4susansmiles

India – First Impressions

2011-02-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

I don’t have the patience or time to finish up the other “interim” posts I had planned to describe travels through Western WA and Nicaragua. Those might come later, but for now I want to write about India while I’m here. Background: Since October 2009 I’ve been working as delivery manager at a small software company called Avalara, headquartered on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle). The majority

A tale of two islands: Bainbridge WA to Victoria BC

2011-02-13T12:26:00.000-08:00

Twice in the past 18 months I’ve visited Victoria BC with Keith and Sarah, to celebrate Keith’s birthday at the end of January. I arranged overnight packages through Clipper Vacations, including transport on the high-speed passenger ferry from downtown Seattle plus vouchers to nearby hotels and Victoria attractions bundled into the same ticket price. It’s a great way to go; with about the same

On the future of this blog

2011-02-13T12:22:00.000-08:00

At long last I’ve decided to resurrect this blog. After some [not too deep] thought, I've come to realize that I think of this as my travel journal; a forum to record the places I’ve been so that I can share them with friends and family, and to serve as a reference for returning to (or avoiding) specific sites or people or events that I’ve witnessed. I recently landed in India for the first time

Another new beginning

2009-10-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

I'm back in Honduras again, but this time just for one much-too-short week before returning to my new home and new job on Bainbridge Island in WA. RECAP... Fifteen months ago I left Washington Mutual Bank with a little bit of cash in the bank and a desire to see the world, to give back to those less fortunate, and most importantly to pass through a journey that would change my perspective.

More family bonding in Colorado

2009-08-12T11:11:00.000-07:00

After my last post, I stayed a few days at a hotel in downtown Boulder to explore Pearl St, then stayed four nights with cousin Dave's family in Erie, outside of Boulder. I can hardly describe how much I enjoyed being part of a busy energetic household filled with sports, music, video games, sleep overs, cooking, errands and all the normal stuff you'd expect with a pair of pre-adolescents and

Family in Colorado. Who knew?

2009-08-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

After leaving Wisconsin last Monday, my intention had been to make my way towards Boulder CO to explore for a few days, possibly camping in Estes Park (near the Rocky Mountain National Park) and finally head northwest to Seattle. The events of the past week are far more interesting and unexpected. And really way-out-there cool, in my opinion.A little background: My folks split up when I was nine

Family and Friends in the Midwest

2009-07-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

It's been quite awhile since my last post and I have a bit of catching up to do! After all the sight-seeing in the Anasazi / Four-Corners region I've been primarily busy with friends and family: not the kind of stuff I thought would be interesting for a broad audience. More specifically, reconnecting with family and friends has been cause for reflection and soul-searching that (at times) I'm not

Another flat tire

2009-07-10T05:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday on I-80 about an hour west of Lincoln NE, my right-rear tire blew out. If you knew me two years ago, you may remember the trouble I had with tires on my van when I first drove it home. I bought my camper on eBay from a guy in Atlanta GA. (Eurovan campers are somewhat hard to find, and this was the best I could find at t he time.) I flew down Thanksgiving week 2007 to pick it up. The

Archeological sites in the four-corners area

2009-07-08T10:46:00.000-07:00

If you've been following this blog you may remember that I visited several indigenous communities in Latin America where people live much as they had prior to the arrival of Europeans. I also visited Mayan and Incan (and pre-Mayan, pre-Incan) ruins and heard theories about life prior to the decline of these cultures. I realized that I'd never been to the pre-Columbian sites in the USA, and

Surviving Arcosanti

2009-07-02T20:07:00.000-07:00

This road trip will include visits to many of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the USA, so that I can look for similarities between cultures that developed in North America compared to those I learned about in central and South America. (More about this in a later post.) One aspect of indigenous life in the Americas is a community and living structure that is more in harmony with nature.

