The Road Trip, Part 1

posted 27th September 2010    Written by: Molly Mahar    CATEGORY: Molly, Travel/Adventure

Coming to you live from The Road… I’m sitting in the passenger seat of Stella (the attention-getting vehicle in which we’re traversing the country) catching the last rays of South Dakotan sunshine, while the Big Man continues driving on I-90.  This is the first real stretch of major highway we’ve done; the majority of our time has been spent on, alternately, winding national park byways and gorgeous stretches of virtually abandoned two lane highways.

I have a feeling that everything looks the same out here, however–whether we’re speeding along on I-90 or not…   That could be my lack of knowledge of South Dakotan scenery, or just the truth about this part of Middle America.

Either way, the Road Trip has started!  We’re trying to make Minnesota today, to catch friends in Minneapolis tomorrow, family in Milwaukee/Chicago the rest of the week, and still have time to work, coach and write before I teach in Chicago on the 2nd.

I’m not going to make all of my blog posts about this trip, since I realize that my strategy for joy at the moment is fairy unusual.  I mean, seriously, who decides that living out of their car is fun? For a honeymoon?  And a self-funded business tour?  Well, crazy people, like the Big Man and I, who have establishing location independent businesses for the last 2 years (well, he has two and one’s been around for a long time), just so we can DO THIS.

I’m sure we won’t do it forever.  But for now, it’s the open road.  And this blog post?  It’s going to be full of details of the day-to-day thus far so you can imagine what I’m doing. And if you want to see pics and get random updates about what I’m up to in real time- Twitter is the best place for that!

Anyway…

It’s Day 7.  We’ve made it a week on the road.  Nothing has been stolen, and besides a large, itchy, and unknown welt on my ribcage (spider bite perhaps?) we’re in perfect health. A great start to a trip whose length depends on how much we’re enjoying ourselves!

I’ve driven through a double rainbow in the middle of a dusky rainstorm, seen a moose family in Big Sky, taken gobs of pictures in Yellowstone, went country dancing in Cody, Wyoming, watched the evening lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore (and heard the Governor recognize their troops in a very touching speech and movie), hiked in 90 degree weather in the Badlands, and driven exactly 1908.2 miles as of *now*.

So what have I been up to?

We stayed with my parents in Montana for a few nights.  We hiked with my Dad, the Big Man fished, and I hung out with my mum at the school where she teaches.  It was the perfect way to ease into working from the road- I held coaching calls, looking out at the mountains from the back deck, and we had unlimited wi-fi access for 3 entire days!  I can already tell, the guestrooms (and couches!) we’ve been offered around the country are going to be vital for keeping things under control. A home base, a shower, access to a kitchen and the Internet.

Funny how you take them for granted until you don’t have them…

(What’s that?  You have a guestroom?  In Boston?  In upstate New York?  In Atlanta?  In Virginia Beach?  In New Orleans?  Oh, of course we’d love to stay with you!  We even cook and bring wine… Shoot me an email.  We can go to yoga together and plan a tweet up!)

The rest of the time we’ve been boon-docking, which is basically pulling Stella off onto some tiny road in the dark and crossing our fingers no one cares.  And yes, this means, no toilets in case you were wondering.  But, I’m from Montana!  I know how to squat…  TMI?  ;)

So, we’ve spent several nights in Stella (sleeping in the Autohome topper, cozy beneath our down comforter), waking up in a marina in Idaho, surrounded by Wyoming pinnacles, or on the lonely back roads of the Black Hills.  We’re eating diner breakfasts, found by driving through small towns until we find the most happening place at 7:30 am.  Lunch and dinner have mostly been remnants of our Seattle kitchen- leftover crackers, fruit, sandwiches and old cans of tuna and a motley assortment of bottled beer.

Sound glamorous?  You’re right, it’s not. But it’s also perfect for this leg of the trip.   I’m still in beginner mode…  I’m learning what it takes to be a real nomad AND be an effective business owner and coach to my awesome clients.  I’m learning how to truly appreciate the small pleasures in life- the glimpses of beauty that I’m sometimes moving too fast to appreciate…  Like these…

Stormy Dusk light on Highway 2 in Eastern Washington

Sunset in Yellowstone Park, near the Cody Entrance

I’m still trying to figure out how to balance all the various needs and desires I have for this trip… I want to be dedicated to my morning pages and yoga mat AND I want to jump in the car right away to find coffee and a place to brush my teeth.   I want to stay connected to all of you online and not miss a beat with Stratejoy AND I want to take long backpack trips into mountain ranges I’ve never seen before.  I want to be a brilliant speaker, author, and most of all coach- making an impact for women all over the world- AND I want to be anonymous artist, writing for the love of it, while traveling back roads in search of adventure and colorful locals.

