My Radical Sabbatical Day One - Dubuque, IA, To Cleveland, OH
Hey there! I am Kirsti Out Wandering, and let me tell you, I am absolutely crazy about traveling! I crave the rush of adventure, the thrill of exploring new places, and the pure freedom that comes with wandering! Whether it’s conquering a new challenge or just soaking up the local culture, I’m always ready for whatever journey comes my way!
The following is a story about a wanderer who dreams of travel experiences, exploring, making connections—and enjoying life with passion and curiosity. Living full-time in a converted van, wandering around the world, hopeful her positive actions will make the world a better place.
If you haven’t read the story leading up to my solo road trip, you can get caught up here: My Radical Sabbatical: A Journey Through Unknown Territory
Radical Sabattical Itinerary: Day One
Monday, September 30, 2019: Dubuque, IA to Cleveland, OH
- 4:30 am Depart from Dubuque, first stop Moline, IL
- 6:00 am Pick up Angela in Moline
- 9 – 9:45 am Yoga Break: guided meditation / Yoga on Wolf – 19820 Wolf Rd Suite B, Mokena, IL 60448 https://www.yogaonwolf.com/schedule
- 10:30 am Continue on to Cleveland
- 3:30 – 4 pm Arrive in Cleveland
- Photoshoot with Kripalu Peeps 3:30 pm at the Edgewater Pier
- Yoga Options
- Ohio City Yoga / 6:30 pm https://www.ohiocityyogacollective.com/classes
- Studio 11 – We are also invited to their 6 pm class
In these interconnected stories, my aim is to illustrate how traveling alone can be an experience full of diversity, fear, beauty, adventure, disappointment, and self-discovery.
I wrote my journal entries without any censorship and shared them in the same unfiltered way. My ultimate objective for this trip was to determine whether I was suited for this kind of lifestyle.
I want to remind everyone that the stories we see on social media, including mine, are just moments in time. The bigger picture is often messier than what is presented. However, it is in our collective life story that we exist together in this world.
The main takeaway is to cherish every moment, make a positive difference in the environment around you, and accept the ups and downs because most of life is made up of the in-between moments.
Kirsti Out Wandering Journal Entry:
Preface: During the months of planning for this epic road trip around the United States, I was asked this question: “Why in the world do you want to do this?”
The answer from my heart was, “Because I was excited to try. I was born to know more and experience all that I could.”
It's Getting Real
It wasn’t until the few days before I was to leave that it all became very real. I found myself second-guessing the decision to go. Doubts about leaving my family for a month swirled through my head. My heart literally ached at the thought of leaving my son for this amount of time.
It was always the 1 am thoughts that always got to me. They always seemed worse than those I would experience during the day. It’s easier to rationalize and positively answer the doubts after my morning coffee.
(breathe)
As I contemplated embarking on a planned round trip of 10,000 miles, I couldn’t help but feel daunted by the sheer physical and mental strength it would require. The thought of driving 350 miles each day was overwhelming, and countless questions kept popping up in my mind.
Because, I needed to try.
Memories of a previous road trip to California and back earlier in the year added to my anxiety, as I recalled the wild experiences that I had encountered on that journey.
Although that trip was only 4,000 miles, it left a lasting impression on me. I found myself lying awake at night, wondering if I was crazy to attempt this new adventure.
Kirsti Out Wandering Journal Entry:
September 24: One week out. My son Nick and I had a heart-to-heart discussion. I found out we were both afraid of the “what-ifs” and “what-might-happens.” We’ve never been apart for this long before. Nick would have a great support system at home, so I wasn’t worried about his safety or well-being. But I was thinking maybe my adventure would scar him in other ways.
I also checked in with my mom, and I am pretty sure she is hoping I will change my mind, although she would never tell me not to go. Something like this was way outside of her comfort zone, and she had her own fear about my safety on this road trip.
I am occupied with a lot of work at my day job, but I am grateful for the opportunity to work remotely while I am away.
I have been waking up at 1 am with fear-filled, anxious thoughts, all of which are not helping my overall state of mind.
September 27: I can hardly contain my excitement as today marks my last day at work for an entire month! I am eagerly looking forward to hitting the road and embarking on an adventure. However, I have a lot to accomplish this weekend in order to be fully prepared for my journey, which begins on Monday.