Traveling with Max: Pacific Coast and Phoenix

2009-07-02T19:33:00.001-07:00

I soooo enjoy being back out on the road! A month in Seattle hanging out with Keith-n-Sarah and getting to know Savas was a ton of fun, but after five weeks I was getting restless to continue on my journey. Here's the first post of what may become another six-week roadtrip.Max in the VanTraveling with a kitten is certainly a new experience. I need to stop every few hours for play-time to keep

On the road again

2009-06-24T06:11:00.000-07:00

After more than a month in Seattle catching up with friends and exploring and relaxing and enjoying Spring, I'm finally getting out on the road again.My new kitten has finally settled on his name -- Max (aka Mad Max, Road Warrior). He's turning out to be a great travel companion. He's harness trained, very comfortable in a car, mellow (for a kitten), brave and social. I think we'll do just

Contact info update

2009-06-13T19:32:00.000-07:00

as of June 2009The usual infoMobile phone: (206) 930-0213Postal address: 24 Roy St #297, Seattle WA 98109Email: susanborgstrom@gmail.comWeb contentBlogger: http://susanborgstrom.blogspot.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/susanborgstromFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/susanborgstrom LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/susanborgstrom

Kitten!!! and a travel update

2009-06-13T19:09:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'd like to introduce you to my new kitten! He came "home" from the animal shelter with me yesterday. Ain't he just the cutest thing..? He'll be joining me on my upcoming adventures and then we'll settle someplace cozy in the Fall. We're still working out his name, but he's answering to Natal (nay-TALL) at the moment. (It's geeky, I know, but the way he jumps around really looks

Culture shock - Part 1

2009-05-18T09:32:00.001-07:00

Yes, I'm back in the USA. I have a few hours' layover in Newark before my flight to Seattle this afternoon. I'm pretty excited to be back, but it's going to take some acclimatization!For dinner last night in Lima I had an amazing 3-course meal plus beverage for $22. Included was a generous vegetable salad with greens, beets, radishes, carrot and avocado; a lovely rich chicken curry with rice,

Inca Trail and Machu Picchu

2009-05-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we began our final Latin American adventure with a trek along part of the Inca Trail to the iconic Machu Picchu ruins. An overnight bus from Arequipa to Cusco, then a day's drove to Santa Theresa, stopping along the way for photo opportunities at lesser-known archeological sites. A quick soak at Santa Theresa's hot springs recharged us for the following day's 6-hour trek. Admittedly

Puno and Lake Titicaca

2009-05-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

The most magical places are often discovered after unexpected journeys. Sillustani near Lake Titicaca was such a place for me. I hadn't been planning to travel to Puno, but with a tiny bit of encouragement from Carmen and Tristan, and an unexpected 5-day weekend to fill... we found ourselves at the end of a 5-hour bus ride tucked into a little hostel in the touristy town of Puno, on the coast of

Update regarding Peruvian strikes

2009-05-13T16:56:00.000-07:00

Several people have asked about the impact of the Peruvian strikes on the last week of my travels in South America. At this point, as long as we stay in or near Lima I don't believe we'll see ANY trouble at all. At the moment we're tucked into a backpacker's hostel in the affluent beach-front Lima suburb of Milflores. It will be an expensive several days, but I don't think we'll be

Travel update

2009-05-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

My flight back to Seattle is less than a week away, on Monday May 18. It is difficult to believe that this crazy Latin American adventure is wrapping up, but I´m looking forward to heading home. Home: what an interesting idea. I have no place to live and no job to get back to, only friends and family to visit, and a series of decisions to make about what comes next. Before worrying too much

Itinerary Update (as of May 12, 2009)

2009-05-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

Update on May 12, 2009Revision to final week in Perú, return date to Seattle, and speculation about the summer. Updates in red.---------------October 2008Seattle, WA, USAPacking and shutting down my Seattle apartment and moving everything into storage.Oct 30 - Nov 8, 2008 (1 week)Amsterdam and 'S-Hertogenbosch, The NetherlandsVisiting with Zach and Matt at the European Ceramic Work Center, and

Birthday in Sachaca

2009-05-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to capture a crazy day at school.Every month GVI hosts a birthday celebration for all the kids who had a birthday in the past month. There's cake and fancy fruit salad for everyone, and the birthday kids each get a gift. Today was our "cumpleanos" celebration. It just happens that my birthday is May 7, and somehow the teachers at our school knew about it. And so after the kids

Adventures near Arequipa, Perú

2009-04-23T18:43:00.000-07:00

We've been on a handful of weekend "adventure" trips not too far from my current home-base in Arequipa. This post covers everything prior to the May 7 - 15 adventure week coming up at the end of my GVI journey.Mountain biking down Chachani. On our first Saturday in Peru, I went with Aaron, Maya and Aviv to a nearby mountain called Chachani and rode bicycles down mostly dirt tracks from 4875 M to

