Day 10:  We're here, Now What?

Ava's Take

Today started off beautifully, rounded the corner of panic and finished off shaky but okay. After checking out of Portofino Beach Inn, we took a walk to explore the coffee shop scene. Dylan found a place called Lofty Coffee. I am about to make a very bold statement, here it goes: Lofty Coffee is the most delicious cup of coffee I have ever had. Better than Dominican Republic. Better than Costa Rica. If you don’t believe me, you will have to try for yourself.

Taking in all of the surroundings as we walked through neighborhoods down by the beach, I noticed an air of friendly happiness that permeates all of Encinitas. The genuine smiles of people sitting outside, people working, and people walking are everywhere. It seems everyone who lives in Encinitas actually wants to be there. With each minute that passes, I feel more and more at home.

We found a coffee shop where we could both sit inside and attempted to catch up on emails and all of life that exists in electronic form. Our focus suddenly became that we didn’t have a home yet instead of enjoying the ride. We were both overly serious and the conversation turned drab and solemn. I began to feel like I had made a terrible mistake by coming to California with no plan. I felt lost and trapped and full of despair as though somehow life had taken a horrible turn. It’s funny what resistance does to your psyche. About a month ago I read Steven Pressfield’s War of Art - it’s all about that internal resistance that keeps you from going for your dreams. Pressfield is a little hard and gritty but I admire his work and am thankful I read it before I left. Also thankful that I have it with me to refer back to when I feel that demon resistance popping up to ruin my good time and make me think all is lost and I need to turn around instead of plow forward.

I pulled myself out of the funk long enough to ask for help on shifting my perspective. I sent an email to Stephanie Ingraham (owner of Siyo, http://www.siyo.co/) , an intuitive that I work with in Denver asking for some guidance and praying for a speedy response (which she thankfully delivered).

Stephanie offered a lighter perspective on the matter and it was just what I needed. She presented the situation in a way that lightened the energy around it and therefore made it feel easier to move around in it (she is so good at this!!) After all, it was the first whole day that we were in California. OF COURSE we didn’t have it all sorted out! Imagine that I hadn’t found a place to live and decided which business idea I would go with next and launched it and started making money in less than twenty-four hours. I felt silly for beating myself up and for being so impatient. I pulled a similar move this summer with teaching yoga. I almost quit after one month because all of my dreams hadn’t been realized in that path in slightly under thirty days. Really. I almost (in tears) gave it all up. I swear I used to be the most patient person I knew. I apparently used it all up on other people because I’m telling you, I have NONE for myself and my work.

We left Peet’s Coffee late afternoon and headed to San Elijo Campground to see if we could grab a spot for the next few nights. The sign said campground full but when we pulled up we got a site right away. We are right off the 101 at Cardiff State Beach and I can hear the ocean from our tent. We set up camp and hung out for a bit until the sun went down, then ventured out for some dinner. Camping at the beach is a funny experience because you are actually across the street from day-to-day life. We drove a couple minutes to the famous Seaside Market in Cardiff to grab a quick dinner. Yum. I love this place. As of right now, I think everything is going to turn out just fine.

Dylan's Take

Our morning was wonderful today!  We went for a walk and found my most wonderful thing in the world!?! COFFEE!  This place called Lofty coffee (loftycoffeeco.com) has very delicious coffee, but only downside is if you are getting a single cup of coffee it only comes in one size, but I digress.  We walked down to Moonlight Beach and around the neighborhood.  I happened to see a for rent sign on a mobile home next to the hotel.  I thought that this was a good sign of places to rent and places that are available. 

We checked out of our room and we found a coffee shop a few miles inland to check on emails and life stuff that needed to be taken care of while we were traveling.  As we worked, I felt more and more uneasy about our situation as we had no real plan, no income and no place to live.  I started to feel more and more anxious about the situation and was curious as to where that feeling was coming from.  The more and more I looked for a place, the more worried and discouraged I became.  I had to stop working and do something else. 

Ava and I talked and after it we kind of laughed at our situation, that we had been in CA for less than a day and we worrying for no real reason.  We both decided to enjoy ourselves for the moment and enjoy what CA has to offer and explore the area so that we can get to know it and feel it out so that we can find what calls to us. 

We forget we were supposed to be having fun! 

Day 9:  Let's Get the Hell Outta Here! 

Ava's Take

I woke up and did not stall for a second. We did not make coffee or tea, just shot up out of the tent and started packing. We got coffee at Starbucks and then headed to a gas station outside of Lake Havasu to figure out our route into California. We hopped onto Highway 63 and within minutes we crossed the state line. Obviously we had to pull over and take a picture! It felt great to just know that I was in California (finally! says my heart). Even though we were hours from Encinitas, it didn’t matter. The sunshine and air all felt different and beyond than that, I felt like I was where I was supposed to be. Or at least getting closer to it.

