tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40386099430172824532024-03-18T04:47:43.170-05:00Trippin' with Susan StraleyLetters to friends from a young-old woman, author and life explorer.
This is Susan's journal of continuing travel adventures, goofy mishaps, and life experiences. Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.comBlogger216125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-28867685363902529152024-02-17T13:54:00.001-06:002024-02-17T14:25:54.079-06:00Trippin' in St CroixGreetings from Inverness, Florida.We went to St Croix! It was my first time staying on an island in the Caribbean. I will tell you all about it in a bit, but first...If you have been reading this blog a few years, you may remember that just before I published my first book I had to choose a cover. I had two designs created and then I could not decide between the two Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-14751612036841750662024-01-24T11:59:00.003-06:002024-01-24T12:03:06.492-06:00Sometimes, We Vacation from our Vacation-LifeGreetings from Inverness, Florida.For those of you reading this in the future, in this week in time, the Republican primary elections are underway. Donald Trump vs Nikki Haley are in a race to be the nominee for the Republican candidate for President in 2024. Birders are talking about an absense of the normal amount of birds at their feeders. Someone said an unusual Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com3Inverness, FL, USA28.8354507 -82.33139550.52521686382115362 -117.4876455 57.145684536178848 -47.1751455tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-41379228338408919512023-12-24T03:00:00.016-06:002023-12-24T03:00:00.134-06:00Hey Hey Hey! Happy Holidays! I love that you are with me in spirit right this moment. I feel the glow.A neighbor at my RV Park who is a Florida Gator fan got this cute Christmas Decoration from her Gransdon. It lights up at night.May you be blessed with some pain-free days and good nights of peaceful sleep (can you tell I am getting old?), lots of warm hugs and laughter, positive thoughts and good newsSusan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-8525819875386706262023-11-22T14:46:00.002-06:002023-11-22T15:28:01.717-06:00Back "Home" and Becoming A One-Year-Old Old Couple Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for you, friends and fans and fun folks. Life is much much easier when surrounded by support, love and laughter. I have been telling myself to write to you, I knew it had been awhile. I just looked at my last blog, it was short and was dated September 23, 2023! I said I was going to write you again in November, and Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-82948718765771448402023-09-23T12:08:00.017-05:002023-09-23T12:08:00.138-05:00Barnes and NobleSeptember 20, 2023Today I noticed that the blog posts from our travels in August and September arrived in your inbox out of order. Whoops!Hopefully you figured it out when the last two arrived out of order.I had wrote that you probably would not hear from me until we returned to Florida in November. But, again as usual, things happen differently than we plan. We decided Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-8601269175424346562023-09-21T11:31:00.001-05:002023-09-21T11:31:00.147-05:00Wedding and Exploring in WashingtonAt our Bloomington, MN hotel checkout time we turned in the key and got into the shuttle van.I reached for my phone, it wasn't there! We were the only ones in the van. I asked the van driver to wait a minute. I raced in, ran past the front desk where fortunately our keys were still sitting there. I grabbed one and dashed (literally ran) to our room. No Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-34904064980160898682023-09-20T11:31:00.001-05:002023-09-20T11:31:00.140-05:00New York on My Own September 14, 2023We got to Four-mile Creek in New York yesterday after driving each of our trucks and trailers through Canada from north of Detroit to South of Buffalo.We enjoyed a stroll and then went to Youngstown to the Stone Jug tavern where there was live music and open Mic night. At one point I smiled and turned to Steve. "Why are you smiling," he asked."I love doingSusan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-76061328087899097072023-09-19T11:17:00.008-05:002023-09-19T11:17:00.141-05:00Wisconsin to New York again.September 10, 2023You should feel special because I could have given up after I lost the looong letter I wrote to you. Then when I recreated the looong post, it must have went to most everyones junk mail or spam inbox because the open rate was down to almost zero. I miss my friends. I am really looking forward to reconnecting with