Arequipa, Perú: First Impressions

2009-04-14T17:55:00.000-07:00

I'm now enjoying the last country of my six-month Global Vision International (GVI) tour of Latin America. Arequipa, Perú is the furthest south I've even been. We're at an altitude of 2600 M, a little lower than my previous stay in Otavalo Ecuador. Unlike my other homestays, this time I'll be living in a hotel room at Casa de Avila during my six-week stay in town. I take my meals at the hotel

Exploring Otavalo: A Bit Further from Town

2009-04-02T13:15:00.000-07:00

Part 3 of 3Fuya Fuya and Lagunas de MojandaOne of our first adventures outside of Otavalo was to climb Mt. Fuya Fuya (4263 m), which means "cloudy cloudy." Eleven of us headed out for a guided day trip to the top of this nearby mountain, considered a "starter" mountain for those interested in scaling the higher nearby peaks such as Imbabaya or Cotapaxi. After a bit of difficulty locating the

Exloring Otavalo: Nearby Adventures

2009-04-02T12:25:00.000-07:00

Part 2 of 3El LecheroEast of town between Otavalo and Laguna de San Pablo, at the top of a steep hill in a grassy clearing there lives an old tree called "El Lechero". Legend says that if you approach the tree with sincerity and give it a hug and a kiss, the tree will grant a wish. In addition to giving out wishes, the tree also provides a "buena vista" of the surrounding area, including the

Exploring Otavalo, Part 1 of 3: In Town

2009-04-02T11:18:00.001-07:00

Now that I've arrived safely in Arequipa, Peru it is well past time that I posted about all the amazing places I explored near Otavalo, Ecuador. Otavalo has plenty to do and see, and I'll recount it in three parts. This is part 1 of 3: In TownSHOPPINGArtisan Market. One of the primary tourist attractions in Otavalo is the astonishingly large open market. Bright colors seems to be the recurring

Exploring Quito, Ecuador

2009-03-22T09:07:00.000-07:00

I've been living in Otavalo, but spent two weekends exploring Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. Quito is two hours from Otavalo by bus. My first visit to Quito was when we first arrived in Ecuador from Nicaragua. Since I was somewhat preoccupied with adjusting to the altitude, I managed to return for another weekend to really enjoy the city.NOTE: Quito is a BIG city. It has all the art and

Teaching at Larcacuna

2009-03-08T07:31:00.000-07:00

I'm beginning my fourth week in Ecuador and it's about time I posted more information about where I'm working...I've been teaching a group of third graders in a community called Larcacunga. I have 7 boys and 1 girl ranging in age from 7 to 11 years old. Of the eight, three are brothers (Juan, Luis and Mario), and Bryan and Nayeli are siblings as well. All the family relationships make for

Settling into Otavalo, Ecuador

2009-02-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

I've been here just over a week, but I'm having a hard time settling into my new place in Otavalo. If it's possible, I believe that I'm feeling homesick for Copan!The GVI Phoenix project has approximately two dozen people on the ground here, working in four different schools surrounding Otavalo. I'm with five others in a community called Larcacunga. We take a city bus 15 minutes out of town,

Welcome to Nicaragua

2009-02-11T18:22:00.000-08:00

We'll be here less than a week, but the country still deserves a proper entry in this blog... About Esteli, NicaraguaMany people still won't consider traveling to Nicaragua because of its long history as a trouble spot. These days, however, the guidebooks say it is the safest country in Central America. From what I've seen so far, Esteli feels more like a suburb of Houston than an

Coming soon...

2009-02-11T17:51:00.000-08:00

In Esteli Nicaragua - but not ready to write about it yet...Even though I've arrived safely in Esteli Nicaragua, I have a few things to wrap up about Copan Ruinas before moving on in this blog. Look for two back-dated Copan posts, then new info about Esteli and our project in nearby La Tompson.

