Compression packing cubes, dry shampoo, and waterproof shoe covers

Surprising discoveries comparing Greyhound, Megabus, and Flixbus

My Appalachian Trail neighbor’s backpack, loaned to me right there on a driveway in suburbia

Business cards printed on hemp (and the hope to stay at a hemp farm), and ducky stickers for kids (of all ages) along the way

Nuns in the heart of our country, and a heartbreaking decision I just had to make

The Mojave Desert in July? What, are you outta your mind? (Apparently I am!)

The art gallery in Decatur (the ONLY silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community in the State of Georgia) that’s going to represent me and my BikeBloom upcycled bike tube earrings while I’m gone

And so much more

I have such a ridiculous number of slice-of-life updates for you as all the pieces of my upcoming journey are starting to come together. I probably won’t get the time to share them all since I only have 37 days to go before I hit the road. Plus, exciting new things keep happening daily.

Just know this. So much good has already happened, both within my family and beyond my familiarity. I am very grateful I heard and heeded the (duck ) call to embrace this odd journey Round America with a Duck.

If you feel a calling, no matter how odd-duck it seems (if not to you, then perhaps to others), don’t question it. Just lean into it and see where it takes you.

It could be the ride of your life.