Copyright 2010 Lea, The Traveling Novelist
Travel Tip # 4 DRIVE A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE
Before the trip have a trusted mechanic thoroughly check your car. Replace belts, tires, brakes, and any other parts of the vehicle that could pose serious problems on the road. Do not take any chances with worn brakes, an aging water pump, or bald tires. Be certain that you have good tread on the tires. You may end up driving through a mountain pass in the middle of a blizzard in May. I made the mistake of trusting a “local” in Wyoming who assured me that I could safely navigate through a mountain pass as a short cut to the Grand Tetons. Supposedly, lots of semi drivers had come over “THE mountain” that morning. By the time I came onto the twinkling, ice-crystal covered Rocky Mountain skyline, it was too late. Blinding snow hit my windshield like a super-sized sheet of frozen fog.
The tread on my snow tires was new. My brakes were good. The windshield wipers wiped well. The windshield washer reservoir was full. The defroster worked on both front and back windshields. And the heater adequately warmed my nose and toes. The engine purred like a napping kitten in a sunny windowsill. I had no worries about the mechanical safety of the Ol’ Windstar. The vehicle was in tiptop condition. All I had to do was navigate with adeptness through an hour and a half of snow packed roads. On a side note, the risk of “listening to the locals” (see Tip #2) could have cost me my life. In retrospect, I should have listened to my gut and taken what may have been a safer route around the shortcut. Arriving late but alive at Jackson Lake Lodge in the Grand Tetons National Park was far more important than taking the risk of plummeting two thousand feet into a lifeless canyon. OK. There might have been some bears and elk down there, but by the time I would have crashed on top of them, I would have been beyond prayers for survival. On the other hand, the fellow bears standing nearby would have benefited from fresh carrion on which to feast. Do elk eat carrion? They may be vegetarians. I’ll check on that.
Having the vehicle well maintained involves more than the windshield wipers, heater, engine, etc. If you don’t know how to change a flat tire, learn. And before driving away from your hometown, have your mechanic pull out the donut spare tire and check to be sure that you have the proper equipment needed to keep you rolling. Check the air pressure in your four tires that are holding you up (save gas with fully inflated tires) and check PPI (pounds per [square] inch of air pressure) in the donut. Chances are you will not have to change a tire. But it is money in the bank and peace of mind to know how to fix a flat if necessary.
Confession time. I have blonde hair. I’ve never had to change a tire. But through the years, I have had more than one occasion when I needed a tire change. Once, when I drove along a rustic road above Canaan Valley in the mountains of West Virginia, I ran across a railroad spike that perfectly punctured my right rear rubber roller. I made it to a convenience store/gas station in the valley before realizing I was in trouble. Keep in mind that I am a fierce, independent traveler who is willing, able, and determined to change my own tires, thank you very much. No sooner had I spread out my blue, crackling, plastic tarp (always carry one for who-knows-what-may-happen that warrants the possession of a tarp) the circumstances changed. Just like all the other times when a flat interrupted my journey, a kind, helpful gentleman came to my “rescue.” Although I did not need to be rescued at that particular moment, I am always gracious and appreciative of anyone who wants to help me. It is genuinely insulting to turn away a guy who wants to perform his chivalrous duty. It is sexist and asinine to throw my hair over my shoulder and whimper, “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout fixin’ no flaaaats.” It is equally disrespectful to discount the generosity of a dude who wants to do his good deed for the day. I have always pulled out a $10 bill once the donut is in place on my vehicle. The money has never been accepted. Payback does not register with Samaritans. Truly, I would feel better if guys would take the bill, but somehow it undermines the validity of their helpfulness---from their point of view. Some friends have theorized that it is the blonde locks that wield a magical power over knights on white horses (or in white Chevy Blazers). They may have a point. I do not know. I just appreciate the help and assure the rescuers that I will pay it forward.
So, I try to remember small acts of kindness. I have to admit, I have never stopped to help someone change a tire. And I have never had a woman stop to help me change a tire. Is it really necessary to burn bras again to change this deeply ingrained role perspective? Guilty. So the next time I see someone along the side of the road with a flat, what shall I do? Honestly. I shall assume the person has a cell phone and can call for help. I too shall make a phone call to report the stranded motorist. Safety is a valid consideration. Malicious individuals will feign distress as a means of luring travelers to a holdup situation.
May I be clear? This is NOT the appropriate response when there is an accident. Stop. Render aid. But stay alert. My husband and I pulled into a dark ravine late one night because we saw car debris (strips of metal, broken glass, a side-view mirror, etc.) strewn across the highway. There was no accident. As soon as we realized that we were about to be robbed, we peeled rubber and made it back to the highway. I digress. More about personal safety in future posts.
Speaking of fixing a flat. It’s a good idea to carry Fix-A-Flat (an aerosol can of pressurized something that will sustain adequate air pressure in a slow leaker. Carry a tire gauge so that you will know when you do have a slow leak. If you know you are losing pressure, stop at the first auto mechanic shop you can find. Car dudes can check the tire and make necessary repairs. And I am NOT sexist. I know women engineers, but I have yet to see a woman changing oil at Walmart. Someone fill me in on a gal that loves to work on cars and is rotating tires at Walmart. Where are you women car fixers?
Also it is a good idea to carry oil and check oil level intermittently. Your mechanic can advise you when to check oil. Beware! If the oil light suddenly glows a blinding red or orange alert from your instrument dashboard, STOP! You can destroy an engine in no time flat if you drive with an insufficient well of lubricant for the engine.
Speaking of flats, never drive on a flat tire unless you are in a high risk situation (in the middle of the road on a bend, in a high crime area, etc.) You will bend the wheel rim and may cause much more damage than you can imagine. Get as far off the road as possible. Park on a level surface. Do NOT exit or stand on the driver side of the vehicle. Slide your cute buns across the seat and exit the vehicle on the passenger side. Call a tow truck. Better to pay a tow dude than to put yourself in danger as you change a driver side tire while traffic whisks by you. Too dangerous.
Besides, Fix-A-Flat and oil, you need to carry jumper cables. You may not need a jump along the way, but someone else might. I can honestly say that I have jumped more than one stranded driver. Oh, and know exactly HOW to hook the cables to the battery terminals. For some weird reason I can never remember which line is which. My Dad was an automobile mechanic and he would be disappointed that I am easily confused as I try to figure out red on what? I do know that it is not safe to mix up battery poles between car engines. Fortunately, I have always been able to count on the expertise of---yes---the men who use the cables. Ladies, we need to do better.