I find myself sick to my stomach when I think of leaving Nick… Am I doing the right thing?
I Am Curious
Along the way, I discovered that the inquiries I posed to others were simultaneously the ones I was exploring about myself.
It was a profound realization that illuminated the interconnectedness of human experience and the importance of introspection.
- How do we make sure we’re staying true to who we really are?
- How do we cultivate unconditional love and find our purpose?
- Are we shining our light and sharing our unique gifts with the world?
- What are we doing to discover how to break free from limiting beliefs and manifest our wildest dreams
- What do we do to bring work-life balance into our lives?
- How are we forging meaningful connections with others when the world seems so distracted?
- How can we tap into our inner strength by practicing the Warrior II pose?
Kirsti Out Wandering Journal Entry:
September 30: Oh man, I’m freaking out! I just left, and I’m already late. I swear, things always take longer than I think they will. I was running late to Angela’s place because I was so worried about leaving Nick alone. I kept going over the plan with him again and again, making sure he had everything he needed.
Bad news – we missed the guided meditation practice at Yoga On Wolf in Tinley Park. If we had stopped, we wouldn’t have gotten to the yoga meet-up in Cleveland scheduled at 3:30 pm.
WTH! I am so stressed out right now. (breathe)
The road we were on was crazy, too. We were driving along I94 around Chicago to cross over to Indiana, and it was just horrible. The highway was messed up with potholes and cracks all over the place, and there was garbage everywhere. Plus, there were five lanes of traffic moving super fast. I had to be really careful driving my new van through all of that, but we made it through okay. The wind was pushing me from the right, and I felt so top-heavy – like we were going to be pushed over.
Remembering my version of the Warrior II poem, I found peace.
“As I stand in Warrior II, I relax and become present. Breathing, I discovered how I might choose love instead of fear in life. I am a witness to external happenings in life. Feeling everything, I let go of what isn’t helping me, gathering what I need to move forward.
Caterpillar To Butterfly
The process of metamorphosis that a caterpillar undergoes is fascinating and symbolic of personal growth. Just like a caterpillar, humans, too, have the potential to become the best version of themselves. During this journey of self-discovery, one encounters various first-time experiences that shape and mold one’s personality, much like the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.
The journey towards self-improvement can be challenging, requiring one to take leaps of faith and trust the process. Similar to a caterpillar entering its chrysalis, one may feel vulnerable and exposed to the unknown. However, this process is necessary for personal growth, and it enables one to unlock valuable information that helps them progress to the next stage of their development.
As one goes through this transformative phase, new connections are formed, and they learn to connect the dots that help them achieve their goals. Each experience and connection provides an opportunity to learn and evolve further, much like a caterpillar unlocking information to become a butterfly.
Terror On Highway 94 - One day, our life will flash before us.
The experience on the highway today was quite nerve-wracking. As I drove, the wind pushed hard from the south, and I had to grip the steering wheel tightly to keep my van in the center of the right lane.
Suddenly, two men pulled up next to me in a truck, motioning for me to pull over. I was immediately concerned about being stopped. What did they want? Was I being car-jacked or, worse, killed? Pulling off the road was going to take a lot of work, too, because there was only a narrow strip of gravel that sloped down to a steep gully to the right of five lanes of speeding traffic.
#VanLife #out_wandering
However, as I saw the expression on the man’s face, I wondered if something was wrong with my van. So, after 10 long seconds of self-deliberation, I decided to stop. Anglea was going to take point, watching with 911 ready on her cell phone as I got out of the side-sliding door on the right. The men had pulled off ahead of us. The passenger walked quickly back to me and led me to the rear of the van. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do.
The traffic was so loud! As we got to the back, he pointed. I was relieved to find him diving underneath to remove a massive piece of shredded semi-truck tire that had gotten stuck after I had unknowingly run it over. With relief and a big smile, I expressed my gratitude. He smiled back, telling me he was excited for my journey and that he “loved my van.”
Kirsti Out Wandering Journal Entry:
September 30 (continued): When we arrived at Cleveland just before 3:30 pm, and my first official stop of the Radical Sabbatical, I found a quote etched into a fence along the banks of Lake Erie. It became my mantra for the trip: “One day, our life will flash before us.”
This quote made me reflect on the importance of living in the present moment and appreciating the good things in life. I was reminded that life is short, and we should make the most of it by saying yes to doing something outside of our comfort zone.
