Foxfire & Freeways: Full Circle in New Mexico

Another festival officially done and in the books!

This one felt a little extra special.

Around this time last year, I wasn’t able to attend because I was home recovering after having Walter. Now, a year and a month later, I got to bring him along and introduce him to so many of the people who had only heard about him before.

It’s funny how quickly life can come full circle.

We saw old friends, made some new ones, and I even got to see one of my besties who I’ve missed like crazy.

She was busy working the dunk tank, so we didn’t really get a chance to hang out much…

But don’t worry.

I still made sure to dunk her. 😂

It only took me six missed throws before I finally hit the target, but we’re not going to focus on that part.

Victory is victory.

Bug spent the weekend taking in all the sights, sounds and people around him. He definitely wasn’t a fan of the New Mexico heat, though, and honestly, I can’t blame him.

Sunna, meanwhile, was perfectly content hanging out in the shade and watching her dog dad play the drums.

At one point, both kids even shared a pickle with me. Sunna wasn’t entirely sure what to think of it at first, but eventually decided it was pretty good. Bug was already sold.

Apparently family pickle time is a thing now. 😂

And naturally, I found my festival drink.

This weekend it was unlimited lemonade as long as I kept bringing my cup back, and I had decided to add a couple pumps of mango juice to regular lemonade deserves recognition in itself…

So. Freaking. Good.

Now the festival is behind us, the camper is rolling again, and we’re heading toward our next little adventure:

Four Corners.

We’re going to see if we can somehow arrange everybody so each of us is occupying a different state for the ultimate family photo.

Four states.

One family.

And probably several attempts at getting everyone to look at the camera at the same time. 😂

After that, the road keeps calling.

But for now…

Let’s go stand in four states at once. 🧡

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways

Tip the Traveling Fox 👇🦊

Sometimes you have to look in the rearview mirror to realize just how far you’ve come. 🧡

A few years ago, the life I have now felt impossible. There were things I wanted, places I wanted to see, and a life I hoped to build—but I had no idea how I was ever going to get there.

Now I look in that mirror and see our camper behind us, another stretch of highway beneath our tires, storms we’ve already driven through, and another destination waiting somewhere ahead.

Life still isn’t perfect. Plans change. Things break. Money gets tight. Roads get long. Sometimes we’re exhausted and sometimes we have absolutely no idea what we’re doing. 😂

But we keep moving.

I’ve learned that you don’t have to have your entire life figured out before you start living it. Sometimes you just have to take the next turn, drive the next mile, and trust that you’ll figure out the rest along the way.

So if the life you want feels impossibly far away right now, keep going.

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear… and sometimes, so are your dreams. 🧡🦊🛣️

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.

New Mexico Bound 🧡

Alrighty, Colorado—that’s a wrap!

After spending about two weeks here, we’re officially New Mexico bound. It was really nice having a little break from constantly being on the move, spending time with friends and family, and even getting to celebrate Bug’s first birthday all over again with another birthday party.

He certainly isn’t hurting for celebrations this year. 😂

Colorado will always hold a lot of memories for us, but I can confidently say there is one thing I absolutely did not miss…

Denver traffic.

Nope. Not even a little bit. 🤣

Now we’re back on the road and heading toward our next festival adventure in New Mexico.

We’re changing things up a little this weekend too—we’re staying in a hotel instead of the camper.

And after weeks of camper life?

I’m not going to lie…

I’m ridiculously excited about hot showers and baths whenever we want them. 😂 Sometimes it’s the little luxuries you appreciate the most when you’re living on the road.

For now, we’re enjoying the drive and looking forward to seeing what New Mexico has waiting for us.

Yellowstone checked one big item off my bucket list, and who knows… maybe we’ll manage to knock another one off before this leg of the journey is over. 🧡

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways

Foxfire & Freeways: Yellowstone Left Us Speechless

Some places are so beautiful that words almost feel unnecessary.

Yellowstone was one of those places.

A moose-t amusing sight greeted us early in the day—a mama moose standing deep in the river marshes, completely unbothered by the people watching from afar. She quietly went about her day as if we weren’t even there.

Further down the road, a magnificent elk stood grazing along the roadside, paying little attention to the steady stream of cameras pointed in his direction. It was almost as if he knew he belonged there… and we were simply the visitors.

Then came the great warriors of the plains.

Bison.

Massive, powerful, and somehow graceful all at once as they wandered across the landscape with their herd, carefully keeping their distance from the passing vehicles.

The rivers were just as alive.

Ducks drifted lazily along the Madison River while swans glided across the water with effortless elegance. Looking into the crystal-clear streams, we watched fish dart back and forth beneath the surface.

Everywhere we looked…

Life.

Then we heard it before we saw it.

