Back ''Home'' in Sabaneta, Colombia

 

One would think that I would get used to my life of constant change, but a new move still brings a bit of apprehension ... unless that move is to a place that we consider ''home''. Thus, when we arrived in Colombia last week and made our way south of Medellín to the pueblo of Sabaneta, our ''travel jitters'' quickly disappeared with ...

the vibrant colors of flowers blooming in the trees,

and the sound of cheering ''fútbol'' fans drowning out the traffic noise,

and the fragrance of arepas, empanadas, and bunuelos spilling out into the narrow streets. 

A sign near the central park reassured us that ...

(which translated means)

If you like to visit Sabaneta,

you are already a Sabaneteno!

Ever since we first set our eyes on this quaint, friendly community a few years ago, we were ready to become Sabanetenos. We are excited to have this be our home for the next three months! 

Our Airbnb apartment, located on the 20th floor, has an incredible view of Medellín, a city of 2.5 million people, to the north.

Sabaneta, the smallest municipality in Colombia, is located in the southern part of the Aburra Valley. Because its area is so small, a majority of its 44,000 residents live in the many high-rise apartments that line the landscape. It's name is derived from the Spanish word for ''savannah'', and thus, its streets are flatter than other urban areas on the hills of the valley. Sabaneta also shares the incredibly beautiful ''spring-like'' weather that Medellín is famous for ... making its year-round 85 degree highs and 65 degree lows a perfect winter hangout.

Colombia's tourist industry is happy to welcome back visitors to their winter paradise. And we are happy to be back once again also. Our plan this winter is to reconnect with old friends and meet new friends all while continuing to try to improve our Spanish.

Always fun to meet up once again with Doug's college friend and his wife!

Language exchanges are a fun way to meet new friends while practicing our Spanish with creative games that encourage conversation.

My choice for an Airbnb apartment proved to be a winner for us. The two bedroom, two bath dwelling is plenty big ... and even has room for a guest or two (hint, hint).

The kitchen contains all the basic cooking utensils  

...  plus a new one for me to try out.

Will I be convinced that we need to find room

in the van for an air fryer???

The view from the balcony (along with Colombian coffee, fruit, and arepas) is a great way to begin another perfect day in paradise.

Reasons we love our new ''home'' include ...

#1

The many small cafes nearby who serve up delicious ''menú del día'' lunches.

For $4 a meal, there is no need to eat dinner later on ... although Doug often seems to find room for a dessert.

#2

The abundant and inexpensive supply of fresh fruits available in all the local grocery stores. 

Avocados, Plantains, and Mangos ... oh my!

But no need to go into the big name grocery stores to buy our daily fruit ... many small stores in front of private homes have a fresh supply for sale. Our neighbor, Ingrid picks me out the best avocados while giving me a short lesson in Spanish conversation. 

#3

The numerous malls provide great entertainment and people watching opportunities,

as well as non-traditional Colombian food options ... like when we just need our Chinese ''fix'' from Señor Wok.

#4

The beautiful weather helps promote a strong sense of community.

Whether it is outdoor dining,

skateboarding, walking, biking or fútbol,

or just a visit in the park,

... Sabanetenos know how to bring color and life to their neighborhood.

We're happy to be back ''home'' and feeling like a true Sabaneteno in the land of arepas

... Sabaneta, Antioquia, Colombia!

Making a Difference: Habitat For Humanity Build in Sebring, Florida

Digging a twelve inch trench in the hot sun. Bending way, way down to caulk the lowest row of siding. Waking up with achy muscles and joints. At times like that, we couldn't help thinking that this is not quite what we signed up for when we joined another Care-a-Vanner crew in Sebring, Florida. This didn't seem like a ton of fun ... this was hard work.

But as our team gathered the next morning, one member shared a poem that was written by a mother who had recently become a Habitat for Humanity homeowner. Her words suddenly and powerfully made our complaints feel minuscule in comparison. 

