Blogs, random thoughts, travel
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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... -
Turtle People
A legion of highly trained volunteers, affectionately referred to as the Turtle People in our conversations that week, patrol and protect the beach all in the name of encouraging the propagation of the species. I understood that they were granted certain powers, such as the right to knock on your door to remind you “lights out” if your house lights were too bright and, thus, disorienting to newly hatched turtles. They also monitored any holes that were dug in the sand since a baby turtle could get trapped. -
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. -
Great Planners
All this activity had Annie super excited! She followed every step we made. About 2 PM we loaded her up and left. She was panting and trying her best to put down the window as we drove out of the driveway. After the first twenty yards we looked at each other and remarked that we had forgotten our wedding rings. We decided it wasn’t worth turning back for them. But that must have gotten Jenni thinking about other things we forgot. Less than a mile from home, she asked if I had packed Annie’s leash. I had not. -
Pilot Cove
Pilot Cove is a 20 cabin complex tastefully constructed at the gateway of the Pisgah National Forest in Brevard, NC. In fact, their website describes them as the “Gateway to Adventure” and that they are.Jenni and I, along with our dog Annie, had the privilege of spending a few days in one of their two-bedroom units. (They also have efficiency and one-bedroom to meet a variety of needs.) We used the cabin as a springboard to the hundreds of waterfalls in the Pisgah Forest and Transylvania County, as well as exploring the fabulous City of Brevard.
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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.
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