Yesterday was a long day. I didn’t sleep well, but I roused myself at 7:30, aiming for the full breakfast being offered at Hermann Crown. I roused myself again at 8:00 and once more at 8:30. I had slept a…
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2018-5-16 – Hermann, Missouri
I’m in Hermann, Missouri, a place I never would have visited if not for a book that Chris and Hilary gave me, Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways. I’ve looked at a number of travel books and…
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2019-5-15 – Trail of Tears State Forest and the NPISR
I know that I’m in the Midwest because I just crossed the Mississippi River and I saw my first Menards.
Last night was another example of hidden treasures of…
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2018-5-14 – The Palooka from Paducah
I’m a big fan of Paducah. When I describe it to people I sound like I work for the Chamber of Commerce. Joe has started referring to me as The Palooka from Paducah. I don’t mind – I’ve got a…
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2018-5-13 – Nashville
Nashville is a happening city – two days really didn’t do it justice, but I did pack a lot in. Stayed in an Airbnb in the 12 South area. According to locals, the only reason you’d go here 15 years…
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2018-5-11 – Big South Fork
Fifty years ago I traveled around the country with what was referred to in our house as my practice wife. (Trish had a practice husband, too.) It was a simpler time and we were simpler people, but some things were…
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2018-5-10 – Knoxville
I was pretty bushed by the time I got to my room in Atha’s modest, unpretentious house not far from downtown. It was convenient and inexpensive – just what I needed for the night. I crashed for an hour or…
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2018-5-9 – Dollywood?
As I left the winding roads of the Smoky Mountain National Park I decided I would take the Gatlinburg Bypass Road since I felt I could survive without experiencing Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Odditorium, Mysterious Mansion, and the Salt…
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2018-5-9 – Clingman’s Dome
Instead of taking the faster Interstate route I meandered my way along the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As I had been told, it was dramatic and beautiful and definitely worth…
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2018-5-8 – Asheville
Having spent an extra day in Floyd, I needed to make up some time on my way to Asheville. Interstate 81 was fast and unremarkable, but things changed once I was on I-26, rightly designated as a Scenic Highway. It…
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2018-5-8 – The first thousand miles
So far, so good. The Outback has been a pleasure to drive and the camping setup works admirably. The Skyline Drive did not disappoint – spectacular scenery. I’ve been to some beautiful and remarkable places and met some interesting…
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2018-5-7 – Dogtown
I had gotten used to having No Service. I figured that phone and Internet access were luxuries I didn’t need in the forest anyway, but when I stopped at the visitor center along the Blue Ridge Parkway and mentioned…
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2018-5-6 – Camping on the way to Floyd
I’m seeing progress. The first day of camping it took me an hour to set up and 45 minutes to break down. Of course, I had to figure out how the tent got assembled and remember where I had put…
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2018-5-5 – Graham Ordinary
I’m up early, as has become my habit on the road since I go to bed early and the sun wakens one while camping. In this case it’s also because of Frederick, the name I’ve given to the multi-colored rooster…
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2018-5-4 – The camper from hell
Last evening I met Jim at Lewis Mountain Campground on the Skyline Drive. He’s a throughhiker just starting out on a 400 mile trek over the next 40 days on the Appalachian Trail. He recently retired from a long career…
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2018-5-3 -- Logistics
Logistics: the detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation. (Wikipedia)
Thus far my logistics have worked out reasonably well, although I see room for improvement. I was surprisingly tired last night and went to bed not long after…
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2018-5-2 – Off to the Skyline Drive
It is said that amateurs talk about strategy, professionals study logistics. I’m about to find out whether I’ve done enough of both as I head off to the Skyline Drive … and out of touch with electricity and the Internet…
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2018-5-1 – The Olde White House Inn
The following morning I returned and spent a couple of hours with Eric Lindblade, a Licensed Battlefield Guide. We travelled around by car, stopping at various places – Seminary Ridge, Little Round Top - to get an understanding of the…
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2018-4-30 – Guitar heaven
I just left Port Jervis and crossed the Delaware River. It puts me in mind of George Washington, but I don’t think anyone’s going to create a famous painting of Goldsmith Crossing the Delaware. It’s 7:45 in the morning and…
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2018-4-29 – Cornwall to Port Jervis
2018-4-29 – Cornwall to Port Jervis
It’s Sunday morning and I’m driving down Route 7 just a few feet from the Housatonic River. As promised by AAA this is a fantastic road – windy, twisty and nicely banked. It’s…
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