Category: Cross Country

Triple digits! I can’t believe this is Day 100!!!
And what a treat today! Melanie joined me in DC for a long weekend! Okay, it was a bit of a hassle to figure out where to park Addie since she’s too tall to fit in any of the parking garages near our hotel. We dropped her off at a Park and Ride in Alexandria, a few Metro stops away from our hotel in Arlington.
With Addie settled for the weekend, Mel and I headed into DC to get a feel for the location and hit our first museum, American History – think First Ladies, wars, and the Star Spangled Banner. Following happy hour, we wandered over the the Washington Monument, lit up for the night.
Much more excitement tomorrow, too!
Our first Metro ride of this trip!

 

One of the many Smithsonian museums.

 

LOVE LOVE

 

Built in 1776, the Continental gunboat Philadelphia.

 

National Museum of American History.

 

trump hotel.

 

Washington Monument.

 

The Capitol Building.

 

Lincoln Memorial.

 

Looking up at the Washington Monument. We counted – there are 50 flags surrounding the monument.

Pivot! The weather cooperated less than I would have liked today – foggy, wet, etc. – and I didn’t feel like hiking in the rain, so…left Shenandoah, found a laundromat, ran errands, etc. Now I’m parked at tonight’s Harvest Host, Quattro Goombas Winery. 🙂

Addie telling me she thinks it’s not a good idea to hike in the rain today.

 

Caption this:

So y’all know my middle name is “Flexible,” right? 
I booked Pequea for four nights thinking I might get my Covid booster. However, I’m not eligible – I’m Team Moderna, no underlying conditions, and six months since my second shot is October 8.
Although I really enjoyed Pequea and Lancaster County, a further look at the map lead me to say, hey, how about spending that fourth night in Shenandoah NP! I booked a campsite, and here I am!
The weather is a bit less cooperative – cloudy, misty, rainy – AND the views still engage me. The trees are changing – about a third have bright red, orange, and yellow leaves. Excellent!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay. I’m going to admit it right from the start. This hike was a bit more strenuous with steeper trails and more bouldering than I first imagined. Probably should have brought my trekking poles and worn my hiking boots, but…whatever! It was challenging and FUN! Nothing two feet and two hands couldn’t handle. And I created my own walking stick from a nearby fallen branch. So all good! 
It was supposed to be out and back on the Conestoga Trail. However after looking at my PAPER MAP and AllTrails app, I turned off on another trail and walked the final two miles on easy roads back to camp. 🙂
Duh! I of course found a waterfall!

 

Bridge reflected in the water where Pequea Creek meets the Susquehanna River.

 

Autumn trail.

 

Wind Cave.

 

Fall colors – and well-worn shoes.

 

Susquehanna River through the trees.

 

Cornfield.

 

Corn hanging to dry in a barn. My guess? It’s meant for animal feed rather than human consumption.

 

Intriguing vines climbing a tree.

 

The nearby covered bridge with the beginnings of fall foliage.

Ah! Just what the doctor ordered: a day of relaxation!
The past few nights, I’ve gone to bed too late so I got less sleep than I need. Last night, I tucked myself into bed around 9pm and fell straight to sleep. Today, I woke up refreshed – and knowing that I needed a rest day.
In the morning, I hung out reading in Addie (The Searcher by Tana French, a mystery) and walked around the campground including the nearby covered bridge. After lunch, I drove the quiet backroads to a local hardware store for propane. Surprisingly – at least to me! – the store was owned and staffed by Amish. This was in stark contrast to the Amish farmers I saw plowing their field with horse-drawn equipment! Anyone have info on the Amish you’d like to share?
This afternoon, I decided to read by my campfire. At this campground, for $10 they delivered over 20 pieces of wood!
Yep, this relaxing day is exactly what I needed!
Addie – keeping guard at my campsite.

 

Colemanville Covered Bridge, originally built in 1856 and rebuilt in 1992.

 

Pequea Creek through the natural frame of a window in the covered bridge.

 

Relaxing in Addie…

 

…and relaxing by my campfire.