Comidas Ricas -- Food in Copan

2009-02-07T18:15:00.000-08:00

This post is simply a listing of some favorite foods from Copan, so that I might attempt to recreate them once I settle into a place with a kitchen of my own. Generous thanks to Carla and my host family for helping me puzzle out ingredients for some of these items.BaleadasServed anytime of the day as a meal or a snack. My favorite version in Copan was from Pupuseria Mary, near Commercial

Update on Isaias' Family in Llanatios

2009-02-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

Remember Isaias and the family we visited a few times with Ellen in Llanatios? The Thursday before we left Copan the matriarch of Isaias' orphan family died in the night. Isaias walked into town to tell Ellen early in the morning, and we ran into Isaias in Central Park as we were waiting for the truck to school. Even though he had just suffered a terrible loss, he was working hard to smile

Life in Copan: part 2 of 2

2009-02-01T14:53:00.001-08:00

I haven't taken the time to write in my blog much during my stay in Copan. For those interested in following my travels -- I apologize. I'm not sure what it is about this town that has sucked me into a sort of time warp. Every few days I think... "dang, I should get online and post something..." and then it's time for dinner, and then we meet up afterward for drinks or a game of Triominoes

Life in Copan: part 1 of 2

2009-01-30T17:29:00.000-08:00

Copan Ruinas is a busy tourist destination. Though my group is in town primarily to help out at the primary school in the nearby community of San Rafael, we have been able to take advantage of many other activities in and near this laid-back Honduran town. 've had significantly more free time here than I did in Antigua, and as a result I've been able to visit many interesting attractions nearby:

Welcome to Copan Ruinas, Honduras

2009-01-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

On December 27, 2008 my group (me, Aaron, Aviv and Maya, along with GVI intern Sophie) drove 5 hours from Antigua, Guatemala to Copan Ruinas, Honduras for the next six weeks of our GVI volunteer trip. About Copan RuinasCopan Ruinas (often called simply Copan) is just a few minutes' drive east of the Guatemalan border in mountainous western Honduras. Copan is just half mile from a nice

Christmas Week in Antigua

2008-12-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

(photos to be added when possible)As I mentioned before, Zach arrived Dec 17 to join me in Antigua for Christmas week. We checked into Hotel Las Camelias Inn for the week. He came to Santa Maria with me on Thursday and Friday to help out at the school, then we went on a four-day adventure trip through northeast Guatemala. We returned on Christmas Eve just before the shops closed and managed to

Feliz Navidad!

2008-12-26T16:37:00.000-08:00

This is just a quick post to say Merry Christmas and Happy Solstice to friends and family who may be following this blog. Thank you for all the wonderful notes and well-wishes! It's been strange to be so far away from home during the holidays, but I've been thinking of you all.It's been a VERY busy few weeks and I haven't been near WiFi for most of it. I have a few draft posts that I hope to

Travel weekend to Livingston, Tikal and Flores

2008-12-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

School finished up on December 19, and GVI had no other activities scheduled for us until Christmas Day. To take advantage of the break, I joined several other volunteers (with Zach) on a four-day trip around Guatemala arranged by Canadian volunteer Juan through the Aviatur Travel Agency. The group consisted of Juan, Michelle, Fiona (Australia), Fiona (Ireland), Matt, Lalita, Graham, Zach and

Final week with kids at school in Santa Maria de Jesus

2008-12-20T09:30:00.000-08:00

My stay in Antigua was six weeks altogether, but only four were spent working at the school in Santa Maria de Jesus. I can't believe how fast those weeks flew by! As I mentioned in a prior post, my first school week was spent shadowing the wonderful and amazing Emily, who left me a game plan to continue after her return to England. Weeks two and three were pretty normal (I suppose) with

Weekend at Lago Atitlan

2008-12-17T07:49:00.000-08:00

Last weekend the GVI crew was out at Lake Atitlan with a full agenda of bicycling, kayaking, hiking and swimming. This amazing trip was part of the formal GVI agenda. Aside from all the great work we do with the kids during the week, I'm pleased that the GVI organization recognizes a need for quality recreation from time to time. Working through the extremely well-managed Old Town Outfitters

Weekend at the beach in El Salvador

2008-12-10T18:26:00.000-08:00

After another Friday night BBQ with welcomes and good-byes, a large group of volunteers left early Saturday morning for a weekend at the beach in El Salvador. This was not a GVI-sponsored excursion, but it is a trip that GVI volunteers commonly make. Thirteen of us met up in Antigua with the proprietors of Hostal El Roble for a 5-1/2 hour drive to Playa San Diego in their shuttle van. By 1 PM

