive while still soaking in the scenery. Total win-win. #NoComment, Scotty Bowman.

☕🧢 The Perfect Souvenir

Two Starbucks stops today, and at the second one I found the perfect addition to my road trip packing list. So it’s official! This 🧢 is coming with me on every road trip from now on.

🍷🍝 Ashland, At Last

Perfect timing rolling into Ashland and checking into a very swanky little place. A glass of wine on the patio is calling my name for later tonight. For dinner, I found a beautiful little Italian spot and OMG, the artichoke salad was de-licious. And the wine, well you know me, wine never disappoints. 

And that’s a wrap on Day 1!

Tomorrow I get to see some colleagues-turned-friends on the way, which I am so excited for!

I’ll also be keeping an eye on the fire situation as I already had to reroute once because of the Spokane fires. Endless gratitude to the firefighters and emergency crews out there keeping everyone safe.

See you tomorrow!

Day 3 – #SoloRoadTrip: Gut Instincts, Gravel Roads & Gaining Time

28 Thursday Aug 2025

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Last night brought a little rain, but Trooper handled it like a champ! I woke up to the soft sounds of the alpaca farm and since the “General Store” wasn’t opened yet 🤣, I said goodbye to my fuzzy four-legged hosts before rolling out and heading south.

🛣️ Mountains, Desert, and a Whole Lot of Driving

Today’s route took me from Montana, through Idaho, and into Nevada — where I officially gained back an hour of time. There was even a road sign to mark the moment that you are “Entering Pacific Time Zone.” I didn’t get the shot (safety first), but I found one online because—those who know me, know how much I love a good road sign.

My planned stop was just north of Elko, but the gravel road leading there was … rough. As in Trooper-is-rattling-and-objects-are-falling-out-of-cupboards rough. As I navigated deeper, everything in me was saying this isn’t the best. The desert landscape, abandoned-looking vehicles, closed-down gas stations … it all made me feel a little uneasy.

💡 Trust the Feeling. Take the Detour.

So I turned Trooper around. 🚐

I rerouted and drove a few more hours south to Winnemucca, Nevada — a town I’ve stayed in on a past #soloroadtrip. There’s something reassuring about familiar ground. I pulled into the same hotel lot, parked Trooper, and walked next door for some wings. Comfort food meets peace of mind. Plus a little wine. 🍷

🫶 Short Calls, Big Impact

As I drove through light rain … downpour rain … lightning … and blazing sunshine, I took a couple of phone calls that turned out to be surprisingly productive, which was a gift. ☎️ And I actually think the hearing is better from Trooper going 80 mph through rain, then my Audi at 65 mph in the sunshine! LOL

I have to give a big thanks to Scott, my steady and supportive rock. As soon as I mentioned my new destination, he was already online scouting out hotels and places to park. I’m so grateful for his quiet but powerful support on these trips (and of me always). I love you, babe.

📚 Books, Podcasts & Backseat Therapists

Today, I finished listening to Careless People. The finale was exactly as the rest of the book — absolutely fascinating and disturbing. I’ll definitely be recommending it to anyone who hasn’t read it yet.

After that heavy listen, I needed a little energy shift. I caught a quick hit of Gabby Bernstein on “How to Release Anxiety,” which included a few new techniques in there.

I also started in on The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende for my September book club pick. So far, I’m into it, but tonight I’ll need to dig into the characters and timelines a bit more. The author weaves between people and time periods, so between that, the changing weather, and going 80 mph … sometimes it was hard to catch it all!

🌙 Closer to Home

The silver lining of today’s detour? I’m now two hours closer to home. 🏡 Tomorrow will be a shorter drive, and after today’s 12-hour journey, I’ll take it.

Here’s to trusting your instincts, leaning into support, and finding cozy rest stops where you least expect them.

Day 5 – #SoloRoadTrip+1: From the Mountains to Mom and Dad

05 Tuesday Aug 2025

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We arrived! 🏡🏡

…. But, I jump ahead. Let’s start in the beginning.

We woke up early at our RV campsite this morning … finally able to see what the place looked like since we had pulled in so late the night before. The field was quiet, the air crisp … and we rolled out with a little sadness knowing this was our last day on the road.

First stop was McBride, BC to gas up. The guy at the RV site had warned us that gas stations between McBride and Jasper were few and far between … and he wasn’t sure if any gas stations in Jasper could accommodate a camper van like ours due to the fires last year. We thought that was odd but didn’t want to chance it.