Many thanks to Dennis, Vanessa, and Anna for hosting me in Princeton!

This morning, I left their cool town and drove to Longwood Gardens, former home of DuPont and GM leader Pierre du Pont. Beautiful gardens, fountains, trees, flowers!!!
On my way to my campground, I dodged several buggies driven by Amish. I guess I’m not in Kansas anymore!
The many colors of autumn.

 

Rose garden.

 

Natural frame in the Conservatory.

 

Amazing chrysanthemums!

 

Another gorgeous chrysanthemum.

 

In front of the orchid wall.

 

Italian garden.

 

Tough to pass when there are no shoulders, a solid double line, and a hill.

Today’s ultra-busy day started with a Dutch Baby Pancake for breakfast, made by chef Dennis. With this nourishment, Dennis, Anna, and I embarked on our tour of Princeton. So little time, so many places to see!
Note: I was born in New Jersey! My parents lived in Philadelphia, but my mom’s doctor had privileges at the hospital across the river in Camden!
What I learned:
1. The Battle of Princeton turned the Revolutionary War around with Washington outsmarting the British by firing cannons from one direction and ambushing the enemy soldiers from the other direction.
2. The Clarke House where the Battle of Princeton occurred, on January 3, 1777, now holds tours to share the story of General Hugh Mercer (did you know triangular bayonet wounds can not be sewn up?) and Dr. Benjamin Rush (a signer of the Declaration of Independence).
3. Chartered in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest college in the United States. Nassau Hall, Princeton’s first building, sustained a cannon attack in the Revolutionary War. In 1783, the building served as the nation’s capitol, housing the Continental Congress from June to November. It was in Nassau Hall that the news of the peace treaty with Great Britain was received.
4. The eating clubs at Princeton University are private institutions resembling both dining halls and social houses. Each eating club occupies a large mansion, all but one on Prospect Avenue.
5. Construction on Palmer Square began in 1929 and included demolishing a historic African-American neighborhood. The Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood, where many African American residents were relocated by the Palmer Square project, was officially designated as Princeton’s 20th Historic District in 2016.
6. John Witherspoon (1723-1794), Princeton’s sixth president and founding father of the United States, had a complex relationship to slavery. Though he advocated revolutionary ideals of liberty and personally tutored several free Africans and African Americans in Princeton, he himself owned slaves and both lectured and voted against the abolition of slavery in New Jersey. (https://slavery.princeton.edu/stories/john-witherspoon)
7. Aaron Burr, infamous for killing Alexander Hamilton, lies buried in the Princeton Cemetery.
I think this is enough history for one day!
Dennis making a Dutch Baby Pancake!

 

The Clarke House where a Quaker family tended both American and British wounded during the Battle of Princeton.

 

Riding the Princeton Tiger!

 

Nassau Hall with a cannon marker.

 

Fountain in the reflecting pool.

 

Now for a series of natural frame photos!

 

 

 

 

 

“In place of numerous old wooden houses and tenements which are not only unsightly but which also form a great fire hazard, there will be two large apartment houses of the ‘garden’ type…Palmer Square would re-route all commercial traffic towards a central town square.” http://www.princetonmagazine.com/palmer-square-a-look-back

 

Ice cream from the Bent Spoon.

 

Hamilton and Burr!

There’s something about spending time with long time friends that feeds my soul. The history, the authenticity, the stories… I’ve hung out with so many long time (and newer!) friends this trip – and today was no different.
I woke up relatively early – for me! – and journeyed from NYC to Plainview, where Mindy and Ralph greeted me with coffee and conversation. They took great care of my Addie!
Next, I drove to 40 year friend Dennis‘ house, where I enjoyed chatting with Dennis, his wonderful wife Vanessa, and their terrific daughter Anna. Pizza, martinis, and a campfire – what more could a person want?!
I look forward to exploring Princeton tomorrow with Dennis and Anna while Vanessa refines her Girl Scout leader first aid and CPR skills.
Addie! I missed you!

 

Dennis, Vanessa, and Anna.

