I left the Davis Mountains and Texas to drive what I'd estimated would be four hours up to Roswell, New Mexico. This was driving on a miserable two lane road through miles and miles and miles of oil and gas fields, and nothing. Also, somewhere along the way, I crossed over another time change, and so added an hour to an already long trip.
Read moreStar Party at the McDonald Observatory
I thought, "This feels just like a national or state campground full of people." There were way too many smokers though, for it to be a park crowd. It was a clear night, and perfect for a star party, except for the full moon. But, I’ve been getting some great moonrise shots right over the observatory.
Read moreFlorida: hanging out with the family
I was on a journey to circumnavigate the US and Nova Scotia this year, but a miracle birth happened in my family, causing me to put on the brakes—in fact to put on the parking break for a month.
Read moreMotoring to Maryland
On the Turnpike with the Big Boys
I packed up, battened down the hatches, took the RV for my first dump station experience, and then drove off to Brooklyn to pick up my friend Margaret, who had agreed to join me on this Shakedown cruise. We planned to drive the Jersey Turnpike all the way south through a tiny bit of Delaware, and on into Maryland, to Elk Neck State Park. It was about 150 miles from Brooklyn to the park.
Read moreThe Blues
The best Easter ever!
A lot is happening every day, but it is so hard to write about stuff as it is happening. I'm going to have to get used to live-blogging I guess. Don’t think I’m a tweet-grrl, but “never say never” as my bro always reminds me.
After the kids went home, I got the blues. No. Capital B Blues!
Read moreShakedown Cruise
I picked The Winster up from Ed’s friend Bill who has kindly offered part of his driveway to store it until end of June. I emptied the Subaru into the central aisle, (if you don’t want it to fall, put it on the floor, was my reasoning) I didn’t have time to fool around, putting things away, so I just stuffed everything—boxes, shopping bags, plastic tubs—into the aisle. I pushed everything together tightly, so it wouldn’t slide around in transit.
Read moreWoo Hoo! Got My Rig!
Omg! Omg! Omg! Packed my Subaru with a ton of stuff, and left my house in the icy, snowy, pre-dawn hours. I picked up Alyssa over in Brooklyn, and drove two hours into Connecticut to pick up The Beast.
Read moreThree Zip Codes
This trip, for someone who has only ever lived in three New York City Zip Codes, is a pilgrimage. I need to go off and do a challenging thing, so that I can process what I’ve lived and learned thus far, and know myself better, here in my “Third Act.” I need to learn to take care of myself in the face of geographic and social variations.
Read moreThe Traveling Salesman
I had lunch yesterday with Ann and Gerry at The Mountain Brauhaus. They are friends I made last summer while house-sitting nearby, and caring for Fuzzy, the neighbor’s cat.
Read moreTravel Support Team
More Lists
I need to check the expiry dates on my passport and driver’s license. Will need to consider the annual things in my life that will come due while I’m on the road, income taxes, car insurance, and other payments…
Read moreFear
I woke up scared this morning. In my bed. In my apartment. What if I hear something while sleeping alone in my camper, and it’s dark? I won’t be able to just drive away if I’m plugged into the electric and water in a campsite. What would I do? Will I buy a gun? A Tazer? Bear repellent? Wasp and hornet repellent? A Louisville Slugger?
Read moreHappy Thanksgiving!
Hogwarts in East Harlem
Today is Thanksgiving. Yesterday was The Feast @ Park East. The teachers cook, we rent tables and chairs, and set up a Hogwarts style-dining hall in our gym. And we feed everyone: turkey and the traditional sides, or ham and macaroni and cheese to kids who don’t like turkey. We also feed forty or sixty alumni who come back to visit and help out. They visit the current classes of students and we set up panel discussions for them to tell of their adventures out in the real world of college and work. It is always the high point of the day for me. I get all teary to see these young men and women who, (just a minute ago) were scared little pups fourteen-years-old, first days of high school.
Read moreMoving the Dream Forward
Hi Al, Tom
Just wanted to keep you in the loop of what's going on in my head.
I reserved a small, nineteen-foot camper for our trip next summer, and I seem to have got the RV bug. (I owned a van/camper 30 years ago), and I'm thinking about looking for a used one, and hitting the road for six months or a year after I retire. Maybe I could sublet the apartment, and go travel around to all the places I've always wanted to see, or to see again, while I am young enough and healthy enough to do it.Read more