My husband is a terrific aide when it comes to vehicle trip planning. In addition to managing the mechanical inspections and repairs, he stocks the van with supplies I need to ensure good maintenance on the road. Hubby is famous for buying “junk” at flea markets, but sometimes the junk comes in handy. There is a tacky, brown, used brief case in the back of my van which contains socket wrenches, screw drivers, pliers, wire cutters, tie-wraps, and an assortment of other supplies and tools. A few months ago I was visitng an office where the manager was having difficulty with the air conditioning. On a whim, he asked me if I might have any tools in the van. I pulled out the brief case, he found what he needed to make some adjustments to the A/C, and I felt like a good Samaritan. In truth, my hubby was the good guy!
In fact, there is one huge concern that I am contemplating even as I write this travel tip. I need one more important addition to my van: a cargo net. My newly arrived AAA newsletter has a great article about flying objects inside vehicles. If we are in a situation where it is necessary to slam on the brakes or, Heaven forbid, we hit something head-on, all the objects that are stored loosely inside the van will fly forward. The power with which my “tool box” alone will hit the back of my head could knock me out or worse.
Having been in a low-speed head-on collision many years ago, I understand the physics of objects impacting other objects---like my skull. At that time, my seatbelt saved me, but I was hardly left unscathed. Some of my docs marveled at my survival. Head-on collisions are high risk accidents. My chicken neck took all the impact it could take as it whiplashed violently back and forth. An EMT pulled me out on a backboard. I screamed in pain. I had months of physical therapy and pain management. I cannot forget the words of my talented Super Therapist---Steve. “Get a car with an airbag. You won’t survive the next head-on collision without an airbag.” So we got airbags.
Be certain that the safety equipment on your vehicle is working properly. If you own a used car, be sure that the body shop did not cut corners by stuffing newspaper inside the steering wheel well where the airbag should be. (Have a mechanic make the determination that the airbag will work if you need it.) Remember, if you put a cow-catching equivalent grill protector on the front of your vehicle (to protect it from flying evil deer that wait in dark shadows of the night to leap in front of you), the grill protector will interfere with your airbag deployment. Tricky. Make a choice. Honestly, I do not know what is safer here. This is new information for me. I just heard about it over Christmas break. Hmmm … don’t know….
Never put small kids or petite adults in front of an airbag. The safety bags explode at a speed of 200 miles per hour. Skinny necks cannot survive the blow. And learn to drive effectively with your seat positioned as far away from the steering column and airbag compartment as possible. Be sure that you are wearing seatbelts, and do not weaken the fibers of a seatbelt weave by washing it regularly with chemicals that could cause deterioration of the restraint system. It is my understanding (someone out there correct me if I have been misinformed) that seatbelts are not intended to be cleaned. Seatbelts are installed for a reason. They absolutely save lives. I know.
Be sure that brake lights, flashing lights, and turn signals are working well. And, for Pete’s sake, do not forget the horn! I will forever love, platonically speaking, the college student who did a driving safety speech in my class. He advised us to use dimmed lights, brakes, and a LOUD horn to shoo away deer that live beside road burms. Depressed deer are intent on committing suicide by smashing through windshields.
As soon as I heard the class presentation, my driving style changed. I feel a little guilty laying on the horn when I think families are settling down for the night inside there homes. But outside their houses, deer gather in clumps, like innocent looking legged grapes. The truth is they are waiting for those of us on the road whose vehicles---they believe---deserve to be crumpled. On a serious note, many people have died or been severely injured by deer smashing through windshields. Learn to use the horn. By the way, it too is not a guarantee of safety. 99% of the time, I have been successful “persuading” deer to run away from my van by blaring, and I do mean blaring, my factory installed deer-shooing-sound maker. But occasionally the blasting, low pitched alarm startles them, and they jump in front of the vehicle. Be prepared to STOP. Better yet, do not drive after dark. I’ll come back to this notion later when I discuss personal safety. Basically, this gives you a good overview of how to travel safely and comfortably with your car well prepared for the trip.
These recommendations are not all inclusive. A well maintained vehicle will not save you from accidents. It will curtail the risk of accidents and serious injuries related to the car or van itself. Will it cost money to make all these car management checks and repairs? Of course. The question to ask is simple. How much is your life worth?
Friday, January 29, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Travel Tip #3 Buy a GPS but Carry a Map
Copyright 2010 Traveling Novelist
Traveling solo for thousands of miles or for hundreds of miles requires a solid sense of direction. Gasoline is too expensive to throw away on the road less traveled. Heading off in the wrong direction can cost you lost hours and a much thinner pocketbook than you had planned. One time I traveled to Amish Country with my friend, Mary. Returning on the interstate after dark and chattering away about how much fun the trip had been, we were oblivious to our whereabouts. When we came to a division in the four lane system, we were so busy yammering, I drove past the exit at an Interstate crossroads. Two hours and a hundred seventy miles later, I began to question some of the landmarks. We called our husbands, told them we were running behind schedule a little, and pedaled back up the road as fast as our Flintstone feet could take us. A GPS would have caught the error immediately,
and would have squelched, “Recalculating,” within two seconds of our missed exit ramp. Alas, the purchase of the satellite highway direction system was in my future.
Don’t skimp when buying a GPS. Consult Consumer Reports, experienced friends, and knowledgeable electronics sales reps before laying your money down. Some jurisdictions do not allow hand held GPS units to be used by vehicle operators, so be sure to acquire a unit that attaches to your dash or window. Perhaps most importantly, select a model that not only announces when your turns are forthcoming, but specifically identifies the street name for your turn. A neighbor of ours has a unit that only announces basic directions such as “Turn left in 500 feet.” Of course, if there are merging streets, avenues, alleys, and private drives in close proximity, it is easy to miss the road indicated by the wise lady in the box. But instructions such as “Turn left on Elm Street in 500 feet,” are clear. Usually you can spot the street sign far enough ahead of the intersection to make the correct maneuver efficiently.
Another feature of our GPS that is incredibly helpful is its capacity to tell the vehicle operator not only to turn left, but to advise the driver to “Turn left on Elm Street. Then keep right.” That usually means that there is a four lane street and I need to be in the right lane in preparation for another turn---to the right---shortly after heading along Elm Street. I rarely have to signal to other drivers the need to change lanes in anticipation of a quick turn in another direction.
Finally, be certain to practice driving on familiar roads with the GPS long before heading on a trip. Get used to the sound of the instructions, and do not allow the lady in the box to steer you into a lake. Stop for stop signs. Stop for red traffic lights. Stop or slow down for highway construction. Yield at yield intersections. When I first started using the GPS I thought I was exceedingly distracted by the directions, to the extent that I would NEARLY run stop signs, simply because the lady instructed me to turn right in 200 feet. It was weird to feel overwhelmed by a computer generated voice that ordered me to drive into oncoming traffic. Initially, I thought this was my problem. But, as soon as my husband began using the unit, I noticed that he had a tendency to keep moving into intersections, regardless of traffic signs and signals. A few times I would yelp, “Stop! Stop!” This tendency to tune out other variables in the driving environment is equivalent to the dangerous distraction experienced by cell phone users who barrel through department store parking lots, ignoring speed, rights of way, and pedestrian safety. Be CAREFUL with the GPS. Stay alert. Focus.