Mix in the unique needs and desires of my husband (haha, still getting a kick out of that word!) and you have the recipe for a lot of discussions, compromises, and the occasional, “I seriously don’t care! I have a headache!  I need to get online TODAY!  I don’t care!  YOU DECIDE!!”

But you know what?  That’s what this trip is about.

It’s about figuring out how to make it work for both of us.  Learning to live in the moment.  Giving up some of the control I like to hold onto about what’s happening next… Reaching out to YOU, wherever you happen to live, and figuring out how to get together so we can plot world domination over red wine or soy lattes.

So, that’s the update, Tribe.

Living and learning and hoping that I find a shower at least every other day…

p.s.  There is ONE spot left in the Get If Off the Ground Group, starting next Tuesday!  NEXT TUESDAY OCTOBER 5! And still a few for the Deliberate Living Group (which I’m personally really excited about).  Join me?  You and I (and 5 other radical gals) will get to talk on the phone once a week for 10 WEEKS! And kick some ass with supported forward movement.  And then we’ll have to have a slumber party and braid each other’s hair because we’re going to get that close…  It’s a good thing.  You’ll see!

p.p.s.  I’m starting the amazing  Declaration of You eCourse with Michelle Ward and Jessica Swift on October 25th!  A girls gotta do her own personal work, ya know?  Want to come along?  I’d love to see you over there, alongside me.  (Yes.  Affiliate Link.  I absolutely adore Michelle and Jess and know that whatever they put together is going to rock our socks off, so I’m simply thrilled to share with you… )

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Comments (12)

12 Responses to “The Road Trip, Part 1”

  • Doniree Says:
    September 27th, 2010 at 4:15 pm

    You're in Minneapolis TOMORROW?! I'm in Minneapolis ON THURSDAY! :) Love the photos and updates from this part of the trip – stay safe! And I'm going to HAVE to pick your brain about this since Chris and I are learning how to work/travel too! :)

  • Lindsey Says:
    September 27th, 2010 at 4:35 pm

    Awesome Molly! I am so excited to see you in Chicago this Saturday! Have fun, continue to enjoy that wide open road. Oh and remember your advice to my balance quest, that finding a balance between your needs and desires is one thing, but integration of the two is even better.

  • Alisha Says:
    September 27th, 2010 at 6:33 pm

    You are amazingly brave. Really. I dream of doing that, but I don't know if I actually could! The pictures look beautiful. Crossing my fingers I can come on Saturday and finally meet.

  • nikkiklecha Says:
    September 27th, 2010 at 7:37 pm

    I am so happy for you!!!! Sounds amazing. I'm sad that I missed our phone call; I know this trip is all-consuming (as is the one I'm on at the moment) but hopefully I will get to talk to you sometime soon. I love your dedication to all those elements of life that are important to you; it's so easy to lose them while traveling and I should take a cue from you & re-commit to my own. Have FUN! Let me know if you're in LA in October or Novemeber! xx

  • Drew Says:
    September 27th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    I love the idea of what you are doing with your husband! Such a great way to see America while also doing business!! :-)

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    September 28th, 2010 at 11:56 am

    Man- we just missed each other! (Actually I was already there, wrote the blog on Sunday… ) In Madison right now, pretending I'm a grad student and listening to everyone talk about the 2mile long line to get into Obama's rally. I don't think we're even going to try- it's a zoo already and he doesn't come on for 4 hours!

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    September 28th, 2010 at 11:57 am

    Crossing mine too!

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    September 28th, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Absolutely! I've seen so many new things already! And I want MORE! ;)

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    September 29th, 2010 at 11:49 am

    Yes, talk, talk talk! Absolutely dearheart! It's hard to make time for those extra self care and creativity pieces when one is so focused on the next urgent decision (Turn here? Do we have a phone number for our host? Where can we get ice?) but they are part of the reason I'm on this dang trip!

    FUN will be had. I'm definitely not making to LA until the spring, but who knows where you'll be by then…. We'll find each other, of that I'm sure.

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    September 29th, 2010 at 11:49 am

    So you're throwing my own advice back at me? Wise girl! And yest- I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU IN PERSON on Saturday! Renee is coming too!

  • Lorrin Says:
    October 4th, 2010 at 7:38 am

    Molly! this is my favorite idea for a honeymoon EVER! I'm going to steal it someday (hope that's okay).

  • Molly_Hoyne_Mahar Says:
    October 4th, 2010 at 8:16 am

    Well of course! The open road awaits! XO

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