A New Beginning

by Jane Ann Wells

 

I wake up each day and from my bed I am torn,

Hanging sheets in the doorway ... trying to keep warm.

My concern is not for me and the way I will shiver,

But for my children upstairs and the smile I’ll try to deliver.

I keep my chin up ‘cause I don’t want them to see,

The fact that I cry for things that can’t be.

For our home is full of love, but with little to no heat,

Making the best of things is no small feat.

We don’t need to go outside to check the weather,

For it creeps in through doors, windows and wherever.

We heat with Kerosene; and it’s filled just right,

I hope that it’s enough to take us through the night.

I was careful to keep us out of harm’s way,

When Habitat called and gave us the OK!

A new house means a new way of life,

Without the worry and the constant strife.

The old house is just a bad dream,

It never existed or so it would seem,

As I sit on my porch with the sun going down,

Listening to the birds, loving the sound.

As we continued to work during the next two weeks, we realized that ...

this foundation, despite being laid over sand, is going to provide strength ...

this roof is going to protect from all sorts of weather ...

these windows are going to let the light of hope shine in ...

this Hardie board cement siding is going to keep out the cold ...

and this house is going to make a difference in the lives of the family who will call this ''home''.

While we faced some challenges on the construction site, they paled in comparison.

When my knees and back didn't like bending down any more, I found a more comfortable position for caulking those bottom rows of siding.

When there was a tricky piece of siding to cut, Doug made use of all the talent around him to achieve that perfect fit.

When my hands were getting sore after hours of using a traditional caulk gun, a fellow volunteer borrowed me his battery-operated one that he just happened to get for Christmas ... Thanks, Jim, for sharing your ''gift''!

And most important of all ... when we needed some encouragement, the ever-present smile of Jazan, one of our skillful supervisors, kept us going.

Together we worked hard to lift up and improve the lives of another deserving family.

This house will be their new beginning!

 At the end of the two weeks, I looked back and saw how much we had accomplished with the help of the local Habitat affiliate, as well as our skillful construction site supervisors, local volunteers, and our Care-a-Vanner team,

and I was moved to add one last line to Ms Wells' poem ...

I’m grateful for this house, a gift from above,

Reflecting Habitat for Humanity’s volunteer love.

Our Seventh RVenturous Year On The Road

''Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees.''

John Muir

As 2022 comes to an end, we are completing our seventh year of full-time RV living. So many wonderful moments and memories, but always a few challenges as well. Comparing van life to our favorite outdoor activity of hiking, we have come to realize that ...

''The best view comes after the hardest climb.''

Anonymous

''How long until we get to the top?''

A Quick Recap of our 2022 travels

''One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.''

Henry Miller

January and February were spent in Colombia, South America. With Medellin as our ''home base'', we made some side trips to a number of small pueblos in the coffee country including Jardín, Armenia, Salento, and Santa Rosa de Cabal. We also flew to the Colombian island of San Andres for a few days of fun in the sun and ''Coco Locos'' on the beach.

March - We returned and hung around central Florida, spending time with Doug's parents and doing a two week Habitat for Humanity build in Dade City, Florida.

''Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.''

Muhammad Ali

April - Medical appointments kept us near the Jacksonville area, and we were happy when we could finally start heading west after connecting with friends in Panama City Florida, Houston Texas, and Austin Texas.

Yellow roses and dear friends welcomed us to Texas

May - We continued to head west while trying to decide if we should commit to traveling to Alaska. We visited some beautiful national parks and natural areas along the way including Monument Valley, Goosenecks State Park,  Natural Bridges, Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Goblin Valley State Park, and Craters of the Moon.

We celebrated my birthday with dear friends in Seattle Washington, and I received the Alaskan ''Milepost'' guide book as a gift.

We were ready to ...

''Get lost in the beauty of the Alaska wilderness.''