Music and Sports at School in Santa Maria

2008-12-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

I spent all Sunday preparing for the school week. A bit nervous on the first day, I found the kids were supportive and forgiving of my limited Spanish, and eager to get on with their schoolwork. As long as I kept with the patterns that Seno Emily (prior teacher) had established, they were able to complete the exercises with very little extra instruction. Nonetheless, my Spanish is improving

First week at GVI Escuela Victoria

2008-12-02T16:20:00.001-08:00

GVI operates three schools from their base in Antigua Guatemala: two in Santa Maria de Jesus and the other in Itzapa. I teach first grade (age 6-8) at the school in Santa Maria called Escuela Victoria. I have one class of 12 students in the morning and another in the afternoon. Throughout my first week I shadowed veteran volunteer and professional teacher Emily, who departed at the end of the

Antigua - Geography and History

2008-11-25T15:57:00.000-08:00

The first base city of my six-month GVI tour is Antigua, Guatemala. This post provides a bit of background information about the city.GeographyAntigua is surrounded by volcanoes. Three are frequently used as reference points when navigating around town: Volcan Agua to the southeast, Volcan Acantengo to the west, and Volcan Fuega -- an active volcano with a continuous plume of smoke -- to the

Mi Casa y La Escuela

2008-11-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

The week has been all about studying Spanish and getting acclimated to Guatemala and Antigua. I can hardly imagine an easier transition. Antigua is tourist-friendly to begin with, and my volunteer organization (GVI) provides enough structure to smooth over any rough edges. As long as I show up where I'm supposed to each day and I'm not a jerk, I believe that everything else will fall into

Arrival in Antigua, Guatemala

2008-11-16T14:35:00.001-08:00

Just a quick post to say that I've landed safely in Antigua. I'll be spending the next week in Spanish classes six hours per day, and will move out to the village schools as a teacher's aide the following week. I'll be working and traveling for the next six months with Maya, Aviv and Aaron (see photo). Tonight all the GVI volunteers meet at 7:30 for a group dinner and welcome/farewell for

Williamsburg Redux

2008-11-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

Colonial Williamsburg (CW) held such charm for me during my brief stop two months ago that I was compelled to return for another visit before beginning my tour of Latin America. CW combines many of my favorite things: a meticulously recreated "living history" museum and wonderfully costumed actor/interpretors portraying historical characters through staged re-enactments of famous moments in

The Netherlands: Den Bosch

2008-11-07T16:12:00.000-08:00

If you've ever tried to throw a pot on a spinning wheel, you'll likely agree that it's harder than it looks.After a few days in Amsterdam Zach and I hopped a 60-minute train ride to 'S-Hertogenbosch (aka Den Bosch), where Zach and his brother Matt have been working at resident artists at the European Ceramics Work Center (EKWC) since early September. I squeezed my bags into their tiny apartment

The Netherlands: A Parade in Amsterdam, and sightseeing

2008-11-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

On Saturday night I walked three hours in the rain through the streets of Amsterdam two paces ahead of a marching band in a parade, carrying the remnants of a soggy cardboard costume and trying to avoid fresh cow manure. And I think it was a fantastic introduction to the city.This week I'm in the Netherlands visiting Zach and his brother, who are artists-in-residence through early December at

Hitch 'em up, move 'em out

2008-11-02T10:07:00.000-08:00

After a very short month in Seattle, my apartment is cleared out, (mostly) everything I own is in storage, and I've headed out on the next stage of my journey.Before leaving town I managed to squeeze in a few very important activities: a hike in Mt Rainier National park, lunch/coffee/cocktails with several friends (Judy, Denise, Janice, Robert, and others), a brisk and beautiful motorcycle ride

The next journey begins

2008-11-01T02:08:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick post to say I've finally packed up and moved out and landed safely in Amsterdam. I'll compose photos and notes for a longer posting later today or early tomorrow...

