Whatever the mind of [wom]man can conceive and believe, it can achieve

Whatever the mind of [wom]man can conceive and believe, it can achieve - Napoleon Hill

So, now what?

What do you do when your world gets turned upside down? You look for the tequila bottle and put those lemons to good use.

I have unexpectedly been giving time off to wander, so wander I will. Starting September 27, 2018 I am going to jump in my car and drive in a big loop around the USA. I am starting in the Mid-Atlantic area and then head up to Maine. From Maine I start my westward expansion towards Oregon. I know October is already winter up in the north. I am going to be smart about it and stick to lower passes. Even if that means I'll end up driving longer. I also know that I've never gone camping voluntarily. I do know that the road is long and dangerous, and yet it beckons. I know I am going to get lost, a lot. I think I have some gypsy genes floating around in my DNA (some day I'll take the test, but I am afraid it will be 0% and there goes the myth).

I also know that if I don't do this now, I will regret it latter.

If not now, when?

As of 10/13/2018

I am going to chronicle my journey so that one day my nieces can be inspire to follow their dreams and hopefully learn from my mistakes. I am sure I am going to be screwing up A LOT - but life is not perfect and no amount of research can ever replace the experience that "going out there" can give you.

So, if you have any recommendations, advice, and good thoughts it is all welcome! Do you know someone in the route that I can have coffee with? Please let me know! I am hoping to meet as many people as possible. Do you have a "can't miss" list? share it with me please! Do you know that the mountains passes are too snowy at this time but you know a better way around? Do let me know!

If you have negative, fearful, doubtful thoughts, please keep them to yourself... fallow along in the blog or on Facebook so you can tell me "told ya so" if you want. You can even keep an eye on my progress so you can have the pleasure of alerting the authorities if I don't check-in in more than 48 hours. I am going to be checking as often as possible, but there may be areas with no cell or wi-fi. But right now, right at this moment, when I am tingling with anticipation and I am full of plans and dreams and projects PLEASE keep the negative away

Comments

Unknown said…

Good luck! You might want to use the following apps to find campsites: All Stays, Campendium, and Freecampsites.net. Also, it is definitely going to be cold in Yellowstone......it’s already getting into the 20s at night. I love the area but you might want to consider heading to Utah instead; spectacular scenery and options for warm or cold weather depending on the altitude. Best of luck! Happy travels!

September 23, 2018 at 9:24 AM

Chinita Chapina said…

Bette, I am going to splurged for a hotel in the area! :)

September 24, 2018 at 3:54 PM

"Best ... bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine - or Portland, Oregon...” -Jack Torrance

My own westward expansion is accomplished! Portland to Portland! All 4000K miles of the journey! DONE! "… You were always the best of 'em. Best ... bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine - or Portland, Oregon for that matter.” -Jack Torrance, in The Shining. T he exterior of the 'Overlook Hotel' is the Timberline Lodge , Mount Hood in the Hood River area of Northern Oregon. One of my "Wander List" Items that I am proud to check off is coming to Portland Oregon. The idea of all those explorers making it “out west” and crossing the vastness of the continent to “see what is out there” has always been appealing. Perhaps because I am the child of immigrants. I am an immigrant. The image of all those people taking the chance and picking up all that they could to make it “all the way” to Portland… Leaving everything behind and carving a life in a new place. I identify with all of that… the sense of adventure, the search for something better

Savannah Georgia - All I hope for

“If you go to Atlanta, the first question people ask you is, "What's your business?" In Macon they ask, "Where do you go to church?" In Augusta they ask your grandmother's maiden name. But in Savannah the first question people ask you is "What would you like to drink?” ― John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil And you can take your drinks to go too! I made it to Savannah! What a gem to finish the grand tour with! I have to come back with my significant other some day! First a quick stop on New Orleans: Then Savannah:

Links

Shortcuts! Here are shortcuts to the posts by the park or city: September 29: Sleepy Hallow New York , Tapan Zee Bridge. October 1: Maine Visited a dear friend and enjoy a trip to the lake! October 2: More of New England and Hyde Park in New York October 4: Letchworth State Park in New York the "Grand Canyon for the East" October 7: Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota - Driving fast so I had to skip a lot but it was a nice drive October 9: South Dakota, Black Hills, Wyoming Dead presidents, Alien Ships rest areas and SNOW! October 10,12 and 13: Yellowstone! , Yellowstone , and one more Yellowstone October 14: Arches National Park in Utah - Beauty beyond compare October 16: Portland to Portland ! From Portland Maine to Portland Oregon in one piece! mostly. October 19: Oregon, Crater Lake and I learned about "trail magic" October 21: Lava Fields, Redwoods and made into California October 24: Glass Beach

Virginia Beach- Being a tourist in your own backyard

Visiting my own back yard! I am also going to try to visit Shenandoah to complete the loop. Visited a friend in Virginia Beach and she was kind to drive me around and making sure I visited Mount Trashmore to complete my experience.

Geeks of the World Unite!

How I am putting my Geeky skill set to use First thing first: I need a way to keep my laptop, phone, iPad, camera, etc, etc, charged - I got my nifty Yeti 150 (on sale this weekend on REI - no, they are not paying me any money to advertise) Then: Wouldn't it be nice if I had a dash cam so I can record the endless hours of driving... Maybe I can borrow a Go-Pro from a friend! Never got an answer... I do not want to buy a go-pro or dash cam! I am being thrifty... oh wait a minute, I have an old phone! There is got to be a way to do this.... I Googled "how to re purpose old cell phone as dash cam" - I found many articles but I like HTG (How To Geek) - so I follow their advice. You can read ALL About it by following the link . I suggest you delete ALL apps, so you have a bare bones phone. This will help with battery and memory. Delete ALL data and personal information, if you loose it, your personal information will not go with it. You don't want to

Chinita's WanderList

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