My first week on the road has been dreamy and a bit surreal. I intended to write a “bon voyage” post when I set off, but leaving day was rather stressful and very emotional. I didn’t expect the tidal wave of emotions that I experienced. I also didn’t expect it to take ALL DAY to load up and depart, especially since preparations had been ongoing for more than a month. The first two days of this new life were spent in Lava Beds National Monument. This is one of the reasons it was a bit surreal. I have gone on many day trips to the area over the years. The Lower Klamath and Tulelake Wildlife Refuges in the area are a couple of my favorite places for wildlife photography. Only this time, it wasn’t just a day trip. Very weird to think I wouldn’t be heading back home at the end of the day.

After spending the first day organizing my new space, absorbing the monumental change, and getting my emotional balance back, I was ready to get out there with my camera.

The plan was to move on to central Oregon and explore new territory, go some places I had never been. But, after passing a mileage sign on the highway that said “Crater Lake – 38 miles,” well, a spontaneous detour happened. As is the case with most National Parks I have camped in, Crater Lake has few amenities. Two days of camping without any hookups, wi-fi, or cell phone service also happened to coincide with the autumnal equinox and my 52nd birthday. Instead of a cake, I had Oregon-made dark chocolate covered toffee from the gift shop. Yum! It was a birthday unlike any I’ve ever spent, and it was the best!

It was hard to leave Crater Lake because it seemed every time I went out to photograph, mother nature obliged with an amazing light show.

But, after being off the grid for the better part of three days, it was time to get back to civilization, or at least electricity. And this time, it truly is new territory.

So here I sit, in central Oregon, surrounded by mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, waterfalls, and volcanoes, wondering what amazing sights await and where to go next. So far, it’s been even better than I had hoped. And now I wonder why it took me so long to go ahead and live the dream.