KEEPIN’ IT FRESH

Some are meh, and taste like it. Those offer NO added benefits—except to make you run to the bathroom every so often.

But hey, some— the rarified few—are just awesome. Not only are they refreshing and truly thirst-quenching, but they’re also healthy for you, adding minerals to your body that are absorbed and used effectively. In my quest to find the best water around, I realized that my good friend Christen Delaney (perhaps known to you all as CAM) is also a firm “water lover.” In her words, she will share her thirst for Fresh Spring Water (yep! You heard it right—FRESH!). I believe this water reigns supreme! But enough about me; let’s hear Christen share her piece…

HUNTING FOR NATURAL SPRINGS

I don’t want to use this as a platform to preach about the benefits of Spring Water. I’ve been collecting and drinking spring water since 2015. It started with the health benefits of it. Water free of chlorine and fluoride but not stripped of its minerals. Drinking water that comes from an aquifer deep in the earth and is naturally filtered by nature and comes to you in its pure unbroken hexagonal form. That’s the ideal for me.

What started as a healthy option quickly became an exciting hobby. The challenge is to see how many different natural springs I can find on each road trip. As a family, we usually travel a lot during the summer, and I bring all my huge glass jugs with me. I try to use water from the natural springs we discover for all three months of the year.

It’s a community effort. If you’re interested in this water-gathering lifestyle, check out the site Find A Spring. It also locates hot springs, and I’ve found some of the most magical hot springs on my road trips.

YOSEMITE

This was the most recent spring I found on the drive to Hunewill Ranch, just outside Yosemite Park. The fun part about discovering these springs is that the map isn’t always 100% accurate, so it often involves a bit of adventuring and exploration. Ideally, I try to avoid springs that require long hikes because my jugs are solid glass and weigh 2.5 gallons.

OAK CREEK CANYON, SEDONA

We visit this spring quite a bit, actually; it’s a regular stop for us outside Sedona on our drives to New Mexico. This spring is located in a stunning canyon along a two-lane road. For a spring water stop, it’s well-developed and conveniently situated just off one of the camping spots, making it easy to pull over and fill up. Plus, there’s a creek back in the woods where we usually stop to cool off.

BICENTENNIAL PARK, UTAH

On my trip to Utah from Oregon, this was one of my favorite fill-up spots. While it may not have the most beautiful natural setting, it is a major community hub. This community cared enough about providing free water to build a stand in an easily accessible parking lot. I visited three times during my trip, and each time it was packed with locals getting high-quality, free water. Don’t get me wrong—I love a beautiful natural location, but what I truly appreciate is communities having access to mineral-dense water, as it can greatly enhance the health of the population.

MT. SHASTA, OREGON

My family makes a yearly pilgrimage to this spot on our way to our two-week camping trip in Oregon. This was the first place my daughters came to gather water. It’s a major hub for the community, featuring a playground and frequent gatherings in the field. One day, when I was passing through solo, I even enjoyed a 20-minute massage in the spring! You never know what you’ll see or who you’ll meet here. The water is ice cold and stays that way for days. It’s truly magical.

Of course, I know that not everyone has the time or inclination to spend days searching for fresh spring water like Christen. We are all but slaves to the lives we choose to live. However, I believe that we all deserve healthy water. In fact, it’s essential to get the nutrients we need from clean, filtered water. I believe THIS is how it should be. 

The next best thing I can suggest is to get spring water in glass bottles—please try to avoid plastic bottles as much as possible, if you can. What is ideal isn’t always easy for everyone, and I must admit, even for me, who loves water! So maybe my birthday wish is that one day, everyone will have access to clean, fresh, mineral-rich spring water—devoid of chemicals, treatments, and impurities. When that happens, we might be one step closer to world peace! 😊