As I prepare for a long distance trip in the near future I have been weighing the importance of upgrading my GPS. New road construction is prevalent in the area of my destination, so my decision to upgrade has been made for me. Occasionally a city will rename a street which will throw you off, unless you have a sense of where you are apart from the perspective of the wonderful metallic, signaling globes swirling around the heavens above us. Keep a small compass attached to your key ring. You can pick up one for a couple of bucks at a discount department store. If it “feels” like you are going in the wrong direction on the wrong street, maybe you are.
Be prepared for personal safety awareness when using a GPS. Unfortunately, the satellites will signal you to drive the most direct route to your destination even if it is a dangerous route. Stay alert. If you see a lot of trash on the streets, heavy bars on storefronts, loiterers staring at your out-of-state license plates from a distance, you have taken the wrong road. Get back to a safer highway as fast as possible. Ignore the computerized message of “Recalculating,” and realize that the GPS will “catch up with you” as you consciously choose a safer route. Safety first. Then follow the GPS.
Do the driving directors ever take you in the wrong direction? Yes. But rarely. On my Wild West vacation I established a routine where I stopped daily at Walmart. I bought water bottles, snacks, ate a bite of lunch, and got $100 cash as I checked out. There is something homey about finding a Walmart as a base of operations along America’s highways. I type “Walmart” into my shopping database of the GPS and set the unit to take me to my store, restaurant, and bank stop. Twice in six thousand miles I was directed to a vacated Walmart building. Somewhere in the vicinity, a Super Walmart had replaced the address of the one on my GPS. That was not a big deal. I either asked directions at a gas station or hopped on the interstate for the next town.
So, why did I title this section Buy a GPS but carry a map? Because sometimes a map is better than a GPS. It is that simple. Before leaving on a long trip, I carefully map out my chosen route with plans to stop at museums, art galleries, historic sites, etc. Acquiring official state road maps before setting out is invaluable. Every state in the USA wants tourists to spend money within their borders. I am happy to do that with all but one state, which I am currently boycotting. (You guess which one it is. Forget it. You’ll never figure this one out.) Nevertheless, go online. Look up the state tourism homepage. (For example, Google “Arkansas tourism official homepage.”) Ask them to send you an official map. It should arrive by snail mail within two or three weeks. Laying a map out in front of you gives you the total perspective of your travel through a specific geographic region. The GPS will get you through Arkansas expeditiously. Perusing the state map of Arkansas and reviewing their state tourism guides will give you many choices for fun, educational, intriguing diversions off the beaten path.
There is also the possibility that roads will be under construction, detours will lead you into areas that raise questions about location, and shopping mall parking lots will be displayed on the GPS screen as a road. You may simply want to plot another course to avoid heavy traffic, dangerous areas, densely populated urban areas, etc. If it is rush hour, I often plot a route around the main business districts of cities, including around D.C.’s beltway, knowing that I will have a more pleasurable experience staying away from tired, potentially aggressive drivers who want me out of their way. No problem. By the way, try to hit key metropolitan areas “outside” of rush hour.
When traveling to Wyoming, I carefully monitored weather forecasts and was aware of a highly volatile storm system with tornado watches and warnings along my plotted route. I studied the satellite images of NOAA weather maps, and charted an alternate route through northern Wyoming. I used my Wyoming state road map to do so. Devils Tower National Park was just thirty miles from my new route, so I calculated driving times, risk, and prepared a stop at the beautiful volcanic rock formation. I steered clear of the storm system that was destroying homes and lives to my southwest, allowing plenty of time to reach my night’s stay to the south. But as I drove toward Casper, the skies became more and more ominous. The first clue to danger was the significant decrease in traffic. I went into a heightened state of observation. When I realized that suddenly there were no tractor trailer trucks on the road, I knew I was in trouble.
Unfortunately my weather radio reported no impending threats. But, as I have learned, the local radio station was on top of the crisis. Professionally trained spotters had detected a tornado on the ground in Casper. I was driving straight into it. As soon as I heard the report, I exited the interstate and looked for the strongest, safest hotel in the vicinity. I checked in, informed the staff that a tornado was on the ground in Casper and was headed north. Then I called the Casper hotel, joked a little bit about the weather “down there” and asked them cordially to release me from a room reservation penalty as I had procured shelter in Gillette. They were very cordial and understanding. I settled into my room for the night. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Safety first. Everything else comes later.
Have a map for every state through which you travel. It is far more comprehensive and far more comprehensible than any GPS screen. Never drive down the road juggling a road map in your right hand while steering your vehicle with your left hand. Study alternative routes and be flexible with your time. Do not try a long trip into unfamiliar territory without a GPS. Know how to use it. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity for serious travelers. And take a map. Be smart. Be safe.
Copyright 2010 Traveling Novelist
Traveling solo for thousands of miles or for hundreds of miles requires a solid sense of direction. Gasoline is too expensive to throw away on the road less traveled. Heading off in the wrong direction can cost you lost hours and a much thinner pocketbook than you had planned. One time I traveled to Amish Country with my friend, Mary. Returning on the interstate after dark and chattering away about how much fun the trip had been, we were oblivious to our whereabouts. When we came to a division in the four lane system, we were so busy yammering, I drove past the exit at an Interstate crossroads. Two hours and a hundred seventy miles later, I began to question some of the landmarks. We called our husbands, told them we were running behind schedule a little, and pedaled back up the road as fast as our Flintstone feet could take us. A GPS would have caught the error immediately,
and would have squelched, “Recalculating,” within two seconds of our missed exit ramp. Alas, the purchase of the satellite highway direction system was in my future.
Don’t skimp when buying a GPS. Consult Consumer Reports, experienced friends, and knowledgeable electronics sales reps before laying your money down. Some jurisdictions do not allow hand held GPS units to be used by vehicle operators, so be sure to acquire a unit that attaches to your dash or window. Perhaps most importantly, select a model that not only announces when your turns are forthcoming, but specifically identifies the street name for your turn. A neighbor of ours has a unit that only announces basic directions such as “Turn left in 500 feet.” Of course, if there are merging streets, avenues, alleys, and private drives in close proximity, it is easy to miss the road indicated by the wise lady in the box. But instructions such as “Turn left on Elm Street in 500 feet,” are clear. Usually you can spot the street sign far enough ahead of the intersection to make the correct maneuver efficiently.
Another feature of our GPS that is incredibly helpful is its capacity to tell the vehicle operator not only to turn left, but to advise the driver to “Turn left on Elm Street. Then keep right.” That usually means that there is a four lane street and I need to be in the right lane in preparation for another turn---to the right---shortly after heading along Elm Street. I rarely have to signal to other drivers the need to change lanes in anticipation of a quick turn in another direction.
