Blogs, random thoughts, travel
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Radio Reflections
When I was a preteen, I discovered KTSA which played “Top 40” music. I still remember it was 550 on the AM dial. You could call in requests via a TOLL-FREE phone number IF you were willing to dial eleven digits on a rotary phone and then, IF the call was answered, stay on hold for 15-50 minutes. People will say that Country music also existed at this time, but I’m not sure anyone in my family was aware of this. I was also probably in college before I realized there were FM stations available on the radio dial. -
Veterans Making Rookie Mistakes
Our plan was to walk the shoreline to the Big Sable Point Lighthouse. An online map I consulted offered a confusing trail, that looked like a road, that began in a campground somewhere behind us. No, we were still going with our idea to walk the shoreline. I grabbed a light backpack to carry the Nikon camera. We debated going barefoot since it was going to be a walk on the sand but ultimately we each grabbed some waterproof shoes and tossed them in the backpack. -
Impromptu Blue Ridge Parkway Trip
We said we would stop at just one overlook but that’s like eating one potato chip. I found myself pulling into each one that offered a view. The leaves in this lower elevation area were just beginning to change colors. I have a favorite tree on the Parkway at the Craggy Dome Overlook and it was my goal to get there. -
No Place Like Home
When we travel in our van Wanda, we travel with our own toilet and accoutrements. That means “home quality” toilet paper wherever we go. But now that the panic of the pandemic has subsided, we have taken to using other facilities as well. On the last trip I was reminded of the poor quality of toilet paper in state parks. A friend who once traveled to Russia described their toilet paper as “wax paper at best”. I would say that most state parks use a Russian supplier who leans more towards tissue paper quality. -
Travel Notes
While driving through the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, we were treated on three or four occasions to pairs of white swans living in small lakes or beaver ponds, but one time we did a double take when we saw a flock of pink plastic flamingoes on a pond in the middle of nowhere!
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A Drive-Thru Experience to Remember
On our recent trip to the Great Lakes, we entered into Culver Country. Culver’s is a Wisconsin-based frozen-custard-and-more fast-food franchise founded in 1984. They do have stores in twenty-six states but this was our first time to visit one. (We also visited our first White Castle’s franchise on this trip but Jenni said we should never mention that again.)
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You Meet the Nicest People
The man in the Ford Transit van came out and we struck up a conversation. I was as mesmerized by his Minnesota accent as he may have been by my southern drawl. (Asking ‘where y’all headed?’ tends to indicate I ain’t from around there). -
Writing on the Road
Writing on the road is difficult. First, there’s the lack of reliable internet and no WiFi. You would think that would be great for ‘going off g... -
Oops I Did It Again
With much less trepidation than the first time around, I published a second book this week. “Living With Wanda 2: Campervan Adventures Continue” is now available on Amazon as a Kindle eBook or in paperback. -
Decisions, Decisions
Before going to sleep that night at Hunting Island SP, we tried to make plans for the following day. It was our intent to backtrack a little and visit Edisto Beach which is back towards Charleston. As the crow flies, the distance from Hunting Island to Edisto is relatively short, but crows can cross water and Wanda cannot. It would be close to a two-hour drive to get there. -
Oaks and Palms
As we first turned on the dirt road we were met by a young man driving a BMW and I remarked to Jenni that he had probably just completed a drug deal because beamers don’t camp on dirt roads like big white candy vans. At the campground there were already several established campers. This was a campground primarily used during deer and turkey hunting seasons. -
Cherished Places
Huntington Beach State Park was the go-to beach destination for our family when we lived in the area. Sunday evenings were a perfect time to visit. All the tourists had either checked out of their hotels at 11 AM to drive back to Ohio and New Jersey or they had just arrived for a 3 PM check-in and were now looking for a place to eat their first all-you-can-eat seafood buffet of the week. The beach was always deserted on Sunday evenings.
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