Unknown

June - We hopped on the Alaskan Marine Highway Ferry in Bellingham Washington to begin our journey to Alaska along the Inside Passage. After short stops in Juneau, Haines, and Skagway, we made our way through western Canada and arrived in Fairbanks Alaska just in time to celebrate the Summer Solstice .. and experience the 24 hours of sunlight and monster mosquito feast! A visit to Denali National Park with views of ''The Great One'' topped off our month.

July - Our Alaska road trip continued with travels around the Kenai Peninsula. Highlights included beautiful hikes, bear sightings, and visits to two more national parks ... Kenai Fjords and Wrangell-St Elias. A week spent in Valdez proved to be the highlight of our Alaskan journeys.

August - We made our way back into western Canada and enjoyed a scenic drive down the Cassiar Highway. We took in the beauty of Jasper, Lake Louise, and Banff National Parks before crossing back into the lower 48 and checking out Yellowstone National Park. Somehow, between lack of Internet and lack of time, I didn't get around to writing a blog post about our visit to these beautiful national parks, but perhaps you may see one in the coming months. Better late than never!

''Chase your dreams but always know the road that will lead you home again.''

Anonymous

September - Back in Minnesota! We enjoyed time spent in Minneapolis and  Rochester with family and friends. Special meals, chats around campfires, as well as engagement and wedding celebrations filled our days with joy. 

Boondocking in front of our son's new home

''Life is meant for good friends and great adventures.''

Anonymous

October - As we made our way southeast, we were able to plan our route to include visits with family and friends in Milwaukee, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Virginia. We helped for a week at a Habitat build in North Carolina before arriving back in Florida at the end of the month.

November - Fun at Gulf State Park with friends filled the first two weeks of November after which we headed back to the East coast of Florida. A spur-of-the-moment decision to take a Caribbean cruise proved to be a new and different kind of fun ... RVentures became Sea-ventures.

December - We rested up at one of our perennial favorites, Fort DeSoto County Park, before doing another two week Habitat build in Dade City Florida. Their camping area had a full kitchen available for me to use, so there were plenty of Christmas cookies to satisfy Doug and his dad's sweet tooth when we celebrated Christmas in Ocala. We are winding up the year with a stay at a state park near West Palm Beach.

Community festival of lights, music, and dance in Dade City, Florida

By the Numbers

Numbers of miles traveled in Baby Beest in 2022:

22,000 (roughly the same amount as in 2021) for a grand total of 75,000 miles on Baby Beest's odometer.

The highs and lows of gas prices:

Highest price per gallon ... $6.94 in the Yukon in June

Lowest price per gallon ... $2.99 in Florida in December

We paid an average of about $5.50 per gallon for gas in Alaska

Numbers of Campgrounds that we called ''Home'':

We stayed in 39 different private, county, state, and national campgrounds this year.

Number of nights in a paid campground - 141

Nightly cost averaged about $30/night

Number of nights in an AirBnB - 59

Cost of our ''rent'' for 2022 (campgrounds and AirBnBs) was $6000

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” 

Marcel Proust

Number of nights ''Mooch-docking'' - 75

💕 Heartfelt thanks to our dear family and friends who opened their driveway, their homes and their hearts to make us feel welcome! 💕

Mom and Dad

Liz and Tim

Tessy and Bill

Tami and Billy

Angela and Matt

Patty and Paul

Patty and Ken

Maria

Paulette and Ron

Shannon and Adam

Mary 

Marybeth and Gary

Tiffany and Dave

Kaleesha and Paul

Maureen and Dave

Janet and Dave

Laurie and Dave

Jill and Dick

Sue and John

Lisa and Dave

Number of free boondocking nights - 60

We recently discovered the free boondocking opportunities at Cracker Barrel Restaurants. The quiet parking lots as well as the delicious pancakes, eggs, and bacon served up for breakfast has made this Doug's new favorite. Of course, it pales in comparison to the beautiful scenery that we woke up to when boondocking on the side of the road in Alaska. 