Finally, be certain to practice driving on familiar roads with the GPS long before heading on a trip. Get used to the sound of the instructions, and do not allow the lady in the box to steer you into a lake. Stop for stop signs. Stop for red traffic lights. Stop or slow down for highway construction. Yield at yield intersections. When I first started using the GPS I thought I was exceedingly distracted by the directions, to the extent that I would NEARLY run stop signs, simply because the lady instructed me to turn right in 200 feet. It was weird to feel overwhelmed by a computer generated voice that ordered me to drive into oncoming traffic. Initially, I thought this was my problem. But, as soon as my husband began using the unit, I noticed that he had a tendency to keep moving into intersections, regardless of traffic signs and signals. A few times I would yelp, “Stop! Stop!” This tendency to tune out other variables in the driving environment is equivalent to the dangerous distraction experienced by cell phone users who barrel through department store parking lots, ignoring speed, rights of way, and pedestrian safety. Be CAREFUL with the GPS. Stay alert. Focus.
As I prepare for a long distance trip in the near future I have been weighing the importance of upgrading my GPS. New road construction is prevalent in the area of my destination, so my decision to upgrade has been made for me. Occasionally a city will rename a street which will throw you off, unless you have a sense of where you are apart from the perspective of the wonderful metallic, signaling globes swirling around the heavens above us. Keep a small compass attached to your key ring. You can pick up one for a couple of bucks at a discount department store. If it “feels” like you are going in the wrong direction on the wrong street, maybe you are.
Be prepared for personal safety awareness when using a GPS. Unfortunately, the satellites will signal you to drive the most direct route to your destination even if it is a dangerous route. Stay alert. If you see a lot of trash on the streets, heavy bars on storefronts, loiterers staring at your out-of-state license plates from a distance, you have taken the wrong road. Get back to a safer highway as fast as possible. Ignore the computerized message of “Recalculating,” and realize that the GPS will “catch up with you” as you consciously choose a safer route. Safety first. Then follow the GPS.
Do the driving directors ever take you in the wrong direction? Yes. But rarely. On my Wild West vacation I established a routine where I stopped daily at Walmart. I bought water bottles, snacks, ate a bite of lunch, and got $100 cash as I checked out. There is something homey about finding a Walmart as a base of operations along America’s highways. I type “Walmart” into my shopping database of the GPS and set the unit to take me to my store, restaurant, and bank stop. Twice in six thousand miles I was directed to a vacated Walmart building. Somewhere in the vicinity, a Super Walmart had replaced the address of the one on my GPS. That was not a big deal. I either asked directions at a gas station or hopped on the interstate for the next town.
So, why did I title this section Buy a GPS but carry a map? Because sometimes a map is better than a GPS. It is that simple. Before leaving on a long trip, I carefully map out my chosen route with plans to stop at museums, art galleries, historic sites, etc. Acquiring official state road maps before setting out is invaluable. Every state in the USA wants tourists to spend money within their borders. I am happy to do that with all but one state, which I am currently boycotting. (You guess which one it is. Forget it. You’ll never figure this one out.) Nevertheless, go online. Look up the state tourism homepage. (For example, Google “Arkansas tourism official homepage.”) Ask them to send you an official map. It should arrive by snail mail within two or three weeks. Laying a map out in front of you gives you the total perspective of your travel through a specific geographic region. The GPS will get you through Arkansas expeditiously. Perusing the state map of Arkansas and reviewing their state tourism guides will give you many choices for fun, educational, intriguing diversions off the beaten path.
There is also the possibility that roads will be under construction, detours will lead you into areas that raise questions about location, and shopping mall parking lots will be displayed on the GPS screen as a road. You may simply want to plot another course to avoid heavy traffic, dangerous areas, densely populated urban areas, etc. If it is rush hour, I often plot a route around the main business districts of cities, including around D.C.’s beltway, knowing that I will have a more pleasurable experience staying away from tired, potentially aggressive drivers who want me out of their way. No problem. By the way, try to hit key metropolitan areas “outside” of rush hour.
When traveling to Wyoming, I carefully monitored weather forecasts and was aware of a highly volatile storm system with tornado watches and warnings along my plotted route. I studied the satellite images of NOAA weather maps, and charted an alternate route through northern Wyoming. I used my Wyoming state road map to do so. Devils Tower National Park was just thirty miles from my new route, so I calculated driving times, risk, and prepared a stop at the beautiful volcanic rock formation. I steered clear of the storm system that was destroying homes and lives to my southwest, allowing plenty of time to reach my night’s stay to the south. But as I drove toward Casper, the skies became more and more ominous. The first clue to danger was the significant decrease in traffic. I went into a heightened state of observation. When I realized that suddenly there were no tractor trailer trucks on the road, I knew I was in trouble.
Unfortunately my weather radio reported no impending threats. But, as I have learned, the local radio station was on top of the crisis. Professionally trained spotters had detected a tornado on the ground in Casper. I was driving straight into it. As soon as I heard the report, I exited the interstate and looked for the strongest, safest hotel in the vicinity. I checked in, informed the staff that a tornado was on the ground in Casper and was headed north. Then I called the Casper hotel, joked a little bit about the weather “down there” and asked them cordially to release me from a room reservation penalty as I had procured shelter in Gillette. They were very cordial and understanding. I settled into my room for the night. It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Safety first. Everything else comes later.
Have a map for every state through which you travel. It is far more comprehensive and far more comprehensible than any GPS screen. Never drive down the road juggling a road map in your right hand while steering your vehicle with your left hand. Study alternative routes and be flexible with your time. Do not try a long trip into unfamiliar territory without a GPS. Know how to use it. It is not a luxury. It is a necessity for serious travelers. And take a map. Be smart. Be safe.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Travel Tip #2-Pack Clothes Based on Comfort and Need
Travel Tip #2 - Clothes for the Road
(c) 2010 Lea, the Traveling Novelist
2. Pack clothes according to comfort and need. Travel in stretchable knit sweat pants and tee shirts covered with a microfiber hooded jacket. Driving long distances comfortably requires flexibility. Tight fitting slacks or jeans will work against your movements as you change gears and turn to double check lane change safety. A cozy jacket will break cool winds in gusting moderate temperatures and will yield to arm motions as you maneuver the steering wheel, turn on lights and wipers, and change gears.
Buy two-gallon ziplock bags before packing your bags and insert each day’s apparel, including undergarments into each bag. Place a paper label inside each bag, identifying contents according to temperature and needs. When I traveled through the northwest and circled down to the southwest deserts, I grabbed bags marked COLD, MODERATE, and HOT according to weather conditions. And to save space, simply squeeze out excess air by sitting on top of the bags before zipping them shut.
