I had this trip mapped out a week ahead, and my car was loaded with everything I could possibly need for two weeks of adventure. The plan? Head south west to see Twiddle in Arizona! It was cold, it was winter, and I was over it. Warmth, here I come! I’m going!
A couple of days before my departure, I noticed my tires were looking a bit low, so I kept topping them off with air, thinking, “No big deal!” But, the day before I hit the road, I decided to be a responsible adult and get them checked out professionally. And guess what? A nail in one tire, low tread on the others—ALL FOUR needed to be replaced. Ughhh, things were not looking good. But then, cue Uncle John swooping in to save the day! He prepaid for the new tires, and I could pay him back later. Trip back on! YAY!!
Monday, February 13, 2023, arrived. I hopped in my car, filled up the tank in East Lyme, CT at noon, and pointed my wheels toward the unknown! Well, technically, Flagstaff, AZ, but still—feels more exciting when you call it “the unknown,” right? Funny enough, Flagstaff is near Walmart’s home office, and I worked for them for over 10 years! Life’s got a sense of humor.
This was my second time chasing Twiddle on tour, but this time, my friend Claire was ahead of me, driving her own car. Meanwhile, I had snowstorms to dodge. I kept changing routes to chase better weather because NO WAY was I getting stuck in snow. Cold? Fine. Snow? Hard pass.
My first stop? Around 5 PM, I swung by Easton, PA, to drop off a custom, handmade Twiddle-inspired chalk bag to my friend Ashley. She commissioned me to make it for her climbing adventures, and it was my first time making something like this. But I love working with fabrics and textiles, so it was an exciting new project. It brought me new skills, some extra cash, and I got to help out a friend. Winning all around!
Next stop: Kutztown, PA, for gas at 6:24 PM. I found a spot to park, hit up the restroom, and threw my trusty WeatherTech window covers on all the windows. (Seriously, I love these things—they’re custom-made for my car, and they have a silver side and a black side. The black side’s my favorite because it doesn’t scream, “Hey, look, someone’s napping here!” if a light gets shined on it.) Then, it was nap time! I was so wiped out, I crashed for a solid four hours.
Life lesson learned on this trip: Don’t know how to do something? Just find a YouTube video for it. Works every time!
(To be continued)