Blogs from North Carolina, United States, North America - page 102

June 4 - 22, 2006 Hot Springs, N.C. - Savannah, Ga. - Charleston, S.C. - Charlotte, N.C. Loop 10,856 miles to date 1,610 miles this leg NOTE: In addition to the updated Route Map, we've made revisions to the Proposed Route Map: for now, it includes Newfoundland! Four and a half months after leaving our Northwest home, we reached the Southeast apex of our round-the-country trip. We first saw the Atlantic on June 15 from the bridge to Tybee Island, Ga., where we spent some of the most magical days of our travels to date (read on!). Our odometer rolled over the 10,000-mile mark just before we reached the coast. And how are we feeling, nearly halfway into our 10-month on-the-road odyssey? Well, as you might expect, there are times when Jeff and I overdose on ... read more

Quite a phallic symbol, isn’t it? This is the only lighthouse that I stopped for picture out of sentimental reason. I remember the last visit, 3 years ago, during which time there were three of us. We visited this one in between hang gliding lessons and walking the beach. Memory...it has a way of doing you in if you let it. After the necessary hygiene routine, I said good bye to the sandy beach and left the campground. Must find some coffee. Kitty Hawk, here I come.... read more

The thing about traveling alone is that it forces you to look at thing differently. It rained hard during the drive east until I came close to the coast. I have missed the reserved ferry ride this evening and now forced to camp here at Cedar Island. After checking in and paying $15 fee, I parked the van and checked out the toilet facility as well as the ferry that I’ll be on tomorrow morning. Living out of the van is an interesting experience. Officially homeless, I dined on French bread with salami and American cheese that I picked up at Wal Mart before leaving civilization. As the early summer evening by the coast providing plenty of daylight for reading, I cracked open a beer and settled down with a book. The morning came early but ... read more

And so as I sit here on the floor packing for our family trip into the wilderness (okay near wilderness), I catalog for you our survival equipment: *3 digital cameras (which by the way require 3 separate cords to connect the cameras to the PC, plus the luck to have 3 separate memory card formats) *2 Laptops *2 printers (one for photos, one regular) that each come with their own type of USB connection (2 cords) and power cords (4 cords total) *3 MP3 players (once again each with their own specific cord to connect to the PC for download) *Paper (one type for photos, plain white as well) *Cell phone chargers - 2 car chargers, 2 wall chargers *2 memory sticks *1 memory card for my new cell phone that plays music off of a ... read more

May 18 - June 3, 2006 Biloxi, Miss. - Hendersonville, N.C. 9,246 miles to date 1,490 miles this leg Apologies for technical difficulties that delayed the posting of this entry... On May 18, Jeff and I celebrated our four-year wedding anniversary with a significant outing: we went sailing for the first time since leaving Port Townsend. Jeff later argued that it wasn’t really sailing because we didn’t actually set sail. I wonder that after four years of marriage, he doesn’t know better than not to argue with me! Our three-hour cruise on Biloxi Bay was made aboard the Glenn L. Swetmann, one of two replica wooden oystering schooners owned by the Biloxi Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. The waterfront museum was sadly leveled by Hurricane Katrina, but the two vessels safely rode out the storm tucked ... read more