This stretch of road was completely new to me … and it was glorious.

We passed Mount Robson and we pulled over for a few quick photos before a Momma Bear and her cub happened to cross the road about 10 car lengths ahead of us. 🐻 We had no one ahead of us so we had a clear view of their little journey.

Once we got into Jasper, we decided to skip the town and head straight for Athabasca Falls. Totally worth it. The power and force of the falls were incredible … such a great way to cap off our mountain portion of the drive.

After that, we made our way to Jasper Park Lodge — which, we’re happy to report, was spared during last year’s wildfires. We sat down for a delicious lunch … I had a glass of wine, Scott had a beer… and we soaked up the view. Absolutely breathtaking.

And then … it was time for the final stretch.

We arrived into St. Albert just before 8 p.m., where my Mom and Dad were waiting for us with a big smile and the warmest embrace one can only receive from a parent. We gave them the full Trooper tour and caught up on everything we’d seen, done, and experienced along the way.

We snapped a quick photo to mark the moment … and just like that, the road trip from California to Canada came to an end. 🎉

🚐 Total Distance – 1,938 miles

Grateful for the journey, the scenery, the stories … and the person beside me the whole way.

Thank you for following along.

Until the next adventure …

— Joanne (and Scott)

Day 4 – #SoloRoadTrip+1: Border Crossings, Backroads, and a Starlink Save

04 Monday Aug 2025

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We woke up this morning in the big field behind Birdsview Brewing, still feeling inspired from yesterday’s North Cascades views. Scott had a work call scheduled for the morning, so we were planning a Starbucks stop for Wi-Fi … but the universe had other plans. The call was canceled. 🙌🏼

That gave us a slow, lovely start to the day. I made Joanne’s Famous breakfast again (naturally), and we eventually hit the road northbound … headed “home”. 🏡

Of course, we did find a Starbucks along the way. Would it even be a road trip without one?

Just before hitting the border, we did a final purge of Trooper’s fridge. Out went anything questionable —because if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that you don’t mess around with fresh food at the border. #PreviousEdmontonExperience.

Crossing at Abbotsford was smooth and friendly. I handed over my Canadian passport (lesson learned years ago when I got scolded for presenting my U.S. one while entering Canada), and the officer simply asked about my U.S. status. I proudly told him I have a U.S. passport too, and he said, “Great, have a nice day.” That was it. No inspection. No questions. Just a kind welcome home.

One thing I love about these crossings are the back roads leading up to them. The small towns, the farmer’s fields, the cows and barns … it all feels so grounding, like a soft welcome mat at the edge of the country.

After we crossed into B.C., we joined Highway 5, also known as the Yellowhead Highway, and needed to find a spot for Scott to take a call. He wasn’t about to risk being on video in the back of a moving van again (lesson learned from Day 1). We pulled into a perfect roadside rest area … seemingly in the middle of nowhere …… and within minutes, I had Starlink up and running with excellent Wi-Fi. The universe provides.

Scott jumped on his call. I finished and posted my Day 3 blog. There was even a roadside restaurant at the stop, so I grabbed us some lunch since we had absolutely no food left after the border purge. It all worked out perfectly.

Back on the road, I popped on Audible – I caved and starting listening to Let Them. I don’t know that I really love Mel Robbins, but I do like the content and intention she has for making us move through life in a better, healthier way. In all honesty and being completely vulnerable here, Scott sometimes prefers to focus on his work and listen to his music over my rambling or future casting … and I’m learning to honor that (plus get something out of my solo time too!). Win-win. 😅

As we approached dusk, we were gifted the most beautiful pink and purple sky! We pulled Trooper and snapped some photos. Now THAT was worth waiting for!

A few other fun signs we saw along the way that made me smile, and proud to be a Canadian farmer’s daughter …

Just before 10pm we rolled into an RV site … Trooper’s (and ours!) very first campground stay. All our previous nights had been Harvest Hosts stops at breweries, orchards, and farm fields. But tonight, Trooper is plugged in like a proper van and we’ve got a few neighbors around.

More tomorrow… for now, we’re just soaking up this stillness, settling into Canada, and figuring out how to slow down a little so we’re ready to spend time with the ‘rents. Who, btw, celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary today! I can’t wait to give my parents a long, big hug! We recorded an anniversary video and picked up the winning lotto ticket for my parents. 💰💰 What will we do with all the lotto winnings?!