Morning views like this outside our window just don't get old

Number of Harvest Host nights - 14

Number of Boondockers Welcome nights - 8

Number of nights spent on a boat (Alaskan ferry and Caribbean cruise) -  8

Number of Habitat for Humanity builds - 3

Goldsboro, North Carolina

Dade City, Florida x2

Number of states visited for the first time

Oklahoma

Alaska

Which means that we have only one more state left to visit ... Hawaii

Gonna have to leave Baby Beest behind for that one!

Number of new state capitol buildings visited - 8

Austin, Texas

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Topeka, Kansas

Salt Lake City, Utah

Boise, Idaho

Juneau, Alaska

Helena, Montana

Pierre, South Dakota

... which brings me up to a grand total of 47. The capitals of Kentucky, South Carolina, and Hawaii still elude me

Number of Countries visited - 5

Colombia

United States

Canada

Mexico

Bahamas

We loved visiting the Colombian island of San Andres

Number of Canadian Provinces visited - 3

British Colombia

Yukon

Alberta

Number of National Parks Visited in Colombia, United States, Canada, and Mexico - 15

Valle de Cocora in Los Nevados National Park

Arches

Canyonlands

Capitol Reef

Mesa Verde

Denali

Kenai Fjords

Wrangell-St Elias

Indiana Dunes

Cuyahoga

Harper's Ferry

Kluane

Jasper

Banff

Chankanaab

''We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us.''

John Muir

Our Favorites

and the winner is ....

Favorite Campground

Chena Hot Springs Campground; Fairbanks, Alaska

Liard Hot Springs Provincial Park; Liard River, British Colombia, Canada

The Northern Rockies are home to many natural hot springs, and we got to hang out at two of them. Both locations had a basic campground that was walking distance to the beautiful hot spring-fed pools. Liard Hot Springs, in the heart of the Canadian wilderness, had an electric fence around it to deter the bears from trying to find a toasty-warm meal walking back from the hot springs.

Favorite Boondocking Spot

Overlooking Salmon Glacier, Alaska

The white-knuckle 12 mile drive up was well worth it for a free campsite with a million-dollar view!

Favorite Harvest Host

Pleasant Journey Alpacas; Hesperus, Colorado

Harvest Hosts is an app that connects businesses with large parking areas with RVers looking for a place to park their rig for the night. When you stay at a Harvest Host location it is recommended that you support the business in some small way. I wasn't sure what there would be for us to buy when we arrived at Pleasant Journey Alpacas in southern Colorado, but we were in for a pleasant surprise. Greeted by this cute little dude and his knowledgeable owner, we were treated to a tour of the alpaca dwellings. During the course of the free tour, we learned ''everything that we would ever want to know'' about these cute and (usually) furry animals. They just happened to look a little skinny when we were there because they had recently gotten their once a year haircut.

At the end of the tour, Susan showed us the gift shop full of alpaca wool products, and I went home with some alpaca dryer balls that work wonders ... no need to buy dryer sheets!

Favorite Boondockers Welcome

Betsy and Steve's in Libertyville Illinois

Boondockers Welcome is run by the same company as Harvest Hosts with the only difference being that it is private homeowners who allow members to park overnight on their property or in their driveway. Betsy and Steve are one of these Boondockers Welcome hosts and allowed us to park at their home located an hour west of downtown Chicago for two nights. The next morning we drove two miles to the train depot and took the Metra downtown. It was a carefree and convenient way to explore the downtown Chicago area. Because Betsy and Steve were interested in learning more about our crazy lifestyle, we shared travel stories and advice when we returned that evening. It's always nice to develop new friendships wherever we roam! 

Favorite State Capital City

Juneau, Alaska

We had to do a little bit of finagling when I realized that the only way to visit Alaska's capital city of Juneau is by plane or boat. We were fortunately able to get off the ferry for a few days to explore the city and grab a picture in front of its rather ho-hum capitol building.