One more week in Seattle

2008-10-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Seattle is an amazingly great place to live and I'm going to have a hard time leaving it behind. A week from tomorrow morning (10/30/08) I'll be getting on a plane that will take me, well, lots of different places -- all of which are far away from here.Even as the days grow shorter, colder and wetter in Seattle's late autumn, it is still a delight to take a brisk walk up Queen Anne hill in the

Home -- for a little while

2008-09-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

The border crossing line was long and slow, and when I arrived at the guard booth I discovered why. The border guard was cheery and chatty and before we finished he tried to convince me to take a detour to Mt Baker, and had several other suggestions for places to visit. Funny. At this point, of course, I was ready to head home.I knew I was back in Washington State with my first sighting of a

Banff and Trans-Canada 1

2008-09-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Driving Trans-Canada Highway 1 west from Calgary, the landscape quickly morphed from flat prairies into the Canadian Rockies. The change in scenery took my breath away. I was surprised by how much I'd missed the grand western mountains! The town of Banff is cute and touristy, filled with hotels, gift shops and overpriced restaurants. (It reminds me of Whistler BC.) I'm not especially fond of

A tour of the Eurovan

2008-09-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

For anyone unfamiliar with the joy of Eurovan camping, I thought a little pictorial tour might be helpful. I'm traveling in a 1999 VW Eurovan Winnebago Camper. I bought it on E-Bay from a dealer in Atlanta, and drove it home in November 2007. It had 93K miles when I bought it and 98K miles when I started this 2008 road trip (and yesterday it turned over 105K). AmenitiesThe interior is

Hitch-hikers in Canada

2008-09-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, I picked up hitch-hikers -- and lived to tell about it. Dan and Danny (their real names) needed a lift from Medicine Hat to Calgary AB, and I was happy to oblige. They are nice guys just out of undergrad hitching from Toronto to Banff and looking for adventure. I won't go looking for more passengers, but today I was ready to talk and listen and their company was a welcome change.

Blasting through southern Canada

2008-09-25T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've learned that it is possible to travel for two entire days without speaking to anyone. With pay-at-the-pump for gas, boondock camping, and eating whatever food I have in my camp pantry, I don't really *have* to talk to anyone. This a very different approach to travel than I've taken in earlier legs of this trip. It's not that I've turned completely anti-social, I just haven't been able to

A storm blows over North Dakota

2008-09-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

It is 7:30 PM and I'm stopped at a visitor center/rest stop near Grand Forks North Dakota. Angry black clouds blew in fast from the west, with lightning on the horizon. The rain is coming down in sheets and the wind is howling. The van is shaking and bouncing in the wind; even with the emergency brake, it feels like it will jump over the curb and into the grass. Fortunately, there's free WiFi.

Sister's Family in Lakeville, MN

2008-09-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

After a long lunch stop in Madison, WI, a leisurely drive along the scenic routes in southwest WI, and an overnight boondock at a rest stop along the way, I pulled in for a stay with my sister's family. I always enjoy seeing how much my nephews evolve between visits. Phil is now as tall as I am! We drove about an hour from their home to the Minnesota River Valley state park for some muddy

Mom in Milwaukee

2008-09-22T04:08:00.000-07:00

On the eastward-bound leg of this trip I could only stop for a quick dinner in Milwaukee before heading on to Columbus; heading west I made time to stay two nights and spent the day exploring the city with my Mom. A dozen years ago I used to visit fairly often when I lived in Chicago, but have only stopped in twice in the last dozen years. The city has changed! We started our downtown trek

An alien in Berea, Kentucky

2008-09-20T10:38:00.000-07:00

After treating the van to a 5,000-mile service at Deal Motors in Asheville, NC and then donking around on back roads for a few hours, I was ready to blow past some Interstate miles and head toward Milwaukee to visit my mother for a few days. Around 6:30 PM I pulled off the freeway into the tourist information center of Berea, KY, the self-proclaimed "folk arts and crafts capital of Kentucky."

