As of right now, I am in Utah. Its been a few days here and it was one of those times in my trip where I have stayed still for more than twenty-four hours. Right now I am with some of my friends in Salt Lake City and it has been so nice to see familiar faces. Both of them are from my hometown and I met them through my old job at Rock Out in Destin. I became close with both of them and we all know each other from our usual hangout when it comes to our mutual friend group. So when my friend Steph told me about her trip for a year I got just as excited to do my one month. This way I could meet up with her and we could check on each other throughout our journeys.  We could support each other and meet up while we explore our wonderful world. 

It's really cool to have travel friends and its even better when those people are serious about there travel life. Its nice to know that there are others out there that have the same wants in this world as you do. 

While I am in Salt Lake I'm mostly climbing and hanging out. So far I have been on one hike here and it was quite beautiful but these past two days the whole mountains have been covered in Smoke and you can't even see the mountains when you look outside. It's really quite sad. Does anybody know what that is? Is it smoke from Colorado? or is that a haze/fog? I'm really unsure of what to call it. If anybody knows please send me an email. 

It's been a while since I had been to Colorado and because of that, I think I really forgot how much I truly missed it. Everywhere I go there is a new view, a new hike, and such wonderful weather. It's one of those things that you never really knew how much you missed until you come back to that destination. Today is my last official day in colorado and tonight we will be driving into Utah where my boyfriend will be flying to meet up with us for a few days. I'll be mostly staying in a national forest until he arrives and when he does I will pick him up and then we will settle somewhere outside of Zion national park which is the next big destination on my trip. IM excited to go there and do some trails in that area. I have never been to Utah so this will be a new experience or me. 

Of course on this trip, I am hitting a lot of states that I haven't been to so for me its all pretty much new but I think that is what makes the adventure so fun. Not only am I getting to live in a campervan but I am also getting the chance to hike whenever and wherever I want to which is everything to me. Not being able to hike back in Florida really makes me sad adn limits me and what I enjoy doing. Of course now with a puppy by my side it adds to the many reasons I need to move somewhere I can hike on a regular basis. Not only for me but for Lylah as well. Here are some photos that I took over the past few days of Lylah and I on a few hikes we are doing.  The photos really are precious. 

I unexpectedly got kicked out of my friend's apartment. Yesterday while i was doing a very strenuous hike i i g a text that my friend is trying to celebrate his one year anniversary with his girlfriend before another guest comes into town. Of course he doesn't tell me this before i get into town which would have been preferred instead of right towards the end of my stay and on labor day weekend. 

Trying my best to make sure that i get everything packed and washed I try to be nice and accommodate to his wishes. So i pack up loose items around the apartment, i deflate the air mattress, throw the sheets and towels on the wash and wait for my clothes to dry. While I'm waiting for my clothes i am on my phone trying to find somewhere for us to go. 

Turns out everyone is either one of three things. Burning, reserved or closed. Great. I spent almost three hours trying to find somewhere and when 10:30 rolled around i messaged my friend to tell him it would be impossible on such short notice to get somewhere to stay. He doesn't answer. I ask if i can crash on the couch. No answer. 

Finally h and his girlfriend come into the apartment and i ask if he got my message. He tells me yes and proceeds to go right to the room. His girlfriend tries to tell me that Walmart would let me stay there overnight. Problem is most Walmarts in Colorado right now won't allow that. Covid really screwed things up for travelers like me and it was frustrating to try to explain to two good friends of mine that i did try and find a place. I know it was their anniversary but they should have said something before I got there. 

Luckily I had one last night there and they seemed fine but man was it frustrating knowing they were upset with you over something that was their fault not yours. 

This morning i packed and headed out so they could have a day to themselves. Hopefully I can find somewhere tonight to stay. Fingers crossed 

I know I haven't been updating as much as I should be at the moment let me give you a quick update on where I am. Right now I am in Denver Colorado and I will be here for a few more days. The first few days we went out climbing and just hung out. Now we are in the hiking portion of my stay and yesterday we did this hike that reminded me of New Zealand. It was breathtaking ,and it wasn't very difficult to do the hike itself. It was around eight and a half miles long if you do the whole thing and really the only difficult part is the last few miles where you have a staircase that goes back and forth up the mountainside. Before and after that is smooth sailing. 

The hike on all trails says that it was kind of meh and that you didn't really get very good views most of the way up. I have to greatly disagree. The whole trail is a view. It was out of this world and I couldn't believe my eyes. It felt like I was in a fairy tale and for Lylah it was heaven. There were so many lakes and streams for her to hop into and to cool off in and she loves it when she got to be off-leash for ten minutes and just go wild in the mud and stream. It was a sight I am so happy I got to witness. 

I did get a lot of GoPro footage and in the next few days, I am going to be posting views that I have been collecting so that you guys can live through me and experience the beautiful things I get to see on this trip. They all are a wonder and I am so glad that I will get to share them with you so stay tuned for that and be ready to be amazed. 

Today was a very long day of bouldering but it was also a beautiful day. We got to go outside, we got to be in the sun and we got to workout among friends and in perfect weather. Really there was nothing more I could have asked for. It was a day that I really enjoyed and I wouldn't change it for the world. Im glad that I got some more climbing before I go out on some hikes for the next few days. Of course, right now I am trying to figure out which ones I want to do but overall I think we will figure it out and get to see some amazing scenery. 

Colorado is one of my dream states and I'm forever thankful that I have friends that live In places like Denver. It gives me a chance to check out the area, to get some climbing and of course enjoy the fresh air that is present out here. Back in Florida its difficult to get outside let alone enjoy it and I can't wait for next summer when I get to move out of the state entirely or at least that is the goal. If I live in a van or if I live in an apartment, only time will tell on that one. I am excited to see what ends up coming my way for that. 

But while I have you I do want to drop some photos from our trip so far. They are precious and I am sure that you all would love to get a taste of what we have been experiencing and see some shots of Lylah and I together.