Wowza! With month #3 of this AMAZING adventure in the books, I’d like to share a few of my reflections:
Weather: September’s weather has been so much better than August’s weather!!! It was weird and amazing – as soon as the calendar changed from August 31 to September 1, the heat and humidity subsided. Yayyyy!!!!!!
Friends: This month’s treat has been spending time with friends and family. Catching up with these wonderful people, in of course a covid-safe manner, highlights the power of relationships. Many thanks and much love to all of you who have shared time with me – this month and every other month of my adventure.
Re-reading travel log: Oh my! I sure have covered a lot of territory, had many adventures, and seen a plethora of sights! When relaxing (yes, I do relax now and then!), I will sometimes go to my travel log and search for a random date. Up pops a previous adventure, sparking memories, smiles, and reflection. My travel log presents a great opportunity for me to consider at day’s end what occurred that day and, especially now that so much time has passed, reflect on past escapades.
Re-entry: Now that I’ve completed three months of my five month adventure, my mind slowly turns to life after this trip. When I retired in December 2020, I changed my focus from my students to Addie and my journey. Preparing for this adventure encompassed the first half of the year; the road trip itself comprises most of the second half of the year. I know that re-entry will be an adventure in itself! What will I do with all that space in my 1100 square foot, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom condo?! What will I do with Addie? Where will I travel next? What will I do with my time? So many questions!!!
Michigan

 

Ontario (Canadian Falls)

 

New York (Niagara Falls)

 

Vermont

 

New Hampshire

 

Maine

 

Massachusetts

 

Rhode Island

 

New York

 

With Concha and Fred (Michigan)

 

With Joel (Maine)

 

With Noni (Massachusetts)

 

With Susie and Steve (Rhode Island)

 

With Mindy and Ralph (New York)

 

With Mia (New York)

 

With Emily (New York)

 

With Lissie (New York)

 

With Eric and Lisa (New York)

For my final full day in NYC, I wandered down to the High Line and ventured off to Little Island. Although I’ve explored the High Line a few times during previous visits, Little Island recently opened. Little Island, developed by Barry Diller at a cost of $260 million, with an amphitheater and dramatic views, opened earlier this year on Hudson River Park.
This evening, I met my “fifth” brother Eric and his fabulous wife Lisa for a delicious dinner, full of laughter and conversation. Eric’s mom Toby and my mom were best friends for most of their lives. They became friends in Brooklyn when they were 3 and 4 years old. Over time, they lost touch until Eric, Toby, and Eric’s father Hal moved to California. One night when I was 16, Toby called my mom, and they were inseparable friends for the next 30+ years.
A final NY surprise: while walking home by Central Park, I saw Law & Order SVU taping!
A few views of the High Line…

 

High Line

 

High Line

 

High Line

 

High Line

 

Little Island

 

Little Island

 

Little Island

 

With Eric and Lisa.

 

Law & Order SVU’s Mariska Hargitay

Nearly every time I’m in NYC, I go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art – and every time I go there, I see new, captivating, and thought-provoking artwork. Today’s adventure to the Met met (haha!) my expectations. 🙂 Lissie and I started our Met excursion on the Roof Garden where I savored the cityscape and viewed the whimsical blue Big Bird of Alex Da Corte’s As Long as the Sun Lasts exhibit.
We spent the most time pondering The New Woman Behind the Camera. “Featuring more than 120 photographers from over 20 countries, this groundbreaking exhibition explores the work of the diverse ‘new’ women who embraced photography as a mode of professional and artistic expression from the 1920s through the 1950s.” One photograph, which I didn’t capture with my camera, looked into the eyes of an African-American woman whose husband had just been lynched. Her look is now seared into my memory.
We wandered around the museum, finding a waterfall (duh!), a fountain, sculptures, paintings, etc. The Robert Lehman Collection motivated me to walk to Lehman’s former home on 54th Street, now a condominium.
The Met: wonderful. Lunch: yummy. Time with Lissie: MARVELOUS!

https://www.metmuseum.org

Coffee and Central Park fountain on my way to the Met.