Stack the plastic wrapped apparel in a lid covered plastic tub, and pull out only the next day’s clothes as you check into your hotel. Leave the bulk of clothes in your car or van. If you have a trunk, store everything inside it. CAUTION. Thieves often look inside vehicles to make an assessment of a “take” while travelers eat lunch, walk to waterfall overlooks, or snooze in the comfort of roadside inns. So far, I’ve managed to thwart thievery by camouflaging moderately valuable items by “trashing” my van. I allow the old Windstar to get dirty and I leave clean empty soda cans on the seats along with heaps of newspaper and wads of fast food restaurant bags. (Caveat: DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING THAT EMITS FOOD ODORS INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE WHEN YOU're in BEAR TERRITORY unless it is stored in the proper airtight approved food lockers as required by the National Park Service! And----KNOW when you're in bear territory!) Anyway, a thief peeking inside my windows would probably assume that some destitute nomad with nothing worth taking is crossing country on a shoestring. In other words, look like you have nothing worth stealing.
On the other hand, I always secure irreplaceable valuables (cell phone, walkie talkies, GPS, and computer) in my hotel safe. I never leave easy-to-hock electronics in the Ford. All of my traveling clothes are cheap department store replaceable items, with the exception of some L. L. Bean/Cabella type gear that runs a little higher than average discount department store apparel. But even L.L. Bean is replaceable. My philosophy is simple: if somebody steals my clothes, I simply MUST go shopping!
Before packing, empty your closet of all the clothing you own. Match tops and bottoms. Casual, everyday slacks will suffice for traveling. It is not necessary to dress up for a five hundred mile drive along the interstate highway system. The advantage of traveling with twenty one changes of clothes on a three-week trip is that you lose no time in laundromats----time you could spend in an art gallery looking at magnificent works so much more worthwhile than ogling rotating clothes inside a stainless steel oversized mechanical box. You can do laundry when you get home. If you do not have twenty one changes of underclothes, buy some extras and save yourself the distraction of laundry. Compare the cost of a few extra undergarments to the cost of detergent, washing machine cost, and dryer expense. There are even biodegradable undergarments that you can purchase and throw away without guilt.
Women traveling solo should dress modestly. Leave short shorts and low cut tees at home. Dressing informally is not the same thing as dressing cheap. Convey an appearance that sends a message of self respect and the expectancy of the same from others. Don’t send any signals that could be construed as an invitation for sexual advances.
Remember to take two or three changes of shoes/boots. Good hiking boots are a good investment. For our wedding anniversary this year, my hubby got me snakeproof boots (at MY request). Now, when I travel into my favorite National Wilderness area with my camera, and where I KNOW timber rattlers await me, I am a little safer than I have been when trekking along stony pathways wearing "cute" sneakers. A snake "handler" at our State Natural Resources office also advised me to use care walking near rocky ledges and canyon walls. Slithering assailants lurk in dark shadows of canyon walls in anticipation of striking out at the heads of approaching idiots. Don't forget dress shoes. (Not for the snakes---for dinner!) Once I passed up an exquisite 5-star dinner at a gorgeous restaurant which had a fastidious dresscode. The closest thing I had to dress shoes were white flipflops. I had remembered to pack a long black travel dress, but forgot to pack appropriate shoes. I was not about to pay $80 for spikey heels from the resort gift shop. I have other ways to spend a travel budget! Walmart. Black flats. Dressy enough.
Always pack a couple of dressy outfits, even if you are headed for the great outdoors. Conservative, loose fitting black slacks and a blazer over a simple tee can be accented with a paisley scarf for dinner when a restaurant or formal B&B shuns jeans and shorts. Keep in mind that the high end restaurants may expect more formal attire. And, ALWAYS check out dress codes of restaurants before embarking on your journey. Do not pass up an opportunity for exquisite dining because of a penchant for denim. Ringo Starr can wear denim to posh restaurants. Love Ringo. Love Ringo. The rest of us really cool, blue jean clad twits can expect to be turned away at the door. Not that Ringo is a twit. Ringo:COOL. Rest of us: QUASI TWITS wandering along the road of life.
And as you go down the road----dress well, travel well, be safe.
(c) 2010 Lea, the Traveling Novelist
2. Pack clothes according to comfort and need. Travel in stretchable knit sweat pants and tee shirts covered with a microfiber hooded jacket. Driving long distances comfortably requires flexibility. Tight fitting slacks or jeans will work against your movements as you change gears and turn to double check lane change safety. A cozy jacket will break cool winds in gusting moderate temperatures and will yield to arm motions as you maneuver the steering wheel, turn on lights and wipers, and change gears.
Buy two-gallon ziplock bags before packing your bags and insert each day’s apparel, including undergarments into each bag. Place a paper label inside each bag, identifying contents according to temperature and needs. When I traveled through the northwest and circled down to the southwest deserts, I grabbed bags marked COLD, MODERATE, and HOT according to weather conditions. And to save space, simply squeeze out excess air by sitting on top of the bags before zipping them shut.
Stack the plastic wrapped apparel in a lid covered plastic tub, and pull out only the next day’s clothes as you check into your hotel. Leave the bulk of clothes in your car or van. If you have a trunk, store everything inside it. CAUTION. Thieves often look inside vehicles to make an assessment of a “take” while travelers eat lunch, walk to waterfall overlooks, or snooze in the comfort of roadside inns. So far, I’ve managed to thwart thievery by camouflaging moderately valuable items by “trashing” my van. I allow the old Windstar to get dirty and I leave clean empty soda cans on the seats along with heaps of newspaper and wads of fast food restaurant bags. (Caveat: DON'T LEAVE ANYTHING THAT EMITS FOOD ODORS INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE WHEN YOU're in BEAR TERRITORY unless it is stored in the proper airtight approved food lockers as required by the National Park Service! And----KNOW when you're in bear territory!) Anyway, a thief peeking inside my windows would probably assume that some destitute nomad with nothing worth taking is crossing country on a shoestring. In other words, look like you have nothing worth stealing.
On the other hand, I always secure irreplaceable valuables (cell phone, walkie talkies, GPS, and computer) in my hotel safe. I never leave easy-to-hock electronics in the Ford. All of my traveling clothes are cheap department store replaceable items, with the exception of some L. L. Bean/Cabella type gear that runs a little higher than average discount department store apparel. But even L.L. Bean is replaceable. My philosophy is simple: if somebody steals my clothes, I simply MUST go shopping!
Before packing, empty your closet of all the clothing you own. Match tops and bottoms. Casual, everyday slacks will suffice for traveling. It is not necessary to dress up for a five hundred mile drive along the interstate highway system. The advantage of traveling with twenty one changes of clothes on a three-week trip is that you lose no time in laundromats----time you could spend in an art gallery looking at magnificent works so much more worthwhile than ogling rotating clothes inside a stainless steel oversized mechanical box. You can do laundry when you get home. If you do not have twenty one changes of underclothes, buy some extras and save yourself the distraction of laundry. Compare the cost of a few extra undergarments to the cost of detergent, washing machine cost, and dryer expense. There are even biodegradable undergarments that you can purchase and throw away without guilt.