The deep, constant roar of a waterfall carving its way through the mountains.

Standing there, watching the water crash below while rainbows danced through the mist, it was impossible not to be reminded just how powerful nature truly is.

And then…

Old Faithful.

The unmistakable scent of hydrogen sulfide filled the air as steam escaped from deep beneath the earth.

A low rumble.

A deep growl.

One final blech…

Then Yellowstone reminded everyone exactly why people have traveled here for generations.

Watching Old Faithful erupt was something I’ll never forget.

By the end of the day, I realized something.

I could spend hours trying to describe Yellowstone…

…but I don’t think words can fully do it justice.

Sometimes the best way to tell a story…

is simply to let the pictures speak for themselves.

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways

Foxfire & Freeways: Spot the Traveling Fox 🦊

I’ve been thinking about doing something like this for awhile, and after seeing another festival do something similar, I finally decided…

Why not?

Starting with this next stretch of our travels, keep an eye out for the Foxfire & Freeways camper.

If you happen to spot our camper with the Foxfire & Freeways bumper sticker while we’re at a festival, campground, or other public stop along the way, come say hi and let us know you found the Traveling Fox. 🦊🛣️

And there just might be a little something in it for you.

One person who finds us can choose between:

🎟️ Two free adult tickets to come see Nordic Daughter at one of our upcoming stops in:

• Grover Beach, California
• Randle, Washington
• Vista, California
• Billings, Montana
• Farmington, Minnesota

OR

🦊 A Foxfire & Freeways prize bundle featuring some of our stickers and a handmade crocheted mushroom headband inspired by the one I wear all the time.

If you’ve seen me at festivals, you probably already know the headband. It’s become one of those little things that feels like part of me now, so I thought it would be fun to make one for someone following along on the journey.

The whole point is simply to make this adventure a little more interactive.

We’ve met so many wonderful people on the road already, and I love the idea of giving readers another reason to come say hello if our paths happen to cross.

A couple quick notes: please only approach us in public festival/campground areas and never enter or wander through a private campsite without permission. No purchase or donation is necessary, and prizes are subject to availability.

So keep your eyes open.

You never know when the Traveling Fox might be parked nearby. 👀🦊

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways

Foxfire & Freeways: Until Next Time, Montana

Well… that’s a wrap on Montana for now.

We’ll be back in October for Billings, but this weekend marked the end of another memorable stop on our journey.

This festival weekend was a little different than the others, and honestly, it was kind of nice.

The band didn’t play Saturday morning or afternoon like usual. Instead, they had an evening show at a local saloon—which obviously meant Bug couldn’t tag along. Before Chris headed off to play, we stopped at Red Lodge Pizza Co. for dinner.

And wow…

That place did not disappoint.

They had everything from burgers and pizza to chicken tenders, fries, homemade ice cream, and some incredible drinks.

Bug got a huckleberry lemonade and absolutely loved it.

I decided on a huckleberry cream soda…

Let’s just say I understand why huckleberries are so popular around here now. It was one of the best drinks I’ve had in a long time.

After dinner, the kids and I headed back to the camper while Chris went to perform.

Compared to some of our recent weekends, this one was pretty relaxed.

No complaints here.

Sometimes a slower pace is exactly what you need.

Today the band only had two sets at the festival, so Bug and I wandered over for the first performance before exploring the grounds a little.

Of course…

I couldn’t leave without grabbing one of my festival lemonades.

I think they’ve officially become a tradition.

Once the music wrapped up, we headed back to the camper to stay cool and start packing for the next adventure.

Tomorrow is a pretty exciting day.

Instead of driving straight through, we’ve decided to spend the night near Yellowstone and finally cross something off my bucket list.

I’ve never been to Yellowstone National Park, so tomorrow we’ll spend the day exploring before heading to Colorado on Tuesday morning, where we’ll be staying for almost two weeks before making our way to New Mexico.

And if everything works out…

The Grand Canyon may be next after that.

Another dream waiting to happen.

Being back in Montana also brought back memories.

The last time I stood here, I was very pregnant with Bug.

This time…

I got to introduce him to so many people who were waiting to meet the little boy they’d only heard about last year.

Life has a funny way of coming full circle.

Thank you, Montana.

We’ll see you again soon.

Yellowstone…

You’re next.

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways

Foxfire & Freeways: Montana at Last

After saying goodbye to Iowa on Wednesday afternoon, we made our way west once again.

Our first stop was Mitchell, South Dakota, before continuing on to Sheridan, Wyoming for the night. The miles seemed to disappear as we worked our way closer to Montana, and before we knew it, Red Lodge was finally just a short drive away.

The trip itself couldn’t have gone much smoother.