All in all, today was fantastic! I learned a lot of things about driving this big van and myself. Surely, these lessons will help me in the days to come!
First Yoga Meet-Up, Cleveland, OH
As we arrived at the Edgewater Pier for the pop-up yoga photoshoot, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of apprehension. Communication with the first group of people had been inconsistent, leaving me wondering if anyone would show up. However, we had reached the destination with time to spare, and I hoped for the best.
As we waited for an hour, we played along the breakwater. Angela was doing yoga, and I was taking photos. I was impressed by Angela’s skills as she effortlessly moved into different poses. Despite the absence of the expected group, the late afternoon break was lovely. The serene view of the water and the gentle breeze gave us a moment to relax and take a break from our journey.
As 4:30 pm approached, we had to make a decision. Should we continue with the original plan, explore more of Cleveland and catch a yoga practice at Ohio City Yoga? Then, find a place to boondock for the night and get a good rest before continuing our journey to Niagara Falls the next day. Or should we continue getting a few more miles under our belt, enabling us to arrive in Niagara Falls earlier the next day?
The decision to move on from the first night’s location and head towards the next destination proved to be a theme in the journey. As days passed, the urge to keep moving forward became all-consuming, and the joy of being in the moment was lost in the process.
It wasn’t until the thirteenth day of the journey while rounding the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, that everything came crashing down. A mental breakdown of sorts forced me to reevaluate my priorities and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy balance, practicing self-love, and living an authentic life.
First Truck Stop Overnighter
We continued our journey and drove for another hour until we reached a TA truck stop located southeast of Kingsly, OH. It was going to be our first attempt at boondocking, and I was feeling quite anxious about it as I had read some unpleasant experiences shared by people who overnighted this way before. I was determined to find a safe and quiet space at the truck stop; I just didn’t know what that looked like.
To ensure our “safety,” I did my homework and researched truck stops ahead of time. The one we chose seemed busy enough to be a good choice. However, the long hours of driving had left me exhausted and prone to hysteria.
Upon arriving at the truck stop, we went into the store to ask if they had designated parking spots for overnight stays. We each grabbed a snack and headed to the counter to inquire. The counter person was helpful and directed us to the right area.
Finding the perfect spot for our first night of boondocking took us another 10 minutes of driving around the parking lot. Once we had set up our beds, had our dinner, and managed to decompress a bit, we were finally ready to get some much-needed sleep.
Queen Of Control
As the first day of the trip came to a close, I felt exhausted and on the brink of collapse. It’s a good thing I had a supportive friend like Angela with me. As we cooked dinner together, we talked about the challenges and highlights of the day. Angela wisely reminded me that the first few days can be about finding a flow.
Looking back, I realize that I get overly fixated on finding the “perfect” in life, or in this case, where I will spend the night. I couldn’t shake the feeling of uncertainty, and my mind kept racing with all the “what ifs.” It’s a feeling that still creeps up on me from time to time, even years later. Despite my efforts to be flexible, I admit that the queen of control still rears her head more often than I’d like.
But I’m committed to working on it, knowing that it will be a lifelong practice. I will strive to be kind to myself and to trust that things will work out in their own way and in their own time.
(breathe)
Kirsti Out Wandering Journal Entry:
September 30 (continued): I was totally out of my comfort zone today. This trip is gonna push me to my limits again and again. Am I even capable of doing this?
When we pulled off the road tonight, I felt like crying. What’s gonna happen when I’m all by myself? OMG! I need to calm down. But you know what? I can do this!
Sometime during the night I wrote: YES!! Of course, I can
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I am an influencer of optimism, positivity & love. My mantra is, “Be where my feet are,” nothing more, nothing less. It means living in the moment with curiosity, creativity, courage & compassion. You’ll find resources and stories primarily about subjects like travel, van living, exploring, yoga, and photography on these pages. By acting on my dreams and sharing my experiences, I hope you’ll be inspired to say YES, and live your happiest, best life. |
Follow along! Kirsti Out Wandering aspires to illustrate well-being in mind, body & spirit, giving unconditional love to self and others, and pursuing all of the wild possibilities life serves up while living full-time from a sprinter van.
She offers weekly inspiration and a monthly roundup filled with stories and tips on travel, exploring, van living, self-care, photography and being human.