But the amazing scenery and hikes around the city's waterfront and Mendenhall Glacier (thirteen miles north of the downtown area) filled our three days with a stunning taste of Alaskan charm ... making it a ''favorite'' in our hearts!

Favorite Craft Brewery

49th State Brewing; Haley Alaska

Maybe because it's located less than fifteen miles from the Denali National Park entrance, and after five days of ''roughing it'' a cold beer and hot seafood chowder sounded heavenly, but whatever the reason, 49th State Brewing was voted Doug's favorite this year. And after trying their barley wine and fish & chips, I would have to agree!

Favorite City

Valdez Alaska

Alaska's ''Little Switzerland'' captured our hearts. There is so much to do from hiking to biking to kayaking to boat tours to fishing to wildlife watching. Plan your visit to coincide with one of the annual salmon runs and be doubly entertained as the sea lions and grizzlies partake in the ''all-you-can-eat'' buffet near the Solomon Gulch Fish Hatchery.

Favorite Restaurant

San Miguel; Sabaneta Colombia

We probably could have picked any one of the many small cafés that had ''menu del día'' lunch specials, but it seemed like we headed to San Miguel Restaurante, located two blocks from our AirBnB, at least once a week. Fish, chicken, beef or pork along with juice, soup, salad, rice, potatoes or beans, avocado, plantains, a fried egg, and arepa cost less than $4 a piece and filled us up for the rest of the day.

Favorite Natural Area

Los Termales Santa Rosa de Cabel

Our Colombian friends highly recommended a visit to Los Termales (the hot springs) of Santa Rosa de Cabel, and we're glad that we followed their advice. Majestic cold mountain waterfalls combined with the 158 degree hot spring water and produced a perfect 105 degree spa experience.

Favorite Historical Park

Kennecott Mines

It is well worth the precarious journey on a mostly gravel road to be able to visit the abandoned mining camp of Kennecott. The National Park Service is working to restore the various buildings to their former glory. A private tour brought us into the ''heart'' of the community ... Kennecott Mill, and gave us a picture of what mining life was like in this remote region of Alaska in the early 20th century.

Favorite Biking

The Ohio and Erie Towpath Trail through Cuyahoga National Park

The historic mule path alongside the Ohio & Erie Canal has been transformed into a serene pedestrian and bike trail. Stone remnants and  historic plaques told the story of a very different type of transportation system in the 18th and 19th century. My non-history buff partner was just as mesmerized by the beautiful autumn foliage that surrounded us.

''To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.''

Mary Davis

Favorite Hike

Any one of the many beautiful hikes in Alaska: Glacier View, Thompson Pass, Russian River, Hidden Lake, Exit Glacier

How does one choose?? A stop at any of the many trailheads found alongside the roadways (or sometimes consulting with Google Maps or All Trails) will lead to you to beautiful new heights. I especially liked the random stop that we made near the top of Thompson Pass just outside of Valdez. After an easy mile hike, we were admiring the beauty of the many glaciers in the distance.

Favorite ''this could be a fun new hobby''

Mushroom Hunting

We met up with RV buddies, Liz and Rémy in Haines, Alaska. Our hike with them turned into a fun and educational adventure when they taught us the art of mushroom hunting. After eating some of the delicious king boletes that we found, I started wishing that I had paid better attention to the lesson as it could turn out bad when picking and eating the wrong kind of wild mushroom!

Favorite Outdoor Adventure

Canoeing  down the Yukon River

Meeting up once again with Liz and Rémy in Whitehorse, Yukon, we decided to see what conditions early Gold Rush stampeders faced as they paddled down the Yukon River toward Dawson City in search of gold. It was a fun day of gentle paddling, eagle-watching, and picnicking along the river, and we were happy to get a ride back to our van at the end. My pathetically weak strokes would have never got us back upstream by the time the Yukon winter set in! 

''Mountains are earth's permanent monuments.''

Unknown

Favorite Tourist Attraction

Monument Valley

Who wants to re-create the famous Forest Gump scene?