Women traveling solo should dress modestly. Leave short shorts and low cut tees at home. Dressing informally is not the same thing as dressing cheap. Convey an appearance that sends a message of self respect and the expectancy of the same from others. Don’t send any signals that could be construed as an invitation for sexual advances.
Remember to take two or three changes of shoes/boots. Good hiking boots are a good investment. For our wedding anniversary this year, my hubby got me snakeproof boots (at MY request). Now, when I travel into my favorite National Wilderness area with my camera, and where I KNOW timber rattlers await me, I am a little safer than I have been when trekking along stony pathways wearing "cute" sneakers. A snake "handler" at our State Natural Resources office also advised me to use care walking near rocky ledges and canyon walls. Slithering assailants lurk in dark shadows of canyon walls in anticipation of striking out at the heads of approaching idiots. Don't forget dress shoes. (Not for the snakes---for dinner!) Once I passed up an exquisite 5-star dinner at a gorgeous restaurant which had a fastidious dresscode. The closest thing I had to dress shoes were white flipflops. I had remembered to pack a long black travel dress, but forgot to pack appropriate shoes. I was not about to pay $80 for spikey heels from the resort gift shop. I have other ways to spend a travel budget! Walmart. Black flats. Dressy enough.
Always pack a couple of dressy outfits, even if you are headed for the great outdoors. Conservative, loose fitting black slacks and a blazer over a simple tee can be accented with a paisley scarf for dinner when a restaurant or formal B&B shuns jeans and shorts. Keep in mind that the high end restaurants may expect more formal attire. And, ALWAYS check out dress codes of restaurants before embarking on your journey. Do not pass up an opportunity for exquisite dining because of a penchant for denim. Ringo Starr can wear denim to posh restaurants. Love Ringo. Love Ringo. The rest of us really cool, blue jean clad twits can expect to be turned away at the door. Not that Ringo is a twit. Ringo:COOL. Rest of us: QUASI TWITS wandering along the road of life.
And as you go down the road----dress well, travel well, be safe.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Travel Tip #1
Winter is upon us in full force and it's time to think about traveling to warmer horizons. Of course if you're a snowboarder, skier, or a tobogganist, this is a terrific time to play. May I encourage you to be extra careful on the highways and byways. One of my storm chasing Tweeters recently published statistics about icy road deaths this year, which far exceed all the tornado deaths of the entire, previous calendar year. I "think" that info was posted by the master Storm Chaser, Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel. But the point is well taken: icy roads can be lethal.
The following information is apropos, regardless of the time of year we travel. I shall be posting travel tips every Friday for a year, just to share some common sense that tends to fall by the wayside when we hastily pack a suitcase and head out on new adventures. A little planning will make the difference between a memorable adventure and keen disappointment.
Just last evening I shared Tip #1 with fellow writers who immediately recalled instances in their own travels where they fell into the trap of
underestimating the consequences of failing to travel around the weather.
The recommendations I make are intended to provide some guidelines for enjoyment while exploring new territory. There is no guarantee of personal safety implied by these observations. You are responsible for exercising good judgment in the face of adversity. Be smart. Be safe. Good grief, I sound like McGruff the Crime Dog!
Post #1. Here goes.
------------------------------------------------------
Travel Guide for Solo Adventurers
Tip #1
(c) 2010 Lea, the Traveling Novelist
I stood alongside the slick, paved road of Yellowstone National Park, donning a down filled hooded winter coat, thick gloves, and snow boots. It was a challenge to refrain from staring at nearby children who were sporting tee shirts, shorts, and athletic shoes. If any of my neighbors had asked me what I would be packing for my trip to the gigantic, volcano spewing park and for the Grand Tetons National Park, they might have stared at me as though I were crazy. Many of my friends would have made the same assumptions that the shivering children’s families had made. Shorts and light shirts were more than adequate for the big adventure out west. After all, it was May.
But as I had laid out the itinerary for my solo adventure through Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, I researched every detail possible so that the trip would be as exhilarating as it could be. I was warm and comfortable amidst the slicing winds of Yellowstone while many tourists peered at steamy, sulfuric geysers from the interiors of their cars and soccer vans. My morning photography shoots of the Tetons were magnificent. But there were few people trekking along the banks of Jackson Lake shortly after frigid sunrises in exquisitely scenic Wyoming. The view was extraordinary. It was mine for the taking.
Within a week I was shopping in Roswell, New Mexico, well armed with plastic money in pursuit of the perfect Alien Tee Shirt for my grandson. The weather in the heart of celebrated UFO Country yielded a very different hold on townies and visitors. The clear air of the high desert measured one hundred six degrees Fahrenheit. Roswell rests on the high ground of The Land of Enchantment, but altitude affords little relief from searing wafts of dry air in May. I was attired in shorts, a tee shirt, a wide brimmed straw hat, and sandals. Only a few days earlier I had donned the gear of winter hikers of the northern Rocky Mountains. Doing my homework for the solo Wild West Adventure had paid off beautifully.
Inadequate planning may be the biggest downfall of travelers who venture into unfamiliar territory. They dream of experiencing the best vacation ever. Too often, they end up taking home the worst memories. Intelligent computer geeks exude a putrid shade of gray when submerged in a submarine off the coast of the Bahamas. Inexperienced spelunkers lower themselves into rain filled caverns of the Appalachians, wearing mere threadbare summer clothes. Fair skinned babies are burned to a dangerous dark pink hue while on Florida family vacations. Tough guys hobble on blistered, crippled feet in amusement parks. All because of one problem: inadequate planning.
I have traveled alone on many vacations through the years. Every trip is a learning experience. Mistakes and oversights happen, even with the best laid plans, but many problems can be remedied with little more than common sense and knowledge of what to expect on arrival. I have learned from my own share of mistakes. I have also learned to pay close attention to the advice of experts who have my best interest at heart.
The following advice is not intended to guarantee a completely safe and satisfying travel experience. We are never ensured of complete safety. Not in our homes. Not on the road. The number one plan for safety, fun, and satisfaction is preparation coupled with a heightened awareness of our surroundings. Take time to plan carefully, and your chances of reminiscing joyfully about the great trip of 2010 increase exponentially.
1. Check the weather. Search the Internet for your destination weather by simply entering the name of the town and weather. For example search “Casper Wyoming weather.” Then carefully evaluate not only the current meteorological conditions, but the ten-day forecast for the region. Familiarize yourself with meteorological map notations and watch out for the “Ls” on the maps, the blue arrowed curved lines moving in your general direction, and particularly pay attention to the potential for a clash between high pressure and low pressure systems. If you’re traveling through the Rockies, Tornado Ally, or along hurricane lined coastal areas of the East Coast, stay tuned to local weather forecasters for advisories, watches, and warnings. Know when to take shelter and when to avoid dangerous conditions.