Roads Less Traveled

2008-09-18T09:30:00.001-07:00

I've been using a TomTom ONE XL-S to help with navigation around the US. It has a nifty feature that allows me an option to avoid freeways. When I'm not in a hurry and I want a better feel for an area, I select this option. (Lately I haven't been in much of a hurry!) Often it seems that my TomTom leads me on a wild goose chase as it routes me through residential areas, frontage roads and rural

Asheville, NC

2008-09-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

I've left historic USA and entered progressive USA. Downtown Asheville, North Carolina is an amazing ultra-funky organic vegan-friendly homophilic hippy-dippy home of dread-locked, hemp-wearing lesbians and long-bearded hillbillies who seem to thrive on new music, 24-hour coffee shops, free wireless, microbrews, and a dozen varieties of yerba mate. This is a hotbed of yoga, homeopathy and

Jonesborough, TN

2008-09-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Jonesborough is the oldest town in Tennessee, founded in 1779. Presidents Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James Polk spent time here. It is a lovely, quaint town with benches lining Main Street inviting visitors to sit with an ice cream cone and watch the world go by. Jonesborough is also home to the International Storytelling Center. Every bookstore and coffee shop advertised evening

Jamestown, VA

2008-09-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

Jamestown is the first known permanent settlement of British in North America, originally settled in 1607. Visitors to the area have a choice of two attractions, and I recommend a stop at both. Start at Historic Jamestowne, operated by the U.S National Park Service. This is the archeological site of Jamestown with ongoing excavation and research. Many of the building sites have been re-buried

Colonial Williamsburg, VA

2008-09-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

Back here on the East Coast, I've discovered that Colonial Williamsburg is exceptionally fun. If I have the story right, the town was pretty much a mess in the 1930s, with many buildings in disrepair or ruined. J.D. Rockefeller Jr partnered with a local minister to buy up a bunch of the town and fund restoration of 88 original colonial buildings, and then funded a trust to reconstruct about

Philadelphia

2008-09-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

After dropping off Zach and Matt at the airport near Hartford CT, I meandered through CT and NY to finally stay at a KOA in the Poconos about 2 hrs north of Philadelphia. I slept in late and didn't get to to the city until around 11 am. Rain started almost immediately. I parked the van near the old city and hooked up with a walking tour, then browsed through the historic neighborhoods in the

Roadtrip 2008, Westbound

2008-09-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

Today begins the solo portion of my Eurovan adventure. For the past three weeks I've been traveling with Zach to move all his stuff from Seattle to his Dad's place in Columbus OH, then to visit their family cottage in South Bristol ME, and finally a stop of several days at his Mom's place in Winsted, CT. This morning I drove Zach and his brother to the airport in Hartford for their flight to

Boston Area

2008-09-07T20:40:00.000-07:00

Hurricane Hanna drenched us as we drove from Maine to Boston. We got a late start on Saturday starting with breakfast at the cottage followed by lunch with Zach's grandparents at Morse's Sauerkraut Factory in Woldoboro, then on to Freeport for some outlet shopping (home of L.L. Bean). It was 5 PM before we made it onto the highway outside of Freeport, and by then the rain was coming down in

South Bristol, Maine

2008-09-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

We've arrived in South Bristol, Maine. It was a quick trip and I believe Zach was dismayed to find the cottage in need of much repair. Nonetheless I had a nice time visiting with Zach's brother Jon and his girlfriend Jenny, who were also staying at the cottage. I also enjoyed our visit to John's Bay Boat Company, where Zach had worked between high school and college. We also stopped in to see

Marjorie Restaurant to Close September 6

2008-08-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

I've just received word that my favorite restaurant in Seattle will close its doors on September 6, 2008. I want to offer my thanks to Ben and Donna at Marjorie in Belltown for their consistently kind hospitality. I encourage readers from Seattle to go visit Marjorie (2331 Second Avenue) before the doors

A Good Long Day

2008-08-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Leaving Keyhole SP fairly early, we drove straight through Minnesota and most of Wisconsin to arrive in Milwaukee in time for a quick walk around the Milwaukee Art Museum and then join my mother for dinner. Still feeling fairly fresh somehow, we headed out around 9 PM with goal of reaching Indiana before stopping to sleep. This was our longest driving day by far, but still felt really good and

Stowaway #2

2008-08-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

This morning when we were packing up camp, a strange scratchy sound came from the folds of the Eurovan's canopy tent. After popping up the van top again, we found this cute little bat under the "eaves" of the pop-top. We didn't want another stowaway, so encouraged him with a stick to find a new resting spot for the day.

