With so much time spent at home these days, it is far too easy to start dreaming of all the places we want to travel to once it is safe again. For us, that often means looking at beautiful nature photos, reading random articles online or playing the addicting game GeoGuessr (haven’t heard about it? Get ready to be amazed). So with all this free time (and way too much wanderlust going around) we have come up with four places we are absolutely dreaming of travelling to - once we can actually leave the city. Japan Who knows how long this quarantine will last (hopefully not for too much longer…)? So it made sense to start thinking of places we wanted to visit during winter time. Our first choice: JAPAN! Why? Because you a) have less crowds, b) can swim outside in a beautiful onsen while snow falls around you (can you say magical) and c) that hotpot meal will taste even more scrumptious after being out in the cold all day. Finally, we want to visit Japan for the amazing natural scenery and the animals that abound in it once it gets cold. Like the famous red faced monkeys soaking in onsens, or the red crowned cranes who come annually to do their mating dances. For more information on why Japan is amazing come winter, check out this article. India India has always been high on our list of places to visit. It checks a lot of the boxes in things we look for in a place to visit; including, beautiful nature (hello Himalayas), amazing food, incredible architecture (more on that later…) and a unique way to travel (we are talking trains). Plus, the country is so massive and diverse that we know we could spend a whole year there and not see even close to all of it. But one thing we have recently come across, in this article here, are these amazing architectural wonders: Stepwells. If you haven’t heard of them before, we highly recommend doing a bit more research. Most are found in northern India, extending up into Pakistan. And as of 2016 they have found roughly 2800 stepwells, in various conditions. A couple that look absolutely amazing are Rani ki Vav (the Queen’s Stepwell) in Gujarat, possibly the most beautiful in India and an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chand Baori in Rajasthan, one that is more off-the-beaten-path (just what we like) but no less awe-inspiring, and finally Panna Meena ka Kund, also in Rajasthan, this one is near the uber-popular Amber Fort so it’s often overlooked, which would be a huge mistake because it is gorgeous. India has so much to offer, from food to culture to the outdoors (again, the HIMALAYAS). So even if you aren’t into architecture and history, we highly recommend checking it out. Tasmania, Australia If you are anything like us, this extended time spent indoors is making us dream of the great outdoors, with trees instead of walls and clouds instead of ceiling fans. So why not go all out and head over to the island of Tasmania. Located 150 miles south of the main island of Australia, it might be a bit tougher to get there - a short flight or a 10 hour ferry ride - but we promise it is totally worth it. With multiple national parks, tons of hiking trails, including summiting Cradle Mountain, the sixth tallest mountain on the island, and stunning beaches and coastline you cannot go wrong in the scenery department. This is definitely a place to disconnect from it all and get truly lost in nature. So head on over to Tasmania, rent a car for a magical road trip - taking as many pit-stops and walking breaks as possible. Taiwan First, we need to do a quick comparison to give you an idea of how amazing this island is: Taiwan is home to 9 National Parks. The state of California in the United States is also home to 9 National Parks. But Taiwan is 11 times SMALLER than California! How crazy is that? With so much land set aside for conservation, it is no wonder Taiwan is quickly becoming known as an outdoor lovers paradise. A few parks that really caught our eyes are Yushan National Park, the largest park on the island and home to 30 mountains over 3,000 meters (the largest, Jade Mountain tops off at 3,952, or just under 13,000 feet), and Kenting National Park, a park of a totally different character - think white sand beaches, caves and snorkeling, but definitely no less beautiful. For more information on the other National Parks in Taiwan, check out this article. Just like anything else, this pandemic will eventually cease. While right now it is definitely a dark and scary place, we must all remember that over time things will go back to normal (or as normal as can be). These four places just kept coming up when we talked about spots we absolutely have to visit: for their nature, culture, food and overall uniqueness. Hopefully, this article helped you start dreaming of places you can’t wait to visit too once this quarantine is finally over!

As two very active, very much “outdoors-y” people, being told to stay inside for the next couple weeks (and maybe even months) sounded like absolute torture. This was especially difficult after being on the road for the past couple months, where we were totally and 100% free to go wherever we wanted, when we wanted. But we told ourselves this could somehow be a blessing in disguise. On our motorcycle trip we kept talking about things we wanted to get done, from working on our website, to editing lots of photos, to just sitting down and attempting to paint. So we began to look at this whole thing in a "somewhat" more positive light (as much light as you can get from a global pandemic). So we are currently on day 14 of quarantine. I am writing this in our bedroom/office space, looking out at a bright blue sky as birds chirp in the tall oak tree nearby. It isn’t half bad. Is it the deserts of the Southwest, or the bayous of Louisiana, no. But it is not the worst (again trying to look at things positively). After two weeks of being mostly inside, we have come to realize there are four main things we have to do to keep ourselves from going crazy. The first is HAVE A SCHEDULE. Now this does not have to be very strict. We left the Bay Area and our 9-5 jobs for the freedom to do what we want when we want, so we are obviously not the poster children for strict schedules. Buuuut, when your days all begin to blend into one very long (veeeery long) day, it helps to break it up into a schedule of sorts. Our schedule often looks like this: wake up between 6:30 and 7:30, make a healthy breakfast (more on that later), drink one cup of coffee (or two, or three if you are Luke), go to our different “offices” and work for 4 hours, then go outside and work-out or just take a walk around the neighborhood (with masks in hand of course), make a healthy lunch, talk to family, have our creative or alone time for a bit (I watch Youtube videos (guilty) and Luke likes to play guitar or paint), then finally have dinner with family, do dishes and watch one episode of Netflix and go to bed. See, not too intense. Now again, this is not a strict schedule. We definitely deviate. For example, some days we might go for a walk in the morning with our coffee and then start work, or we might all paint together as a family in the evenings. No matter what, we try to create at least some sort of workable schedule - one that we can at least follow to keep our days moving from one to the other. The second thing is WORKING. Now we know it would be very easy to just lay around all day, watching Netflix or scrolling through Instagram. Don’t worry in the beginning we did that. But at least for us, that started to get boring after day two. And worse, it made us start to go stir-crazy (a big no-no for long term self-quarantine). So we made a pact and set out to work 4 hours a day, every day. Now this ranges from looking for remote jobs (yay job searching, said no one ever) to working on our own personal projects, i.e. writing articles, like this one, editing photos and videos and starting to work on our yurts - our big summer job this year. Working four hours a day is not hard. Now will we ever say we're motivated every day, of course