Chasing Sunsets, Peace and Happiness

April Sheffield grew up in Mobile, raised her kids in the Atlanta area and frequently visits her mother in Fairhope, but her current home has no address. As an empty nester, Sheffield sold everything she owned to live full-time in Sunset Dream, a 1953 Airstream.

Before stay-at-home orders grounded her in St. Augustine, Florida she had been on the road for almost a year. The restored Airstream doesn’t have a gourmet kitchen or a master bathroom, but the nature lover has all the land she needs. “These beautiful state and national parks are my front and backyard—that land belongs to all of us,” says Sheffield, who is hopeful that the pandemic has helped others realize that people and experiences are more valuable than material things.

Relying on paper maps, she’d make a rough plan, avoid tourist traps and take the roads less traveled because “that’s where the magic is.” She reminisces about North Cascades National Park, which features the most expansive glacial system in the contiguous U.S.; dog-friendly Colorado Springs; the Tetons in Wyoming; and Healing Waters Trail in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Her favorite part of the journey was hugging the coastline in northern California and Oregon where she saw harbor seals, sea lions, whales and many lighthouses.

While in Anacortes, which is located on a remote island in Northwest Washington, Sheffield ventured down a dead-end road and discovered a giant abandoned ship that was overgrown with wildflowers and blackberries. She remembers a chilly summer evening when the temperature dropped to 31 degrees while she was exploring Wisdom, Montana in Big Hole Valley. She loves the natural hot springs in the west and the crystal clear cold springs in Florida. “I like the little towns that have an old-Florida feel like Cedar Key, Jupiter and Coco Beach,” she says.

Sheffield’s travels have introduced her to many small business owners and fellow campers who are kind, helpful and interested in her adventure, but many are surprised to learn that she is on the road alone.

“When you’re by yourself, that is where self-discovery is,” she says. “Learning to cope without help—it takes lots of hikes, lots of bruises and falling down and doing it wrong. That’s the only way to learn. Not only have I survived, I’ve thrived and done great things. I’ve exceeded my expectations.”

She hopes to encourage everyone, especially females, to chase their own dreams and do the hard things in life while following peace and happiness. The Sunset Dream mantra seems to be “tune out the negative and listen to the positive.” Sheffield avoids the news, doesn’t talk about politics and relies on people she trusts to give her the information she needs to know. “I just want to hike,” she says.

Sheffield feels blessed for the experiences she’s had, but still needs to explore South Carolina to Boston. “It’s been a journey of a lifetime. It’s led me to a new outlook and a new love, and it’s not over yet. As soon as the world opens back up, I’ll be adventuring again.”

Follow @sunsetdreamairstream on Instagram to follow her travels.