Get ready for some laughs on this leg of our adventure as Leesa and I (and my trusty wheelchair, walker, and Firefly of course!) hit the road from our last stay in Sedona. Our chariot for this escapade was aimed squarely at Gallup, New Mexico, a good 220 miles away. Our first mission? Fueling up! We snagged some sweet, sweet gas at a 76 station for a mere $2.89 a gallon.

We kicked off our Sedona escapade leaving Lake Havasu at a sizzling 100 degrees and making a pit stop at Circle K for gas ($2.98 a gallon, thank you very much!) We hit legendary Route 66 in Kingman, where the temperature mercifully dropped to a mere 96. We celebrated this slight dip in the mercury with a crucial stop at Sonic – because nothing says "road trip" like a Route 44 unsweet tea for my incredible wife, Leesa (keeping it classy, folks!) and a Diet Dr.

Greeting more heat in Lake Havasu: Our WorldMark Havasu Dunes Adventure! After a whirlwind 150-mile dash from the dazzling Las Vegas, we pulled into Lake Havasu City, Arizona The welcome committee? A scorching 108 degrees Fahrenheit! Clearly, Lake Havasu believes in making a grand, fiery first impression. Our oasis in this desert inferno was the WorldMark Havasu Dunes. We stayed in a 1-bedroom accessible condo.

On June 29th, we departed Las Vegas. We did so bravely (or perhaps foolishly, given the heat). Our destination was Lake Havasu City, Arizona, for a two-night stay. Our journey began as any respectable road trip should. We made a pit stop at the Pilot Truck Stop in Willow City for gas. We also enjoyed a gourmet lunch at Taco Bell.

Ah, Las Vegas! The land of bright lights, questionable decisions, and temperatures that could melt the chrome off a bumper. The latest step of this Southwest adventure took us to Sin City. We stayed for three nights of what we like to call "controlled chaos." My walker was largely responsible for this chaos. The Carriage House: Our (Slightly Cozy) Oasis…

Vegas Bound: A Desert Adventure (and a Quest for Breakfast) Our epic 450-mile journey from Reno to the dazzling lights of Las Vegas began at 7:30 AM. We started bright and early. The plan? Conquer the longest driving day of the trip, with a little detour through the inferno that is Death Valley. Our first mission, however, was far more pressing: …

From Serene Pines to Lava Beds & Reno: A Wheelchair Wanderer's (Mis)Adventures! Our day kicked off bright and early at 9 AM, 64 degrees of pure, unadulterated sunshine. We were bidding a fond farewell to the WorldMark Running Y, a true gem of a stay. Seriously, that condo was so amazing, it practically whispered sweet nothings of comfort. And the shower?

The Great Hat Hunt of REI (and Our Moment of Shame) Day 2 began bright and early. It was well, 8 AM-ish, which is practically dawn for us vacationers. A glorious 63-degree sun was beaming down. After packing up our nightly needs, we set off for Fred Meyer to refuel our trusty steed. But then, a vital realization struck: our heads were dangerously exposed to the elements!

Our adventure finally begins! With the Ford Flex packed tighter than a can of sardines (thanks, Leesa, for proving a month's worth of "necessities" can indeed fit!), we officially hit the road. Our noble steeds were directed towards the majestic La Quinta in Bend. It is a beacon of road trip luxury, or at least, a place with free breakfast. Our chosen path?

Sunday after church, we decided to give our trusty couch a break and hit the road! Saturday was rewarding. We volunteered at the East County Food Pantry. It's our favorite weekend ritual unless, you know, there's a puppy parade we have to attend. After volunteering, we packed our bags and pointed our car toward Newport. Leesa had Monday off for Memorial Day, so a coastal escape was practically mandatory.

Thursday kicked off with a mission: After 2 ½ hours of travel we stopped at Mo’s in Astoria. We went there for their legendary clam chowder base. It’s the essential ingredient for weekend culinary adventures! We secured our treasure. We zipped across the iconic Astoria-Megler Bridge. We left the bustling port behind. We headed for the tranquil stretch of the peninsula.

The salty air beckoned us back to Seaside, Oregon. We were drawn by the promise of adventure. It was our second exhilarating experience with a track chair. Thanks to the incredible folks at DavidsChair.org, securing our off-road chariot was seamless. A quick reservation and a short drive led us to the familiar pickup point in the Elks Lodge parking lot.

Our weekend getaway to the charming town of Florence, Oregon, was lovely. Yet, the real highlight of our return journey north was a long-anticipated visit to Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City. I was aware of the incredible beauty of this iconic spot. I was thrilled to have a reservation for a Track Chair. This was made possible by the wonderful volunteers at…

We spent a couple of hours this afternoon on the beach in Netarts with a Track Chair. It was our first time visiting Happy Camp Beach in Netarts. Happy Camp Road We arrived at the Happy Camp Hideaway office in Netarts, OR where we had reserved a track chair on DavidsChair.org. We arrived an hour early. There wasn't really anywhere to park so Leesa went into the office.

Today we spent the afternoon at Manzanita where I had the opportunity to use another track chair. They are referred to as "A tank with a chair on top, literally". It was another new experience. This chair was not a Stander but it was a beast. We picked it up at the Manzanita Visitors Center and had it for a couple of hours.