Boise, Burlington, and Beyond!
In September of 2024 I set out in my partially converted, yet livable, van to experience new cities far away from Austin.
The first stop was Boise, Idaho for three weeks. A four day road trip brought me to Burlington, Vermont for another three weeks.
Though on opposite ends of the country, these places have a lot in common. Proximity to mountains, cold climates, small population,
and home to corporate offices of the company I work for. Partially looking for a new place to call home, and partially looking for
a much needed break from life in Austin, this trip allowed me to return to Texas feeling refreshed, eager to get out my comfort zone,
and excited at the opportunity to move across the country...
What's the beyond, you ask? I had never been to the east coast before, so I decided to take a week off to take my time coming back to
Texas starting in Maine and ending up in Virginia before heading due west back home. It was great to see friends and family along the way!
Boise
Boise, Idaho. The City of Trees. Les Bois. The capitol city of the Gem State. The gateway to the sawtooths. Could I go on? Yes. Will I? Yes!
A beautiful, clean, city home to countless green, lush parks. The Greenbelt, a 40 mile paved bike path following the Boise River, connects
downtown to the suburbs and beyond. A haven for hiking, road biking, mountain biking, fishing, and more. A safe, quiet place to retire and
pass on to where we existed before we were born.
Esther Simplot Park
Boise, Idaho
Bogus Basin Road
Boise, Idaho
Campsite Sunrise
Blacks Creek, Idaho
Lucky Peak State Park
Boise, Idaho
Boise Mountains
Boise, Idaho
Van Squad
Kooskia, Idaho
Van at Campsite
Blacks Creek, Idaho
Campsite Sunset
Blacks Creek, Idaho
Whitewater Park
Boise, Idaho
Boise Greenbelt - West Bridge
Boise, Idaho
Lake McCall
McCall, Idaho
Highway 95
White Bird, Idaho
Boise State Capitol
Boise Idaho
Ann Morrison Park
Boise, Idaho
Stanley Hot Springs
Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest, Idaho
Lucky Peak
Boise, Idaho
Boise River Ducks
Boise, Idaho
Burlington
Burlington, Vermont. The charming town on the west coast of New England. The urban epicenter of the Green Mountain State. The sun sets
behind the Adirondack Mountains on the other side of Lake Champlain. The people were much nicer than what I was told to expect from the east coast.
Maple syrup making, outdoor loving, apple picking, Champlain sailing, bicycle riding, cold enduring people.
Verte (Green) + Montagne (Mountain) = Vermont ☺
Duxbury Window
Bolton, Vermont
Bike Ferry
Burlington, Vermont
Mount Mansfield Summit
Underhill State Park, Vermont
North Beach
Burlington, Vermont
Ticonderoga at Shelburne Museum
Shelburne, Vermont
Bridge to Camel's Hump
Bolton, Vermont
Van at Camel's Hump Trailhead
Bolton, Vermont
Adirondack Sunset
Lake Champlain, Vermont
Hackett's Orchard
South Hero, Vermont
Ferry to Essex
Lake Champlain, Vermont
Blanchard Beach
Burlington, Vermont
Green Mountain View
Burlington, Vermont
Biking to Causeway
Burlington, Vermont
Essex Homes
Essex, New York
Shelburne Farm Barn
Shelburne, Vermont
Green Mountains
Camel's Hump State Park
Causeway Sunset
Burlington, Vermont
Beyond
Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maryland,
Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas! A whole lot of states were seen in my nine day road trip back to Texas. I took my first dip in the
Atlantic Ocean in Maine, devoured a lobster roll in Boston, drove the van into the heart of Manhattan, and had my second ever
overnight stay in a Walmart parking lot outside of Baltimore. Lots of firsts on the east coast.
Acadia Tree Canopy
Acadia National Park, Maine
Post Atlantic Dip
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Hot Springs Sunset
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Maine State House
Augusta, Maine
Eagle Lake
Acadia National Park, Maine
Mountain Tower
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Van in East Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Otter Cove
Acadia National Park, Maine
Palace Green
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
The Oldest Man
Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Pemigewasset Sunrise
Kancamagus Highway, New Hampshire
Times Square
New York, New York
Prospect Park
Brooklyn, New York
Cadillac Mountain Sunrise
Acadia National Park, Maine
Alan Yanez
Nasheville, Tennessee
Boston Commons
Boston, Massachusetts
The Breakers
Newport, Rhode Island
Expenses
Gas sure ended up being quite the chunk of change. The 'Other' category includes things like concerts, museums,
oil changes, parking fees, tolls, and maple syrup! I learned that certain sections of interstate highways on
the east coast are toll roads, and the expenses added up to almost $50.
| Category |
Boise |
Burlington |
Beyond |
Total |
| Gas |
$656.39 |
$650.21 |
$511.28 |
$1817.88 |
| Groceries |
$199.20 |
$250.84 |
$0 |
$450.04 |
| Food |
$149.24 |
$230.68 |
$100.68 |
$480.60 |
| Convenience |
$37.68 |
$44.88 |
$38.99 |
$121.55 |
| Other |
$237.54 |
$298.61 |
$122.54 |
$605.96 |
| Total |
$1280.05 |
$14755.22 |
$773.49 |
$3528.76 |
