The Pre-Surgery Trip That Went Completely Off the Rails (Little Sahara Edition)

If you know me, you know that four-wheeling is one of my happy places. Sand dunes, bumpy trails, the wind in my face — it’s the one thing that makes me forget CRPS for five minutes.

But because I’m getting my spinal cord stimulator implanted on Monday (!!!), I’m officially about to enter the
“No high-impact activities” chapter of life.
No roller coasters.
No bouncing around.
No dune riding.
Nothing Crazy fun, basically. 😉

So I told Josh:
“I just want one last trip to Little Sahara before surgery.”
Just one final hurrah with the side-by-side before my spine becomes bionic.

And in true Twinstead fashion…
It became the most chaotic, ridiculous, absolutely-on-brand adventure we’ve had in a long time.

Leaving Early Because… Goats.

We left impromptu on Wednesday because Honey — our very pregnant goat — is currently in the world’s longest “I’m about to give birth” stage.

I’ve been saying “any minute now” for nine days.

But I know if we waited until Saturday, she’d have those babies right as we pulled into the sand. So we scrambled, jumped into the RV, and decided to do a quick day trip.

We were NOT spending the night.
So for the first time in my life, I packed:
Nothing.
Zero.
NADA.

The kids had a change of clothes. That was it.

Chaos Begins: RV Edition

We climb into the RV.
It won’t start.

Of course it doesn’t. Jump box out and jump the RV.

Time to go get the side-by-side and the trailer… and I gracefully slip down the stairs — BUT DIDN’T SPILL MY COFFEE.

If that’s not raw talent, I don’t know what is.

Josh realizes the side-by-side key isn’t where he thought it was.
And then remembers it’s…
back at home.
In the truck.

So we go back home, grab the keys, and grab a gas can because apparently we forgot that too.

Back into the RV we go.

A ways into the trip we hit a bump so big the coffee pot falls off the counter and nails Ryder in the head.
Water everywhere.
Child screaming. (He was fine)
I’m trying to help and not laugh.
It was a moment.

A few minutes later, we hit another bump and the cabinet above Josh pops open — the one where he keeps his stopbox with his concealed carry inside.
The whole thing flies out and lands directly on his hand.

Instant pain.
Instant chaos.
Instant karma for laughing at the coffee pot incident.

We Arrive… and the Side-By-Side Is Dead

We finally make it to Little Sahara, park the RV, and go to unload the side-by-side…

And it’s dead.
Fully dead.
Won’t even pretend to crank.

So we jump it with the jump box, fill it with gas, and finally get out onto the dunes.

I’m thinking, “Okay. We did it. The worst is behind us.”

Oh, sweet naïve Michelle…

Stuck on a Sand Dune (Because Of Course)

We’re riding. We’re having a great time.

Then we stop on top of a dune.
You know how sand shifts?
Well… it shifted.

And we sunk.

Josh jumps out and starts digging with the boys tiny shovels like a pioneer man trying to unearth treasure.

Eventually, we’re free and off again, laughing our way across the sand.

The Part Where We Accidentally Spend the Night

As it gets late, we decide:
“Screw it. Let’s stay.”

Except we brought:
– No pajamas
– No pillows
– No blankets
– No breakfast
– No backup clothes
– No food besides day snacks
– No toothbrushes
– No sense of preparedness whatsoever

And with the RV + side-by-side combo, going into town is… an adventure.

But THANKFULLY the side-by-side is street legal.

So as the sun sets, we roll into Dollar General like feral desert goblins.

We buy:
✔️ Microwavable dinners
✔️ Microwavable breakfast
✔️ Pajamas
✔️ Pillows
✔️ Pillowcases
✔️ Zero dignity

Back to the RV we go.

Surprise! The Fridge Is Broken

We open the refrigerator to put our feast away…
and it’s warm.

Not cool.
Not cold.
Just sad, room-temperature disappointment.

We Google.
We YouTube.
We lightly threaten the fridge.
Nothing.

We end up putting our food in a tiny ice chest with not-very-cold ice packs while Josh takes the boys into town again to hunt for ice like pioneers on a mission.

They return victorious.
We pack the cooler.
Turn on the heat.
And go to sleep fully clothed like feral wilderness explorers.

The Next Morning: Cold Food & Colder Weather

It’s 38°.
Our breakfast is… refrigerated-adjacent.
We get bundled.
We head back out to the dunes.

And… I drive the side-by-side for the first time EVER.
I go through trails, dunes, bumps — full Twinstead style.
Did anyone die?
No.
Did I scream a little?
Also no (but only because I was concentrating too hard).

We switch drivers.
And immediately after, the side mirror falls off the machine.

Because why wouldn’t it?

And That Was Our “Simple Quick Trip”

We left on a whim.
Forgot everything.
Survived falling appliances.
Got stuck on a dune.
Shopped at Dollar General like it was a Target run.
Slept like RV raccoons.
And woke up at 38° to go ride the dunes again.

And honestly?
It was perfect.

It was chaotic.
It was messy.
It was us.

And it was exactly what I needed before Monday.

Monday: A New Chapter

On Monday, I’ll get my cervical spinal cord stimulator implanted — and hopefully, a new chance at pain relief after almost two years of CRPS hell.

I won’t be allowed back on the dunes for a long time. (If ever)
No bouncing.
No jarring.
No wild rides.

So this chaotic, ridiculous, everything-went-wrong Little Sahara trip?

It was my last ride for a while.
And I’m weirdly grateful for every single disaster that happened.

Because when life is heavy…
sometimes the only thing you can do is laugh your way across a sand dune with the people you love most.