Wandering the World on 2 Wheels
(And 2 Feet)
Welcome to My Travel Blog
I have always wanted to explore what is around the corner. Maybe that is why I live in the mountains of North Carolina, ‘cuz there’s lots of bends and curves in these roads and trails. From my local town to my country to the world, here I will post my wanderings.
The Next Adventure
1/22/2023 – Well, it is a new year! I returned from California before the new year to be able to celebrate here. It was a soupy foggy night, but had a good time dancing at a new little bar in Spruce Pine. But now, it is time to start thinking about the next adventure! The new year has hatched a few possibilities:
–A bike tour of the Natchez Trace Parkway – Perhaps in April. With or without pulling my dog Sherpa in a trailer. Sure would be great not to have to find a pet sitter and he would be great company. But need to think about this a do a practice overnighter.
–Extended trip out west in my camper to attend my daughter’s WEDDING!!! – This is for sure. Sarah will be getting married on July 1st above Santa Cruz, CA. The plan is to allow a month to get out and a month to get back. Exploring the canyon national parks and Southwest going out and the northern parks on the way back.
–Europe in the fall! – My daughter and her husband plan on embarking on an extended trip after their wedding and will be in Europe in September. A good time to resume my European tour that the pandemic so cruelly took away?
Stay tuned!
11/12/2022 – After the last trip to New England, I came back home and began the framing of my addition. I had a crew contracted to get it dried in (interior walls, roof, shingles, windows, siding) and also build the MBR deck and the bridge to the house. Well, after about 3 weeks work, they disappeared! Such is the state of affairs these days in the construction trades. I was able to find another crew to finish drying it in for about the same money, minus the deck and the bridge. So, I am building the deck now and will wait until warm weather before cutting into the main house and building the bridge. Interesting encounter last week, the partner of the original crew that disappeared came by. She asked if the crew had finished all they were supposed to do. Whoa! Not by a long shot! She proceeded to tell me that her partner (in business and life, they had a baby together) had once again disappeared leaving customers with unfinished houses and having taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments. I felt very lucky in what I had received and paid for. The aggravation and delay was another thing… but glad it is over and I am looking forward to finishing off everything inside up to the drywall this winter.
So I have been tethered to home for that reason. However, the Christmas plan is to fly to California and spend time with family and Sarah’s fiancé Nate and his mom, Mary Miche’. We will be renting an Air BnB near Yosemite NP and exploring the park, playing games, soaking in the hot tub and generally enjoying each other’s company. Also, I have a favorite cousin on the Big Island of Hawaii that I am seriously contemplating visiting in February next year. Never been to our 50th state!
3/9/2022 – Next week I leave for Boston to visit my son Alex. When planning this trip, I remembered that Boston is a jumping off airport for Iceland. Why not???!!! So, with cheap flights from Asheville to Boston flying on Fridays and Mondays, it worked out well to spend the weekdays in Iceland when Alex would be working. Then come back and have the weekend with him and Jess, his partner.
I usually design my own trips and this one was no different. Since I will be going by myself, I wanted to book accomodations and tours where I would have the opportunity to meet other folks. Also, renting a car and driving can be stressful as I have heard with the unpredictable weather and snow. I have a bunk booked at a hostel centrally located in Reykjavik and easily found tours for each day I will be there. There has been a huge increase in tourism in Iceland in recent history, so there were tons of tours available for very reasonable prices… like $100 for a full day 11 hour tour of the Golden Circle. Getting my cold weather gear together and getting excited! Stay tuned…
Other Resources
Katy Trail Info and Forums Website
Galapagos Islands Wikipedia Site
EuroVelo Website
Read or Download Brochure describing EuroVelo 8
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2 Wheeled Wanderer 