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HI, I’M TERRA.
I’m a lifelong storyteller, nearing the final chapter of a 20+ year full-time career in the Army National Guard. These days, I’m building something new — one board, bolt and backroad at a time — slowly transforming a Ford Transit into a home.
This site is where I share that journey. You’ll find van build progress, road trip tales, quiet moments in wild places, and thoughts from the in-between.
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Poking anemones at Cabrillo National Monument
I always google the National Park units I visit before I actually visit them. I don’t need a ton of information, usually, just some basic history and a rough idea of what it is that makes the park special. When I did this for Cabrillo National Monument, in San Diego, the internet was all, TIDE POOLING, and I was all, what the fuck is tide pooling? Turns out, tide pools are found on rocky sea shores. They’re covered with water during high tide, but when the tide goes out, separate little pools are created. The real draw here is the sea critters who live in these pools. There’s all sorts of things, crabs and anemones, snails and barnacles, even lobsters and the occasional octopus. With the tide low, you get little glimpses into
July 31, 2017
Road Trip Pit Stops: Chattanooga National Military Park
When you’re on a multi-day drive in a big stupid truck hauling home some furniture that belonged to your dead grandmother, it’s best to include some adventures along the way. In fact, it’s probably mandatory. I’d never done the drive from Texas to Virginia, although it’s one my grandmother managed a few times in her 89 years of life. She was born in Loop, Texas, between Lubbock and Midland, and then moved to Virginia and, much later, returned to Texas, to Houston, for her remaining years. After coming home from my deployment, getting to Texas to gather up some of her things was among the pressing items on my to-do list. I was, thankfully, able to come home for her funeral back in November and was able to spend a
July 19, 2017
A Handful of Hours in Verona, City of Love
Few things make me feel more legit as a world wanderer than showing up in a new city and taking public transit. Buses or metros or ferries or what the shit else, when I travel to new cities or countries, I want in on the public modes of transportation. And that’s kind of how it started in Verona. We took the train in from Milan, stowed our luggage at the train station, bought some bus tickets and then scampered around in some circles trying to find the right bus, or rather, one of the right buses, got on the bus, validated our tickets and 10 or so minutes later we were standing in front of the Verona Arena. Built in 30 A.D., the Arena di Verona is still used today for opera performances
July 12, 2017
Befriending Seals in La Jolla
I know some people are from places where seals just hang out—but I’m not one of them. I’m an East Coast kid, born and raised in Virginia. So when I met the seals of La Jolla—seals everywhere—I kind of lost my mind.
June 28, 2017
Avoiding the Crowds & Chaos of Venice
I wasn’t sure I’d love Venice. The reviews were mixed—too crowded, too touristy—but it’s an iconic city I felt I had to see for myself.
June 26, 2017
How to Spend a Layover in Amsterdam
With nine hours in Amsterdam between Texas and Kuwait, I embarked on a small-sized adventure.
June 19, 2017