My Soul Etude is evolving in ways I couldn’t imagine when I posted my last blog.

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail. " John Muir

This quote, posted by FB friend Kelly Sumner, and my thoughts as I summarized my first year had me examining my travels. I don’t want my wanderings to be controlled by reservations due to campgrounds being full every weekend.  There must be a different way to go about this lifestyle.

I read single women’s blogs who are not only full-time Casita travelers but also full-time boondockers*.  They are living their lives with no schedule, no reservations and rarely in campgrounds with electricity, water and other amenities.  They are living off the grid by staying on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or National Forest land.  This is what I did in grasslands of Colorado and that experience was mesmerizing.

I made new plans!  Yesterday my brother and nephew helped me hook up solar panels and an inverter so I don’t have to depend on electricity. I have ordered speciality Benchmark Atlases for many of the western states.  I’ve reviewed and improved my safety measures that still do not include a firearm. I’m learning about the art of Stealth Garbage Disposal.

Boondocking is easiest out west.  It’s much more difficult to get off the grid in the midwest and eastern states.  I won’t always be able to get away from the hassle of making reservations but if I can reduce them I believe my soul will sing it’s gratitude.  Developed campgrounds are necessary when it's very cold or very hot, I want to visit a location that has no dispersed camping available or when I just want a good long hot shower. 

I head out on Tuesday to Michigan to find baby Loons and I don’t have single reservation made! I don't have an itinerary or any plans in place. The Soul is the same but I’m trying out a new Etude!  

* Boon-dockers are people who camp outside of developed campgrounds. They camp in remote locations also called dispersed camping.

Josie with my Casita and new Renogy Solar Panels. Solar panels are 21" x 21" and only 19 1/2 pounds.