not. But we realized if we just sit down and do something - anything - the day goes by a loooot faster. Plus, we feel good by the end of it knowing we were actually productive and checked a couple things off our to-do list. Now for the third thing. We found this to be one of the key things to do during quarantine to keep ourselves from going crazy: EATING HEALTHY AND WORKING OUT. We are generally not bad eaters, but after weeks on the road with no refrigeration and only a Jet-Boil for cooking (hello Ramen and instant mashed potatoes), we were starting to feel a bit bleh. So once we made the call to leave Texas (and our bike) and head back to Colorado to wait out the pandemic (honestly it still feels weird to write that phrase), we agreed to get back to eating healthy and working out regularly. So, lately we have been having the same breakfast almost everyday: two eggs on avocado toast with coffee. It is filling, nutritious and delicious - plus we find ourselves motivated to get to work afterwards, a win-win. Then for lunch it is often a veggie stir-fry of some kind with tofu or eggs and maybe noodles or rice. Simple, delicious and filling. And because we have been lucky enough to stay mostly at Luke’s dad’s house, who is a vegan, we have been eating delicious vegan meals for dinner. It doesn't get much better than that. Besides the amazing food we have been consuming, we have also stepped up our workout routine. And by stepped up, I mean we actually have one now (see video below of what our workouts used to entail :). We told ourselves we would workout while on the motorcycle trip. But a combination of it being winter, it being dark most of the time we weren’t driving and just being a bit lazy (guilty), somehow it never happened. But now that it is warm, light out longer and we have absolutely no excuse for lack of free time, we have thrown ourselves into getting fit headfirst. Often that means going for longer walks (we haven’t driven around town once), yoga sessions or full body circuits. We don’t go super long yet, we are still getting used to the altitude, but enough for us to feel it in our bodies and in our overall psyche. Hopefully, once things start to get better we will begin running and hiking more. But for now we are happy working out in the backyard or exploring the town we have found ourselves quarantining in. The final thing we have found helpful (and this might be a bit controversial) is GOING OUTSIDE. Yes, yes we know that we are in self-isolation and that you should stay away from people and be inside as much as possible. Don't worry, we do that - for 21-22 hours A DAY. But we get restless being indoors for so long. So instead we grab our masks and go for walks in places we know there won’t be a lot of people. This includes forest roads up in the mountains, forgotten trails covered in a light dusting of snow and neighborhoods that are quiet and deserted with or without a pandemic going on. We don’t go for long periods of time, but instead a short hour or so. Just enough to get some sun, stretch our legs and renew our motivation. In the beginning, we saw quarantine and self-isolation as a stir-crazy inducing, boring existence. And don’t get us wrong, it still kind of is. But after figuring out how important these four things are to us, especially for motivation and our sanity, we have come to see this weird experience as a somewhat positive endeavor. Or at least as much as it all can be - we are still in a pandemic, and people are still losing their lives. While we want this to outbreak to end as soon as possible; so people can get back to work, the world’s economies can get going again and first responders and medical personnel can have a reprieve, we are trying to stay positive and look at this as an opportunity to get things done and grow ourselves and our business. But honestly. We just want to get back to the mountains.... ;)

Crystal clear water. Towering palm trees. People lounging around on multi-colored towels. While this may sound like one of Florida’s many popular beaches, in truth it is something much better. Perfectly blue freshwater springs. These freshwater springs are interconnected by an underground freshwater aquifer that spans just over 100,000 square miles, covering all of the state of Florida as well as parts of Georgia, Alabama and other southern states. This freshwater system supplies drinking water for nearly 10 million people, including much of the population in northern and central Florida. Obviously this aquifer, specifically called the Floridan aquifer, is important for many facets of people’s lives in the Southern United States. But besides being the primary source of water for drinking and agriculture, it also creates an amazing place to spend a hot summer day: enter the many springs dotted around the state of Florida. There are around 824 total springs in the Southern US, with 751 located in Florida alone. And these springs can range from the highly commercialized, to the more natural. In the end, you can pretty much find whichever type suits you (as you might expect we prefer the latter). While the options abound on what springs to visit, in the end some are just better than others. Three Sisters Springs The first one we highly recommend is located on the western side of the state of Florida, this spring is a must for people wanting to interact with “sea-cows” otherwise known as manatees. You can take a tour or grab a kayak or snorkel gear and head out on your own, though you have to enter through Kings Bay and head over on your own to the spring. Either way, the clear aquamarine water, friendly wildlife and proximity to the coast (where there is even more fun to be had) is one of the reasons Three Sisters Springs is a great place to spend the day or an entire weekend. Rainbow Springs State Park The oldest spring in the state, with evidence pointing to people accessing it for over 10,000 years, Rainbow Springs SP is one of the best places to see “Old Florida” or what it looked like before the amusement parks and turnpikes. Think moss covered cypress trees, deer darting between bushes and clear water just begging for someone to jump into. Take a dip in the sapphire blue water or hike around to the other beautiful water features, including a couple man-made waterfalls. Or if you really want a great view of both the water and verdant green land, grab a tube and slowly meander your way around. Silver Glen Springs Located in Ocala National Forest, this spring is best for the fish enthusiasts - or anyone wanting to have a fun snorkel without flying all the way down to the Caribbean. Once again the water is crystal clear and an enthralling shade of turquoise, but what makes this spring stand out is its resident schools of fish, including striped bass, tilapia, bluegill and different types of sunfish. De Leon Springs State Park Once used to turn a sugar cane mill, followed by a grist mill during the Civil War, this spring today is quite similar to many others - clear water, multitudes of wildlife and an amazing atmosphere perfect for a scorching day. But what sets it apart is the food offerings. And no we are not talking hot dogs and bags of chips. Think homemade, decades tested and perfected, delicious pancakes. Yes pancakes. Located in the aforementioned mill, the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant is the perfect way to begin a day on the water. There you get to cook your own pancakes, with the restaurant's two homemade mixes, and add whatever toppings you’d like (we loved the banana and chocolate combo). Come early as the place fills up fast. "With so many springs to choose from in and around Florida, you honestly cannot go wrong. It just depends on what king of experience you are looking for." Other springs that we enjoyed or are hoping to check-out are Blue Springs State Park, another great manatee viewing spot, Ichetucknee Springs, for a great day of tubing around 9 different springs, and Madison Blue Springs State Park, perfect for the nature lovers and photographers (Instagram included).