In search for a place for lunch I came across the filter in Yelp that allows you to know whether or not a restaurant is dog friendly. (#winning). I entered my search and it came back with a ton of places! We chose Palms Green Cafe in Palm Springs - all organic, great shaded outdoor seating area with misters and the best green juice I have ever had. We told the waiter about our journey to California. He had lived in San Diego for years and recently relocated to Palm Springs. He looked at my yoga capris, cosmic graphic tee with a cutdown neckline and beachy flip flops, and assured me I looked like I’d lived in Encinitas for years and I’d never need another outfit. Little did he know that was a huge relief since outfits like that one are about all I brought with me.

While in route from Palm Springs to Encinitas, I booked us a room for the evening at the Portofino Beach Inn which, as it turned out, landed us right where we needed to be. On the drive we wrapped up Brendon Berchard’s Millionaire Messenger and finished the last disc of Wayne Dyer’s Making the Shift, just before we arrived in Encinitas. As we faced the intersection to turn onto the 101, I caught a glimpse the sun setting over the ocean and felt my whole body start glowing. (Remember I am a mermaid)

We checked in at Portofino Beach Inn and had dinner at the restaurant next door, Hapifish. Since we both love sushi so much and that was the meal we had on our first date, we thought it would be fitting for our first dinner in our new homeland. Hapifish is awesome. I highly recommend it, not just for the sushi (although the sushi is amazing) but for the overall atmosphere and happiness vibe.

I feel relieved that we are here and ready for the next phase. Specifically, like day-to-day, I don’t know what I will do while I’m in California, aside from the obvious of paddle boarding, yoga and, my two loves combined, paddle board yoga. Oh yeah and paddle surfing, cannot forget the paddle surfing….

Other than that I am wide open. My car is paid off and my bills are taken care of through January; it is now October 12th. I will not be getting a job. I have a lot of ideas but I want to take some time to reflect. Time to, very intentionally, design my life so that it looks just like my dreams. And while it may not look like I have much right now, I do have the courage to follow my heart which I am willing to bet, is all that anyone really needs.   

Dylan's Take

Thank god we are out of AZ!  We left this morning and it was 90 degrees.  I felt instantly uplifted as we traveled along and even more uplifted as we got into CA.  A sort of relief that comes when you take something for indigestion or heartburn, the burning was gone aside from the heat.  We took the road that leads to Twenty Nine Palms and stopped to grab some Cokes.  They were very tasty and refreshing or at least the ones we bought with the real cane sugar.  After some time we reach Palm Springs for some lunch at this organic eatery.  It was amazing and just being in CA was great and felt natural to be there and interacting with the surroundings. 

I didn’t feel like a tourist, because we weren’t.  I had a fresh look at things, one that was I am going to try this and possibly come here again, or I am going to try this place and see if this was one that I could come to again.  That was a feeling I had never felt before. On the other had feelings of trembling fear because now we were in CA and now had to start again so to speak. 

We took the scenic route over the mountains south of Palm Springs and into Anza and finally to Encinitas.  We came as the sun was setting which seemed appropriately as we ended our travels at our destination as the sun set.  We stayed at a hotel for the first night as we had camped the past three nights and felt it was time for a cleanup.  HA.  We ate sushi and dressed well or at least not in camping clothes; and everywhere that we went felt natural and with ease.  I welcome the breath of ocean air and the crisp breeze and I wait for the new day to greet me with openness and excitement! 

Day 8:  One Week into Our Journey!  

Ava's Take

We have officially been out of Colorado for seven days!

We left Dead Horse and headed to Lake Havasu. Still scarred from our experience in Moab, we reserved our spot for three nights which turned out to be a mistake. As we drove in closer to Lake Havasu City I could feel that it was not somewhere I wanted to stay but I thought being near the water would be different. I had this picture in my head of paddle boarding on beautiful turquoise waters and working on my tan. This was the last stop before heading into California and starting our new lives and I really wanted to take a few days to reflect on the journey out here and think about what I really wanted to create going forward.

We set up our campsite and walked our paddle boards down to the water. It sounded like Bandimere Speedway. Dylan set one of his paddle boards on the ground and you could feel the sound vibrations coming up through the paddle boards. The shoreline was gravelly and hot and the water looked polluted and disturbed. I have never seen so many motorized water crafts on one lake. We paddled out, avoiding the wake zone hoping we would not get run over by a gang of jetskis. I made the most of the time on the water but the noise was really disturbing. I don’t mind the wake(s), that just gives me a chance for a workout but the constant noise of racing jetskiis was giving me a headache.