Stowaway

2008-08-24T19:50:00.000-07:00

“Yep. That looks like cat poo.” We're peering into the back of a U-Haul trailer full of everything Zach owns at the side of the road about 30 miles outside of Billings, Montana.“He's gotta be in there somewhere.” Zach gingerly removes the dried cat turd with a paper towel and tosses it to the ground. Two days ago we were in Spokane, Washington visiting Zach's friend Kathy, who had been storing

Spokane, WA

2008-08-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

Kathy Graebl has an adorable vintage house in Spokane and a busy yellow lab named Nisqually. “Nisser” is also the mascot for a mountain gear distribution company called Summit Dog that she owns with Mike (from the Coleman 50/50 challenge). Kathy put us up for the first night of our cross-country trek, and showed us a bit of the cow town of Spokane. We had such a nice time, we decided to stay a

Wild Horses Monument near George, WA

2008-08-21T17:30:00.000-07:00

On the way to Spokane we pulled off the interstate briefly to stretch our legs and see the Wild Horses Monument. About ten miles east of George, WA on I-90, a short scramble up a bluff from the parking lot let us get up close to the steel installation by Spokane artist David Govedare. The wind blew uphill with enough force to make the steep climb seem quite easy, and the view of the Columbia

On the Road at Last

2008-08-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

After returning from Sinclair Island Zach was eager to finish packing and get on the road to Columbus. On Thursday August 21 we were finally on our way. My VW Eurovan was pretty loaded down by a 5x8 U-Haul trailer with all of Zach's belongings, but we were finally on our way. First stop: Spokane, to pick up Zach's Subaru wagon from friend Kathy.

Plants Away

2008-08-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

Steve and friends at the Seattle Firefighters International Union Local 27 are now caretakers for my collection of houseplants, since I won't be able to look after them while traveling until next May. Though I know my lovely ficus, spider, philodendron (etc.) are in good hands, it feels strange to come back to an apartment devoid of greenery. This is the most tangible sign so far that I'm going

Dan and Melissa's Wedding in Laguna Beach

2008-08-19T10:24:00.000-07:00

Zach was the best man in his friend Dan's wedding in Laguna Beach, CA on August 18, and I was fortunate enough to join as his guest. The wedding was somewhat nontraditional, but beautiful and elegant nonetheless. We were kept pretty busy with the wedding activities (rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception, brunch the next morning.) The ceremony was held at sunset on a terrace overlooking the

Sinclair Island and the Stoner House

2008-08-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Mark Stoner hosted a short holiday at his family vacation home on Sinclair Island in Washington's San Juans. Eleven friends gathered to comfortably enjoy food, drink and board games on a cool, rainy weekend.View Larger Map

Wrapping up the Coleman 50/50 Adventure: Mauna Kea, HI

2008-08-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

We flew to Hawai'i on July 24 to nab the final peak of the Coleman 50 States/50 Days Challenge. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano near the center of the Big Island of Hawai'i. Though the mountain is nearly as tall as Mt Rainier, it has a well-groomed road nearly to the top to service the many astronomical observatories on the mountain. From the observatory parking lot the summit is quick 100 yard

Wrapping up the Coleman 50/50 Adventure: Mt Rainier WA

2008-07-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

I had been closely following Zach's 50 States / 50 Days Challenge , and joined in the fun when the guys arrived in Washington state. I had been planning to meet then in Oregon when my WaMu job wrapped up, but the guys were crazy far ahead of schedule. On July 19 I left to hang out with Zach, Mike, Lindsey and Jordan (the rest of Coleman challenge crew) at Casey & Melissa's cabin in Ashford WA,

A Rough Outline of the Next Year

2008-07-19T17:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my last day at WaMu. Following is a rough outline of what I expect to do for the next year or so. This blog will provide updates throughout the year.July 2008Meet Zach and friends in Ashford, WA then climb to Camp Muir on Mt. RainierFly to Hawai'i's Big Island to summit Mauna Kea and then hang out for a weekAugust 2008Spend a long weekend with friends on Sinclair Island in

A new beginning

2008-07-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

On June 19, I was notified by WaMu (WM) that they no longer need my services. My last day working for WaMu was July 18, 2008.Fortunately, I was not surprised by the announcement. I've been able to simplify and save enough to take a decent sabbatical before looking for another "real" job. I intend to spend the summer relaxing and traveling in the U.S., and will depart for a six-month volunteer