I squinted upward searching the tree’s canopy for a glimpse of the sky. The trees soared above interlocking and blocking the sky. I strolled through the county campgrounds with my shower kit in search of the showers. Perched on the outside of the building were weak solar lights that barely cut the gloom of the day. It was noon. It felt like midnight under that tree canopy.
I squinted against the glare of the bright California sun as I navigated the narrow Oakland street. I was lost. Searching for a Walmart that existed only on my map. Spotting an open parking lot, I pulled over and reassessed. Obviously, I couldn’t find the store and it was getting late in the day. I had been moving since 5 am; the 7-hour flight, taxis, and rental of the small camper all meant I was mentally and physically exhausted. I decided to postpone the shopping and head north like I intended for a week exploring the northern California coast camping on the beach and among the majestic redwoods. If only I could find the highway.
The clear blue sky rolled in front of me as I engaged the pedal assist gears of the e-bike. I moved over the side to accommodate the small tourist tram following the same paved path through the Everglades. In the distance, I spotted a log across the path. The tram slowed and eased into the grass around the log. As I peddled closer my stomach clenched when the log became a large alligator. I was reminded that this is nature’s Florida.
AT AT Sculpture Colorful Bears grace downtown *as published in North Canton Living Magazine August 2022 I like quirky, weird, and kitsch. I am often asked what you do between national parks or do...
Visiting NASA in Houston, Texas is similar to visiting a major amusement park. You plan and budget for tickets; plot travel; research opening and closing times; dress comfortably and prepare to be exhausted. All because NASA is like an amusement park for science geeks. Like myself.
In front of me lay the rolling hills of the Badlands National Park. Behind me lay the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands. I was parked in a free camping area featured in the movie Nomadland. I sat quietly at sunset and watched small mountain goats scramble their way up the rocky incline of the badlands. The wind buffeted my camper and I pulled my blanket closer. My neighbors were a hundred yards away and their lights beginning to blink on.
I am a novice when it comes to hard alcohol. Using my Harvest Hosts membership, I camped overnight at a small distillery named R M Rose located in Dillard, Georgia. Founded in 1867, RM Rose is the oldest legal distillery in Georgia. I happily sampled their excellent product as the descendant of Rufus Rose tutored me on the finer points of whiskey. I learned there are differences between Kentucky bourbon; Tennessee whiskey and Georgia Moonshine.
For more than ten years I traveled to New York City to meet with the talented physicians at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Initially, after my cancer diagnosis, I met with them every three months for a span of five years. I am the embodiment of planes, trains, and automobiles when it comes to finding my way to the Big Apple.
At 6:30 am I entered the driving loop of Cades Cove. Already I was five cars deep and moving slowly. Along the route were groups of photographers gathered around their cameras peering through the mist and fog. I was only a few miles in before I spotted my first large group of tourists parked along the road and gathered in a distant field. I slowed to ask the park volunteer about the crowd and she pointed out the three fuzzy lumps in a very distant tree. A mother black bear and her two cubs sleeping.
Ocracoke Island is located south of Hatteras Village and half of the island is controlled by the National Park Service. A free vehicle ferry operates a daily shuttle from Hatteras Village. Expect a line as wait times can be as long as two hours.