Derek Honeycutt

Bryce Canyon National Park

Camping out in the Cabin Hollow area of Dixie National Forest, I’m very short drive away from Bryce Canyon National Park. I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting this national park before, so today, I decided to drop in and check it out!

Upon entering the area, I drove all the way down to the end of the road, at Rainbow Point. From there, I hung out for a bit and decided to go on a hike. I unintentionally ended up completing the Riggs Spring Loop Trail, an 8.8 mile trail that descends 1675 feet to the valley below the cliffs.

Boondocking in Cabin Hollow, Dixie National Forest

I don’t much like leaving a camp spot early and putting off work onto the weekends, but Willow Springs was just too much for me to stay! Packing up, I headed back up to I-70, where I headed west through the San Rafael Swell and Fishlake National Forest. I absolutely love that drive–one of my favorites. I pulled off onto US-89, which I found to be an absolutely stunning drive as well!

Willow Springs Adventure

I was really sad to be leaving the Pole Mountain camp, but I had a plan and wanted to try to stick to it to the best of my ability. So, I set off for Willow Springs campground in BLM land just outside of Moab, Utah and Arches National Park.

Camping at Pole Mountain

After heading out from the Badlands, I made a quick stop in Rapid City to fill up on water and buy a few extra bits of food supplies. From there, I headed into Wyoming, towards the Pole Mountain area of Medicine Bow National Forest, between Laramie and Cheyenne.

The drive was largely uneventful, except for passing through a gorgeous area of the Black Hills in South Dakota and more gorgeous area in Wyoming before hooking up onto I-25. I followed that to Cheyenne, where I got off at Wyoming State Route 210, and followed that into Medicine Bow National Forest. There was some really terrible storms blowing through as I drove on 210, making me nervous about getting the camp spot I was hoping for. However, it had passed by the Pole Mountain area without significant effect, and the drive through that area was absolutely stunning.

Camping at Sage Creek Campground in Badlands National Park

After spending a week with family around South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, I set out for my first solo adventure. I planned to head to the Sage Creek Campground in Badlands National Park. Having stayed with family on the Eastern side of South Dakota the night before, the drive wasn’t too terrible, and I arrived at the Badlands with plenty of time!

Panorama of the badlands form one overlook

First Trip — To Minnesota with Parents

My parents enjoying themselves on the bridge over Grizzly Creek in Glenwood Canyon

On Thursday, May 28th, 2015, I turned in my keys to the apartment and began the new life out of the car. After a stop in the dentist office for some last minute work, I traveled to the San Diego harbor to spend the night with my parents, who live on their boat. The following day, the three of us packed up my car and set out on our way towards Minnesota.

Saga of Cutting the Hair

When I moved to Southern California some 11 years ago, I began with “buzz cut” hair. Since that time, I grew out my hair quite long, observing as the curls came out. I’ve been resistant for quite a long time about ever cutting the hair. It seemed that once a certain point was reached, the hair became its own commitment. I always knew a time to cut it would come, and I had always been open that the very act of cutting it was a major move in my mind, requiring a somewhat drastic action on my part. That time has come and gone, now.

Thoughts about leaving

One thing I got asked a lot is, “Why?” Why am I going to start living out of my car? What inspired this dream, and what are my reasons for doing it?

To be honest, that is one of the hardest questions I can possibly answer. In the years and, more specifically, the months that have been leading up to this, I actually never stopped to ask myself that very question. Every time I am asked, I find myself thinking that I don’t even have an answer to give. To be completely honest, I have no idea why. I have no idea what to expect from this new lifestyle. I can discuss all of the various things that I have thought about, but not a one of those truly explains my drive to go ahead and move forward with this insane idea.

Perhaps here I can lay down several thoughts about myself–who I am and what I am all about–along with several thoughts about the future that lies ahead. The physical preparations for the future will barely be mentioned (that is for a future post), but this will touch on my psychological preparations to some vague degree.

Ending Thoughts, Future Adventure(s), and New Introductions

It is now mid-way through December, and the new year is approaching faster than ever. In strangely New Year fashion, I’m finding myself reflecting on the last year and contemplating the future. The last year has been among the most challenging and most rewarding years of my life. It has been a year of saying goodbye to past life and beginning a whole new life. A lot of awesome adventure was had throughout the year, some of which I have posted about on this blog, and others that I have excluded for one reason or another. Though it may seem, looking at my posting here, that I haven’t quite been fulfilling the adventures the last few months now, I have instead shifted focus onto planning and preparing for what is all too likely to be the greatest adventure of my life coming upon me.

Vista Nature Conservancy, Public Walking Trail (10-27-2014)

Small view I enjoyed along the trail

Location: Vista, CA
Difficulty: Easy
Hike Statistics: 1.5 to 2 miles round trip; negligible elevation change
Conditions: Day, clear sky, 72 degrees, mixed shade
Trail Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Trailhead: Brengle Terrace Park ; Wildwood Park ; Several additional points along path provide access in and out

GPX Track: Google Drive (Note: Accuracy Not Guaranteed; track maps Brengle Terrace Park to Wildwood Park and back, including some alternate routings)