My first year as a nomadic traveler and photographer

Many of you already know, on Sept 22 2021 I started out on this wonderful adventure in my 2006 Dodge Caravan. Today marks one year of my van life travels. I've been keeping my friends, family and followers updated weekly on Facebook. That is until they went crazy shutting down my posts and threatening to close my account. So here I am, embarking on another new journey! Blogging and posting on a website instead. So many people have suggested that I do this, so thank you Facebook, the Universe, and not least of all my great friend Wil for pushing me headlong into this endeavor! It's way more work than just posting on Facebook but hopefully, that'll get better as I get the website up and going.

Oh boy, how things have changed in one year. Not only have I traveled 12,554 Miles thru 18 States and four countries. Plus flown another almost 8000 miles and was on a boat/ferry for 20 more. That brings my lifetime total states I have visited or lived in 32 so far. But, I've also changed so much more inside and out. My mind, body, and spiritual self have all undergone some elaborate changes. I started out a year ago literally running from the horrors that had been my life for a couple of years at least. I didn't actually see this at the time though. I was in so much pain in my body and my soul. I just knew I had to leave. Over the course of this year, I've spent much time healing my heart, soul, and body. And having so much fun doing it. I'm still doing work and will continue, of course, always progressing and moving forward. Still having fun and still adventuring and looking for magic everywhere.

All of that bad stuff's in the past so I'd rather not rehash any of it. Somewhere along the line, I came to some important realizations and as if traveling through a portal I came through it, into a new world. A world where things are the same but very different. A world where I'm happier than I've ever been in my life. A world where I feel younger, better, and more alive than I've felt in years! So age 62 be damned! I'm living my best life!

Even facebook pushed me out of my comfort zone of just posting some pretty pictures and a story of where I'd been. By hijacking my posts and calling them spam lol and threatening me with having my account shut down if I continued. How can one post a week on my own page be spam?! Ok well, there are other venues out there. So onward and upward as they say. It's a new day and I'm passing into a new chapter. In less than a month I'll be turning 62! I've never paid much attention to the numbers but it's out there and I'm embracing it and all the benefits that come with it! I'm never sure where life will direct me. We'll have to see what comes. One thing I've learned for sure is, trying to make definitive plans does not work.

Since I've not been able to post my excursions and escapades on Facebook for a few weeks (can it really be only a few weeks?!) I've got a lot to talk about but I won't try and write it all here right now. That would be way too long of a blog. I've already written a few shorter ones and posted them here. But I'll just quickly catch up those of you who've been following along this past year. After spending about a month and a half in New York (now my favorite state) I finally did reach Vermont on Sat the 3rd of Sept. Which is another very beautiful state.

I actually stopped in the middle of Lake Champlain just over the VT border for the night. There's a nice little rest stop right there off the bridge in the middle of the lake which is quite awesome. I've since been traveling around this area of VT and visiting and reconnecting with my best friend of 30 years! This area is beautiful with lots of hills, forests, and water all around. Me being a lover of water it's definitely pleasing my soul.

One area that I've frequented several times is a little forest on top of a small mountain called St Albans town forest.

With all sorts of mushrooms, ferns, and flowers, some I'd never seen before. It's so peaceful and beautiful and has several nice trails and a tiny pond,. The view coming down the mountain is quite spectacular too! You can see the hills, farms, and countryside, the little towns and Lake Champlain with all its islands and then the Adirondack mountains in the far background! If you're coming down in the afternoon or evening the sun reflecting off the lake is so beautiful! I've not been able to get pictures of that because there's nowhere that I've found to stop other than the middle of the road and I'd rather not die in a fiery crash for a photo op, no matter how beautiful. But take my word for it, it is gorgeous. Another of my favorites is St Albans town Bay on Lake Champlain. A cute little park where a golden dragon resides.

Sitting unassumingly, just hanging out there among the trees guarding the lake.

One day I decided to drive down the road as far as I could and I found a really peaceful tiny state park, Kill Kare, which sits at the end of the peninsula. I've written another post about my adventures there.

I'll end this post here so it doesn't get to be too long. But, I'll be writing more and posting more photos, as I figure out this website. In the meantime, please go read my other blog posts here and subscribe and comment so I know someone's reading them. You can also see more of my photos on my photo website. In my spare time, I'll try to keep up to date on posting pictures there too.

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