Judy Grillo
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Year Three in Review

12/17/2017

6 Comments

 
Since I'll be traveling soon sans technology, it's time for a recap of the year. Thankfully, I have this blog, as I too often forget the details of my days and weeks, in places I'm happy to find, with people that pleasantly surprise, among the never-ending possibilities of the unknown.

While the 2017 stats look like this... 
  • Lived in 9 states (some twice, heading north and south), and stayed the longest in Ann Arbor, Michigan (13 weeks                 of dental work!) 
  • Drove 7,200 miles (+/- 100); walked/hiked 535 miles, give or take; and biked 5,145 miles (yes, the most miles ever!),          and had just one flat  
  • Camped in  one national, 8 state, 3 county, and 2 private parks; slept at 4 hostels (including pastoral Malabar Farm);          and treated myself to an AirBnB room 5 times 
  • Worked 190 hours (freelance writing and editing) 
  • Ate just one reuben (and it was great) 
  • Added a small "hot pot" to my inventory (coffee in the morning at camp) 
  • Read 82 books (absolutely, the most books I've ever read in one year)

...throughout the year, I spent time... 
  • Listening to a Vermont family play beautiful music under the stars  
  • Sharing time with two birthday boys on a fishing weekend, who gifted me with a care package
  • Enjoying three Michigan kids who caught fresh fish, rode bikes and tried to teach me Dutch 
  • Hearing three or four people say, "we've been waiting for you" when I return to my fav camping spots 
  • Eating fresh eggs with Rebecca on her farm near Stone Mountain 
  • Leaving the "kids in Greenville" with homemade oatmeal cookies like mom used to make
  • Chatting with the owner of the Blue Goose Hostel who has a great mission
  • Drinking wine and laughing a lot with my 87 year old landlady in Ann Arbor
  • Celebrating my birthday with 6 wonderful gal pals (and 4 pies) in Easton, MD
  • Getting the local tour from 8 year old Jacob on Smith Island 
  • Playing Scrabble and eating mac 'n cheese with Sid and Judy on Jekyll Island 
  • Dancing to live music on a warm December afternoon in Fort Pierce 

...and, there were also life experiences, like...
  • Meeting my "twin" in Sebastian, Florida (and we are still in touch)
  • Having an astronaut encounter at the Kennedy Space Center
  • Adopting a "manatea" (yes, that's spelled correctly) 
  • Learning more than I ever imagined about composer, Stephen Foster
  • Finding an entire town for sale in Georgia
  • Living in a tiny house at my WorkAway in Greenville
  • Touring the Chelsea Milling Company, as I'm thankful for a lifetime of Jiffy deliciousness
  • Cycling my first organized event in too many years ("One Helluva Ride")
  • Viewing the August eclipse on the bridge over the Youghiogheny River in PA
  • Canoeing along the Chesapeake Bay near Bishops Head, MD 
  • Having some fun with visiting friends in Ann Arbor, at Janes Island State Park, and on St. Helena Island
  • Camping through Hurricane Jose, but bailing before Maria showed up at the Outer Banks!
  • Visiting numerous islands (Amelia, Dataw, Smith, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Bear, St. Helena, Hunting, Jekyll & St. Simons) 

Yes, year four "in my Element" has officially begun, but 2018 seems light-years away! 
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The Main Objective: Warmth

12/5/2017

10 Comments

 
Rolling into Florida a few days before Thanksgiving was indeed, shocking -- many people, many cars -- and I chose to hit the city of Melbourne (population 81,000+) first to get things done (think auto maintenance, haircut, etc). There was a bit of decadence though, as I'd reserved 4 nights of AirBnB in West Melbourne, an area that still feels like country (horses, chickens, etc). After being in my tent for most of the past three months, a private room and bath was sheer luxury, and the neighborhood was bike-friendly as people still ride their horses there!

While I did hit the beach once or twice, I was on task, but visited Eau Gallie, a spot I've never taken the time to tour. Now a part of Melbourne, it was an independent town from 1860 until 1969, and the historic district is just 14 acres with 31 homes  Unfortunately, some government brain surgeon chose to put a causeway to the barrier island straight through the neighborhood, yet the residents are holding on to the original historic houses, huge live oaks, the public pier, an art museum, and a symphony orchestra.  

Next, was a return to Savannas Park & Campground, a place I've been a few times, where I enjoy hanging out with some of the staff. I spent Thanksgiving there; have been working on my annual bike mileage goal along the oceanfront; and now trying to warm up to the idea of Christmas while it's nearly 80 degrees. In the morning, I head to yet another AirBnB, in Port St. Lucie, so I can truly prepare for a northern trek to the cold for the holidays with family. Long pants? Gloves? Shoes? 

Of note -- today marks the start of year #4 of nomadness! Oh yeah, stay tuned. 
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    Cyclist, writer, teacher, avid reader, bike/ped advocate, nomad, pie lover

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