We decided to go out to eat since it was too hot to cook and frankly I was cranky. I found a Thai restaurant which led us on a scavenger hunt that ended with hunger, irritability and no spring rolls. We decided on Italian and I found a family owned Italian restaurant that had been there for over twenty years that seemed like a good bet. I’m not going to mention the name of it because I would like to think that we caught them on an off night and that normally, they don’t suck so bad. Despite only having three other tables, our waiter forgot about us and never even made it by to take our drink order. The hostess ending up being our server and she was about the only good thing about the whole place. It was as loud as a bar and the food was made by someone who thought Italian meant “cover it in several pounds of low quality mozzarella cheese.” I ordered a Coke and it tasted like (and looked like) it had been sitting out all day and was now half water. I only ate out of necessity and we left as quickly as we could.

After sorting out my thoughts I realized the underlying message in this Lake Havasu mess; the Universe was telling me to get to California now. All the reflecting and adventuring I planned on doing on the trip out was meant to happen when we got to California, not along the way. The reason our trip had been one stumble after another was not because we didn’t have a plan, it was because we were not supposed to keep stopping everywhere. Dylan felt the same way and we decided we’d leave tomorrow morning. It was worth forfitting the $60 for our campsite for the next two nights to not have to be somewhere I was not supposed to be for another minute. I went to bed and couldn’t wait for the morning to arrive so I could leave.

Dylan's Take

Keep moving forward

It has been one week into our journey and it feels pretty great despite yesterday’s frustrations.  I am grateful that I have been able to be on this journey and make this leap into the unknown so to speak.  I am reminded of the Star Trek opening monologue, with Captain Picard’s voice replaying, “To seek out new life and new civilizations and to go where no man has gone before”.  Maybe not to the extent of Star Trek but we are on our own mission. 

We arrived at Lake Havasu after deciding that the quickest route was the best route.  We did not want to delay any longer with our travel to CA.  Our campsite is close to the water and we are here for 3 nights.  Apparently Columbus Day is a big holiday weekend in AZ and the state requires you to reserve 3 nights at minimum on the weekend. 

My immediate reaction to the city was repulsion.  Meaning, my sense or intuition was one of repulsion to the city not the city repulsing me.  We arrived to a 95 degree late afternoon, early evening, to the sounds of jet skis, boats, loud speakers and a variety of other motorized noises.  Ava and I, were very excited about our decision to get to CA, we could literally see CA from our campsite.  After setting up and getting water that tasted horrendous, we decided to go paddle boarding. 

I love paddle boarding because there is something freeing about it.  Its active enough, but relaxing at the same time; you can paddle hard or just mosey along too.  After getting on the water it was a reset button, but there was a feeling inside that was saying to move on and get going.  The feeling of being stuck and not moving on was there and I knew that with two more nights accompanying us that we were not going to enjoy our stay.  After trying to find a Thai place that had moved and then found out was closed, we settled on a very noisy Italian place to eat.  The food was okay but not great and our overall experience was dissatisfying to say the least. 

Being back at the campsite I felt defeated and frustrated that this was not the experience we wanted to have in Lake Havasu and we both agreed that we just needed to keep moving forward.  Ava and I both agreed to pack up tomorrow morning and head to CA and Encinitas.  There was not anything in Lake Havasu for us and we both knew that sacrificing the $60 to stay two more nights was not worth the effort or stress. 

This event showed me that when there are clear and obvious signs of my / our path and we need to listen to and adhere to them.  I am reminded of water at this point.  When water is moving it goes in the path of least resistance and this is what I am feeling I should do, because otherwise it’s just too hard and stressful. 

On to CA and our new lives!         

Day 7:  One More Day at the Dead Horse

Ava's Take

Despite disliking my surroundings and surviving an overnight torrential downpour, I managed to make a fabulous breakfast in my outdoor kitchen to get our day started. We originally planned to “stay put” for the day, reading, journaling and working on the blog. That plan did not work. I felt so restless and unable to sit still, right now I only feel good when I am moving. We decided to take a drive and explore Sedona.

We drove through Sedona, which was recommended to me by a friend back in Colorado. Sedona is gorgeous. I could easily spend a week there exploring the crystal shops and cafes and hiking the energy vortexes, none of which I could do on this round with the dog and the enormous blister on my right ankle…..so we kept on driving through. It was a hot day so we decided to explore options for swimming since there was no where to paddle board. There were some great options for us but none were pet friendly, as we found out when we got there, not that Freckles likes swimming anyway. Frustrated that there was no where to cool off and really nothing to do, we went back to the camp site and game planned a little more for the remainder of the trip.

