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MAPS
I will share maps of the places I've been, in case anyone wants to follow in my footsteps. Also to help me remember all the paths I've taken. Also, thanks to REM I have these lyrics in my head almost daily..."Stand in the place where you live, now face north, think about direction, wonder why you haven't before."
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For all those reasons and more - here are some maps.
South by
Southwest
This is a silly but roughly accurate map of my first car camping road trip. It started and ended in my home in Wisconsin. I call it South by Southwest. (And no, I will not be attending the South by Southwest festival of music, film and media stars while I'm in Austin...it's just a good name. )
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Links to related blogs: *OVERVIEW OF SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST
"Space Coast"
My first two days in Florida were spent in Cocoa Beach. Then I discovered Canaveral National Seashore. Gorgeous, amazing, you should book a trip there right now. I explored the southern shores first (Playalinda Beach) and then the northern shores (Apollo Beach.)
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I bought my National Park annual pass at the Park Headquarters near Playalinda Beach, and got my first stamp in my NPS Passport at the Visitor Center near Apollo Beach. (Yes, I am just that dorky.)
My AirBnB was in Titusville, and I spent 2.5 days in Cocoa Beach and 2.5 days at Canaveral National Seashore.
Links to related blogs: *First Time Surfer
Winter Friends Weekend
Northern Wisconsin in mid-March is a powdery wonderland. A lovely place to visit and hang out with friends in YMCA Camp Nawakwa in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin - specifically a large winterized lodge cabin there called BridgeBuilder.
Drive to Woodruff, WI, then head west on Hwy 47. From there use specific printed out directions provided by the camp or hostess Ruthie. (GPS and wifi will not be options.) You will still get a little lost, but you'll get there eventually, and the chili will still be warm and plentiful. : )
Links to related blogs: *Winter Friends Weekend (2023)
East Coast Swing
A cherished niece graduating from Duke and a Sparkly concert in Turners Falls, MA were the lynchpins for an east coast car camping swing. Oh, and picking up my kid from Jersey.
Drive south, drive east, drive north, drive west. Pack both fancy clothes and car camping clothes. Sleep in Cracker Barrel parking lots and hike Old Rag in Shenandoah NP. See wild horses, grapple with loneliness, eat at a French restaurant and watch a fly fisherman at work. Throw in one family 3P's game and one family crisis, a dash of Giggles, and wrap it all in a sparkly scarf... and you've got the East Coast Swing. This was an eclectic trip and I'll spend a lifetime recovering from its highs and lows.
Links to related blogs: *Summer of Graduations
Lake Superior
Swing
Participate in the 2023 LOEWSTRONG BIKE RIDE in Menominee County with Tod "Stretch" Radtke, then drive from Grand Marais, Michigan to Grand Marais, Minnesota, intending to circumnavigate Lake Superior. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, then a series of the most beautiful state parks ever on the North Shore...boom boom boom. Best donuts ever, yoga on the pier, almost ready to move to Grand Marais - and then the weather shifts. Call it quits before getting to Isle Royale NP due to mosquitoes, Canadian wildfires, homesickness (maybe not in that order.). Visit ANOTHER beautiful MN state park, visit family in Minnetonka, MN and then head home to spend time with Josh and dig stumps. What a swing!
Links to related blogs:
NorthEast Swing
Drive Josh to Montclair State University, visit Luke and Anha, then fully enjoy ambling around Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and New York. Car camping is easy! Who needs the cords for the portable fridge? Not me, evidently! Take in a JF show at the Cock n' Bull. See Niagara Falls. Briefly flirt with Canada. Break down in Michigan. 2 ski hills in summer, smoked meat, ghost rainbows and perfect campsites...who says you can't have it all? Sojourn on!
Links to related blogs:
NorthWest Swing
Haul it to Butte, U.S.A. to see friends at a show. Hightail it to Glacier before the snow flies. Drop in on Jeff and Cathy Harrits to wait out the snow - trapped in paradise and wrapped in friendship. Through the Palouse to the love and care of the Issaquah Brightbills. Poo Poo Point to hike and Snoqualmie tunnel to bike, homemade Chicken Taco Bake and Wild Berry Pie with the whole family. Off to Olympic NP to fall in love with a rainforest and a coastline - then quickly home before the mountain passes close with snow and before I need to hibernate for winter. Two national parks on the way home - Wind Cave and Badlands - then cruise Iowa listening to audio books where Inspector Gamache saves the day.
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