Well, I finally left Houston in my RV today to begin my driving tour of intentional communities in the U.S. I've been off work for a little over a month now.  While I spent the first two weeks in Boulder, I spent the last two weeks providing my boyfriend Reid with moral support as he packed up his home of 14 years for a closing last Thursday. With that behind us, it was time for me to begin.

Time to take off

I liked the fact that he had a lot going on as I was leaving today to make the departure more low key. I don't see the trip as a long, extended separation but as adventure that he and others in my life can share with me via FaceTime, texting, calling, and this blog....not to mention coming to join me at points along the way.

So I left SW Houston at 11:30 am today headed for Lake Brownwood State Park.  I arrived in about 6 hours to a lovely waterfront spot even though the lake level is noticeably low.   Along the way, I stopped at a Buc Ees in Bastrop and picked up an expensive hunk of turkey to cook in my new gadget--a 12 volt mini, crock pot made for truckers.   It resembles a large lunch or tackle box.  Well, 3 hours of cooking resulted in a rather unpleasant looking, dried out slab of meat.  Looks like I've got a thing or two to learn about cooking in the mini crock pot.

Failed attempt at dinner in the new mini, travel, crock pot