Dead Horse State Park is a weird reminder of Colorado and I cannot wait to leave. The terrain, the altitude, the bugs, the night time chill - it all carries this sense of familiarity that I do not find comforting but rather feels stalling and irritating. But as much as the whine from my soul cries out to drive to California, I am terrified to actually arrive there. It’s “easy” road-tripping along and talking about how great it will be  when we get there. For months I talked about the trip and people would ask, “What are you going to do in California?” My response was that I would figure it out when I got there. Well now I am almost there and it is almost time to figure it out. I feel a sense of urgency to get there yet a sense of panic about following through. I don’t want to be where I came from, I don’t like where I am and I am scared to go where I am headed. At this point my best option seems to be to (1) trust in the original knowing that once I arrive in California, it will all come together and (2) devote my current efforts to enjoying the moment and the journey. I am coming to terms with the first one but the second one is evading me. Tomorrow we head to Lake Havasu which I hope brings better fortune with water than this place.

Dylan's Take

I must see the learned lesson in all challenges

Today was a difficult day, mentally.  I felt stuck and a car that was spinning its tires.  Ava and I both agreed that when we were moving towards CA our energy levels and conversations were more light and happy. 

We started the day off well with morning coffee and breakfast.  We then took to re-organizing the car and trying to get caught up on the blog.  Organizing the car and cleaning some of the camping stuff felt relieving and felt good to clear up our living situation.  It’s amazing to me how quickly you can make a home a home, even if it is temporary and mobile.  We wanted to hang out and rest and relax, this is what we felt we were called to do.  Instead we went to Sedona and met frustration with traffic and rain and a lack of knowledge of how dogs are not allowed in some parks (or at least the ones we wanted to go to) in AZ. 

Feeling defeated, frustrated, irritated, tired and hungry; we made our way back to the campsite with nothing to show for it.  After some reflection and conversation, we both were convinced that we needed to get to CA ASAP because that was what we were called to do.  We did not listen to our intuition and our initial intention.  This is something that is difficult for me to do, but the more I look internally and reflect the more I am able to listen to it.  I underestimated the difficultly that I would have with self –reflection and self-awareness and listening to my intuition.  An ever on-going process for sure!  I am just very grateful and fortunate to have someone with me that can help me through difficult thoughts and times.  I am ever thankful to Ava for being my best friend, business partner and soul mate.  I am happy to be doing this journey with someone and to share it with her as well as share with everyone that reads this.  Until tomorrow… 

Day 6:  Grand Canyon to Dead Horse Ranch State Park

Ava's Take

Today we left Flagstaff and headed to see Grand Canyon. We fueled up on the way (car with gasoline and humans with coffee) and introduced the barista at Wicked Arizona Coffee to puppuccinos. Freckles was thrilled.

Looking down into the Grand Canyon is breathtaking. I had never been before. I read about how “grand” it is and I’ve seen plenty of pictures but nothing really shows you like the real thing. We later met a hiker named Wendy at our campsite who hiked from rim to rim in a day. I think I’m good to stand on the edge with the other tourists and do my best to capture photographs unobstructed by people’s heads. Though the views were divine, I was ready to be on our way. Deceiving as my legs may be, I am actually a mermaid. So if you want my attention for more than fifteen minutes, you had better be leading me to water, preferably salty water.

On our way to Dead Horse State Park in Prescott, Arizona, we passed through the loveliest little town called Jerome. At first glance it looked like a run down old mining town (and in many ways it is), but as we drove in, its vintage beauty unfolded. Jerome is built into Cleopatra Hill and every one of the 100+ year old homes has a view that was likely once worth a fortune in Jerome’s glory days. It has a bustling downtown area with Bed and Breakfasts, coffee shops, antique stores and mom and pop restaurants. It looked me to like a photographer’s paradise and a great place for a writer with writer’s block to come for creative refreshment and seclusion from the familiar world.

When we arrived at Dead Horse I was less than impressed. I felt like we were camping somewhere in southern Colorado. Like I said, I’m a mermaid and my patience is dwindling on being landlocked. To appease me, Dylan suggested we paddle board down at the lagoons in the park so we drove down. There shorelines were covered in outdoor TV enthusiasts (people claiming to be fishing but are actually just drinking beer and littering the land and water) which reminded me of Evergreen. The water was stagnant and overgrown with algae. No way was I putting my paddle board in there. The water had a strange look to its surface; I feared my board would sink to the bottom and I would be stuck in the disgusting muck. Maybe even be eaten by a large catfish.

