Do you dream of a life where you wake up every morning excited about the road ahead? Do live off the beaten path, and pursue adventure as your day job? Are you craving a community of wanderers to inspire and encourage you to take action in spite of fear?
If so, you’re going to love this blog! Read on for travel ideas, tips, resources, and company – helping you embrace a vagabond lifestyle and love where you are.
Carly's 30 day Bikram Yoga Challenge Adventure
It feels so good to be posting on my own blog again. For the past 30 days I’ve been on a 30 day Bikram Yoga challenge (30 consecutive classes in 105 degrees!), and posting daily on Riverflow Yoga’s website
Although the only physical travel that went on for the duration of 30 days was between my Brooklyn, Manhattan, and New Jersey yoga studios – I climbed many mountains and traveled to distant lands all within the confines of my own body. The challenge was intensely emotional, and I came out the other side with both inner strength and elasticity (don’t struggle! don’t push!). I am at the wheel, creating my own reality.
2,175 miles through the Appalachain mountains
As soon as warm weather hits, my heart wanders back to the Appalachian Trail. Running about 2,175 miles through the Appalachian mountains from Georgia to Maine, the AT can take about 6 months to complete. You can hike it all at once (thru-hiking), or take sections at a time – but you really have to love the outdoors and a slow traveling lifestyle.
The trail can be social or it can be remote, passing through towns so hikers can stock up on groceries and passing other hikers en route (who often assume trail names).
My favorite moment on the trail arose out of crisis – which are often where the most unexpected travel adventures start. Continue reading
Gearing up for another summer of section hiking the AT…last year I went from NY to MA through the beautiful back country trail:
Meditating at the mountain peak
Stepping up to the plate
Frequency? Money spent? Days off work?
Here’s my confession: When I’m not traveling, I plan non-negotiable Stay-cations doing what I love.
I do not work on Fridays. Ever. No matter what job comes my way. I am automatically busy, but not “being productive” or “getting work done.” Friday is softball day in Prospect Park. Slackers softball is unemployed or self-employed or erratic-schedulers of Brooklyn NY. We devote our sun-lit hours to fielding, batting, catching pop ups, missing grounders, and yelling. Every game is reflective of the people who show up on that day, sometimes it’s fiercely competitive, other games end with a mercy call because the outfield can’t catch a ball. It’s fantastic.
I’ve learned how essential it is to take an entire day of un-scheduling, un-working and un-planning. At the end of the day I’m dirty, exhausted, sunburned, and happy. You don’t have to set aside a whole trip to give yourself a real vacation.
If you don’t have a whole day, then take a whole evening. Or two hours. Whatever time you can give yourself, schedule it in every week and make it #1 priority.
Adventure traveler Andrea Kelchlin in El Salvador
A common side effect of overseas travel, culture shock is the disorientating feeling that accompanies immersion in a foreign country. Culture shock can look like many things, from helplessness and isolation, to frustration and withdrawal. Culture shock cannot be prevented, as we are naturally affected by our external environments…but does culture shock always have to be a bad thing?
Comfort Zone
As an adventure traveler, I sometimes cringe at the words comfortable, safe or settle (heaven forbid!) On the other hand, if I’m always running from one activity to the next, searching for
I’ll never truly feel happy anywhere I am, no matter what accomplishments I can name. I’m definitely the type to fill up my schedule, trying to see and do it all, and I end up wearing myself out in the process. Where is that edge between adventure and earned comforts that allow you to feel truly at home in your own skin? I found a great discussion on this issue in my new favorite blog, “Life Without Pants,” Check it out, and ask yourself…
Hiking Masada at Sunrise, Israel
When we’re traveling, every moment feels glorified, every daily detail takes on new meaning. Instead of going through a routine at home, this is where we’ve chosen to be – carefree, spontaneous, happy, given over to uncertainty.
‘Cause back at home, life feels grittier. Embracing uncertainty here – in love, career (uh, what career?), decision making, growing older, losing people…it’s scary.
Hell, maybe it’s just me. When I travel, not knowing my next move gives me the opportunity to be a truly blank slate and see what the world has to offer.
How can that love of uncertainty be applied to life back home? For me, it’s baby-steps: I start by getting Out of My HEAD! Today it was a bike ride in the park, sometimes it’s yoga, or spending time with someone who inspires me.
Check out my interview with adventure traveling woman Andrea, while she works and lives in El Salvador!
Andrea Kelchlin, fabulous wandering carpenter, followed her sister Jackie to El Salvador to help her pursue a masters degree in public health. The two sisters are living and working in El Salvador, building community education from school maintenance to mobile health clinics.
When she set out, Andrea wasn’t exactly sure what her purpose was, but she was ready for something more. After working as a carpenter in Buffalo, she felt it was time to explore another region and learn a new skill.
Andrea especially loves applying her artistry and carpentry skills to rehabilitate local communities and actually making an impact. Although this travel opportunity started as a tag-along with her sister, Andrea has found purpose and meaning through letting go of expectations and pursuing adventure! Along the way she’s learning spanish, going on mountain biking adventures, learning about Salvadorian culture, and applying her organizing and carpentry skills to help others. Stay updated with Andrea and Jackie’s project at http://woodnbandages.blogspot.com/
3 women thru-hiking South America expedition
My favorite thing about outdoor trips is feeling connected to the environment – falling asleep under the stars, drinking fresh water, filling my lungs with crisp air, living attuned to natural cycles. But what if I could use my biophilia to help environmental researchers conserve the landscapes I love? All while designing and taking the trip of my dreams?!
That’s where Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation comes in.
I cycled down the west coast with a buddy from college, and it was hard enough just trying to keep it together everyday, biking 80 miles with all our gear in tow, pushing through west coast winds, day after day of mountains, logging trucks and RVs, exhaustion, road madness, equipment failures, and of course…the things we weren’t expecting.
These guys had an artistic mission on top of that. Bandcycle, or two guys in their twenties with a camera crew, set out to bike the US while documenting local music throughout. I love their episodes because they really allow themselves to get raw on camera, it feels like you’re right there with them. I think they started out the trip with expectations, and in response to the country they saw, allowed their purpose to grow with the new territory. Check out the trailer below.
How to Travel Stress-Free