🗺️ Day 4 at a glance

  • 2 extra hours given to us (who doesn’t secretly love when work calls get cancelled!)
  • 1 final fridge purge pre-border
  • 1 Starbucks, obviously
  • 1 proud dual passport moment 🇨🇦🇺🇸
  • 1 Starlink hero moment
  • 1 order of french fries AND gravy (one of my favorite food groups 🙂
  • 1 audible, 1 working passenger
  • 1 first-time RV park experience for Trooper

— Joanne (and Scott)

Day 3 – #SoloRoadTrip+1: Aqua Lakes, Last Day in the U.S., Border Contraband

03 Sunday Aug 2025

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Today was all about the North Cascades National Park, nestled up in northern Washington. We had hopes of getting up early and out the door, but let’s be real … we are on vacation and “all the things” take WAY more time than we expect. ⏰

We made a delicious breakfast (the Joanne Famous) 🍳 and took a few moments to soak in the peaceful orchard we had stayed at overnight. As part of the Harvest Hosts agreement, we stopped at the farm stand on our way out and picked up some cherries, tomatoes, and pickled green beans. But then we remembered we can’t take fresh produce across the Canadian border!! 😩 And our fridge? Still full. So, we spent the day looking up what is allowed and snacking on everything we could, doing our best to minimize border contraband. 😅

Then came the real adventure. ⛰️ We entered the North Cascades, winding our way through the mountain range, and our first stop was Washington Pass Overlook. And it was an expansive overlook with a long way down!!

Once my stomach made it back to where it belongs, we arrived at the Blue Lake Trail – a nearly 5-mile round-trip hike, which was beyond perfect. The trail was a dirt, single track trail, with a steady climb that resulted in 850ft of elevation gain and a beautiful reward at the top. Blue Lake was serene and quiet and the previous glacier still had snow nestled in several spots. We had a little snack up top, snapped some photos, and took in the views before heading back down. What goes up, thankfully, must come down!

What Scott and I always love about National Parks is the diversity of people you see out on the trails … grandparents, toddlers, families, couples, solo hikers, packs of girlfriends, groups of guys. It’s like a little outdoor community parade, and we both love seeing people from all parts of the world enjoying nature.

After the hike, we continued west across the park along Highway 20, stopping at one of the most breathtaking overlooks of the trip – Diablo Lake Vista Point. It was insanely windy, but the views … OMG – drop dead gorgeous. The turquoise water made us stop in our tracks. Scott wandered right up to the edge (as usual) while I stayed a healthy distance from the guardrails, my legs definitely get a little wobbly with that kind of height.

Farther along we took in the views of the Gorge Dam before hitting the small town of Newhalem and taking in a small hike at the Trail of the Cedars. Complete with a suspension bridge and tucked near a hydroelectric power plant, this small town had an early-1900s industrial-meets-wilderness vibe.

By early evening, we arrived at our next Harvest Hosts spot, a brewery right off Highway 20. We were a little too late to hit the taproom, but we parked in a big open field with plenty of space and fresh air. The sky was overcast, which made for great hiking weather earlier but didn’t offer much of a sunset. Still, it was peaceful and calm, and the perfect way to end a full day.

Todays’s highlights:

  • The hike to Blue Lake … peaceful, quiet, and absolutely stunning!
  • The aqua waters throughout the park nestled between towering peaks!
  • The family that asked Scott to take a picture at Diablo Lake Vista … and then another one … and then a family video!! I don’t know how he finagled his way out of a full blown producer role, but we ran into them again at the suspension bridge. The man practically accosted Scott … as Scott acted like he didn’t know the man. 🤣
  • That feeling of winding through majestic mountain terrain and Trooper’s first official National Park outing!

Trooper did great! The roads were twisty – had a few big drop offs and long stretches with high winds, so I definitely had some stomach-dropping moments … but Trooper handled it like a champ.

🗺️ Day 3 at a glance

  • 1 farm stand stop, with at the silver lining being the ice cream purchase that is allowed to cross into 🇨🇦
  • 1 final fridge cleanout mission – definitely a lesson learned
  • Many great conversation topics on our 5-mile hike to Blue Lake (much to Scott’s chagrin … yes I love to talk on hikes while Scott loves to “just enjoy the moment” LOL)
  • Several stunning National Park overlooks
  • 1 suspension bridge as our final goodbye to the North Cascade Mountains!
  • 1 closed brewery … but 1 quiet night with the beer we brought along 🍻
  • 1 nervous stomach (the downside of the beautiful vistas)
  • 1 peaceful, proud Trooper moment and first National Park visit complete!

