Tag: #camping

For a week I camped in the desert

Posted on November 14, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

I’m on location. In a setting I thought of visiting, someday—maybe—but nixed the notion because it’s dusty and desert-y and HOT and DRY and really not my vibe at all. But here I am with more than 100 sisters from another mother, celebrating resiliency, growth, adventure, new… Continue Reading “For a week I camped in the desert”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #arizona, #butterflytracks, #camping, #campinglife, #campingwithfriends, #grandmascamping, #growth, #lulusway, #quartzite, #solowomencampers, #takingachance, #takingchances, #womencamping, #womenfriends, #womensmeetups, #writing, book-review, books, desertadventures, fiction, finding-your-tribe, love, quartsize

The Flying Machine

Posted on September 24, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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I’m a silly girl. A woman-girl growing inside her own womb, punching, kicking, absorbing nutrients, feeling excited, worried, and at peace, trusting that my caretaker-self won’t let her little girl down, has her best interest at heart, and would do anything to support, heal, comfort and… Continue Reading “The Flying Machine”

Category: #beachcamping, #camping, #hope, #lifeizgoodTags: #camping, #coastalcampiong, #fear, #grandparent, #iloveliterature, #iloveoregon, #journaling, #oregon, #pacficnorthwest, #raybradbury, #retirededucator, #retiredteacher, #retirement, #solowomencamping, #writing, facingfear, family, life, life-lessons, love, mental-health, pacificnorthwest

My Side of the Mountain

Posted on September 11, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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“The Secret Garden” “Tom Sawyer” “A Present for the Princess” “My Side of the Mountain” Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”, “Snow White”, “The Wizard of Oz” and Dad’s soothing, animated voice lulling me to sleep, assuring me that all is well in the world and that… Continue Reading “My Side of the Mountain”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #camping, #fall, #hiking, #Nature, #pleasureway, #retiredteacher, #solowomencamping, #travel, #travelinggrandma, #writing, @retirement, life, pacific-northwest, prairie-creek-state-and-national-park

Simplicity vs. Elaboration

Posted on January 8, 2025 by JANET L BARKER

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I’m leaving. Again. I’m melancholy. Again. I don’t want to leave. Again. But I do. Again and again. Everywhere I leave I love. Same goes for the people I leave. Like my visit with Julie and Ken two days ago or my Littles in… Continue Reading “Simplicity vs. Elaboration”

Category: #beachcamping, #californiastateparks, #camping, #central coast, #centralcoast, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #ilovecalifornia, #lifeizgood, #pismobeach, #pleasureway, #solowomencamping, #vanlife, #wintercampingalongthecoastTags: #camping, #campingfriends, #faith, #findinghope, #findinglove, #friendship, #godswhispers, #pismobeach, #pismobeachstatepark, #solocamping, #travelinggrandma, #trust, #vanlife, #writing, campingsolo, family, life, love, lovethyneighbor, mental-health, womencampingsolo

Nothing is an Accident

Posted on October 14, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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I’ve been traveling since August 8, returning to the South Bay briefly to attend my friend’s funeral. I won’t be back to my home turf until October 18 where I’ll visit, errand, and reconnect with family and friends before leaving on my Fall Sojourn… Continue Reading “Nothing is an Accident”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #apparitions, #bridgeport, #camping, #easternsierras, #faith, #forestservicecampgrounds, #gratitude, #hiking, #ilovecalifornia, #journaling, #lifeizgood, #love, #maytheforestbewithyou, #Nature, #peace, #solowomencampers, #solowomencamping, #theoppositeofpolitics, #travel, #trust, #twinlakes, #writing, fallleaves, love, nosuchthingasaccidents, outdoors

And so it begins …

Posted on August 8, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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I’m here, by my lonesome, which isn’t so lonesome, in the shade beneath my awning, typing away, tummy filled with a healthy salad, a glass of Albarino half-sipped, sunscreen-slathered, listening to the crashing waves, sheltered in my cozy van, away from the summer tourists;… Continue Reading “And so it begins …”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #California, #camping, #findingjoy, #findingpeace, #grandparents, #hope, #joy, #love, #loveeverymoment, #retiredteacher, #solowomentraveler, #travelinggrandma, #vanlife

This Life of Mine

Posted on May 10, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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The Last Breakfast. The Last Sunset. The Last Frog-choral Midnight Concert. The Last Dinner with Friends. The Last Patch of Starry Quietude before heading south toward family and the past. “You could have stayed there forever, a small child in a corner, on the… Continue Reading “This Life of Mine”

Category: #camping, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #teaching, @retirementTags: #California, #cambria, #camping, #centralcoast, #findinghope, #hope, #maryoliver, #Nature, #peace, #retiredgrandma, #solograndmascamping, #solowomencamping, #travel, #writersontheroad, @retirement, birding, birds, love, photography

Did I tell you…?

Posted on April 20, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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Did I tell you, I’m working on a novel? I started it more than a year ago, but somehow, in my travels and wonky internet connections, lost the first five chapters. Which was a major bummer. So I ignored it, knowing I couldn’t recreate… Continue Reading “Did I tell you…?”

Category: #camping, #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgood, #teaching, @retirement, stepupandtakeaction, Uncategorized, unconditional loveTags: #cambria, #camping, #centralcoast, #solowomencamping, #solowomentraveling, #vanlife, #writing, book-review, book-reviews, books, fiction

Lucky Enough

Posted on March 15, 2024 by JANET L BARKER

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The sun warms my shoulders as the ocean re-charges my gaze as the gregarious Snow White singing birds kerchief my ears as teeming black tea stimulates my soft-focus high school yearbook portrait ala 1970s brain. Adjust the lens and it becomes clear, sharp, bursting… Continue Reading “Lucky Enough”

Category: UncategorizedTags: #50threunion, #bestfriends, #cambria, #camping, #faith, #findinghope, #god, #godslove, #grandmashavingfun, #hope, #inspiration, #peace, #pleasureway, #retiredteacher, #ruhs, #solowomentraveling, #thebeach, #theocean, #vanlife, @grateful, @retirement, jesus, life, love

Sit down and stay awhile

Posted on October 21, 2023 by JANET L BARKER

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This is the juicy part. The part I crave. My Tuolumne Meadows in Eastern Yosemite that happens after the first five days. Right now, it’s the first four days here on the outskirts of Sedona, camping in the same place that will be tomorrow’s first five days. Let… Continue Reading “Sit down and stay awhile”

Category: #education, #gmashavingfun, #grandparents, #hope, #lifeizgoodTags: #arizona, #camping, #fall, #l, #peace, #pleasureway, #sedona, #solocamping, #solowomencamping

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