We drove back up to our campsite and set up to make dinner. I was assaulted by a tiny angry insect that attacked one of my toes for what seemed like minutes before I could locate it and get it off of me. I already had a blister on my heel from the shoes I wore to walk around at Grand Canyon and now after the assault on my toe, I am just pissed. To top it off, a thunderstorm erupted over the mountain range in front of us. Thankfully, to distract me from my irritability, a fellow camper wandered up to our site and sat down at the picnic table. His name was Wally and he was on a week long mountain biking trip with a group of friends. Wally told us about his trip and many of his other travels around the world. While Wally was talking I felt the familiar sensation that this was meeting was not a random moment, that Wally came over to talk to us for a reason. Now I don’t mean that he had an agenda, I mean there was a Universal higher purpose to our paths colliding at Dead Horse State Park. And then it happened. As the conversation came to a close, Wally told us that he had been writing a blog about time he spent in Alaska and then continued it on all of his travels, and that Google had just contacted him to pay him for advertisement on his blogspot. Earlier in the day I had been feeling like the blog did not really have a point and asked the Universe for a sign of whether or not to keep it up. I would say with strong confidence that this was my sign to keep writing.

If you’d like to check out Wally’s blog, here’s the link

http://wallysalaskablog.blogspot.com/

I’ve read some posts myself and really enjoyed it. Wally has had some amazing adventures and has a great sense of humor. Just don’t forget to come back here to read ours!

Dylan's Take

When you know, you know

This morning we took our time to get up and packed up. It is amazing how much less time it is to pack up a car when camping as opposed to staying in a hotel.  We had a 4 hour drive today that circled through the Arizona high desert.  That was 4 hours of audio book.  YES!!  Have you ever been so excited you couldn’t wait, nor wanted it to stop?  That’s how I felt about this audio book, “Millionaire Messenger”. 

Informative, insightful and powerful are words I would use to describe this book.  Its premise is about how to create a business out of your passion and creating value within the world.  This book falls exactly in line with what Ava and I are intending to do with the business coaching venture. 

I found myself locked in and listening to every word.  I could relate, understand it and see it in action for myself.  Next, I came to a perspective and thought that this trip has many meanings to me. 

 I am growing and progressing by being out of my comfort zone

1.  This is a new challenge, therefore a new opportunity for me
2.  I believe this is what I need and what I am meant to do
3.   Great things are coming because I am excitedly-scared stiff
4.   I trust in the universe and I am learning to trust that I will be provided for

These points are some that are learning and will continue to learn, but so far that is what has been on my mind since leaving Denver.  I am on track and even though this is a daily, hourly and sometimes a minute to minute challenge, I believe my journey to be true and on point of what I am guided to do.    

Day 5:  Rainy Day Means Stay Put in Flagstaff 

Ava's Take

It continued to rain in Flagstaff and I was grateful again that we were not tent camping. Since it was cool enough outside to leave Freckles in the car, we decided to take advantage of the opportunity and go to brunch. We went to Brandy’s Restaurant and Bakery which turned out to be the perfect choice. Not only was the food (and the Mexican Mocha) sublime, I happened to glance up at the artwork on the wall above our table and spotted a gorgeous panoramic photograph of Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, California. I recognized it instantly because I have a similar photograph that I took on our first trip to San Diego in July 2012. I was taken back to the moment I realized I wanted to move to San Diego. It wasn’t like the fleeting thoughts that many people have about living where they vacation. This was a calling from deep within; for the first time in my life that I could remember, I actually felt like I was home. I knew I had to leave Colorado, I just didn’t know when the time would be right. Fast forward to the present moment, a little over two years later, and I am finally on my way.

I took a nap after brunch which is my favorite thing to do after a veggie benedict on a rainy day. It was glorious. After my nap we ventured out to the local PetSmart to refill on Freckles food. She refuses to eat kibble so she gets this fancy “real food” that you only find in the refrigerated section of your pet supply store or local Whole Foods. They had one bag left in the size bag that we buy. On our way out we spotted shiny blue doggie shark costume. Oddly enough, this is actually something we have wanted to buy for her, mainly for silly marketing ideas on the paddle board. To my surprise they had her size. She reluctantly tried it on, embarrassed that the other dogs in the store could see, and it fit. I cannot even tell you how excited I am to put her in this thing and take pictures. Our trip to PetSmart felt like another “on track” moment, telling me that we were right where we were supposed to be.

We decided to stay another night in Flagstaff and make our way toward Sedona in the morning. It was still chilly and rainy and we both thought pho sounded good. I found one pho restaurant in all of Flagstaff. We parked right in front and peered inside. The place looked sketchy but sketchy in Denver means the real deal on Vietnamese food in particular so we went inside and ordered our usual pho chay.  

The moral of THAT story is:

Sketchy in Denver means :cheap authentic cuisine. 

Sketchy in Flagstaff means...sketchy.

Like don’t eat there. Drive the other direction. If that’s your only option for the night, go to bed hungry. Lesson learned. Moving on….

