Finding Holy Places and Stingrays on the Road

There are certain types of days that feel less like a vacation and more like a gathering. Whether you’re navigating a national park on a full-time RV trip, spending a Saturday doing dispersed camping near a BLM spot, or just celebrating a family milestone at a beloved local beach, the energy is always the same: connection. It’s the deep, messy, joyful energy of people coming together.

If you’re like us, you know that the best part of the road school journey isn't the destination—it's the spontaneous field trip right in the middle. It’s the moment you pull into a little seaside town, or the time you find a forgotten overlook with the perfect view. These places become our temporary HolyPlaces, spots where we pause and remember what truly matters.

Watching the Tannerites' reunion at Imperial Beach, it’s impossible not to feel that wave of nostalgia. It’s the feeling of returning to a 'stomp-ground'—a place that holds decades of family memories. It’s a powerful reminder that life is about the journey, the spontaneous adventure, and the people who are with you when you're navigating the challenges, whether it’s a tough hike, a long stretch of overlanding, or even a sudden encounter with a stingray.

The Power of the Gathering: From Beach Day to HolyPlace

The central theme here isn't just the fun—it's the resilience of the family unit, and the vital support system of the community. When little Jacob gets stung by something in the ocean, the first thing that happens is a coordinated effort. The lifeguards are there. The family gathers. Help arrives, and everyone takes care of each other.

This concept of the gathered community is what defines the Rogue Adventurers experience. We are always looking for those moments where the journey itself becomes a field trip into grace. Whether we’re tackling a challenging trad climb in the backcountry or planning a simple day of bouldering near a state park, the underlying principle is the same: we are moving toward something—toward home, toward understanding, toward the ultimate gathering.

Leaving a Stone of Remembrance

Every time we set out on a new stretch of road, or find a beautiful spot off the main trail, we remember to leave a small marker of our faith and community. These are the CrockyGo painted rocks—little stones of remembrance left at trailheads or overlooks. They are silent prayers for the next family, the next adventurer, and the next soul who needs to know they are seen. Every stone marks a HolyPlace, even if it's just a rest stop in the middle of nowhere.

And when we do find a lovely local spot—say, a bakery in Mesa or a gift shop in a tiny town—we don't just pay with cash. We use our decorated Currency Kids bills. Each bill is a small gospel tract, a tangible piece of hope that travels with the dollar, supporting local businesses and carrying a message of faith forward. It’s how we keep our adventure practical and purposeful.

The best trips are the ones that converge. It’s where the RV family, the world-schooling co-op, the dedicated rock climber, and the faith-based traveler all meet. We are all on the same road, headed toward bigger things, whether those things are a view from the top of a mountain or the gathering we are all anticipating.

So, the next time you’re out on the trail, or parked at a beautiful dispersed camping site, take a moment to appreciate the community around you. What resources—what 'Adventure Angels'—are supporting your journey? And what little stone of hope will you leave behind?