A visit to the towering sandstone buttes that make up Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park allowed us to do that and more. In addition to seeing the filming location for many movies, we enjoyed a sunrise tour led by a member of the Navajo Nation and learned about the history, sacredness, and beauty of this red sand desert.

Favorite tree

Quindio Wax Palms found in Villa de Cocora, Colombia

These palms are native to the humid mountain forests of the Colombian Andes. Towering over 200 feet tall, they look like something right out of a Dr Seuss story. When we visited Salento, we found groves of this national tree of Colombia decorating the mountainside of the Cocora Valley where they are a protected species.

Favorite Bird Viewing

Watching the Gallito de Roca fly about at the Reserva Natural Jardín de Roca in Jardín, Colombia.

Their bright red color, odd features, and shrieking loud calls had us mesmerized. 

New Favorite Food to Cook in my van kitchen

Salmon ... or any local fresh-caught fish

While the cost of fresh salmon and other local fish in Alaska wasn't any cheaper than in the lower 48, it was FRESH and DELICIOUS ... and quite easy to prepare even in my tiny kitchen.

Favorite ''random'' stop

The Jade City Jade Store on the Cassiar Highway in British Columbia

A self-described ''spot on the road'' is well worth a stop for lovers of Jade. Since 90% of the world's jade is found in the nearby Cassiar Mountains, jade items of all kinds ... from ''raw'' stones to fine polished jewelry can be purchased in the store. I may just have been able to fit another pair of earrings into our van.

Favorite ''it's a small world'' moment

Over night stop in Payette, Idaho

Who knew that a Boondockers Welcome home was a block away from the birthplace of my favorite Minnesota Twins' player, Harmon Killebrew??!! Had to walk to the local ball fields named in his honor.

Favorite ''over-rated'' tourist attraction

Four Corners National Monument

There was only a little rolling of the eyes involved when I asked Doug to go about an hour out of our way in order to be able to say that I was in four states at one time! It's something that only multi-taskers can understand.

Favorite ''once in a lifetime'' opportunity

Participating in the Midnight Sun Run

Fairbanks, Alaska hosts a community festival on the longest day of the year which includes a 10K run/walk. We joined the festive crowd for the 10 pm start and still had plenty of daylight when we crossed the finish line at midnight. Music, humorous costumes, food, drink, and community enthusiasm kept us moving, because these old folks are usually in bed by that time of night!

Favorite Wildlife Expressions

This artic musk-ox was probably not very excited about the 70 degree temps that are occasionally a part of the Alaskan summer, but who can't just love this face??!!

This sea otter, on the other hand, seemed very content with the still quite cool waters as he floated by.

Favorite Random Piece of Art Sighting

''Fragile Masculinity''

Artist Unknown - 2022

Seen in a craft brewery ... obviously the beer didn't help with his anger management!

Favorite ''Home'' Improvement

Paper towel holder

It's the little things in life ...

As we look back on our seventh year of full-time travel, we are grateful for another RVenturous year of ...

quiet strolls along the valleys,

and beautiful views at the peak,

for welcoming homes and delicious meals,

and time with friends so sweet!

What will 2023 have in store for us?

We're excited to return to Medellín, Colombia once again this winter for three months of learning Spanish, teaching English, and immersing ourselves in the beautiful Colombian culture. When we return at the end of April, we are thinking about heading up the Eastern Seaboard, and into eastern Canada. We really loved Newfoundland when we were there in 2021 ... we need more time to search for puffins and eat fish & chips.

''We haven't been everywhere, but it's on our list.''

Anonymous

Hawaii is still out there ... time will tell ... but for now we will continue to cherish the beauty found around us in the smallest wildflowers and the tallest mountains ... and especially in the wonderful people who we meet along the way. 

Thanks for continuing to follow us wherever RVentures take us and for every time that you welcome us ''home''.

''May your dreams be larger than mountains and may you have the courage to scale their summits.''

Harley King