Saturday Summary Week 21 - Solo Miles, Strategies & Surviving the Heat

March 21 – March 27

This was a different kind of week.

For the first time on this trip, Don and I split up. He flew back to New York to spend time with his mom and take care of checking in on the house and mail, while I stayed on the road with Lucky. It was a nice reset for both of us, good in many ways, challenging in others, and full of a few hard-earned lessons.

LAX: When Things Get Real, Fast

We never planned to go to Los Angeles, but Los Angeles International Airport was the most practical option for Don’s flight. (Lesson learned: San Diego International Airport would have been a much better choice.)

I did everything right, or at least I thought I did. I researched, found a dog-friendly hotel, confirmed oversized parking, and even had guidance from the hotel staff and security on where to park the bus. And still… within minutes, it went sideways.

While we were sitting in the bus on the Kuhl Call, two guys tried to steal our bikes. Not quietly. Not cautiously. They cut the straps and started removing the cover, while we were right there! It was bold. Shockingly bold.

Don stepped out, and they took off, but the message was clear. If the bus had stayed the night, they likely would have come back, and maybe not just for the bikes.

That was it. Decision made. The bus was not staying anywhere near LAX.

Don stayed at the hotel for his early flight, and Lucky and I got out of there. It was unsettling, frustrating, and expensive (paying for two places in one night doesn’t sit well), but at the end of the day, the bus, the bikes, and we were safe. That’s what mattered.

Solo on the Road: A Different Reality

I’ve met so many women traveling solo on this trip, and I’ve always admired them. This week, I got a small taste of what that really means. It’s not just about being alone, it’s about being aware. Constantly.

Where you park. Who’s nearby. When you go out. When you don’t.

Even in beautiful places, even in family campgrounds, there’s an extra layer of thinking that never fully turns off. Early-morning hikes meant scanning the surroundings as much as enjoying them.

There’s a quote I’ve heard before: “I’d rather encounter a bear than a man while hiking alone.” And as uncomfortable as that is, it made a little more sense this week.

Malibu Creek: Finding a Rhythm

I settled into Malibu Creek State Park, and it was exactly what I needed. Families everywhere. Kids riding bikes. Campfires at night. A sense of normalcy. It felt safe.

My days found a rhythm: early walks with Lucky before the heat set in, catching up on laundry, fixing things around the bus (curtains included), planning the next stretch of the trip, and finally giving myself time to just sit, read, and even paint a little.

There was one moment that broke the calm: sirens, rangers, a fire truck, an ambulance, a few campsites away. I never found out what happened, but it was a reminder that even in the most peaceful settings, things can shift quickly. Still, Malibu gave me space to breathe.

The Drive to Nevada: Leaving the Magnet

Plans changed (again), and instead of heading back toward LA, we rerouted. Don shifted his return flight to Las Vegas, and I started the drive out of Southern California, pulling myself away from what I’ve now dubbed the “magnet of LA.” The traffic doesn’t just exist… it holds onto you.

Once I broke free, everything opened up. Somewhere along the way, I crossed paths with Route 66 again, this trip has a funny way of weaving that story in and out. Lunch was less glamorous: a roadside sandwich with Lucky. But honestly, those moments are becoming part of the charm.

Boulder City: Heat That Hits Different

Arriving near Lake Mead National Recreation Area, I quickly realized this heat was not the same as what we’d experienced before.

96°F.

No shade. No AC in the bus. Very few people around.

It felt different, and not in a good way.

At Las Vegas Bay Campground, I barely saw anyone. A few RVs, a couple of guys biking (still not sure how), but otherwise… quiet. Too quiet.

The wind would pick up in the evening, which helped, but the nights were rough. You’d get a brief window of cool air, and then the sun would come back and start it all over again. Lucky and I adjusted as best we could, early morning walks, hiding from the sun, chasing shade that didn’t really exist.

Even a simple meal turned into a strategy, finding a scenic overlook to sit, share a burger, and catch a breeze. Even with the heat, I would take this amazing overlook over eating in a loud and filled with gambling machines. Las Vegas not only allows gambling, they shove it towards you at any possible place. 

When the Plan Changes (Again)

By the time Don’s return flight was delayed, the decision was easy.

We needed AC. We needed rest. And Don needed reliable WiFi for an important meeting the next morning

So… another hotel.

This time, I did it differently. Bikes inside the bus. Parked right at the entrance. No assumptions. The room felt like a luxury, cool air, a quiet night, Lucky stretched out without panting. We watched Food Network and just… paused.

When Don arrived, it felt good to be back together.

A Few Days Back Home: Stanley, New York

While I stayed on the road, Don made his way back to Stanley for something just as important: time at home with family. There’s something interesting about going back after being gone for various months. This is something we often experience when returning to NY while living in Nicaragua.  Familiar roads, familiar routines, feel strangely familiar. It was good for him to be there, not just to handle responsibilities like taxes, but to spend real, in-person time with his mom.

There was a stretch of time where it was just the two of them, which felt especially meaningful. Simple time. Quiet conversations. The kind that doesn’t happen the same way over the phone. Family time filled the rest of his visit, dinner at Doug and Mo’s, looking through photos from the trip, telling stories from the road, and bringing everyone a little closer to this crazy journey we’ve been on. It’s one thing to post pictures, it’s another to sit around a table and relive the moments together.

Jake and Rachel took their kids to Great Wolf Lodge during the visit, which brought back a wave of memories. We remember the trips there when our kids were that age, and everything was about water slides and pure excitement.   And as if to remind him what he was leaving behind, it snowed after dinner one night. A very different kind of week on that side of the trip, but an important one all the same.

The Road Continues

We wrapped the week with a quick overnight stop near Amargosa Valley, just a quiet roadside reset before heading into Death Valley National Park. A small hiccup with the fridge (unplugged… because of course it was), a bag of ice, and a forced decision to drink the remaining beer before it got warm.

Not the worst problem to have.

Week 21 Takeaway

This week stretched me.

Solo travel, safety decisions, unexpected costs, extreme heat; it wasn’t easy. But it was important.

It reinforced what matters:

• Trust your instincts

• Adapt quickly

• Prioritize safety over everything else

And maybe most importantly, it reminded me how much better this journey is when we’re doing it together.

Next up: Death Valley… and even more heat (but this time, with my sister along for the ride).