We both grew up in the mountains of Colorado, so heading up to Huaraz, one of the prettiest towns in Peru, and one ringed by two mountain ranges - including the amazing Cordilla Blanca, felt a bit like going home. But we knew we had to wait until April to do it, for hiking is not nearly as fun when it's pouring rain the whole time. Our original plan was to hike the Santa Cruz Trek since there was so much info on it and it was supposed to be absolutely STUNNING. But we also knew it would be PACKED with people, and we don't like people (especially when we're out in nature). Luckily, we were told about another trek that was really similar in terms of time and distance, but was not nearly as well-known aka would not have a lot of people. The only thing we were worried about with the trek we chose, the Quilcayhuanca trek, was the fact that because it was not as popular, the trail would likely be a bit harder to find. But after talking to three different guides we were assured that we would be fine if we just followed the cairns (small rock piles that often mark the "trail"). But the first thing we had to do before starting the hike was rent some good gear. We ended up getting a tent, two sleeping bags, two nice inflatable sleeping pads, two normal foam pads, gas for our cook stove (a Jetboil), and two rain ponchos. The guy we rented all the gear from also gave us two bowls, cups, silverware and an extra thing of gas, for there was a possibility the first might run out, all for free. He also threw in a second rain tarp for the tent, just in case (we were so glad he did after the first night). We also went out and bought a cheap piece of plastic for underneath the tent (cost us less than a dollar, but helped a whole BUNCH). We also bought a nice, detailed topographic map of the area for 80 soles (about $27). All of the gear cost us about 220 soles total, or about 73 USD, not including the map. That's not too bad, especially since it was top-notch gear. Besides the gear, we ended up spending about 120 soles, or 40 USD, for food for the three days we were going to be out trekking. TREKKING IN THE MOUNTAINS OF PERU \\ DAY 1 | THE START We set off from Huaraz at around 7 AM. The guy we bought the map from, and who gave us lots of useful information, arranged a private taxi for us for 100 soles, which is kind of a lot, but it made for a nice relaxing first morning. The gate of the national park, and the start of the trek, was really just a big stone gate in the middle of nowhere. You are expected to pay 65 soles a person to get in. But because we were there so early or because it was a weekday, no one was there to give us a ticket. The two older Peruvian men who were also hanging around just told us to jump over the stone wall, which we quickly did. While we felt kind of bad for not paying for the entrance ticket, we were also kind of glad to save a bit of money (#budgettravel). The first day of hiking was in a big green valley, with super tall rocks and waterfalls on both sides. Right when you get inside the gate you will see a stone bridge to the right, while it looks like the right way, DO NOT take it. It will lead you along the wrong side of the river and will make it very difficult and slow to keep hiking (it is super marshy and only has one bridge to cross back to the right side). After figuring out our mistake, and eventually getting to the right side of the river, we started to pick up the pace. We took a quick snack break at the first campground on the route. We started hiking just after 8 AM and reached the first campground at around 11 AM. While we are pretty quick hikers, this campground seemed to just be too soon on the trail to be a logical stopping point, especially if you are trying to do the whole thing in three days. After the campsite it was another hour up through a second meadow, this one a bit more shrubby. Here it starts to climb a bit, nothing too terrible, but you will definitely start to feel the burn at such a high altitude. We ended up setting up camp on a nice pampa (flat terrace) next to the river that snakes through the valley; and just below a very large lake. We got to camp around 12:30 PM, set up the tent and then walked up to the beautiful lake. The lake itself is a nice turquoise-green color and the far side is just a massive glacier with a waterfall coming off it: talk about a glacier fed body of water. It started to rain at 2 PM, something we were warned about beforehand, so we settled into the tent, unpacked everything and spent a good couple of hours reading. We also boiled enough water for the next day, which was super useful, but also kind of a hassle. While the river next to us was really close to its source (the glacier) it was definitely not safe enough to drink. Why? Because while you will not likely see anyone else on the trek, you will for sure meet at least a couple DOZEN cows and horses (we never found out if they were wild or not...). The horses and cows were EVERYWHERE. And we mean all over the mountains, by the rivers, up on rock outcropping and even at elevations above 15,000 feet. The animals were definitely skittish, but at the same time quite curious about us. We are not usually afraid of cows, but all of them had horns and were quite large, plus we didn't know how they would take two humans coming into their territory and setting up a large blue contraption in their field. In the end, a few came rather close to sniff us out but otherwise moved out of our way. \\ DAY 2 | CROSSING THE PATH We woke up just before 7 AM, made ourselves a nice bowl of oatmeal and coffee before packing up and heading out. We knew the second day would be the hardest from the get-go, plus Madalyne was still not feeling 100% (she still had a bit of a stomach bug from a couple days before). The first bit of trail goes up some gradual switchbacks on the left side of the very large valley. It was foggy so we didn't get great views of the surrounding landscape, but we're sure it was stellar on a clear day. Once at the top we stopped for some water, talked to a very curious young cow before dropping our bags and walking up to one of the bigger waterfalls in the meadow. This area was by far the prettiest of the trek: lush, with rock outcroppings, multiple waterfalls and rivers, and many, many "wild" horses. It was mystical standing up there, surrounded by massive snow-capped peaks with only horses to keep you company. The fog began to clear, making it much easier to find the correct trail. The guides were right: as long as you follow the cairns you will be fine. There was also a pretty clear trail twisting its way up the hill, something we were surprised about, but thankful for. The first bit of the next "hill" was STEEP. We had to almost crawl on all fours in a few areas. But then you get to a small plateau (make sure to keep looking around at the views), then another gradual uphill, then another flat part, this time with a small pond and a campground (the last before the pass), before the one big, super steep climb that eventually leads to the pass. We had lunch halfway up, just when it began to snow (we were almost at 16,000 feet). It was pretty slow going up to that point: we definitely had to stop every couple feet to catch our breath and give our calves and hamstrings a break. But once we reached the top of the last climb it flattens out (somewhat). Then it is just a short walk across a lot of granite rocks, with plenty of cairns to guide us. We could almost see the pass from there, at least the ridge that it sat on. For the last 15 or 20 minutes it was relatively "easy," or at least not as bad as the previous three hours of hiking. We ended up heading straight for two clear cairn pillars that stood majestically along the ridge, and while it looked like THE PASS, it wasn't. The right pass was just around the corner; we had to walk through a bit of snow to get there, but seeing the finish line, in a sense, made us feel so happy. We wanted to enjoy our celebratory sweet at the top, but it started to snow HARD so we both said screw it, let's just get down the other side so we can set up camp before we get stuck in a blizzard. This was the point in the trek where we started to question our sanity. On the other side of the small rock outcropping that is "The Pass", there was just snow and a steep looking drop-off. Our