Before we start our adventure

Since I have some time to kill before the adventure begins, I thought this would be a good time to cover the planning of my trip. I am new to this, and maybe there is a senior who would like to start their own unique adventure so we can learn together.

After discovering the Park Service lifetime pass, the next question was how I can use this at my age while traveling alone. The main problem on the West Coast, with all the mountains, is cell phone coverage. What happens if I fall or have a heart attack in the middle of nowhere with no phone?

They make emergency satellite radios that cost between $350 to $1000 and require a cell plan service. Recently, Apple and Samsung started to offer emergency satellite service built into the phone, so I had to add a new phone to the grub stake.

I am a data junkie, so the next question is how to have internet out in the boonies? I purchased a mini satellite dish from Elon, and the monthly cost for internet runs between $50-$100 per month. A small price to pay to prevent becoming tourist coyote bait.

I will also try to cover my projected monthly costs since I am on social security and live month to month. So far, besides gas money, I will allot $50 for internet, which caps at some point, but since I get unlimited cell phone data from my phone's hotspot, this should cover me. My unlimited cell phone plan costs $60.