I Guess it’s True
The weather is amazing. The thermometer says 45 but the sun says 70! It is a perfect temperature. And as a bonus I was able to spend some time hiking and riding with my sister and her husband.
So Different
In many ways New Mexico was not what I expected. These past 10 days in Santa Fe have been nice. I was able to do some mountain biking but didn’t make the time to go hiking – which was kind of a bummer but I know there will be more chances as I continue west. The neat thing about this area is the mishmash of people with such different personalities and lifestyles. One thing many have in common is a love for art. Whether they are creating art or just have an appreciation for it, everywhere you look someone poured their heart and soul into some neat piece. Though I have enjoyed Santa Fe, it is time to move on.
Frozen in Time
The little town of Madrid (pronounced Mad-rid by the locals) is like stepping back in time. In some aspects it feels like a town from the early 1900’s with the local mercantile, old homes, some of which were made from old railroad cars. Madrid was once a thriving mining town and boasts the first illuminated baseball field west of the Mississippi (fun fact: the Madrid Miners were a farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers who played on the field in 1934.) By the early 1970’s it was essentially a ghost town. However, because of it’s location on the Turquoise trail and the inflow of artists it slowly rejuvenated and now has a population of almost 300. Many of the original buildings are still standing or have been restored and the townsfolk are like one big family. Madrid is a must see if you are traveling through New Mexico.
Scratching the Surface
Once again it was a fun filled, active and exciting weekend. I have only just scratched the surface of Arizona but already am in awe of the unique beauty and landscape.
A Full Life
Today I met a woman just a couple years older than me who is also living the adventure life. It was neat to chat about places we have been and places that we couldn’t wait to leave. (yes, there have been a few of those) We talked about our favorite moments and the places where the beauty takes your breath away. She has done the around the country trip a few times now and as she talked the excitement and fun in her stories spilled out. I hope people feel that same excitement when I share my stories.
Throughout this journey I have met many people from all over the country, different stories and different situations for sure, but last night as I was reflecting on these individuals, I realized that almost everyone that I have had conversation with, in one way or another expressed a desire to live life to its fullest. Whether they felt they were or not, that was the common theme.
So, what exactly does that mean?
Live life to its fullest doesn’t mean that every moment will be a positive experience, neither does it mean that life should be lived with abandon. I think that concept looks different for each of us, and it changes with the stages of our lives.
But just imagine how different things could be if every moment was lived to its best possible outcome.
Yes it is Blue
The blue hole in Santa Rosa New Mexico is really quite neat. It’s name is a pretty good description of it. Surrounded by desert, sand, red Rock and dirt in comes almost out of nowhere. Basically it is a hole. At the top it’s about 80 ft in diameter but it opens up to about a hundred and thirty feet at the bottom. I had been looking forward to scuba diving in this spot because I have heard so many things about it, however I don’t have my own tank and there is only one dive shop in the area and it’s compressor was down. So I guess it will have to be something I do if I find myself in this area another time. Either way it was very cool especially because the water is always 61 degrees.
Tucumcari Tonight!
There isn’t a whole lot going on in this little town but what a neat stop on Historic Route 66. The town is filled with murals and memoirs from days past. I think I took 200 photos but I will only share a few.
Palo Duro Canyon
The beauty of this country never ceases to amaze me! Palo Duro Canyon is Texas’ hidden gem located in the panhandle. If you ever get that way it is beauty at every angle.
A Quick Jump to Texas
What a week! Time is certainly flying past, it seems that the past seven days all happened at once. It was a wonderful time of relaxing and adventuring between office hours. Between kayaking on the ocean, riding in the woods, walking the nature trails, sitting by the fire, enjoying and exploring the Air Force Armament Museum in Elgin AFB, and the Naval Air Station – Home of the Blue Angels – in Pensacola it was pretty awesome!
A hop skip and a jump across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana and I have found my way into the great state of Texas! And of course I had to go to NASA. I am so excited to have finally made it to Texas, one of the states I have always wanted to spend time in and now, without a schedule the opportunities for exploring are endless!
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park
Finally a place to stop for more than a day. I am still in Florida, just above Destin I found this beautiful state park with some of the nicest camp sites I have seen yet! Huge private spaces with trees surrounding on three and a half sides, right on the ocean with plenty of biking, kayaking, and hiking opportunities around. This will be a place I will come back to.
A Peaceful Paddle
It was a beautiful day in the panhandle today. Blue skies and sunshine. A perfect opportunity to get out in the Kayak.
By the Water
I hear cold weather is coming so it only made sense to hop on the bike for a short ride. And yes I am still searching for and hoping to see an alligator.
A Devastating Storm
Yesterday I drove along the coast of Florida, up through Port St. Joseph, Panama City, and the surrounding coastal towns. It breaks my heart to think of all the people there who were affected by Hurricane Michael. Houses crushed down to the foundation, family heirlooms and mementos ripped away by the rushing water, and truck after truck of cleanup crews scooping up the rubble – a constant reminder of all that was lost.
Myron B. Hodge City Park
I have never been to the panhandle before and wasn’t sure what to expect, but I wasn’t expecting this. I found my way to the City Park to camp and feel like I hit the jackpot. This place is beautiful. Just outside of Sopchoppy FL is a quiet little RV park beside the river that is not just well kept but is pristine. I only plan to spend one night but this is the kind of place I could spend a week.
A Forgotten Home
I don’t know if it is the route I am taking through Georgia or if it is something else. I keep seeing these old abandoned houses, once beautiful and full of life but now empty, abandoned and left to deteriorate. This one caught my attention and in my minds eye I imagined what the family that lived there once upon a time must have been like. Perhaps a hard working farmer proud to earn a wage and support his wife and children. Or maybe an elderly woman with a house full of grandchildren. It looks like it would have been an ideal place for kids. Big fields to run in, trees to climb, and I imagine a big front porch to retreat from the hot sun and sit sipping lemonade while reliving the day’s adventures.
Looking at this house today makes me smile, imagining a simpler time.
Alligators and Swampland
Georgia has many miles of swamp, I was sure that I would see an alligator at some point while I was meandering through the back roads and vast nothingness of southern Georgia. It was beautiful in it’s own way but I didn’t stay long enough to fully appreciate its uniqueness.
The Second Leg
The new year marked the beginning of the second leg in my adventures. What a beautiful country we live in. Yesterday I crossed into Southern Georgia and today meandered through a number of small communities, sometimes stopping to walk through town and take in the simplicity of the area. There is something to be said about one stoplight (or no stoplight) towns. As I wandered into a local country store in Manor GA I felt like I had stepped back in time – to a simpler time when people gathered, leaning on counters talking about the weather and the challenges of farming. It was a very cool day. Tonight I find myself in a small campground south of Tallahassee FL, a place filled again with kind friendly folks sharing laughter, firewood, and smores. I look forward to the morning when I hear I am likely to see alligators on the bank of the pond.
Downhill very Fast
It feels so good to be on skis again! I am not sure how many times I am going to be able to go but tonight was pretty awesome. My daughter, my niece, Chad and I spent the evening careening down the runs at Blue Mountain ski hill in Palmerton, PA.
Home for Christmas
Back to Allentown for Christmas! Family, friends, dinners, activities, work, Christmas tree hunting, shopping, and finally Christmas day. What a great day with my kids. There is something incredibly special about being with all three of them at the same time.