Dylan's Take

Being still is a way of being within yourself and reflecting.  Reflecting has allowed me to identify ways to progress and grow. 

You learn to appreciate a bed once you have one and you also learn to be creative in your search for hotels when you have a pet with you.  As a side note, Days Inn does allow pets to stay there.  We decided to re-plan our trip a little bit and really feel out what we needed to do.  After getting a full night’s sleep and evaluated what we needed to do we decided it was best to stay another night in order to get the most out of what we needed to accomplish. 

Throughout our road trip and travels we had been listening to Wayne Dyer and I have been reflecting on Mastin Kipp’s The Daily Love  (A great daily blog of love, insight and a fresh perspective on things).  I am recalling an Oct. 6^th blog he sent out about achieving your potential.  These questions struck me: 

"How can I live at my Highest Potential?"  “What is my purpose and how do I take action on it?”  “Why do I seem to take two steps forward and two steps back?” 

Ava and I were fortunate enough to see Mastin in Denver before we left.  It seemed appropriate and timely.  I am attracted to his teachings and story because he came from nothing to becoming a millionaire and doing what he loves each day.  He also mentioned two books that were his blueprint for what helped him become focused and hone his craft.  

Brendon Burchard, Millionaire Messenger & Jeff Walker, Launch. 

Ava and I are always looking to others who have done it or are in a place where we see ourselves.  I realized that we were going so fast and doing so much that I didn’t really reflect and really look to different avenues and resources to grow and progress.  I think that this is very important to always learn and grow.  I know that I am excited to read and listen to these books and see what I can learn and apply in my own life and see where it can take me.   

Day 4: Lake Powell to Flagstaff

Ava's Take

When I woke up, there was a feeling in the air  that had not been there before. The sky was covered in clouds and though it was warm, it felt like a storm was coming. We heard from our RV neighbors that bad weather was in the forecast and I don’t mean a little rain. Apparently a storm at Lone Rock Beach means waking up to high winds, a stuck vehicle and a tent full (and probably mouthful) of sand. Although I was bummed, I quickly accepted it as a sign from the Universe that we needed to be moving along. We started packing up right away.

Having my vehicle packed to the brim gives me massive anxiety. I keep my car clean (relatively) and pretty much empty of all except necessities. As you can imagine, living out my vehicle with another person and a dog has been a challenging experience for me. Sometimes you are well aware of what you signed up for, but you’ll never really be ready for it, or thrilled about it.

I liked Lake Powell a lot but I wasn’t particularly excited about any other stop we had talked about on our trip. I had this thought that we should head straight to California but I brushed it off in the spirit of our adventure. Plus, once we get to California I’ll have to actually figure out what the heck I am going to do in California, besides paddle board and play in the ocean. And I’m not feeling up to that yet…

I started to get anxious packing and decided to take a short break. Walking back to the car I found eleven cents on the ground; a shiny dime and penny were lying together in the sand. I often find coins on the ground in the sum of eleven cents. I take it as a sign from the Universe that I am on track, that some guiding force is letting me know that I am not alone and that I am right where I am supposed to be. If you know anything about numerology, you know that 11 is a pretty powerful number, also referred to as “The Master Number.” It also happens to be my life path number (the number you get by adding up the numbers of your birth date) so when eleven shows up, I stop and listen.

If you are curious about finding your life path number and what it means, I recommend http://seventhlifepath.com/. I don’t know anything about who runs it but the descriptions are clear, very accurate and to the point.

We did eventually get the car packed up, nothing had to be left behind as I feared it would. I found a pet friendly motel in Flagstaff, Arizona and by some grace reserved it for $40 per night. As we drove through Arizona, the temperatures did drop a decent amount and it began to rain. I was thankful we listened and that we’d be sleeping indoors tonight. We arrived at our motel, The Days Inn off Route 66, and checked into our room. I was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness - for $40 a night I was not real sure what we’d walk into. Freckles was thrilled for the comfy bed and I was happy to ground down for a night. We even went to Chipotle for dinner for a little familiarity and security.

It’s a strange adventure to be on when you don’t know where exactly you’re going or when you’re supposed to arrive. I feel better now that we’ve left Colorado but it seems everyday I come upon against a new fear. All I can do is come back to center, tune in to the subtle guidance around me, remind myself why I set out on this journey and trust that it’s all coming together according to the greater plan.

Dylan's Take

Today started with excitement and ended with a call to duty and progress.  Our original plan was to stay 2 more nights at Lake Powell and paddle and enjoy ourselves.  This was changed due to a feeling or a call to keep moving forward and certain signs or indicators to us to keep moving.

Our time at Lake Powell felt peaceful and relaxing.  Our meeting with Shannon and Brant told us we needed to start our new venture, answer our call to serve and assist others.  I don’t believe that this was coincidence although some might believe it to be.  I believe that this was part of the bigger plan to get us to CA and start our new business and calling.  The second calling was a storm coming in that night.  Ava and I, went into Page to get a few supplies and our gut told us to keep moving forward and progressing.  We needed to keep moving to CA and to find a settling place.  With all of the signs pointing us forward we have ended up at Flagstaff in a Hotel.    

It’s funny to me that the more open and trusting I am in the universe the more signs and indicators I see.  This is a difficult process for me to understand as I am used to controlling my destiny and journey.  I notice my ego making excuse and coming up with crazy reason as to why things will or won’t work; but, every time I reflect or think about my greater purpose and my path to fulfillment I let go and trust that it will all be taken care of.    

Day 3:  Lake Powell Continued... 

Ava's Take

We paddled all day long! I am really loving it here at Lake Powell and I definitely want to stay another two nights or maybe more. It feels so good to be here and to have to freedom to stay or go as we choose.

Freckles encountered “waves” for the first time which was hilarious. The wake from all the boats on the water caused it to roll and hit the shore similar to the ocean and Freckles could not figure out what was happening. She kept racing up and down the shoreline barking at the water. Luckily our neighbors all found it to be as funny as we did. Dylan tried to capture it on video but I don’t know if it turned out.

We went for another paddle in the afternoon and set off to explore some more parts of the lake. There were so many moments where as far as my eyes could see, we were the only ones around. The weather was perfect and the water was a great temperature. I stopped paddling for a few and ran through a yoga practice on my board. I haven’t been practicing yoga...at all...on land or water which is never a good thing for me. After I was complete, another paddler approached me on the water to talk about paddle board yoga. I paddled around some more and then came to shore to make dinner.

6 pm @ Lake Powell 

As the sun went down, this bright, rainbow colored ring appeared around it. I attempted to take some photographs but I don’t have the right equipment to capture something like that. The only thing I brought was my iPhone and iPad, not quite the lens one would need!

I’m not sure what it was but it was mesmerizing.

I made dinner for us again and, again really enjoyed cooking. I haven’t enjoyed taking the time to cook in about six months or more so this is a strange thing that has come about but I like it!  

We ate facing the water and the sunset. The darkness set in pretty quickly. Dylan and I were sitting in our camp chairs facing the water when our new neighbors came over and invited us to join them around their campfire. Normally I’m not much for making conversation with strangers and I was feeling tired but something nudged me to say yes.

We grabbed our chairs, our dog and some firewood to contribute to the flames. Our neighbors, Shannon and Brant, were an engaged couple, roughly the same age as us, that came in for the night from Phoenix. Both originally from Wisconsin, they exuded that kind and welcoming mid-Western feel. Shannon is a dance instructor and Brant is a professional online poker player. Dylan and I talked about our paddle board company in Evergreen and our plan to migrate to California for the winter. We also talked about our next phase which is a two part coaching program to help budding entrepreneurs make the leap from the soul draining corporate world into a life that actually aligns with what they love. Normally I don’t talk about ideas before they are “born.” I feel that there is a period of growth where a business idea needs to be protected until it’s matured to a level that is safe to reveal to the world. Like growing a human baby, business babies have periods of gestation, too. If you expose it too soon, it could die before it ever really gets a chance. That’s my theory anyway. That being said, I knew we were in good company and enjoyed talking about our next steps with our campsite neighbors. Talking about it sometimes makes it feel more real.

We said goodnight to our neighbors and headed to sleep. I can’t wait to spend more time here at Lake Powell! I am one happy camper right now :)

Dylan's Take

Today, was a day of rest and fun.  Our campsite was literally on the water or 10 ft approximately.  Last night we were invited to join a campfire by two fellow entrepreneurs, Shannon and Brant.  Brant is a professional online poker player and Shannon is a dance teacher who has a dream of opening her own dance studio offering aerial classes. 

As we paddled for most of the day, this struck me as an AHA moment and something that the universe was telling me that we were on the right track.  I felt that as long as I am open to the messages and signposts that the universe puts out there for me, then there is a chance I will see them and be guided in the right direction.  I miss some and don’t notice others, but that event last night confirmed that Ava and I are on the right track. 

 Both Ava and I, have a passion to assist fellow entrepreneurs in along their way.  From beginning of business planning to business execution and operations; we are both drawn to this and feel called to assist new and existing entrepreneurs make their dreams and passions into a reality.   Ava and I have been talking about it for a while, but now we both feel an obligation to do this per our campfire meeting with Shannon and Brant. 

Be open and patient enough and something is bound to guide and point you in the right direction. 