Bug slept through most of the drive, waking here and there just long enough to share a few snack crumbs with Sunna… whether we intended him to or not. 😅

Meanwhile, Sunna spent her time rotating between naps and watching the world go by through the back windows, making sure she didn’t miss a thing.

By the time we rolled into Red Lodge…

it was hot.

Really hot.

So the first order of business was cooling down, catching our breath, and figuring out the rest of the day.

Next on the list: laundry, a grocery run for a few essentials…

…and a fly swatter.

Apparently the flies around here missed the memo that they weren’t invited. 😂

Festival weekend officially begins tomorrow.

The plan is to wander through the vendors, see what’s new, catch up with friends, and enjoy the atmosphere before heading back to the camper during the hottest part of the day.

Hubs will be busy playing with the band, while Bug, Sunna, and I will probably be hiding from the afternoon heat until things cool off again.

Another festival.

Another chapter.

Another collection of memories waiting to happen.

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways

Happy 1st Birthday to our little Bug. 🧡

It’s hard to believe that just one year ago you changed our lives forever.

In your first year, you’ve already done more adventuring than many people do in years. You’ve traveled through multiple states, attended 10 festivals, met hundreds of amazing people, and somehow managed to steal the hearts of nearly everyone you’ve met. No matter where we go, people remember your smile, your curiosity, and your happy little personality.

Watching you discover the world has been one of the greatest gifts we could ever ask for. Every day you’ve learned something new, grown a little bigger, and found another reason to make us laugh. You’ve taught us just as much as we’ve taught you.

We are so incredibly proud to be your parents, and we can’t wait to see what this next chapter brings. There are so many more roads to travel, festivals to explore, memories to make, and adventures waiting for us. We can’t wait to watch you grow up alongside Sunna and the chickens, getting into all kinds of fun (and probably a little mischief too).

No matter how big you get, you’ll always be our little Bug. The greatest adventure we’ve ever been on wasn’t moving across the country or traveling from festival to festival. It was becoming your mom and dad.

Happy 1st Birthday, Walter. We love you more than words could ever say. Here’s to a lifetime of adventures together. 🧡

Foxfire & Freeways: Arrgghh mateys! Ships ahoy!

Another fun weekend is officially in the books.

Friday afternoon we rolled into East Harbor State Park, and what a beautiful place it turned out to be. The campground is huge, with spacious campsites, large dump stations, a beautiful beach, and plenty of room to simply relax and enjoy being outdoors.

Saturday was spent at the very first Port Clinton Pirate Fest, and for a first-year festival, I think they did a fantastic job.

There were pirates everywhere.

Some people had incredible outfits that looked like they’d stepped straight out of a movie. Long coats, tall boots, tricorn hats, sleeves from wrist to shoulder… and even dreads nearly touching the ground.

All of this…

…during a 90-degree heat wave. 😅

I was sweating just looking at them.

One of the best parts of these festivals is unexpectedly running into familiar faces. We caught up with friends from the Ohio Viking Festival and several of our Indiana Renaissance Festival friends, and it reminded me just how quickly this community starts to feel like family.

Of course, we also made time to listen to one of our favorite bands, Pirates Creed.

If you ever get the chance to see them perform, I highly recommend it. They always put on a fantastic show.

Bug also got to see and feel some sand between his toes, he was not quite sure how to walk on it, then he enjoyed the water and wanted to sit in it but I didn’t have a change of clothes on me so I let him find some sea shells

Today we finally pointed ourselves toward Iowa.

We got a little later start than planned after waiting for another camper to move so we could get out of our site, but that’s just part of campground life.

One thing we’ve decided as a family is that we want to start making more sightseeing stops along our routes. The destination is always exciting, but sometimes the places in between become the best memories.

As the miles rolled by today, I found myself thinking about something.

A few years ago…

I never would have imagined this life.

Traveling across the country.

Spending weekends at festivals.

Being married.

Owning a home.

Raising our little Bug.

Sharing adventures with Sunna.

Building friendships in places that once felt so far away.

Back then, it all felt impossible.

Now…

I honestly wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Our next stop is one I’ve been looking forward to.

Iowa.

Not just because it’s another stop on the map, but because it means time with family.

Bug will soon celebrate his first birthday with his cousins, and I can’t believe we’re already here.

It feels like yesterday he was just beginning this journey with us, and now we’re planning birthday cakes instead of baby bottles.

I always love visiting Iowa.

There’s something special about spending time with family, cooking together, baking together, making things together, and filling the table with fresh vegetables and homemade food.

Sometimes the best destinations aren’t famous landmarks.

Sometimes…

They’re simply the people waiting for you when you get there.

Until the next mile, keep the fire lit and the road calling.
— Foxfire & Freeways