Tomorrow is a big day — crossing into Canada 🇨🇦, just in time for a holiday. It’s “August Long Weekend”, which in Alberta is often referred to as Heritage Day. There’s a big annual festival in Edmonton this weekend to celebrate it so I hope my family and friends are enjoying the extra break from work. Except Quebec … funny enough, it’s not a holiday in Quebec. They celebrate some french guy later in August 🤣 so they still get a day off this month. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day celebrates the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, a Jewish preacher and prophet. [In case anyone was curious.] 😊

And that’s a wrap of Day 3, SRT+1, 2025!

— Joanne (and Scott)

Day 2 – #SoloRoadTrip+1: Morning Routine, Stunning Views & River Crossings

02 Saturday Aug 2025

Posted by in Health & Exercise, Inspiration, LifePlanning, Love, SoloRoad, Travel

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We did not wake up at 5am today… and it was glorious!
We woke with the sun, rolled over, and went right back to sleep. 💤💤

When we finally did rise, Scott got out the camp coffee gear and did a proper pour-over for both of us. I sat nearby, journaling in the morning light. That practice – my morning journaling – has been with me for years, on and off, but it really re-rooted itself back in 2018 after a weekend at 1440 Multiversity with my best friend, Linda. We attended a session with Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist’s Way, a book I had first read 25 years ago. She’s big on morning pages … just writing, stream-of-consciousness, for 30 minutes. Linda has done it every single day since. Rain or shine, hungover or while traveling. Me? I’ve been less consistent, but for the past few weeks, as part of my 5am routine reset, I’ve been back at it! ✍️

I asked Scott for his grace on this trip so I could keep up that morning habit. While I journaled, he did his morning routine – meditation, stretches, and a lot of coffee while catching up on the news. He looked like some yoga warrior glowing in the morning sun, right there in the parking lot of a brewery. 🧘

And then … “fill ‘er up!”. Thank goodness for Costco and $3.22 a gallon. We also grabbed a Starbucks before heading out of Bend, we’ll both admit it … the Starbucks was better than Scott’s brew this time. Sorry babe, but I appreciate the effort.

Once we were caffeinated and rolling, we tapped ChatGPT… aka Chatty … for help choosing a few spots along the way. And Chatty did not disappoint. One of the gems was Smith Rock State Park and it was the best! If you haven’t been – add it to your list! 🧗

Sheer cliffs, deep canyons, winding river, epic trails. We found a switchback trail that took us up the mountainside … and yes, I was a little nervous with the drop-offs, but I did it. 💪. We came across a river crossing that only opens when the water is low enough. It’s mostly for horses but … we crossed it on foot. It wasn’t deep … maybe mid-calf … but it was cool and refreshing and one of those small, magical moments. You’ll see photos below. Scott isn’t a very good rule follower so that alone made Scott’s day.

After the hike, we returned to Trooper and made lunch. We’re starting a little ritual … back doors open, lunch in the van, view out. Today’s view was that incredible rock face. Not bad for a mid-day picnic.

Then it was back on the road. 🚐 🎶

We made our way toward Yakima and stopped at a winery … but not just a winery. This place had it all: wine, whiskey, pie, tomatoes. We picked up a gorgeous tomato salad to go with our dinner, then made our way to our Harvest Hosts stop for the night — an orchard, all to ourselves. It was peaceful, charming, and just perfect.

Scott barbecued dinner under the stars while I cooked the veggies on the induction stovetop. We got our Starlink working within minutes (that will be a great #vaninvestment) and wherever the saying came from … we were “Cooking with Crisco!”

We received a great pic of Ms. Torrie from our housesiters. Come one. She’s adorable!! We miss her. If we were home, we’d have been up at 5am feeding her, walking her. But we know she’s in great hands with our house sitters. She’s probably curled up in one of her favorite spots, living her best life.

Tomorrow’s a big day.
We’re heading to North Cascades National Park. Scott is pumped. He loves National Parks. Before me (BJ, Before Joanne, haha) Scott was already on a mission to visit them all. Now it’s become our shared goal. We do at least one a year. We collect those ceramic coasters from each park and Scott guards his annual pass like it’s made of gold.