my Florida friends. I didn't want to Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-91897102587395699902023-09-18T11:30:00.001-05:002023-09-18T11:30:00.144-05:00Back to Where We Started Our Bike Tour Back to TrempeleauOur time in Madison was too brief, but we had a wedding to go to. I had reserved a U-haul and on a Monday, we loaded it with our bikes and gear and drove back to where we started our bike tour in Perrot State Park.On our drive back north, we were passing Sparta when I asked Steve if he wanted to try again to see the Bicycle and Space Museum. You may Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-39761885289187482442023-09-17T11:15:00.001-05:002023-09-17T11:15:00.151-05:00Fun in Madison, WisconsinOur first morning in Madison was a Saturday. We biked to the Capital. All around the square on Saturday mornings during the summer is a great farmers market.The capital dome is the tallest in the county except for the one in Washington, DC.Joe loves to eat vegetables and asked us to take a picture of him by some of the colorful fresh veggies.Being around the governing seat of Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-70631477491013608862023-09-16T11:13:00.001-05:002023-09-16T11:13:00.126-05:00Finding Joe the TrollSpring Green to Governor Dodge State Park, 100 degrees.The day we left Spring Green it was still quite warm and of course much of our ride was up hill out of the river valley.Steve was using a very thin old bandana to mop the sweat from his face. I gave him my purple bandana that I wasn't using. In addition to the ambiance of the hills and the heat, there were several miles of road Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-32644491005260643392023-09-10T16:28:00.021-05:002023-09-14T14:08:48.977-05:00Do Overs Are Not A Bad Thing It is Thursday, September 14, 2023I have just removed my things from Steve's trailer and put them back in My truck and Weeroll.My weeroll was full of stuff because I made toom in my truck bed or Steve's bike.My home is looking more like home now.I am at 4-mile Creek State Park Campground near Niagra Falls, NY.I will tell you why I moved my stuff out later.That has nothing to do with Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-71925266616305054152023-08-22T19:45:00.002-05:002023-08-31T11:41:40.763-05:00Hot Times in Spring Green, WIHello! The weather is crazy, I hope you are safe and well.Before I get to telling you where we are and what is going in, I have to tell you a story that I forgot to share last time.The 3% grade up to the tunnels on the Elroy Sparta trail isnt steep but it can be long. To avoid bordom, I pulled up one of my audio books on my phone and let it play. The book I was listening to was Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-41552481256601720772023-08-21T12:58:00.002-05:002023-08-22T17:23:43.546-05:00Sparta to Elroy on the First Rail Trail We did the Elroy Spart Trail from Sparta to Elroy.After I wrote to you from Subway, we continued on to Sparta where the LaCrosse Trail meets up with the Elroy Sparta Trail.There is a bicycle and space museum in Sparta. We arrived at closing time. The clerk let us look around the first floor, but didn't let us upstairs where all the bicycle and space stuff is.There were Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-16132936634737298172023-08-19T13:01:00.000-05:002023-08-19T13:01:44.399-05:002023 Steve and Sue's Wisconsin Bicycle Tour Begins The early signs this morning were not boding well.i dropped my deoderant and it busted. Fortu ately I had my full size one in the car that was still with us.I had my first biking-day outfit in a baggie. I whipped out my pink shirt to discover it was a pink nighty, not a shirt! Omg! I debated about wearing it... but it would not protect me from the Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-85895190507492874292023-08-18T18:56:00.002-05:002023-08-18T18:56:48.125-05:00Perrot State ParkToday we drove to Perrot State Park north of La Crosse, Wisconsin. A bit ago, Steve got his first view of the Mississippi River. Back in NY he took me kayaking on the Hudson River. I had never seen the Hudson.It took us a while to set up camp. The main reason was i couldnt decide what shoes to bring on the bike tour. It is supposed to be in the 90s during the day, 60sSusan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-17252910163557329662023-08-17T18:28:00.001-05:002023-08-18T13:32:45.481-05:00Preparing to Launch Today I am reminded of one of comedian George Carlin's skits. He talks about all our stuff. We have to have places to put our stuff and things to put our stuff on. And when we go on a trip we have to decide which stuff to take with us. We put that stuff in a smaller container and off we go. But then when we get there we decide to take a short trip Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-44618565364306066582023-08-03T14:34:00.006-05:002023-08-06T15:13:57.810-05:00It is magical! I said I wasn't going to write to you again until I got back to New York in September. But, I couldn't do it. It's too long a time to not touch base.I am excited for my friends Jim and Ann at are also traveling this summer. They have made their way from Florida up through California and into Oregon. They are spending time in each lovely place and enjoying the views.&Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-42266613340163083312023-07-19T18:11:00.004-05:002023-08-03T08:09:39.695-05:00Slooowly making my way to Wisconsin, but first this, and this, and this.Greetings! I am back in the lovely state of New York.This will be a long post with a lot of pictures. So skim if you want. I just wanted you to know I am still thinking of you and wanting to share the sites with you.I am on my way to Wisconsin. I have been on my way, kind of, since I left Florida in late April. But I took a few side trips. I wanted to see New Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-89517167867643197502023-07-02T20:11:00.002-05:002023-07-19T09:54:07.808-05:00Kayaking and Camping in the Adirondacks, Biking in Vermont I told you I was going to fill you in on the trip Steve and I did, canoeing and camping in the Adirondacks.Unfortunately we had only a window of one night to camp out in the wilderness because the weather report announced scattered storms. The weather is unpredictable especially in the mountains. But we found a couple days and one night all together with wonderful weather.Steve Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-57009626999829589812023-06-24T15:50:00.001-05:002023-06-24T15:52:45.859-05:00I Have The Best Job Ever!Ok, I don't get paid to travel and visit friends and explore. Technically it isn't a real job. But I do work at it. I get online, I find places, I plan my route and set the dates. Then I try to make reservations. Sometimes I can't get into a campground on the dates I want. So I have to figure out a plan B. And then sometimes plans change and I Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-26170656362185255872023-06-07T17:38:00.002-05:002023-06-08T06:33:29.191-05:00The Lovely Finger Lakes Region, NYGreetings from the Watkins Glen Public Library.The library is in the same building as the International Motor Racing Research Center. Watkins Glen, NY has a 6.6 mile racing route.Watkins Glen State ParkWatkins Glen State Park, where I am camped, is on a hill above town. When I drove in to get to my camping spot I saw a lot of the same brand of campers throught theSusan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-9680030349151603632023-06-01T16:40:00.317-05:002023-06-07T12:06:58.602-05:00Plans Change and We Go With the FlowI am at a park in Lockhaven, PA. It's a gorgeous day, but I will have to move soon. The playground/park where I am sitting doesn't have an electric plug in the shelter.I was going to write to you from the cafeteria at the University here. After finding a place to park, I learned it was graduation day and now officially the summer season when the cafeteria is closed.So plan B wasSusan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com9Waterville, PA 17776, USA41.3097933 -77.361364412.999559463821157 -112.5176144 69.620027136178848 -42.2051144tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-5142871812487471462023-05-10T19:08:00.000-05:002023-05-10T19:08:47.845-05:00Virginia Creeper Trail and Reunion Hikes Hello from the Marion, VA public library.This is our last day at Hungry Mother State Park. It was one of the first CCC projects in 1933. First they built a dam and the little pond became a lake with lots of fingers reaching into the wrinkles in the hillsides. I say wrinkles because I can't think of the name. Is it gulleys, gulches, ravines???I had campsite nineSusan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4038609943017282453.post-60095153648557098042023-05-05T19:36:00.002-05:002023-05-05T19:42:34.178-05:00South Carolina Beach and Table Rock State ParkGreetings from Virginia!First... we were in South Carolina.We stayed a few days at Hunting Island State Park campground.While there we drove about 25 miles to the Spanish Moss Trail. Googlemaps directed us wrong, but we found the trailhead anyway.We biked the Spanish Moss trail through the low country where we could look out over tidal grass lands and estuaries. The trail is about 11 Susan Straley, Authorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12913784133760456267noreply@blogger.com6