retirement travel

Preparation for first solo adventure:

1. Checked out books from the public library to see what sites I wanted to visit besides Yellowstone and the Tetons on my travels to Wyoming and Idaho.
2. Came up with the route which connected these sites and sent travel plans with a map (see above) to my oldest sister in case of an emergency.
3. Researched weather patterns as to best time to travel with few tourists traveling the same route. Settled on end of September and beginning of October, 2023.
4. As this was mostly a hiking and photography trip, I selected clothing, shoes and camera accessories accordingly.
5. Took my small dog, Goldi, to vet for immunizations so she could be boarded during my travel.
6. Decided to pack most of my clothing and shoes in a bag I would not take in to hotels. I would just take things from that bag daily and put dirty clothes in a separate laundry bag I left in the car.
7. Made sure my vehicle was ready for the road trip and my mail held.
8. At least a month before leaving on my solo trip, I reserved all of the hotel rooms so I didn’t have to worry about where I would lay my head each night.
9. Packed luggage, pillow, satellite phone, some snacks, drinks and some wine.
10. Acquired a new credit card (Marriott Bonvoy Bold from Chase) to rack up travel points for future travel.

Grasshoppers – Day 1 – Drove from Greeley, CO to Rock Springs, WY (332 miles)

1. Dropped off Goldi (my dog) for boarding in Eaton, CO ($30/day)
2. Stopped in Larimie, WY for thrift store shopping ($0) and lunch at the Prairie Rose Cafe ($14)
3. Drove along Snowy Mountain Scenic Byway, Mirror Lake ( see photo)
4. Stayed at Clarion Hotel in Rock Springs, WY ($126.72 )

Sheep are White – Day 2 – Drove from Rock Springs, WY to Burley, ID (333 miles)

1. Visited the first and second JC Penney stores in Kemmerer, WY (tea $4)
2. Got gas in Rock Springs ($3.87/gal) for $48.80
3. Relaxed in the world famous hot springs in Lava Hot Springs, ID ($7.50 + towel rental)
4. Browsed in antique shop in old town Pocatello, ID until it closed at 6:00 pm ($0)
5. Checked in to Fairfield Inn in Burley, ID and listened to roofers until 8:00 pm (water $3)

Sick in Burley, ID – Day 3 – Spent the day in hotel room

1. Woke up at 5:00 am sick, so no expenses or driving today
2. Listened to roofers pounding away starting at 8:00 am and ending at 7 pm
3. Stayed in bed until 12:30 pm
4. Another night at Fairfield Inn ($258.38 for two nights )

Faith over Fear – Day 4 – Drove from Burley, ID to Hailey, ID (164 miles)

1. Breakfast at hotel (complimentary)
2. Got gas ($3.96/gal) in Burley for $39.06
3. Visited the Encampment at Minidonka, ID (not much to see)
4. Browsed at thrift shop in Shosoni, ID ($0)
5. Purchased frozen pizza, water, granola, Tylenol and razors at Natural Grocers in Hailey ($?)
6. Enjoyed soaking in the hotel hot tub solo
7. Stayed at Fairfield Inn in Hailey, ID

Going on a Moose Hunt – Day 5 – Hailey, ID to Stanley, ID and back (147 miles)

1. Breakfast at hotel (complimentary)
2. Drove along Sawtooth Scenic highway for photography of Sawtooth Mountain Range and the Salmon River (see photo)
3. Purchased yummy Wild Huckleberry Licorice in Stanley ($9)
4. Purchased lasagna, wine, and dinner roll at Albertson’s for dinner in my hotel room ($31.45)
5. Stayed at Fairfield Inn in Hailey, ID ($240.80 for two nights)

Anticipation – Day 6 – Drove from Hailey, ID to Rexburg, ID (266.4 miles)

1. Breakfast at hotel (complimentary)
2. Got gas ($4.19/gal) in Hailey for $41.86
3. Visited Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve near Arco, ID
4. Drove to Driggs, ID to photograph back side of the Tetons (see photo)
5. Drove back to Rexburg, ID
6. Stayed at Springhill Suites in Rexburg, ID ($145.80)

Natural Beauty – Day 7 – Rexburg, ID to Jackson, WY (211 miles)

1. Breakfast at hotel (complimentary)
2. Visited Yellowstone National Park (free with senior pass) , Old Faithful; Saw one bison ($37.08 souvenirs)
3. Visited Grand Teton National Park (free with senior pass), ($39.21 souvenirs)
4. Saw antler arches in downtown Jackson, WY
5. Stayed at Anvil Hotel in downtown Jackson, WY

Rain, Rain Go Away – Day 8 – Jackson, WY (Drove 313.6 miles)

1. No breakfast, ate a blueberry muffin from Rexburg, ID hotel
2. Cold and rainy! Thankful for heated steering wheel
3. Saw Moose off Gros Ventre Rd in Jackson Hole
4. Visited Grand Teton National Park ($63.57 gifts for grandkids)
5. Saw family of moose at Moose Junction
6. Visited Jenny Lake in the rain
7. Ate at Doran’s Pizza and Pasta Co. for early dinner/beverage ($26)
8. Visited Mormon Row early/late in the day, took lots of photos
9. Stayed at Anvil Hotel in downtown Jackson, WY ($440.20 for two nights)

Home Again, Home Again Jiggity Jog – Day 9 – Jackson, WY to Greeley, CO (483 miles)

1. No hotel breakfast
2. Got gas ($4.20/gal) for $41.99 in Jackson and again in Laramie for $45.01
3. Picked up Goldi from boarding facility (total $240)
4. Back home safely

First Solo Trip Takeaways

1. Pack clothing for variety of weather
2. Pack medical stuff like thermometer, Tylenol, ice pack, Imodium, laxative
3. Buy/Pack satellite phone
4. Keep gas tank at least 1/4 full
5. Search for gas stations on Google for best price
6. Let someone know your travel plans
7. Stay confident and aware
8. Cut costs when you can so you can splurge on other expenses
9. Travel and arrive at hotel before dark; get a paper receipt of charges and check it
10. Faith over fear!

Next solo adventure: Provence area of France this fall