Most often asked question

I got to reminiscing about my five plus years on the road this afternoon.  What a marvelous time I’ve had so far.  Yes, there have been those times that I’d rather forget about; like time in repair facilities and a drunken construction worker, but overall it’s been a wild ride.  I’m anxious to see what the next five years has to hold.

Other than the “You drive that thing yourself?” question, the most often asked question that I get is, “What’s been your favorite place?”  For the first four years of my travels, I’ve been at a loss to pick a favorite location.  I just couldn’t choose between Bryce Nat’l Park, or Laguna Atascosa NWR in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, or the fish hatchery experience in Oregon, or any of the other hundreds of experiences I’ve had.  I won’t even go into all the fantastic people I’ve met along the way. 

But, this afternoon I finally decided to come up with an answer to that question.  The two months I spent last summer exploring Yellowstone National Park has to rank at the top for me.  If you ignore the crowds, the raw wildness of this place calls to me much like Alaska does.  The wildlife, the geo-thermal activity, and the incredible vistas just hold a special place in my heart. 

Second to Yellowstone, for me, would have to be the time I spent traveling the scenic byways of Idaho.  I’ve driven many a scenic byway in other states, but they pale in comparison to the back roads of Idaho.  We all have our own ideas of what captures our spirit, and these two areas do it for me.  I, however, plan to continue to look for other places in the country that may dethrone these two icons for me. 

I would be remiss if I didn’t include Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge in my list of favorite places.  After all, I have returned there enough times to make it my home away from the road for parts of most winters.  In about two weeks, I’ll be wandering my way back down there for another three months.  I know I’ll enjoy my time there, but Yellowstone, Idaho, and Alaska will still continue to call to my spirit.

Where are your favorite places of the heart?  I know AL, and the Bayfield Bunch, would choose the southwest desert, but how about the rest of you?

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy