Adra Writes

Welcome to the final chapter of Solo female road trip across America in 1969 VW Bug.

In part 4, we left off in the Rocky Mountain National Park after a wild adventure hiking Granite Pass.

After being in the Rockies for about 5 days, my friend and I headed back South to Salida, C.O. to spend the next couple days relaxing and recuperating from our hiking. We spent some time sitting by a fire with the stunning mountains as our backdrop. Our evenings were filled with long discussions and laughter about our college years and what the future might look like.

I left Salida on postcard perfect day to drive further South to the four corners region. Driving away was more difficult than I thought it would be, but it was time for Evie and me to continue solo.

When I drove into the deserts of Southwest Colorado and Northern Arizona felt like I teleported to a different planet. I had never visited the desert before, and I was awestruck by such a foreign landscape. I recall thinking “If Evie breaks down out here, I will really be in a pickle,” so I spent most of the drive encouraging Evie to do her best.

The desert is a force to be reckoned with my friends. The shear vastness and harshness of Mother Nature pulsates all around you in these barren lands. I feared that the heat would cause Evie to have a heatstroke. But we arrived at the Four Corners Monument where the states of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet in a neat little cross. The monument was not crowded that day and it was nice to walk around leisurely and explore the vendors selling turquoise jewelry and hand-crafted souvenirs.

But our drive continued! Our destination for that day was Lone Rock Beach National Park. This park is located across the Utah boarder from Page, A.Z. I started to really get nervous about a mechanical difficulty in this last stretch because there were endless miles without any cell phone reception, business, or other travelers. Fifteen minutes away from the campground, my worst nightmare came true! I felt my gas pedal suddenly fall to the ground with a subsequent SNAP noise. There was no shoulder on the side of the road, and I had no power. Luckily, there was a small road turnoff where I pulled off and found myself lying in the sand looking at my gas pedal to see what happened.

My efforts were in vain. I had no idea what to look for and became overwhelmed with frustration and irriation at myself. Moments later, I sat in the sand like a small child crying on the phone, trying to figure out what to do. Night was approaching and I didn’t even have a road marker for my location so a tow truck could find me.

Still sobbing, I called AAA (Triple A is a road side service in the States) to bring me a tow truck to take me back to Page, A.Z. One of my favorite features of AAA is that you have no idea when they will show up. So, I continued sitting in the sand, drinking the two beers I brought with me, and crying on the phone. At some point during my meltdown, a park ranger car had stopped and there were two officers standing at my back. Here I am, underaged, drinking alcohol, and illegally parked in a National Park. They turned out to be sympathetic, but firm that I shouldn’t be drinking. Thankfully, they did not issue me any tickets or arrest me for drinking and driving (which I wasn’t, but the picture painted a different story).

I assured them that a tow truck was on its way to remove myself and the car and they left me there, promising to return to make sure I was either gone or okay. Eventually, the tow truck found me as the sun vanished behind the desert.

The driver took me into town to drop off my car at a garage that could assess the damage and was even kind enough to take me to several different hotels before we found one with rooms available. Another kind soul ushering me along the way.

The hotel was fancy with a perfect view and sublime pool to relax at while I waited on my car to be fixed. The mechanics informed me that the cable line to the pedal had broke in half and that a new one would need to be ordered. Another two or three days of waiting. So, I waited.

I waited by the hotel pool for a couple days until I decided the room was much too expensive. I had a cab service take me and my camping gear to Lock Rock Campground to spend the rest of my time waiting. I made good friends with the taxi driver and he said he would come and pick me up again at any time. I felt safe being stranded in the campground knowing I had a way out.

Being at the campground by such an oasis I felt a small sense of accomplishment. The sun fried my skin and the extreme heat at night left me restless, but I made it.

For three days I waited for the call. Sunburned, tired, covered in sand, and surrounded by ants. I was at that point in a long trip where you question “why did I decide to do this for so long?” It was time to go home. Little Evie was finally ready. I paid, packed up, and for the first time in over two weeks, I traveled East.

The road home stretched for over 1,800 miles and was 27 hours long. It would take me two and half days to get there.

Fast forward two days, I am finally in Tennessee again. I spent the night in New Mexico and Arkansas on my way home and I was daydreaming about my bed and a shower. The green trees of East Tennessee welcomed me in a warm breeze. I was giddy at the thought of not driving anymore!

Two hours from being in my driveway, the familiar gut dropping feeling hit me again when my gas pedal fell to the floor. The same issue that I had spent 3 days getting fixed returned!

I cursed the mechanic for installing a cheap part knowing I had such a drive ahead of me. I cursed my geriatric car. I cursed my naïve and stubborn spirit for embarking on the trip in the first place.

I called again for a tow tuck to take me to the nearest truck stop. I called my mother and begged her to just come and get me. I was beyond over the routine of fixing my car, breaking my car, fixing my car. My saintly mother left immediately and would be there in less than two hours.

Seeing her drive into that parking lot was such a relief. I was so thankful that I no longer had to deal with these problems on my own. We went home and left Evie sitting there until the next day.

Be sure we went back with a trailer and brought her home.

THE END.

This has been a wonderful project for myself to reminisce and reflect what this trip taught me. I taught me that my way is not the best way all the time. I taught me to rely on strangers in times of need. I learned to trust my instinct and intuition in times of crisis. It taught me to deal with being indescribably uncomfortable. I learned to be alone in the middle of nowhere.

All these lessons would prove invaluable as I would spend the next three years (to this moment) asking strangers for help in situations across the planet. Learning to trust my instinct and intuition in foreign places. Being uncomfortable in a new environment. I learned how to face challenges and discomfort with confidence knowing it all works out in the end And most importantly, dealing with the desert of loneliness that comes with living abroad alone.

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who finished reading this long post. And a BIG thanks to those who followed along from part one till now!

Leave a comment down below about your dream adventure that pushes your comfort, challenges you, or is even downright crazy!

I cannot wait to share my next trip and adventure here soon!