 

With Lissie.

 

“Developed during the COVID-19 pandemic, As Long as the Sun Lasts calls for a moment to pause, to reflect, to be ‘blue,’ but ultimately it is a statement of belief in the potential of transformation.” “Growing up in Venezuela, the artist watched the Brazilian version of Sesame Street in which Big Bird’s counterpart, Garibaldi, was blue.”

 

Only a small piece of an engaging mural.

 

Waterfall!

 

Another waterfall! The photo of the waterfall on the left is “tattooed” onto the character on the right.

 

The Crossroads: Mayan (left) and Constantine (right) sculptures showcase piety and power.

 

Robert Lehman’s former townhouse.

I can’t believe I woke up at Mia and Eileen’s house this morning, strolled Central Park most of the day, and ended the evening with my former student and fellow RV enthusiast

Emily and her husband John at the bar on the roof of the Ink 48 Hotel!

I am thrilled to explore the “new” NYC. Why do I say “new?” It’s different than when I was here BC (Before Covid) only two years ago. Yes, everyone wears a mask, generally covering both nose and mouth indoors and handy to immediately pull up if needed when walking around outdoors. Yes, there’s a lot of activity with people stepping all over the sidewalks. Yes, NY possesses an energy felt in only the big cities I’ve visited. However, there’s a hesitation in people’s eyes, a warning from friends about walking at night or taking the subway, a consciousness that “things are different” now. One example: I’m used to meandering the streets of NYC at all hours with little concern for the time. Now, I’m more…aware…of walking around after dark, especially several hours after sunset. I remember NYC in the 1980s and the fear I felt wandering the streets. I don’t feel that same fear, however, I feel a certain reluctance. I love NY! I so loved walking around Central Park during the day! Nevertheless, I plan on being more cautious about walking around, especially solo, at night.
Central Park can feel like a forest!

 

Walking around Central Park with my mask at the ready. Intriguingly, disposable masks, like this one, are more prevalent than fabric face coverings.

 

The reservoir in Central Park.

 

More Central Park.

 

Statue of Fredrick Douglas.
In Central Park, signs explore the history of Seneca Village, a community of predominantly African Americans that existed in the area before the city created the park.
https://elasticbeanstalk-us-east-1-484477975240.s3.amazon…

 

Sunset from The Ink 48 Hotel rooftop.

 

With Emily and John.

 

John took this magnificent panorama photo of the nighttime skyline…

 

…and a terrific photo of Emily and me.

A wonderful busy fun exciting beautiful and terrific day in two acts:
Act 2: The morning started with Mia and me walking at Rockwood Hall at Sleepy Hollow overlooking the Hudson River. In addition to the New York Botanical Garden, Mia and I had fun at the Bronx Zoo, the first time I’ve been to this zoo. A special treat: today is Stephen’s, Eileen‘s husband’s, birthday, so of course we had to celebrate with ice cream cake!
Rockwood Hall at Sleepy Hollow overlooking the Hudson River.

 

Entrance to the Bronx Zoo.

 

Peacock.

 

Giraffe.

 

Monkeys.

 

Anteater.

 

Snow Leopard.

 

Red Panda.

 

Tiger.

 

Rhino.

 

With Eileen.

 

With Miranda.

 

Happy birthday, Stephen!

 

A wonderful busy fun exciting beautiful and terrific day in two acts:
Act 1: Miranda, Mia‘s daughter and Eileen‘s granddaughter, earned a competitive internship at the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) in the Bronx. At the NYBG, Mia and I enjoyed watching Miranda interact with children, exploring the gardens, and viewing Kusama’s artwork.
“Contemporary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is one of the most popular artists in the world, drawing millions to experience her immersive installations.
Exclusively at NYBG, Kusama reveals her lifelong fascination with the natural world, beginning with her childhood spent in the greenhouses and fields of her family’s seed nursery. Her artistic concepts of obliteration, infinity, and eternity are inspired by her intimate engagement with the colors, patterns, and life cycles of plants and flowers.”

 

 

 

 

With Mia.