Carry a portable weather radio with an alarm when traveling through unfamiliar territory, but do not rely exclusively on the radio to provide the first warnings. You may not always be able to get a signal. Twice I was alerted to twisters on the ground by local radio station DJs who had received alerts from professionally trained “spotters.” The National Weather Service caught up with the warnings after I had taken shelter in the most solid and secure buildings immediately available.
If you are in doubt about your personal safety in adverse weather, check with responsible locals. A good looking, cool dude with a surfboard is probably not the best person to consult if he is walking toward the beach in the midst of an approaching category 3 hurricane. On the other hand, admonitions from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) to take shelter should be taken very seriously. If unstable air masses stabilize or if Hurricane Xena changes course, the worst you have to show for erring on the side of caution is a little lost time. Be wary of local cynics who smash the warning button atop their weather radios and claim “Oh---sometimes tornadoes touch down on the other side of the street, and sometimes they don’t touch down at all---ya’ never know.” These charming, albeit, desensitized townies are not the best bet for your personal safety. Always err on the side of caution.
Safe travel, my friends!
P.S. Hubby just threw in his advice: move to Aruba!!!! OK..
Winter is upon us in full force and it's time to think about traveling to warmer horizons. Of course if you're a snowboarder, skier, or a tobogganist, this is a terrific time to play. May I encourage you to be extra careful on the highways and byways. One of my storm chasing Tweeters recently published statistics about icy road deaths this year, which far exceed all the tornado deaths of the entire, previous calendar year. I "think" that info was posted by the master Storm Chaser, Jim Cantore of the Weather Channel. But the point is well taken: icy roads can be lethal.
The following information is apropos, regardless of the time of year we travel. I shall be posting travel tips every Friday for a year, just to share some common sense that tends to fall by the wayside when we hastily pack a suitcase and head out on new adventures. A little planning will make the difference between a memorable adventure and keen disappointment.
Just last evening I shared Tip #1 with fellow writers who immediately recalled instances in their own travels where they fell into the trap of
underestimating the consequences of failing to travel around the weather.
The recommendations I make are intended to provide some guidelines for enjoyment while exploring new territory. There is no guarantee of personal safety implied by these observations. You are responsible for exercising good judgment in the face of adversity. Be smart. Be safe. Good grief, I sound like McGruff the Crime Dog!
Post #1. Here goes.
------------------------------------------------------
Travel Guide for Solo Adventurers
Tip #1
(c) 2010 Lea, the Traveling Novelist
I stood alongside the slick, paved road of Yellowstone National Park, donning a down filled hooded winter coat, thick gloves, and snow boots. It was a challenge to refrain from staring at nearby children who were sporting tee shirts, shorts, and athletic shoes. If any of my neighbors had asked me what I would be packing for my trip to the gigantic, volcano spewing park and for the Grand Tetons National Park, they might have stared at me as though I were crazy. Many of my friends would have made the same assumptions that the shivering children’s families had made. Shorts and light shirts were more than adequate for the big adventure out west. After all, it was May.
But as I had laid out the itinerary for my solo adventure through Midwest, the Rocky Mountains, and the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, I researched every detail possible so that the trip would be as exhilarating as it could be. I was warm and comfortable amidst the slicing winds of Yellowstone while many tourists peered at steamy, sulfuric geysers from the interiors of their cars and soccer vans. My morning photography shoots of the Tetons were magnificent. But there were few people trekking along the banks of Jackson Lake shortly after frigid sunrises in exquisitely scenic Wyoming. The view was extraordinary. It was mine for the taking.
Within a week I was shopping in Roswell, New Mexico, well armed with plastic money in pursuit of the perfect Alien Tee Shirt for my grandson. The weather in the heart of celebrated UFO Country yielded a very different hold on townies and visitors. The clear air of the high desert measured one hundred six degrees Fahrenheit. Roswell rests on the high ground of The Land of Enchantment, but altitude affords little relief from searing wafts of dry air in May. I was attired in shorts, a tee shirt, a wide brimmed straw hat, and sandals. Only a few days earlier I had donned the gear of winter hikers of the northern Rocky Mountains. Doing my homework for the solo Wild West Adventure had paid off beautifully.
Inadequate planning may be the biggest downfall of travelers who venture into unfamiliar territory. They dream of experiencing the best vacation ever. Too often, they end up taking home the worst memories. Intelligent computer geeks exude a putrid shade of gray when submerged in a submarine off the coast of the Bahamas. Inexperienced spelunkers lower themselves into rain filled caverns of the Appalachians, wearing mere threadbare summer clothes. Fair skinned babies are burned to a dangerous dark pink hue while on Florida family vacations. Tough guys hobble on blistered, crippled feet in amusement parks. All because of one problem: inadequate planning.
I have traveled alone on many vacations through the years. Every trip is a learning experience. Mistakes and oversights happen, even with the best laid plans, but many problems can be remedied with little more than common sense and knowledge of what to expect on arrival. I have learned from my own share of mistakes. I have also learned to pay close attention to the advice of experts who have my best interest at heart.
The following advice is not intended to guarantee a completely safe and satisfying travel experience. We are never ensured of complete safety. Not in our homes. Not on the road. The number one plan for safety, fun, and satisfaction is preparation coupled with a heightened awareness of our surroundings. Take time to plan carefully, and your chances of reminiscing joyfully about the great trip of 2010 increase exponentially.
1. Check the weather. Search the Internet for your destination weather by simply entering the name of the town and weather. For example search “Casper Wyoming weather.” Then carefully evaluate not only the current meteorological conditions, but the ten-day forecast for the region. Familiarize yourself with meteorological map notations and watch out for the “Ls” on the maps, the blue arrowed curved lines moving in your general direction, and particularly pay attention to the potential for a clash between high pressure and low pressure systems. If you’re traveling through the Rockies, Tornado Ally, or along hurricane lined coastal areas of the East Coast, stay tuned to local weather forecasters for advisories, watches, and warnings. Know when to take shelter and when to avoid dangerous conditions.
Carry a portable weather radio with an alarm when traveling through unfamiliar territory, but do not rely exclusively on the radio to provide the first warnings. You may not always be able to get a signal. Twice I was alerted to twisters on the ground by local radio station DJs who had received alerts from professionally trained “spotters.” The National Weather Service caught up with the warnings after I had taken shelter in the most solid and secure buildings immediately available.
If you are in doubt about your personal safety in adverse weather, check with responsible locals. A good looking, cool dude with a surfboard is probably not the best person to consult if he is walking toward the beach in the midst of an approaching category 3 hurricane. On the other hand, admonitions from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association) to take shelter should be taken very seriously. If unstable air masses stabilize or if Hurricane Xena changes course, the worst you have to show for erring on the side of caution is a little lost time. Be wary of local cynics who smash the warning button atop their weather radios and claim “Oh---sometimes tornadoes touch down on the other side of the street, and sometimes they don’t touch down at all---ya’ never know.” These charming, albeit, desensitized townies are not the best bet for your personal safety. Always err on the side of caution.
