We made it! Bittersweet Symphony playing on Spotify and tears of joy and relief as my beautiful, magnificent Coachella Valley mountains come into view.
That always happens.
So there it is. Another epic fait accompli.
Thanks to all for following along, and if you ever have any questions about traveling with pets cross-country by car, hit me up!
I aim to serve. ❤️
Until next time… with many blessings of health and abundance…
🙏🏼🌿🦉🌵 OBC
Before hitting the road this morning on day six of seven, I got to see both the gorgeous full moon setting (from the parking lot) AND my baby granddaughter, Belle (on Facetime). Lucky me!
in terms of scenery, this penultimate day of my Westbound journey is perhaps the most dramatic. New Mexico and Arizona showcase tall painted cliffs and wide open vistas, expanding the heart. But heed the signs:
Zero visibility is possible.
Gusty winds may exist.
(Not to mention very long trains.)
Some trains out here can pull hundreds of container cars. I saw one extended lineup requiring four engines up front. It takes a lot of power to move a heavy load.
Think about it. 
About halfway through today’s drive, I stopped at a trading post to look at Navajo rugs. That particular place, which I popped into last year, too, has a small locked room lined on three sides with racks of rugs, all woven in peaceful colors of black, white, gray, brown, and deep red. So beautiful, so soft, and, as I learned, so very expensive. So I did not purchase one… but it was a pleasure to look and feel.
The Native woman who let me into the locked room wasn’t too chatty (I may have interrupted her lunch) but she did tell me the wool comes from sheep raised on the res. When I asked if I could take a photo of the display, she said “no photographs allowed on the reservation”— none at all. I was surprised to hear that, and will investigate further. (If she had been inviting, I would’ve loved to ask her more, but we need to meet people where they are.)
Anyway, sorry I can’t show you pictures of the beautiful rugs. But here’s another shot of that spectacular full moon, from this morning in Edgewood.
By the time she rose again, I was in Flagstaff, walking around (and around!) the block with my dear old friend, Celia, who lives here. Such a treat to see her twice a year on this journey! She’s like my semicolon—a lingering pause, enjoyed near the closing bracket of each trip’s beginning or end, depending on the season.
In this case, it is Autumn and we are almost complete! Just one more day of traveling, illuminated by fullness…
OBC 🌕🦉🌵
Day 4 of this journey marks a literal turning point as we 1) begin by continuing south on I-44, which we picked up yesterday from the I-70 in St. Louis; 2) take I-44 down through the beautiful cave-studded Missouri Ozark mountains into Oklahoma, and via Tulsa to Oklahoma City; 3) veer onto the I-40, and start heading due WEST!
California here we come!
It will be good to put this tangled central corridor behind us. Columbus, Indianapolis, and of course St Louis were all challenging on Day 3.
Not to keep repeating myself, but as some of you know, of all the cities encountered on this 7-day road trip, St Louis is probably the most harrowing. I have learned to cross it on Sunday, the quietest day of the week, and it’s still a monster. Officially the worst.
I have to admit OK City is in the running, tho. Largely due to those danged ubiquitous faded lines (federal government get on this please!) and poorly marked, multiple lane changes. Keep right. Stay in the left two lanes. Go past this exit, then keep right. Arghhh!
Peaceful travels to us all….and see you next time… in New Mexico!
OBC 🌿🦉🌵
ROLLA, MO For regular readers of this bi-annual blog, I have an exciting update to report. Evidently, the lone goose of Blue Lake is lonely no more!
When passing through Rolla in years past, I’ve come across this graceful gal solo on the water. But it seems her mate has returned… or perhaps she found someone new?
Blue Lake rejoices, and so do I. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d say it’s a sign!
Speaking of signs…
Right after I took this picture of the Uranus sign during my morning walk with Timi in Richmond, Indiana, I tripped on a steel rod. Nearly fell down, but thankfully caught my balance. Phew. And message received. Don’t be an asshole! Stay alert!
😂🌿🦉🌵
Today I came out of the North-—from Olean, Alegany and Seneca Nation in Western New York State, to skirting the Lake Eerie shoreline across the Pennsylvania panhandle, and then dropping down through Ohio, “the heart of it all.”
Just across the Ohio border into Indiana, we took our exit and arrived in Richmond. I love staying here because 1) the extended Indian family who runs the hotel is super sweet, and 2) five minutes down the road is Gulzar’s, an amazing Indian restaurant!
Don’t worry—Timi and Clyde had a nice meal, too, each with their own special food.
Thankful, tired, satisfied and content, we all settled in for a cozy night.
That’s all for now. Sleep well!
OBC 💜🌵🦉
And so it begins. Today, I set out with Timi and Clyde on our seventh (!) Interstate foray across these great United States. Which is to say, our seventh crossing altogether, and fourth westbound road trip. WOW.
As is our habit, Clyde was last to be loaded into the car. Impressively, he complied patiently to being harnessed and crated.
Once we got going, however, approximately two hours of loud complaining from the backseat ensued.
😢 I get it. Poor little pumpkin.
Inspired by all the brilliant red I saw on my walk around the block this morning, the song I chose (thank you Spotify) to start us off today was “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells. If you haven’t listened to it lately, I highly recommend. One of my all-time faves, for sure. Yeah…
P.S. To all who’ve read this far, thank you so much for following along, and keeping me company on this journey. Please note, if you click through the email and *like* this post, I’ll even know you were here—an added bonus!
Until tomorrow, OBC 💜🌿🦉🌵
The final day of the 2025 Eastbound OBC excursion dawned in a beautiful section of New York State known as the Southern Tier. This region shares a long border with northern Pennsylvania, as well as three sparkling rivers: the Susquehanna, Chemung, and Allegheny.
I woke on this Day 7 of seven in Olean, NY to the sound of geese. When I followed them outside, the full moon was setting over Saint Bonaventure University, auspiciously situated right across the street from our hotel.
I say auspicious because A) Bonaventure literally means good fortune, and B) it also is the name of a second mast, found on older ships, which enhances a vessel’s maneuverability.
Surely flexibility/maneuverability and good fortune make for a successful journey, and this one has been blessed by both.
The caravan hit the road around 9 o’clock and clouds moved in after that. Hence for the first time during this trip, we encountered rain. But it was only a passing shower. The car got a much needed scrubbing, and then out came the sun.
Entering Massachusetts mid-afternoon, we hit another patch of light rain. It continued to sprinkle all the way to Northampton, where I picked up some groceries at the co-op, and it still was drizzling when we got to the house, but nobody minded because we were home.
I’d like to express my gratitude to any and all who visited this blog, and especially to my core group of loyal readers who provided support with your likes and comments. Knowing you were there really helped motivate me to stay creative and positive during all those long hours on the road, not to mention all those long hours in between, for the entire past week. Thank you!!
I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but I will. Until then, sending you so much love…
OBC 🙏🏼💜🌵🦉💫
Life is about three things. What happens outside of our control, the choices we make, and the stories we tell ourselves.
We can’t change what happens beyond our control, but we can decide how much of that we want to think about. We can choose where to focus our attention, and what frame or plot line works best for us.
This reminds me of that medieval TV series I loved so much, called The Last Kingdom. During the opening credits, the dashing lead character, Uthred son of Uthred, does a dramatic voiceover ending with the phrase “Destiny is All!” But in the voiceover for my show, One Bold Crone, narrative is all.
And now we return to our regularly scheduled program…
💜💙🌵🦉💫
One Bold Crone 