Anywhere Road

First traveling the country in a 15ft. vintage travel trailer with my unmistakable family NOW doing it again in an 18ft. trailer.  Vagabonding Freedom Tour 2015

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Deschutes River via Tam-a-lau Trail.  Culver, OR.

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Capturing some of the last few weeks of the season at Rocky.

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Unmistakable Travels

Exploring, writing, traveling, backpacking, educating, creating — as a family.

Where will we go next??

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Site #12 was the site we popped her open for the first time.  Wall Doxey State Park, MS.  Pretty cool for me since 12 is my favorite number. 

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Popping the New Home's Cherry

Vagabonding Tour 2015-2016

Our New Home

There she is, our new home for this year: 2004 Bantam Trail-Lite hybrid travel trailer. Last year we traveled for 10 adventurous months in a vintage 15ft Trillium 4500 travel trailer rubbing elbows with each other on a daily basis. The art of patience became the norm while living in such a small space, especially when it was snowing in the Rocky Mountain National Park and all three of us are chilled to the bone inside our fiberglass Wunder Wagon.

We popped her cherry in Holly Springs, MS at Wall Doxey State Park. We set up, for the first time mind you, in the dark, after Joel drove for the entire day from North Carolina. It was our first challenge of the Vagabonding Tour 2015-2016. Like most challenges we took it like a couple of champions, tiredly, yet tenderly barking suggestions at each other, while trying to find that well practiced patience from last year. The shenanigans lasted about 25 minutes, not bad for our first time ;-)

Wall Doxey State Park

Two words describe Mississippi in July: hot & muggy. Add a plethora of blood-sucking, pesky mosquitoes with your share of spiders and outdoor life becomes a little less desirable, at least between 10am-7pm. Yep, it summertime in the South.

There is, however, a lot of history in this geographically beautiful, lush, and wet land. Holly Springs was striped of fighting aged men during the Civil War; schools were shut down and an otherwise thriving economy came to a halt. If you look around the town you can still feel the heavy load this town was burdened by.

A must see while in town is the Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. You can join a guided tour of the plains where you are guarenteed to view numerous different species of native and migratory birds. If you are here during September you will witness the annual hummingbird migration sure to please just about anyone.

We would enjoy you hanging around to see where we go next, find us here: beumistakable Lovin you!

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Search for a new Wunder Wagon

What you are viewing above can be described as travel fever. There is no clinical definition of travel fever for I just made it an another unmistakable word for the excitement of the process , the real process, of travelling full-time again.

In our case, the process began when we started looking for a new camper. Last year, if you remember, we traveled in a vintage 15ft. Trillium 4500. We loved our Wunder Wagon yet, as a family, we simply outgrew it. Lily is getting older and needs more personal space while Joel wants to be able to stand up all the way without bumping his head on something.

There's a certain buzz that hovers in the air when travel dates are approaching; a very colorful and intense energy flows through your body. Thoughts of being on the anywhere road sends familiar pulses through your veins and there is a little pep in your step. All of a sudden there becomes a plethora of things to think about and you are smiling about them all. It's electrifying.

Preparation is, by far, the most efficient and effective way to get ready for the transition to back on the road full time. After the long process of deciding where and when to go, mapping out our route (Roadtrippers), and creating a budget the anticipation is over and the new trip begins.

We found our new camper in Lexington, NC. An 18ft hybrid, with two pull out beds which will give us 3-9 more feet of living space then our Wunder Wagon had. Tomorrow the family takes a trip over to the dealership to pick her up, an exciting day indeed.

That's when the real fun begins.

Here we come everyone, unmistakable family is back on the road. Much love & see you soon my brothers and sisters. You can follow our route by going to unmistakable.us or tweet me at @NicoleStock

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On the Road School

On the Road Schooling

My second year of schooling at home, or home-schooling, is coming to a successful close soon. Lily and I will break from the Global Village School curriculum and the daily book studies for some much needed relaxing of the minds. With relaxed minds comes new opportunities for teaching/learning through different sources. As a travelling family we realize education can come in many unexpected and visual ways. Our next adventure was taking us back to Florida. I always find it a challenge to keep Lily engaged in studies while we are on the road. There can be too many distractions while camping ranging from: what are we going to cook on the fire tonight, let's go for a bike ride, to other wonderful children whom are actually "on vacation". To my delight this trip was no different. En route to Florida, we parked the camper at Skidaway State Park for four beautiful spring nights. Lily and I were studying the Civil War, at the time , so Joel and I planned our trip around Civil War highlights in the Savannah area. The educational opportunities just blossomed in this here, rich with history, and visually stunning, it didn't take much for Lily to feel the energy in this town and surrounding areas. I had a flash, or a past-life memory, of fresh squeezed lemonade, gabbing on a huge wrap-around porch while my just-returned-home-from-war Union husband sipped his whiskey, delicately, yet diligently cleaning his Hawkin rifle awaiting orders to attack Ft. Pulaski.