🗺️ Day 2 at a glance

  • 1 Starbucks stop
  • 1 Washington lotto stop
  • 1 epic hike
  • 1 water crossing
  • Trooper’s first State Park visit
  • Another lesson with our trusted toilet
  • 300 miles on the absolutely stunning Hwy 97!!!
  • Crossing the 45th Parallel (and we’ll be at the 59th Parallel mid month!)
  • Our inaugural lunch in Trooper
  • 1 missed highway exit (that turned into a silver lining with a much-needed gas stop… no Costco in this neck of the woods and the cost of gas sky rocketed!)

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s adventure…

— Joanne (and Scott)

Day 1 – #SoloRoadTrip+1: Pink Jobs, Blue Jobs, and a Whole Lot of Miles

01 Friday Aug 2025

Posted by in Family, Inspiration, Love, SoloRoad, Travel

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We started the day early. Our typical 5am. Well, let’s be honest, that’s our goal typical wake-up time. And today, with a long list of things to prep, we actually met it! When you’re about to take a multi-thousand-mile (and Km!) adventure in a camper van named Trooper, there’s no such thing as “too early.”

The morning was full of the usual pre-trip, final prep. I handled my “pink jobs,” (as my sister likes to say) … packing snacks, organizing Trooper, making sure everything was photo-worthy … while Scott tackled the “blue jobs,” like mechanical checks, ensuring we had enough coffee (apparently we didn’t), and watching the video on how to use a dumping station like a pro-in-training. That came in handy around Redding when there was a slight bathroom mishap … lesson learned. 💩🚿

We said a teary goodbye to our sweet senior citizen Havanese, Ms. Torrie, who stayed behind with an amazing couple from TrustedHousesitters. Major shout-out to that community and thank you Stephanie and Liam! We’re feeling totally at ease knowing she’s in loving hands while we’re away.

We officially rolled out of the Bay Area at 10am. Thankfully, there was no traffic, and we cruised over the Bay Bridge and made our way up Hwy 80. Scott had a few Friday work calls to take, so I drove for most of the day, which was perfect – totally felt like my #SoloRoadTrip would have typically started out! We did, however, swap out once so I could take one inspiring call with a female founder doing fascinating work in science and health. (Let’s be honest though… aren’t all conversations with female founders inspiring?) I’ll be following her journey closely. 🎙️ Thank you, Cata, for the intro!

📍 Route today: We started on the 101, hopped onto the 80, and passed through Redding … where the farm fields started rolling in and I soaked up the peace and stillness of mother earth. Then we joined one of my favorite highways … Highway 97. It’s a lot of single-lane road, surrounded by farmland, forest, and mountains. We passed by Crater Lake, which I visited on my inaugural #SoloRoadTrip in 2019. No time to stop today, but we’ll be back… Scott needs to experience her beauty too.
Our final destination was Bend, Oregon, where we enjoyed dinner and a beer 🍻 at Bridge 99 Brewery. And then, thanks to Harvest Hosts, we parked the van for the evening and had 20 steps from bar to bed!

✍️ While I wrote this post, Scott pulled out the whiskey and sat outside enjoying the peace and quiet. I joined him and we drank the last of our nightcap together. 🥃

🛑 Roadside Highlights:

  • 1 Starbucks stop (the upside with Trooper is the bathroom onboard .. the downside is less stops for my Chai lattes 🙂
  • Filled up at Costco in Redding where gas was $3.81/gallon (yay, the cost is going down!)
  • Temps hit a toasty 37°C (99°F) … AC and cold drinks were non-negotiable
  • Spotted a “Dunkin’ Coming Soon” sign, which made Scott (Boston born and bred) light up
  • Bought our ritual lottery tickets … one per gas stop, one per state … manifesting that millionaire van life 💰🚐
  • Love’s was a life saver … and we’ll leave that story for another time 🤣

🎧 We had The Highway (SiriusXM) playing most of the way. Thankfully, Scott shares my love of country music. When Scott was on calls, it was Podcast and Audible time for me! 🎙️ I’m into a great little story on leadership and influence right now so highly recommend.

📸 Odometer at start: 5,099 miles
🎯 Estimated drive time: 8 hours
🕗 Actual drive time: 10 hours (with joy, scenic stops, lotto ticket purchases and quick driving swaps)

And while this isn’t exactly a solo road trip… it technically is the #SoloRoadTrip+1. I’ll still claim the true solo journey on the return drive later this month. Gotta keep the tradition … and the hashtag … alive.

🍻 More reflections tomorrow. For now, cheers to the open road, good company, and a very full first day.

— Joanne (and Scott)