One of my best friends is an absolute queen. This amazing woman is embarking on a grand adventure as we speak. She is traveling across the country with her four boys. They are camping and seeing all the stuff along the way.
Her boys are 18, 16, seven, and four. I can’t even imagine. Someone would die if I were in charge of this trip. However, she is the best mom and has patience for days. I just know it is going to be epic for her and the boys.
I have been checking in on her. This morning, they were in Mitchell, South Dakota. I immediately became excited and asked if they had visited the corn palace. It is a must if you find yourself in Mitchell. We were there many years ago and I loved everything about it. A palace made entirely of corn! What’s not to love? I was thrilled to learn they did indeed make time for the attraction and described it as “wild.” Indeed.
Their next stop is the Badlands and Mt. Rushmore. This was also part of our trip. I told her not to miss Wall Drug—perhaps one of the most epic tourist traps of all time. She said it was on their list.
I have memories of Wall Drug that I wouldn’t exactly call fond. It had been a long day on the road when we hit Wall Drug. We were all a little beat down. Josie was only four at the time
She had about all the Dora the Explorer she could take. We were in the cafeteria and she just melted down. I proceeded to also have a meltdown in front of hundreds of people. It was not my finest parenting moment. I then bought her ice cream. We all calmed the fuck down.
My friend is also doing Yellowstone and a major hike through Olympia, Washington. Then, on the way home, they are going down to Utah and hitting Arches National Park.
This is a trip of a lifetime. I know it is one they will all remember forever. I’m so happy for them. I plan to check in constantly to get all the details and pics. They are going to get really tired of me.
Our country is fucking vast and contains so many natural wonders. I’m so glad my friend has put her life on hold and made this dream a reality. She is young, loves hiking and camping and all the outdoor stuff. It is perfect!
I personally could not do the camping, but to each his own. They love it and I love it for them.
We plan to hit Glacier National Park in August. I have started training for the hikes. I’m grossly out of shape. The main hike I want is to do is 11.4 miles. I have to get in shape fast for that. There is also altitude to consider. Please send me good vibes.
I’m looking forward to all my friends’ adventures over the next couple of weeks. It is also getting me very excited for our trip. God, I love to travel!
If you can roam. Do it. The memories and experiences are priceless. So are the natural wonders of this country. We must fight to preserve them. At all costs.
Angela Traver
What is this blog about? Well, it's a general blog, but it is also a very specific blog. If you get that reference, you get a gold star! I have been a public relations professional and writer of press releases for more than 20 years—primarily in the booze biz. I decided to do some writing for fun and embrace the humor that gets me through most days. Hopefully it will make you chuckle—or at least smile. I’m a certified crazy magnet, and more than a little nutty myself, so buckle up. Also, I have two vices—profanity and red wine/whiskey. You’ve been warned. It should also be noted, that I’m a HUGE Bob & Sheri fan. I’ve been a listener for more than 20 years. This opportunity is a dream come true and it may have made me cry. That being said, I cry at everything. If you are into booze, dogs, food and/or knitting, hit me up on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (although I’m terrible at Twitter and it scares me) @kyspiritsgal. You can also find all my previous blog posts at www.kyspiritsgal.com.
