Such a great blog! I love the visuals you provide in your writing. I love to travel, and this as you called it "The "stay-at-home, stop looking out the window, finally a use for that burka, yes that's my real hair color, why are my jeans so tight, when did Netflix run out of movies, do I still need to dust?' 

restrictions." Have put a damper on it for Henry and me too. 

Hi Karen, nice to see you here again. I remember your love of car trips, a delight I share with you. Hope we both get to do it again soon. Meanwhile, keep well and happy.

I loved reading this - we have been taking road trips to the various Civil War Battlefields around here - or an hour-two hours away - food is not an option - even fantasy food - and boy did your choices sound delish!!  When we go to Gettysburg it is a Mcdonalds while sitting on a bench on the battlefield - but things are opening up and life will get better!  I hope I hope I hope! 

Hey Karen so great to see you in the Rain!  Love your blog. Just a bit of pent up frustration - like everyone else.  AZ is open (almost all the way) and there are lots of good restaurants open now as well as a few other things. I also think one can get some pretty good rates at fabulous hotels. Bring that little black jeep our way!

HI Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner - We are a complete Jeep family.  Your post reminds a little of those people who have electric cars and have to plan their vacation around charging stations.  Enjoy your vacation time!

Hello Karen - I like the detour your trip took with a realistic look at the consequences of a "stay at home" directive along with your sense of wanderlust.   

Hi Karen- I did a double take when I saw your profile photo!!!! So happy to see you here and to read your post!!! Texas is pretty open...limited dine-in seating but the best BBQ and chicken-fried steak around!!!   So I see you never bought that little "traveling closet" you talked about!

                          You've been featured in the Group Bananatude!

Hi Karen,
I'm anxious to get out on a road trip with my golf clubs. I'm watching to re-opening process closely. 

Hi Karen... cute post... I like your take on all this insanity. Me... right now, I just plod... one foot in front of the other day by day. But I finally am able to get a haircut and have it scheduled for Tuesday. Next call on my part is to book a mani/pedi... with those things done... I don't care about eating out, going to parks, etc. (At least not for now.)

It's time to change your signature photo on ActiveRain to a jeep!

At the moment, road trips are a bit difficult. I want to go visit some friends in other states but have to wait a little while longer to seriously consider that. Soon, Karen, soon!

Ohmagerd, a Karen Fiddler sighting!!

The vacay in the pool does sound like your best option... but I like your style.  Margaritas by the pool!!  Sounds pretty good to me. 

[where did I put my trunks?]

I was so confused. I found this on the Feature page and somehow I thought I saw a pic of Barbara Todaro directly under it. In my mind I was reading a post from her. The Jeep part was a surprise. I thought she drives a little convertible??? Then the states weren't right. I eventually scrolled back up and saw your face. LOL

Great post regardless. I hope you manage to make your next road trip happen soon and I think painting is a great choice for now.

Hilarious, and understand that need to escape, my wanderlust is definitely suffering and I cannot imagine when countries will let us visit again. Be interesting to see if states will start imposing restrictions on visitors from other states.

Hi Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner - I am a road warrior too and I have a Jeep.  Left our home in NY last week to come to our home in Florida.  Things are opening up here.

Hi Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner - Congratulations on your blog post feature! It's great to see you writting again. As always, your posts are refreshing and real with recharging good energy! Wherever the Jeep takes you, I know you're going to have fun! May there be no bumps in the road only joy.

Great post Karen!

I found myself sub-consciously trying to help you navigate and decide the best options for your road trip.  Was nice to go on that escape and "would be" journey with you. 

Cheers!

Hey there. Great to see you and this post!  Have fun on your road trip adventures.

How frustrating for a road warrior! Idaho has opened up to travelers again, and as of June 1, Montana will be open.

It took me plenty of phone calls and digging to get that information, but - yay!!

My husband and one or both of our boys take an annual fishing trip to Ashley Lake, MT in early June. It looked like that would not happen this year, until the memo came on Monday that Montana was lifting the 14-day isolation requirement for visitors. It took me a few more days to learn that yes - the Forest Service campgrounds will also be open.

The trip is on!

Karen, that was quite a trip you planned! Fun to read! Let us know what colors you picked for the laundry room. I am sure you enjoyed the pool vacay, too. 

Hi Karen,  Thanks for the entertaining read - I was traveling right along with you.  Sounds like quite the trip.

Alaska is 100 % open for business... you can rent a jeep up here. Dont drive thu canada they will only let you get gas No hotel No food no nothing.... 

Even though we are 100%  its still weird so I would wait !

Jeep owners are fun people!!

Karen:

This was a fun read!!

Well, whatever you end up doing, I hope you enjoy the heck out of it!

Have a great weekend!

Jeff

Good afternoon Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner ,

So glad to see you back posting. I caught you in Kathy Streib "Ah-ha" moments for the week but glad to see your post earned a gold star! A wonderful read and I agree with Kat Palmiotti your profile photo needs to have you and your jeep in it! Enjoy your week-end.I'll be vacationing in my pool too:(.

I also am hankering for a road trip. I love to go but am not going to for a while. Lovely post

Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner 
Can relate. Thinking of taking a road trip and planning how I may sleep and eat in the car for the 14 hour trip. Hmmm...  All the best - Lynn

Hi Karen,
Nice post. I can relate I was looking forward to a guys golf trip the beginning of May in Palm Springs. We are hoping the border will be opened up by November so we are able to spend the winter in Palm Springs. We drive down from Canada and have gone through Utah it is such a beautiful State to drive through.

Happy trails when things open up!  Arizona has opened up quite a bit.  I think our lockdown was more "lockdown light".  Hopefully you will hit the open road soon!

Love the enthusiasm your posting displays,  KAREN FIDDLER, .  As many businesses start to gear back up, when States allow it, we are amazed as to which ones have survived and those that have not!!  "Jeepers creepers where'd you get those Peepers"!

Last week i opened my pool and it was 53. I got it clean, even hopped in to patch the side. Yes t was like the artic. A week later the water is up to 71. Not much sun today to get the newly installed solar heaters going. Temps in the 90's this week will give me a kick start. I traded in my black jeep this week. It was tired, lots of miles in 3 years and i got my new jeep today. 

When our sons were 14, 12, & 10 we embarked on a 9-week cross country tour Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner Along the way we ran into a couple who were retiree road nomads. One such couple's map was marked with all the places they thought were worthy of returning to and sharing. Love the post!

I am jeep driver but never considered taking it on a road trip.  It is not all that comfortable to drive at highway speeds.  

Great post!  I can see why Kathy chose to  highlight it this week!

Hi Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner, I think we can all relate to your life at this time. I had to cancel a few trips, one of the trips I do every year is NYC on July 4th, that's not going to happen. I was thrilled to get my hair and nails done.  

I can't wait for this to all blow over so we can get back to the beach! (I am stuck in the desert of Arizona).

And I see you are in Lake Arrowhead. We just got to visit for the first time in Jan and stayed at the Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa... a beautiful property with amazing views!

Hi Karen,  You have a very creative style and I sat back reading your blog and was able to visualize your trip.  But once I finished reading it, my wife yelled, "we are going to Steppingstone Park on the water" so no more work or reading blogs, let's go!  I said, yes dear!