Safe travel, my friends!
P.S. Hubby just threw in his advice: move to Aruba!!!! OK..
Friday, January 1, 2010
New Year as New Novelist
Hello World and hello New Year!
For many years I have taught Communication Studies in the college classroom, and have loved it beyond measure. Wonderful students have passed across the threshold of my Speech Comm classroom, and I've learned more from my students than they realize. I have given them the best of my knowledge and experience, but have chosen to shift gears professionally in 2010.
My passion is moving in the general direction of the open road! With an opportunity to travel, and with the convenience of modern technology, I have elected to write my way along the highways of the Good Old USA!
Most of the time I'll be at my home base, but adventure calls me to explore and grow with every new travel and writing experience possible. This is an exciting new direction. How much I look forward to 2010!
Some distant horizon beckons me to make wonderful new friends, ponder beautiful natural wonders, greet new people with each stop for a sandwich or photo shoot, and write about all of it.
In 2008 I took in many of the great National Parks of the West, and in 2009 I sauntered along an historic southeast USA vacation---had lip smacking fried oysters at Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah, explored the entire length of the Outer Banks, ferried to Okracoke Island, photographed Jupiter Lighthouse in Florida, visited the boyhood home of Edgar Allen Poe in North Carolina, photographed the light house on Tybee Island off the coast of Georgia, revisited the breathtaking Thomas Jefferson home of Monticello in Charlottesville,
sang God Bless America at the annual July 4 celebration in Washington D.C., visited the National Zoo for the first time, camped in the exquisite mountainous terrain of Wild Wonderful West Virginia, and auditioned for American Idol at Walt Disney World.
Travel in 2010 is wide open, but, as opportunities present themselves, I'll intend to convey my thoughts via this blog. The goal is to post every Friday. (I just marked every Friday of my 2010 calendar: BLOG!) As time permits, or as inspiration presents itself, I may post more thoughts. Weekly posts "sound" manageable.
I have completed one historic novel and have begun research on its sequel. The story is about a newspaper feature story journalist who embarks on a personal quest to study a deadly tornado. But, she gets more than she bargained for as she finds a new perspective on life while tracing the path of the storm. Her inquisitiveness began with a traumatic memory conveyed by an old family story teller.
In the early twentieth century, a group of small children were walking to school along a country road in Appalachia when a tornado touched down. Their beloved one room schoolhouse was out of reach. Alone and terrified by an experience like none they had known in their short lives, the children have only their wits to save them. One little girl panicked and ran away from her companions who were left weighing risks of continuing on the road to school. Good neighbors go "on hunt" of the terrified girl. The story of the children in the storm is Part II of the novel. Part I entails events of other school children caught in the violence of the deadliest storm system of its type in the history of the United States.
The novel sequel will go beyond the lost children's story (which, by the way, is based on true events) as the newspaper writer explores further human interest stories related to violent weather. I'll be traveling to the site of the mid nineteenth century storm to research my new novel for 2010.
Novel #1 has not been published yet. My goal is to have it in print by Christmas 2010.
If you are intrigued by natural wonders and natural disaster,
I'm your gal. Once I publish Novel #1, I've promised myself a tornado vacation. Now THAT will be something to document!
Tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, floods, and other natural phenomena capture my curiosity. Meeting new people, visiting new places, and seeking new experiences are the foundation of living life to its fullest. I love every day. I love people. I am so thankful for every moment and every opportunity to explore!!!!!
And so----down the road----we shall go!
For many years I have taught Communication Studies in the college classroom, and have loved it beyond measure. Wonderful students have passed across the threshold of my Speech Comm classroom, and I've learned more from my students than they realize. I have given them the best of my knowledge and experience, but have chosen to shift gears professionally in 2010.
My passion is moving in the general direction of the open road! With an opportunity to travel, and with the convenience of modern technology, I have elected to write my way along the highways of the Good Old USA!
Most of the time I'll be at my home base, but adventure calls me to explore and grow with every new travel and writing experience possible. This is an exciting new direction. How much I look forward to 2010!
Some distant horizon beckons me to make wonderful new friends, ponder beautiful natural wonders, greet new people with each stop for a sandwich or photo shoot, and write about all of it.
In 2008 I took in many of the great National Parks of the West, and in 2009 I sauntered along an historic southeast USA vacation---had lip smacking fried oysters at Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah, explored the entire length of the Outer Banks, ferried to Okracoke Island, photographed Jupiter Lighthouse in Florida, visited the boyhood home of Edgar Allen Poe in North Carolina, photographed the light house on Tybee Island off the coast of Georgia, revisited the breathtaking Thomas Jefferson home of Monticello in Charlottesville,
sang God Bless America at the annual July 4 celebration in Washington D.C., visited the National Zoo for the first time, camped in the exquisite mountainous terrain of Wild Wonderful West Virginia, and auditioned for American Idol at Walt Disney World.
Travel in 2010 is wide open, but, as opportunities present themselves, I'll intend to convey my thoughts via this blog. The goal is to post every Friday. (I just marked every Friday of my 2010 calendar: BLOG!) As time permits, or as inspiration presents itself, I may post more thoughts. Weekly posts "sound" manageable.
I have completed one historic novel and have begun research on its sequel. The story is about a newspaper feature story journalist who embarks on a personal quest to study a deadly tornado. But, she gets more than she bargained for as she finds a new perspective on life while tracing the path of the storm. Her inquisitiveness began with a traumatic memory conveyed by an old family story teller.
In the early twentieth century, a group of small children were walking to school along a country road in Appalachia when a tornado touched down. Their beloved one room schoolhouse was out of reach. Alone and terrified by an experience like none they had known in their short lives, the children have only their wits to save them. One little girl panicked and ran away from her companions who were left weighing risks of continuing on the road to school. Good neighbors go "on hunt" of the terrified girl. The story of the children in the storm is Part II of the novel. Part I entails events of other school children caught in the violence of the deadliest storm system of its type in the history of the United States.
The novel sequel will go beyond the lost children's story (which, by the way, is based on true events) as the newspaper writer explores further human interest stories related to violent weather. I'll be traveling to the site of the mid nineteenth century storm to research my new novel for 2010.
Novel #1 has not been published yet. My goal is to have it in print by Christmas 2010.
If you are intrigued by natural wonders and natural disaster,
I'm your gal. Once I publish Novel #1, I've promised myself a tornado vacation. Now THAT will be something to document!
Tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards, floods, and other natural phenomena capture my curiosity. Meeting new people, visiting new places, and seeking new experiences are the foundation of living life to its fullest. I love every day. I love people. I am so thankful for every moment and every opportunity to explore!!!!!
And so----down the road----we shall go!
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