stomachs got that slightly knotted feeling you get right before you do something scary, like bungee-jump off a bridge or ride a roller coaster. We stood there, shivering, our socks already soaked, and stared at what looked like a glacier with a sheer drop on the other side. We almost turned around. But we knew we couldn't wimp out, we hadn't any other time something got hard, so we couldn't now either. The mountains test you, Mother Nature tests you. But sometimes you just have to push past your limits in order to understand what those limits really are. So we tightened our backpacks and slowly started making our way down. The beta told us to keep following the cairns down a steep trail. Luckily, someone had been there the day before so we had his footsteps to follow. We felt, unless he ended up making a wrong turn and falling off the side, that this was a smart move. At least it meant we didn't have to break trail the whole way. It was the right call and eventually we got out of the snow (it really only took us twenty minutes before the trail became quite clear). But it was SLICK. We went slowly down the wet, muddy hillside, using small rocks to brace our feet on. The snow started coming down harder, making it tough to see the valley below. We crossed a couple streams and a cool waterfall before reaching the first of two large flat pampas. The beta suggested camping on the first one, and we wholeheartedly agreed. Luke ended up getting a terrible headache from the altitude (we camped at about 14,700 feet; higher than any mountain in the continental United States). We both chugged the rest of our water and filled up on extra salty ramen for dinner, and fell asleep quickly. \\ DAY THREE | THE RETURN On the last morning we awoke to about an inch of snow and some absolutely AMAZING views of the valley and surrounding mountains. We finally had picture perfect clarity of the snow-capped peaks that ringed the area. It took our breath away, and even though it was freezing outside, we stood there in our sandals and just stared for a while, taking it all in. We didn't even make oatmeal for breakfast, it was just too cold and we just wanted to get out of the snow (plus we knew the hike out was easy). Our socks hadn't dried from the day before so we had to slip and slide down the snowy hillside in freezing socks and somewhat wet shoes. For a second we even thought Luke had gotten frostbite on one of his toes. Once out of the snow (yay), and about 2,000 feet lower in elevation, the weather was absolutely perfect: warm and clear with that weirdly beautiful smell of clean you only find in nature. We sat and warmed up our toes before setting out for the trail on the other side of the river. This time it wasn't even a trail but a nice two track dirt road. And it was flaaaat. Talk about a nice walk out. The trail out is almost exactly 12 kilometers (there were markers every couple kilometers until the very end). The road followed the river the whole way before reaching another stone wall, with another closed gate and unmanned guard building. We hopped over, asked a nice woman walking with her dogs the way to Llampa (the town we were going catch the bus at) and began walking up the road to the left. Even though the hike out was relatively easy our legs were still tired. We reached the town and asked another local where the bus stopped and how often it ran. At the bridge where she said the bus stop was, we found almost the whole town partaking in a nice animal skinning and cleaning party. From the look of the pile of heads on the left bank, it seemed the animal of choice was sheep. The bus arrived not long after and we heaved a sigh of relief at being able to sit and rest our legs for a while. The ride back to Huaraz took 20 minutes and only cost us 2.50 soles, though we believe the guy didn't realize Madalyne was trying to pay for two people, so we would say expect to pay 5 soles total, which is obviously a way better deal than coughing up another 80 or 100 soles for a private taxi. The entire trek took three long days and by the end we were completely wiped. By the time we got back to Huaraz we were both dreaming of a nice soft bed, warm shower and Mexican food (something tough to find in Peru). So we splurged on a nicer hotel and hit up a relatively expensive Mexican restaurant near the main square (#treatyoself). Hiking in the Andes of Peru was something we had looked forward to the most when planning our trip down to South America. And the Quilcayhuanca Trek definitely was everything we wanted, if not more. So if you are considering trekking in Peru, and Huaraz in particular, we recommend foregoing the popular Santa Cruz Trek and doing one that is more off-the-beaten path (but still just as beautiful).

It seems like more and more people these days are giving up the 9–5 and taking their work on the road. Which is wonderful and usually a smart move — research has shown that having more flexibility in your work-life makes you happier and healthier, and probably more productive (a win-win). But while the appeal of being a digital nomad is great, there are a few things you need to know before going remote. This includes updating your toolbox to make sure your work-life balance will be as great as everyone says it is. The key tools below will help you manage working and living on the road, without the sometimes negative or unpleasant obstacles it can create. Including, sometimes having to forgo fun adventures because you have to catch up on work, or even having to stay in one place longer than desired, because you are just too busy to move on. Here are six tools that will keep you productive while allowing you to travel as much as you want. Scout out the actual cost of living. Use sites like Expatistan and Numbeo to get the most up to date cost of living in a chose place (i.e. Bali, Chiang Mai or Budapest). This can help you understand what you are walking into before you get there — meaning less unpleasant surprises once you drop your bags. For money transfers. Check out Transferwise, a website that supports 20 different international currencies and up to 25 local transactions. Knowing that you can get your money when you need it, and not have to worry about exchange rates, or the usual time it takes for a transfer, can make traveling so much easier and way less stressful. Be your most productive self. While it is great to be able to work from so many different, fun places — beaches, mountain cabins, busy street side cafes — it can sometimes be hard to focus and get all your work done. That is where Toggl comes in. It tracks how much time was spent on the project over the hour, day or week, as well as how much time was spent doing other things (i.e. scrolling Instagram or going down a Buzzfeed black hole). Finding your way in a new place. Sometimes it is fun to get a little lost in a new city. But other times you're stressed and just want to find your way back home. The latter is easy when using Maps.me, an offline map that means you can take it anywhere — even to the middle of the mountains where there is no internet. While it has all the useful things like banks, cafes and grocery stores, it also has insights on nearby trails and public transportation terminals. Face to face meetings can be a breeze. While Skype and Google Hangouts are great, a better alternative might just be Appear.in. This handy video conferencing app allows you to connect with up to four people at once and even keep some conversations private or “locked.” Together, it helps you stay up to date with your other remote co-workers or clients, even when you are an ocean away. All the news you need in your pocket. Similar to Twitter but less distracting, Pocket helps curate the news from places you care about. If you want to know what is going on in your clients neck of the woods, say NYC, then it will show you articles from the New York Times or Wall Street Journal. This app is great for when you need to stay in the loop with the going-on's around the world. Working on the road can be an exciting and refreshing experience. It can increase your creativity and productivity, while also allowing you to follow your dreams of seeing the world. But sometimes working remotely can get tough. Hopefully, these six apps will help you balance seeing a new place and getting your work done.

We have all been there — days when you have absolutely NO willpower to do anything. Shower, nope. Make a healthy meal, probably not gonna happen. And work? Forget about it. These days can be tough. Especially when you know you have so much to do (which might be why you aren’t actually motivated, but more on that later). All of us have felt this slump before, don't worry you are not alone. But with a couple tweaks you can conquer everything on your to-do list (we promise). Prioritization is your friend. While there are plenty of apps out there to help you understand your priorities, sometimes the best way to keep track of what you need to do is the old fashioned way: a pen and some paper. In the morning simply write down three to four HIGH PRIORITY activities or tasks you need to get done. This list can include work or personal things (like showering). Having a list will help keep you going during the day, the whole day, since you know exactly what needs to get done next. Plus, who doesn't love the feeling of crossing something off the list? Know when you are on fire. No we aren’t talking about on actual fire. We mean when are you MOST productive. Some people are morning people, some work better at night. If you know when all your pistons are firing it will be easier to plan to get the harder tasks done during that time. So for example, if you feel like Superman right around 8 AM then knock out the tougher, longer tasks around that time. The same goes for the other way around. If you know by 3:00 PM your motivation or drive starts to lag, then wait and do the fun or easier tasks then (like that face mask you've been putting off). Knowing when you are at your best is key to getting things done and not feeling overwhelmed. Take some “me” time. It is crazy to think that you will be “on” 100 percent of the day. This is just not how humans work. So instead of trying to fight evolution and human characteristics (always a losing battle) instead simply take a couple breaks throughout the day. This can be shorter breaks, like 5 minutes after every 25 minutes of work, which is called the Pomodoro Technique, or longer breaks, like every 52 minutes take a 17 minute break for yourself (this is what many social scientists recommend). Simply do what works best for you. During these breaks, stop looking at a screen, get up from your desk and either do a quick walk around, make some coffee or tea or just stretch. Anything to break up the monotony of staring at a computer screen (your eyes will thank you too). Or break a sweat. Going off the previous idea of taking a break. It sometimes might even be more effective to take a longer break, say 45 minutes to an hour, and break a sweat. Working out during the workday will help you be more alert and focused once you get back to your computer. Meaning it will likely help your productivity and keep you fit. While it can seem like such a chore to change into workout clothes, get all sweaty, change back into your office attire, and then go back to sitting at your desk (probably still a little sweaty), the health and productivity benefits likely outweigh the smell. But if you are really not feeling it, then do less intensive exercises, like yoga. Quit while you're ahead. This might be the hardest task of all. Sometimes (if not all the time) it is important to stop working while on a high note. This means once you finish all the big task stuff — the three or four things on your list, call it a day. Don’t keep working on tasks if you are starting to feel shot. Instead leave those for the next day, and put them on the top of your to-do list. This will help you keep your motivation going throughout the week. Instead of feeling burnt out early on (say on Monday or Tuesday). This is ESPECIALLY important when you are sacrificing sleep for work — which is never a good idea. Sleep is almost always the most important piece to staying motivated. So instead of slogging away on something that can easily be done the next day, go to bed. So when those tougher days hit you, the days where all you want to do is lie in bed and watch mindless TV, think back to these helpful productivity tips. Hopefully, it will get you up and moving, and motivate you to seize the day!

We have all seen or heard about them: people who make working full-time, having a family and running marathons all at the same time look easy. The people who somehow get up at 6:00 am everyday and knock out all of their tasks by noon. These people might seem superhuman, but actually they are just like us, just with better productivity tools in their belt. But those tools aren’t unattainable. In fact, they are surprisingly easy to master. Below we have compiled nine tips and tricks from some of the world’s most productive people, many of which you can start doing today. They focus on what matters. This is especially important for the long-term, which is often what highly productive people focus on, and put all their energy towards. So instead of putting all their time into the small stuff — 80 percent of things — they focus on the other 20 percent. The stuff that easily applies and translates to the big picture. They set up a routine, and stick with it. When you set up a routine, and stick with it, it can make your whole day feel easier and more productive. For example, if you always put your clothes out the night before you won’t waste time trying to figure out what you want to wear. While this might not seem like much wasted time, it can throw off your motivation and therefore your productivity. Instead streamline everything, especially the easy stuff like clothes, packing your lunch the night before, and having your bag packed and ready. They don’t waste, wasted time. We have all had times during the day that seem like wasted time — waiting for the bus, those couple minutes before a meeting, or god forbid, a two hour delay of your flight. This time might not feel like the best time to work, but actually, according to Robert Pozen, author of “Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours”, this is the perfect time to knock out a few smaller tasks. Need to send an email? Do it while you are waiting for your coffee at Starbucks. Don’t waste those small breaks, instead take advantage of them! They attend meetings with a purpose. This one might be a bit difficult, especially since sometimes meetings are entirely out of your control, especially if you are working remotely. Melissa Mizer, founder of MoreSeekers, a coaching firm, says that if a meeting doesn’t hit five key points: they have the right people there, they define roles, they have a stated purpose of the meeting, it has a clear objective and it allows everyone to define next steps and actions, then see if you can miss it. And if you can, instead focus on more important and necessary tasks. They do the things they don’t want to do. This might be one of the harder keys to productivity. But sometimes you just have to buckle down and do work that you don’t really want to do. This is usually the number one reason we begin to procrastinate. Don’t want to send that email to your boss? So you watch funny Youtube videos instead. But in the end, what do you get out of that time? Yes maybe a good laugh or two, but not a lot of important work. A good rule of thumb is work first, play later. They aren’t perfectionists, they are realists. As crazy as it might sound, don’t be a perfectionist. While this might have sounded good on a resume or cover letter when you were applying for your job, now is the time to realize that perfectionism is not all it’s cracked up to be. Often times it can lead to some pretty negative feelings, including inadequacy, self doubt and a lack of motivation. Alison Kero, founder of ACK Organizing, also believes that perfectionism can lead to procrastination, as well as dread, especially when it comes to big challenging projects. So just as Elsa says in Frozen, “let it go.” They leave some gaps in their day. Think of this is buffer time. Because as humans we cannot predict the future and therefore we don’t know what the day will have in store for us. You might get lost heading to a lunch meeting, you might get stuck in horrible traffic, a meeting might run long. So instead of stressing out about it, plan some breaks so it doesn’t mean the end of the world if you are a bit late or running behind. Pozen explains that highly productive people leave gaps for these unforeseen issues, because if your schedule is packed, and one thing goes wrong it can ruin the whole day and likely your productivity. They multitask wisely. While there has recently been research that debunks the idea of multitasking, Pozen believes it is imperative for highly productive people. The key is to pair up things wisely and which make sense. For example, please, please don’t try to write a paper or send an email while driving. But you can send an email or write a quick note to yourself while taking a call. Pozen goes on to say that to make multitasking work best, choose two tasks that complement each other: one task is quite important, while the other can be done quickly and with little energy. They know where to find all the stuff they need. This doesn’t mean you need dozens of organization apps or everything on your desk to always be in the right place (though some organization wouldn’t hurt). No, it means having at least some kind of system that you understand and which works well for you. If that means an over-the-top amount of folders then so be it. Pozen, who teaches classes as well as holds frequent talks on productivity, makes sure to have folders for all his classes and speaking engagements. That way if he needs to check something real quick, or just add a fun news-clipping for relevancy, he can with no issues or stress. Highly productive people are not some otherworldly figure. They are humans just like you and me. The only difference is they know how to play the system and get the most out of their day, every day.

When we decided to do our tour of the Southwest we gave up pretty much any notion that we would find some good wine. Not to be too snobby, but we had lived in the Bay for almost two years and finding good wine was as easy as finding delicious Asian food (very). So our standards were high. And for most of the trip the wine we did find was not great. For the first time the bottle of red went unfinished, often chucked into the closest trash bin after a night. Then we made it to Hill Country. And our hopes were renewed. Hill Country has recently become somewhat synonymous with wine country. In fact, after Napa it is the second most popular wine region in the US. According to the Texas Wine Trail website there are over 50 wineries scattered around Hill Country, each with their own blend and feel. We were excited to not only drive the beautiful roads, but to drink some good ol’ Texas red. Below are places we recommend checking out if you are thinking of visiting Texas Hill Country. This list is a good mix of popular and more “unknown” places, as well as stuff that caters to people looking to drink and people looking to explore nature (or people like us who enjoy doing both!). Blue Hole in Wimberley A great spot to go for a swim (or picnic) in a really nice park on the edge of the cute town of Wimberley. The pool is spring fed, which gives it its famous blue color (and also why it is super clear). While there is a reservation system for the hot summer months, we went in the winter and had it all to ourselves (to be fair it was also cloudy and rainy). Even though the weather was not “ideal” for swimming, we still enjoyed the beautiful water and the park. Vista Brewery If you are looking for a fun place to chill out, grab a couple drinks and play an intense game of cornhole, then Vista Brewery is for you. Located right outside of Driftwood, this brewery is an actual working farm with its own apiary (a collection of beehives). The location is pretty unbeatable, and the atmosphere is top notch. Spend the afternoon sipping beer or wine, eating delicious locally grown food and walking the premises. Historic Luckenbach If you know anything about old school country then you have probably heard of Luckenbach, Texas. This small, Instagrammable town is a great stopping point on the road to the larger town of Fredericksburg. The population stands at 3 - but that doesn’t seem to include all the cuddly cats roaming around. Come for a jaunt around the historic buildings, including the uber-fun General Store, and a nice laid back atmosphere, live music included. Canyon Lake Considered the “jewel” of Hill Country, this large body of water is a great place to spend an afternoon - either on the lake or along its banks. The lake has 8 different parks located on its shores, and all include hiking trails, camping and fishing. Even if you don’t consider yourself a lake person, the drive itself to get out to it is worth it - large live oaks, wildlife and envy-inducing ranches. Johnson City If you love a good down-home hipster town then Johnson City is for you. Made famous thanks to it being the boyhood hometown of the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson, the city is now a trendy place with a brewery, lots of fun restaurants and quirky shops. It is also right next to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park and Pedernales Falls State Park, an excellent hiking and swimming spot. Deep Eddy Vodka Tasting Room Open Thursday through Sunday, this Dripping Springs hot-spot is a must visit while in Hill Country. Come in and sample the different flavors, grab a cocktail and listen to some live music. Plus it is pet friendly! So stop in for a weekend full of flavor and fun. Spicewood Vineyards Now we couldn’t have this list and not mention one winery. And while Hill Country is chock full (remember roughly 50…) this one gives you that true, authentic Texas flavor. Located a bit farther north than other places on this list, Spicewood Vineyards is well-worth the drive (plus the drive is amazing in and of itself). Once there you will quickly notice that it truly is a “hands in the dirt” kind of place. In fact, Spicewood grows many of their grapes on their land and the ones they don’t come from other Texas vineyards (many wineries import from other states, like Oregon). Other top winery choices include: Flat Creek Estate, definitely off-the-beaten-path but in a truly gorgeous location, this winery has a large tasting room, food hall and even a 27-hole disc golf course (because who doesn’t want to frolth without a glass of Primitivo?). Lewis Wines, if you are looking to relax in the great outdoors, with a nice large glass of wine in hand, then this is the spot for you. All grapes are 100% Texas grown as is a lot of the food served. When looking for a nice, relaxing vacation destination we highly recommend checking out Texas Hill Country. Even as Californian wine-snobs we was very impressed, not just with the wines themselves, but the overall atmosphere and scenery. Rolling hills, long limbed live oaks, down-home country charm. Texas Hill Country really is an amazing place to get lost in!

For many people, driving along the coast of Big Sur - with its many hairpin turns, wide open coastal views and glowing blue water - is a highly ranked bucket list item. I know it was for me when I moved out to California back in 2018. By the time we left the Bay - fast forward to 2020 - we had ventured to Big Sur and the surrounding areas many times (even running a half marathon there). So while the road through Big Sur was by no means new to us, we knew that it would feel totally different on a motorcycle. And man were we right! The first thing we realized upon crossing over from the “metropolitan” area of Carmel to the natural area of Big Sur (which actually starts at Garrapata State Park), is that we would have to take the road a looooot slower. The bike is heavy, the turns are sharp and the wind is strong. Plus the drop off to the ocean far below was a bit too intimidating to push it. Similarly, it was only our second day on the road and we were still feeling like awkward newborns cruising along. But going slow is not a bad thing; we believe it is actually the best way to see the sites and get a “real” feel for the surroundings. Below our some of the can’t-miss stops along the coast, from Carmel in the north all the way to Cayucos in the south. Get a backwoods view of Bixby Bridge and the Redwoods along the Coast Road We only know about this gorgeous road because of the half-marathon we ran there (if you are at all into running we HIGHLY recommend checking out this trail race). You can start either right next to the famous, and very Instagram-ed Bixby Creek Bridge or down in Andrew Molera State Park. Either way, take the dirt road called COAST ROAD. The road winds its way back through beautiful redwood forests, old school ranch lands and up along ridges that will give you stellar views of the ocean and the surrounding mountains. One thing to remember though, is this road is dirt and can be rough in places, especially after rain. It also is a single lane, and though it is not heavily trafficked, people do live off of it so you may have to do a bit of a dance with a farm truck or something along the way. But it is totally worth it for the views and the peacefulness. Take a tour of coastal history at Point Sur Historic Park This station, which was operational from 1958 to 1984, includes the naval station and historic lighthouse. In its prime, the Point Sur Naval Facility (NAVFAC) was part of a global network of defensive listening stations that tracked the movement of Soviet submarines. Today it is one of only a handful of remaining Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) facilities and is the only one on the West Coast open to public interpretation. Most other SOSUS facilities were incorporated into larger military complexes, while Point Sur was established as a stand-alone, self-sufficient base. To see the historic grounds you have to take a tour - to join, simply meet at the park gate off of Highway 1 thirty minutes before the start of the tour (usually at 10 am). Currently the light station is closed due to repairs, but you can still tour the old naval station and learn about its interesting history. Tours usually take 1.5 hours and are available on the weekends throughout the year. Grab a coffee and see some amazing art at the COAST Big Sur After a long morning taking in the scenery you might be needing a pick-me-up, especially if you plan on conquering a couple awesome hikes in the area. Luckily, COAST Big Sur has everything you’re looking for: great coffee, nice sweet baked treats and fantastic artwork. Even the building itself is pretty cool (and not a bad place to relax and take in the views). Once you grab your coffee, venture a little further down the road to either the Boronda Trailhead, the De Angulo Trailhead or a personal favorite, the Partington Cove Trailhead - where you can take a quick one mile trail down to the water and through a tunnel to an old landing dock, where it is rumored alcohol was smuggled in during Prohibition. Stop at a gorgeous, and quiet, beach for a relaxing picnic You can’t drive through Big Sur and not stop at at least one beach. That would be sacrilegious. And while the list of beaches is long, a great one to check out, especially if you are looking for some peace and quiet, is Sand Dollar Beach. Because it is located a bit further south (in the grand scheme of things), it is often way less busy than the beaches further north near Carmel. What Sand Dollar Beach lacks in people it makes up in beauty. Bright blue water, sometimes dotted with surfers or seals, a long sandy beach and many large rocks that ocean birds like to roost on, the beach is a serene place to get some sun or eat your packed lunch. Another great thing is its proximity to Plaskett Campground. So if you are looking to spend more time in the area, and maybe even a moonlit stroll on the beach, you can! But even better is if you are okay camping outside an established campground, you can drive up a mile or two on PLASKETT RIDGE ROAD and have the area all to yourself. And the views of the sunset are some of the best in the park. Look at one of Big Sur’s larger residents No trip to Big Sur is complete without looking at the resident Elephant Seals. While there are many places to see them, if you want to take the guesswork out of it, then head all the way south through Big Sur to the Elephant Seal viewpoint. Sandwiched between Piedras Blancas and Hearst Castle, you can’t miss this turnoff (there will be waaaay too many cars parked). Once parked, grab your camera and walk along the beach until you start to hear them (or smell them). There will usually be a whole herd(?) of them laying out on the beach. Take a quick pit-stop in Harmony for wine (and ice cream!) A true blink-and-you-miss-it town, Harmony is a cute little pit-stop right past the larger town of Cambria (and smack dab in the middle of rolling hills and farm country). Craving a nice sweet treat? Head to Harmony Valley Creamery* for their homemade ice cream. Or looking for something a bit more… relaxing? Then drive on up to Harmony Cellars for a nice big glass of red wine. *take note that the Creamery is only open on the weekends. Finish your day with some delicious food Once back on Highway 1, head just a bit further south until you get to the quaint beach town of Cayucos. Down its main drag, OCEAN AVENUE, you will see a number of quintessential shops: pirate themed bars, gift shops and a few boutique beach motels. But the place you are looking for is Ruddell’s Smokehouse. Located on the corner of Ocean Front Ave. and D Street, the unassuming building is easy to pass by - but that would be a mistake. It has some of the best smoked fish tacos on the Central Coast, not to mention other smoked meats (but the fish is really the star). Grab a couple and head out to their outdoor tables for a nice sunset dinner. After filling up on fish tacos, if you are looking for a nice dessert (and still actually have room) then head just up the street to the Brown Butter Cookie Company for a variety of delicious cookie flavors (the chocolate chip one is pretty much a-mazing). Big Sur is full of so many things to do, from hikes, to restaurants to just stopping off to get a good look at the ocean. These 7 things are by no means the only things to do - we’ve been there three times and still haven’t seen it all - but they are definitely good start to getting a good feel of the amazing place that is Big Sur. Follow along on our off the beaten path adventures on Instagram at @backroad_packers

We bought a motorcycle. A real, big, fast motorcycle no less. After going to one shop, looking at only a handful of bikes, we put a deposit down on the one we thought (hoped, prayed) could take us from San Francisco to Key West all the way down in Florida. A distance of about 5,500 miles (after all the zig-zagging around to see different things). The bike of choice? A glowing white 2014 Suzuki V-Strom 650 with just under 3,000 miles (see Luke's first ride above). The only negative was an ugly Punisher sticker on the front - which we quickly replaced with one of a pine tree. Jumping in head first like this was not new for the two of us. A month before our lease ended on the first apartment we lived in together, we decided to forgo getting a new apartment and instead bought a van off of Craigslist for $3,400. But a motorcycle is not a van. A motorcycle is all sorts of dangerous (as everyone kept reminding us). Motorcycles scream UNSAFE. It didn't help that Luke, the designated driver, had maybe 1,000 miles of motorcycle experience under his belt (most of which was done using a small moped). But that didn't stop us from just going for it (as usual...). Jump forward one month later and all of our stuff is packed, our last days of work are a week away and we are finally trying out the new bike. First stop SAN FRANCISCO! No joke. First ride was 1) on a major, super fast freeway 2) in the dark 3) into a major metropolitan area. Sorry mom. In the end it wasn't too bad. Plus, after that first nerve-inducing ride all others seemed like a walk in the park (a very windy park). While I am sure most of our friends and family would have liked it better if we just stuck with the van and NOT bought a motorcycle, after a few hundred miles on the back of Shadowfax - as we have deemed her - we couldn't imagine any other form of transportation. The wind, the cold, the intense feeling of the different landscapes. Riding a motorcycle puts you in the thick of it - you are a focal piece of the story, not just an audience member like you would be hiding behind the windows of a car. We don't know how long we will be on Shadowfax, we don't know if we have officially converted to being motorcyclists. What we do know is that the decision to buy a motorcycle was not one we regret. Sometimes you just have to dive in head first and see where it goes. And for us, it seems to be going pretty great.

