Summer Road Trip // Colorado or Bust (+ a GIVEAWAY!)

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
[Gilbert K. Chesterton]

I’m sure it doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering how little time I’ve spent at home this summer, but I have felt the need to get away (and give myself room to breathe). A friend of mine had plans to go to Colorado for a few weeks to spend some dedicated time training a few of her horses, so I decided to tag along and go on a road trip with my friend, three horses and a dog.

Going on the road with her sometime and seeing what it’s like to travel with horses is something I’ve always had an interest in doing, so I was excited for the opportunity. We had some touristy plans and only one of our ideas panned out, but I still had a lot of fun living on a ranch for a few weeks. I also had plenty of time to get some work done and it felt nice to have some dedicated work time. When I’ve been home there’s been so much activity that I was starting to feel like I was behind on some things. (Like this post on essential oils, in which most of the photos were taken in the living quarters of the horse trailer while we were in Colorado.)

I’ll definitely share about what we did soon, but for now, here are some of the everyday moments during our trip. (Also, be sure to stick around for an exciting giveaway at the end!)

Ever since I first saw this in my friend’s truck, I’ve loved it and thought it was beautiful. And then I heard the story behind it. It was created by a woman named Roxine. She had breast cancer and as a result of treatment, had trouble sleeping. She started to create these horses at night from a single strand of wire. As the daughter and granddaughter of breast cancer survivors, stories like this always touch my heart. Her website is called Nightmares, if you’re interested in taking a look.

On our way to Colorado we spent the night at a horse hotel in Nebraska. The next morning I stepped out of the trailer to get my water bottle from the truck and when I opened the door I saw this. I went back in for my phone.

Our first night in Colorado we stopped at Johnson’s Corner for dinner, which is a well-known truck stop, apparently. I’ll say I wasn’t incredibly impressed by what I ordered, but the cookie we shared after dinner was fantastic (and HUGE!) and I’m kind of disappointed we didn’t get back to grab a donut.

In Colorado Minnie graciously welcomed some guests into her midst for a few weeks and tolerated Sophie.

My phone is always filled with pictures of the sky, whether I’m in Ottawa, on the road to Colorado, or at home.

An old fashioned to celebrate my friend’s birthday.

Some of you might remember Taz from my Instagram and Snapchat. This is his brother Pip.

This was right before we hopped in the truck to leave Iowa (our stop for the night when we returned) and head home.

One travels to run away from routine, that dreadful routine that kills all imagination and all our capacity for enthusiasm.
[Ella Maillart]

Why do you travel? I’d love to know, so let me know in the comments below.

AND…. I have a giveaway for you!

I’m so happy to be able to team up with Kristin from The Peculiar Treasure and some other fabulous ladies for an awesome giveaway in honor of The Peculiar Treasure turning 3! Go read Kristin’s post about her blog’s birthday and enter the giveaway below!

The giveaway is open to those who live in the US and Canada only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway