Out & About: Wilbur Hot Springs
When was the last time you spent a whole weekend not using your phone (other than using it as a tool to listen to music or take pictures with?).
Imagine a weekend with:
- No internet
- No plug outlets
- No cell phone service
When was the last time you put yourself in a self-imposed Digital Detox?
My friend Nicole had a birthday. My friend Nicole is a Capricorn, just like my Mom. She was the first person in my life that made me realize that I would have been good friends with my mom if she and I were the same age.
Nicole wanted to celebrate her birthday by going to Wilbur Hot Springs with friends. I said yes to the adventure. Yes to getting out of my comfort zone and meeting new people and getting away. YES TO GETTING OFF MY PHONE and LIVING MY LIFE.
I almost talked myself out of it twice.
But then I changed my thinking.
I said YES to myself.
Because all I’ve wanted since my mom died is SPACE.
Space for my brain to grieve without having to take care of anyone but myself for a weekend.
I wanted to be alone with my thoughts and feelings and the 2 1/2 hour drive up to the hot springs helped.
I caught up on the Talking in Circles podcast. My brain really needed that. It helped get me in the zone to do some deeeeeeeeeeep thinking of what has happened in the past few years.
Three of us stayed in the solar lodge. I got the top loft. It was just the right amount of space.
Communal bathrooms are just fine. It feels like camp life!
One of my favorite parts of the weekend was that you bring your own food if you’re spending the night and you get to work in their communal kitchen.
When you arrive you put your dry goods in your designated bins and they give you a large space in their commercial fridges to store your perishables during your stay.
That middle space is ours!
We planned our meals together, each person getting a meal shift to take care of.
I brought a homemade pizza with fresh pesto and veggies on top. Served with a salad.
It was delicious!
After the first night, we woke up to frost.
The cold weather made the hot springs way more enticing!
I think I might try one of the cabins next time.
FROST EVERYWHERE! So pretty!
Our first breakfast was bowls of steel cut oats with bananas, almond butter, stewed prunes, and nuts.
They have their own french presses there in the kitchen so we just brought ground coffee with us.
This is what the walk down to the kitchen looks like from the solar lodge.
Next time I am going to bring an extra bag so I can bring what I need down from my room.
It’s a pain when you forget something all the way up the hill in your room.
Also, I’m going to bring a robe because HOW DID I FORGET MY ROBE?
The light is amazing there.
They have bikes that you can hop on and ride throughout the property.
It’s a great way to spend the day.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NICOLE!!!
We took a dip in this tub filled with fresh hot water from the natural geyser!
I thought of my mom quite a lot. Sometimes I see heart shapes and think of her.
We saw a just a little action from the geyser when we were hanging around there.
Lady craft time, carrot soup, salad and cold pad thai for lunch.
100% YES.
Compost art.
Isn’t that a lovely kitchen setup?
Seeing other people be respectful of the communal kitchen space was inspiring.
So much can get done when people help each other out.
I spent a good hour coloring in a coloring book they had there.
I’m not showing pictures of the baths because I didn’t bring my phone down there!
Also, I wanted to respect everyone else who was there but it is INCREDIBLE.
I loved going at night because it’s dimly light and steamy. It almost feels cinematic.
The mineral-infused water is so good for the soul. I REALLY NEEDED THAT SELF CARE.
Working in the kitchen with strangers. Fun conversations pop up.
I loved seeing what everyone else brought to cook up.
Taking time out for myself was the best.
I spent about an hour alone drawing in my journal.
All the things! DOCUMENTED.
Late-night visits to the library were quite rewarding.
If you need to use a phone for an emergency, there’s this. I didn’t end up using it.
I trusted that my family was safe (they were!) and fought the impulses to use a phone.
Leftover dinner turned into lunch.
Life without a microwave is pretty exciting.
This little guy said hello to me before I left.
Don’t worry. I’ll be back soon, buddy.
I left this & the pen for someone to take with them as I departed.
The trip was a reminder that I NEED TO BE GOOD TO MYSELF.
Recharging my battery before I run out of fumes is key.
I recommend going to Wilbur Hot Springs if you’re looking for a fun/camp/quasi off the grid adventure.
But if you’re just looking for a detox from it all, set some boundaries and space between you and technology.
You don’t need to go away to have a weekend without a phone. You can do it wherever and whenever you feel like it.
We need this time for ourselves.
To think.
To be free.
To live in a world without a screen.
Now, more than ever.