Day 2: Utah to Lake Powell 

Now we are off and running (or traveling) lol.  After a not so pleasant experience in Moab.  We are off to Lake Powell For some camping and paddle boarding.  Please read, share, comment and pose some questions we would love to hear from you!

Ava's Take

In the morning, things looked far less sketchy surrounding the hotel than they did the night before. The breakfast area had decent coffee and was filled with travelers from around the world. There was an elderly couple with a group of boys who looked like an exchange program soccer team to me. Turns out I was way off, and they were Sudanese refugees. They were all pre-teen and teenage boys rescued from the war and this couple served as their caretakers as they were making their way to a large home they’d all be staying in. Wow. I was taken aback, not by their story, but that that was their story and yet they seemed okay. I thought of how I had ended up at this hotel as a last resort and was, I’ll admit, scared for my life, or at least for my belongings, while we slept. And then I thought of their story. I imagine there is not much left to be afraid of at that point. I love when life throws me an opportunity to adjust my perspective by reminding my to get out of my own head and see the bigger picture.

We set out for Lake Powell in the late morning. After about a four hour drive we arrived in town. We first drove to the Arizona side of the lake but as I researched campgrounds, I set my sights on one back in Utah. We stopped at the visitor center, which was of no help, and proceeded back onto the highway. I picked Lone Rock Beach with high hopes for a waterfront campsite and easy access for paddle boarding. As I read further down in the reviews of the site, it seemed everyone who went there got stuck in the sand. I was already uneasy about my Subie being packed so heavily; the thought of getting stuck in the sand somewhere along a trail terrified me. After a couple of deep breaths I talked myself down with the reminder that, worst-case scenario, if we got stuck, someone down at the campsite would surely pull us out. After all, it seemed to happen pretty regularly.

Success! We made it down with no trouble at all! Turns out driving on sand is pretty similar to driving on snow. Dylan navigated us over to a perfect campsite without getting stuck once. The sky was clear, the sun was hot, the sand was soft and we were right on the water. Lone Rock Beach is absolutely beautiful. I don’t know what the place looks like in the summer months but while we were there I’d say there were no more than 30 vehicles total (including RVs). They call it primitive camping because there is no designated spot for your tent, no picnic table, etc. However there are micro-flush toilets close by and some other amenities up the hill. I was perfectly happy here.

Our neighbors were two women, probably retired and somewhere in their sixties, each with their own RV. They were actually from Colorado and were on a similar route we were, minus the moving to California. One of them had a little dog who got along well with Freckles which was a relief.

We set up our tent, got the paddle boards down and went out on the lake. It felt glorious to be paddle boarding again! The water was perfect. Every time I get on my paddle board, I never want to leave. I could spend most of my life on the water. Like the time most people spend in an office, I’d like to spend on or in water. I suppose that’s a big part of moving to California and living by the ocean. Warm weather and easy access to water I can paddle board on is top priority for me.

The sunset over Lake Powell was beautiful. Every other minute the colors were different. For a minute it reminded me of the living room decor my mom chose in the early 90’s. You know, back when the southwestern style was the must have look in your home? The thought of that living room, and that decade made me laugh. I surprised myself with my skills on the camp stove and cooked up some ridiculously delicious dinner. We watched the remainder of the sunset while we ate.

We (and by we I mean Dylan) built a fire in the sand and made s’mores. I haven’t been camping in over two years and I was loving every minute of it. We tied the paddle boards to the tent and went to sleep to the sound of the water lapping the shore. I couldn’t wait for Day 3.

Dylan's Take: "Time to Get Back on the Right Track"

We are moving onto Lake Powell to get some paddle boarding in and to keep moving on this awesome adventure.  It’s funny the people you run into in the middle of no-where Utah.  A hindu from India, who checked us in and navigating around a group of Japanese tourists in Monticello, UT.  Somehow it felt a lot better than Moab.  My ego had to take a big check and I realized I just have to go with the flow and go with what comes natural to me and to us.  We made our way down through monument valley and hit the AZ border. 

This part of the US it oddly beautiful to me as it is pretty, magnificent and desolate all at the same time.  We were listening to Wayne Dyer along the way and he was talking about various things but the thing that struck me the most was the connection and belief in a higher power, I call it the universe.  As the closer we get to CA and farther away from home my fear is starting to become greater.  However, coinciding with that feeling of fear is my excitement of new beginnings and confirmation in my intuition that we are on the right path. 

As we set up camp at Lone Rock campground in UT on Lake Powell, I am thankful for the opportunity to do this and I have fully put my trust into the universe and the path that it has set for me.  I believe it to be true and I am trying to be patient as my path and purpose are revealed to me and us.  Now it’s time to go paddle!