Three boxes. A total of 158 liters of storage space. #minimalism With only so much space, we had to narrow it down to the barest of essentials. We are talking three pairs of clothes each, two types of shoes and not enough food for more than two days. While some people might be a little worried about forgetting something - where we're going there isn't likely to be a lot of stores - we are excited at the task of paring down our life to the smallest amount of things. And the funny thing is, this isn't even our first time going #minimal. We currently live in a van - and not even the big Sprinter type. No it's a 1995 Dodge camper van. Neither of us can stand up straight, our feet hang off the folding bed that came with it, and all of our clothes have to fit in two small bins that slide underneath. And we love it. But a motorcycle? That is a whole other ball game, a whole other league. After some hard decisions, below is what we decided to bring with us on this wild adventure, starting with our clothing: Madalyne - 1 black, thick Nike long sleeved shirt (with the awesome thumb holes) for when it gets reaaaal cold - 1 gray, slightly thinner REI Co-op long sleeved shirt - 2 short sleeved wicking shirts, one for riding and one for running - 2 jackets (1 poppy rain jacket and 1 maroon puffy) - 1 pair of green, United by Blue utility pant for hiking and days off the bike - 2 pairs of tights, one extra thick and one relatively thin (you never know the temp you're gonna get in the desert) - 2 pairs of shorts, again one for riding and one for running - 4 pairs of socks (two wool, 2 normal) - 3 bras (2 sports bras, 1 bralette) - 7 pairs of underwear - 1 wind buff for when riding the bike - 2 pairs of gloves (1 heavy duty winter pair, 1 light pair) - 2 shoes (a pair of hiking boots which will be worn while riding and my running shoes) - 2 hats, 1 baklava and 1 normal yellow beanie (which I LOVE) Luke - 1 gray thermal long sleeved shirt - 1 light, wicking blue long sleeved shirt - 1 wicking Prana short sleeved shirt - 1 thick flannel for days off - 2 jackets, 1 orange rain jacket and 1 green puffy - 1 pair of black sweatpants - 1 pair of dark blue-gray utility pants - 1 pair of board shorts used for running (and riding on really hot days) - 1 pair of black, thick Nike tights - 5 pairs of socks (1 being a nice thick wool pair) - 8 pairs of underwear - 2 shoes (1 pair of hiking boots for riding, 1 pair of Keen's for running (yes he is a bit odd) and for normal day-to-day stuff) - 2 pairs of gloves (1 thick leather North Face winter pair that he wears a lot while riding and a thin black pair) - 2 hats, 1 baklava and 1 blue skull cap that fits great under a helmet Now for all the other stuff For Cooking - 1 normal sized Jetboil (with an added coffee press) and 1 Jetboil pot that we use for curries, Ramen and soups - 1 can of fuel - 2 bowls and 2 mugs - 2 forks, 2 spoons, 1 wooden butter knife and 1 Leatherman knife - 1 LARGE insulated water bottle (we also use it to make soup throughout the day) - 1 wine bottle opener (priorities...) For Camping - 1 ALPS Mountaineering 4-season, 3 person tent - 2 generic blue sleeping pads (we bought from Walmart after our original two started to deflate) - 1 down sleeping bag - 1 2-person, thin sleeping bag - 2 pillowcases that we use to cover our clothes with and use as pillows (#ingenuity) - 2 headlamps - 1 lantern For Staying Clean - 1 set of travel size shampoo and conditioner - 1 travel sized bottle of Method body wash - 1 bottle of Burt's Bee's face wash - Aveeno face and body wipes For Filming Our Trip - 1 DJI Mavic Pro drone, with extra batteries - 1 Canon EOS 4000D camera - 2 GoPros, 1 HERO8 Black and 1 HERO4 - 1 Polaroid camera with 3 packets of extra film - 2 laptops, 1 Surface Pro and 1 Google Chrome - 1 set of binoculars for our birding (because we really are secretly 80 years old) - Waaaay too many chargers This is by no means a COMPLETE list of everything we stuffed into our three Givi Outback boxes. We also hauled around climbing gear, folders full of postcards, a couple books and notebooks and food - lots of food. But this should be a good reference when thinking about what to pack. I think the one of the most important things to remember is that even when it looks like you are going to be out in the middle of nowhere, you can still probably find what you are looking for. So do NOT over pack, because nothing brings weighs on you more (literally and figuratively) than an overly heavy bike. When planning this trip we had to do a lot of pairing down, and even along the way we donated some things or gave them to friends. And we are sure not everyone needs all these things or will need totally different items depending on what they want to get out of the trip.

We will be asking this question a lot over the next couple of months as we try to figure out what we want to see, do and experience on this crazy road trip we have decided to undertake - on a motorcycle no less. One thing we do know though, is we want to take as many back roads as possible. The less busy, the more windy, beat-up the better. We want to escape the madness of the cities and reconnect with nature - be it the red rocks of the Southwest, the swamps of the South or the forested hills of the Northeast. We are undertaking this wild adventure on a motorcycle. Which neither of us really have experience with*. This should be fun. *Unless you count criss-crossing Thailand on a moped or navigating our way to Macchu Picchu on a rented dirt bike. Why are we doing this? Because we have been living in a megacity and sitting in traffic for waaaay too long. We have lost our spark, our creativity and our overall happiness to some degree. We realized quickly that city life is not right for us, at least not right now. After taking a good hard look at ourselves and our situation we decided it just wasn't worth it. We are too young, with way too little commitments tying us down, to hang up the towel just yet and become "suburbanites." So we are selling pretty much everything we own. Buying a motorcycle. And hitting the road. Where to? We don't exactly know. While we have a basic list of things we want to see (Organ Pipe Cactus NM, White Sands National Park and Joshua Tree) it is nowhere complete. And that is what is so exciting - we don't have a schedule, an itinerary. We have a motorcycle, Google Maps (maybe) and a whole lot of gumption. What you will find here. Probably a lot of rambling, a fair helping of lame dad jokes and (hopefully) some useful information. No one would ever say we "over-prepare" for a trip. We are very much fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants kind of travelers. But that does not mean you have to be. The goal of this site is to inform and inspire you to get out and explore, no matter what that might mean. So peruse our writings, check out our Instagram page and hop on over to our Youtube channel to really see how dorky we can be :)