Going with the flow, Dad took a day off from work, to escort Lily and I to Ft. Pulaski. His childhood memories and fondness of history gave Lily a fresh new learning perspective. He had many fascinating stories to share; as did the Fort itself. Each blast hole reminded Lily of the stories she read prior to seeing the actual Fort. All of the Union vs. Confederate battles we studied had suddenly come together. It was like watching a light go on in your child; she made the connection. Finding new and fresh learning opportunities, while on the road, doesn't take much; just a little planning. Each family member can have a great experience and walk away with a higher understanding of our past.

Where are we going next? Be sure to follow my family at Unmistakeable.us to see where our next adventure takes us. Until next time, happy trails.

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Ink flowing between the cracks in a human hand

Video

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This is some Dead By Dawn shit.

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Cades Cove, TN

The day was perfect, surprisingly since the entire week prior April showers were sure to bring the May flowers; we had not seen the sun during these rains. Without planning for weather we took our chances and behold, one of the nicest, most Unmistakable days appeared, seemingly just for us.

We entered the Smoky Mountain National Park on highway 441 through Cherokee, NC. About 49 miles into the park you'll see the left turn to Cades Cove. Take this road until you run into Cades Cove campground where you can get a reasonably priced ice cream cone for $2.95. You can spend some time here frolicking in the woods or you can continue onto the scenic Cades Cove Loop Road. This is an 11 mile self guided scenic driving tour where saw well preserved 19th century homesteads, a beautiful valley, horses running freely in the fields, and excellent hiking trails (the reason we came here, really).

We decided Abrams Falls hike was our winner. The hike to Abrams Falls begins from a field at stop number ten on the Cades Cove Loop Road. To reach the Abrams Falls Trailhead, drive five miles on the Cades Cove Loop. After crossing Abrams Creek, turn right onto a gravel road which runs through a grassy field. You will find the trail head here.

This was my first hike in my new Keen Rose Sandals. I'm not usually one to hike in sandals, but today was different. I only carried my water bottle, so no pack. The shoes were comfortable and cushioned my foot nicely from the rocky terrain. They were also an excellent choice for the raging river and muddy trail. Although pretty excellent for what we were doing, I wouldn't have wanted any weight on my back with these sandals on, but the light hiking was comfortable and fun.

The drive and hike were both spectacular. All together we sighted 5 black bears waking up from their winter slumber, numerous deer, a handful of elk grazing in fields, and a few turkey. That qualifies as an Unmistakable day in the Smoky Mountain National Park.

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North Window --Arches National Park, Utah.

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Rainbow Falls, NC  

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Hanging in Colorado

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Tech time pre-taco Tuesday. 

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Soup... It's what's for dinner

A first-rate soup is more creative than a second-rate painting.

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Since it’s been rather cold ( the low last night was 7 ), I decided to create this wonderful Chunky Lentil and Vegetable soup to warm up my family.  I omitted the cumin, paprika, and cayenne and substituted those with 1 tsp curry powder.  This wonderful recipe warmed up our 15ft. camper as well as our bellies.  

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Grand Canyon -- I'm loving you!

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On the Road for the holidays

Thanksgiving is 6 days away.  According to Google, my family is 2,120 miles away from where I sit today.  I'm not usually the holiday type, I don't get excited for Black Friday, it actually makes me sick to think people camp outside stores in order to support China's economy, but that's another story.  I don't participate in the slaughtering of millions and millions of turkeys just so we, Americans, can celebrate a holiday which many Native Americans suffered and died by our hands.  

I do, however, love my family. During the holidays they gather together with love and laughter in the air (not to mention lots of drinks and food).  We all hug and kiss each other and chat about life and love, the economy, our president, GMO labeling, our children, yesteryear's, yadda, yadda, yadda....

I've been on the road for over 8 months now, traveling this country while seeing some fantastic sites, meeting some wonderful people, and exploring areas some people only dream about.  Sounds great, right? Most days it is just that; great!  Yet with Thanksgiving around the corner, I can't help but miss my family dearly.  I know my mother and step father are frantically putting together a delicious menu, albeit traditional, to be prepared with love and feasted upon on the big day.  

This is the first time, in my 40 earth spins, I will be without friends or family (other than my partner and daughter) for this festive day.  I will not be putting a Tofurkey roast in the oven, for we have not one.  

When I started this journey across the country I neglected those feelings.  I told myself I would be just fine, I don't even like Thanksgiving anyways.  Now, as the day quickly approaches, I sit here wondering how I will actually feel next Thursday while Joel, Lily and I sit in our camper calling our family instead of hugging and kissing them.  

Regardless, this day will come and pass equally as quick as today did and I will still be on the road doing something most people can't muster up the courage to do, live free.  Is this lifestyle worth a couple of missed days with my family and friends?  Yes.  That doesn't mean I don't love my family and friends with all my heart and miss them dearly.  

If you are one of my friends, a family member, or a soul I haven't met yet please enjoy your time together and know I am thinking of and love you  very much all day, but especially during these holiday times.  

I love you all!!