Lassen National Forest

Cows grazing in Lassen National Forest

It was in on day 3 in Lassen National Forest that the gravity of our new life hit us.  We spent two days arranging the trailer and attempting to grow accustomed to our drastically different reality.  I had a few melt downs during the 'adjustment period', including: I don't want to eat any more refried beans, I want to go home and I hit my head one too many times.  Thank you Dr. Sues for saving the head bump night!
I suppose before this point 'the road' was always a dream, a metaphor, of the beautiful simple life.  The truth is, it wasn't quite as simple as we envisioned.  We spent those two nights powerless and with no running water.  We quickly realized there was a delicate balance to our resources.  We began to understand how much time survival required.  But after our first solar shower, wading in the nearby river and watching cows graze in a beautiful field we began to realize why all the struggle we endured getting to this point was worth it.