Leaving Canada

Quick post before we head out! We have been staying in the 1000 Islands area in Ontario (birth place of 1000 Island dressing!). This morning, after a stop at Tim Hortons, we'll be heading to Niagara Falls. We are going to check out the Canadian side and then plan to camp on the US side. We don't have a camp site reservation but because it's a Sunday night we aren't too worried about finding a place to rest our weary heads. It's actualyl been pretty chilly here at night and Ashley doesn't have any camping gear so she's been sleeping in the car - good thing I left space for a bed! My tent has been just as cozy as it was when I spent the summer sleeping in it 2 years ago up in Vermont. (Sigh, Vermont!).

I have the intel on a place in Chicago I can look for a used bike now my concern is that if I get there and they don't have a good bike for me I'm bikeless! I do own another road bike that is currently hangingi n my mom's garage... I'm wondering if it's worth it to ask her to ship it to me in Chicago or if I should just cross my fingers and hope to find a decent used bike in Chicago... Any thoughts or advice? I should be arriving in Chicago in a week. After Niagara we're going to slowly make our way on the highway next to Lake Erie and check out the little towns and camp until we arrive in Cleveland on Wednesday. In Cleveland I'm going to be helping a friend who builds playgrounds all over the country! I get to put my construction hat on again... I love that hat! After that I'm on to Chicago!

Catch ya on the other side!

Searching for places to visit

I love food! I'm trying to eat Vegan these days which probably means I will have to go a bit more out of my way to get good food on the road... Just came across this article via Slashfood for 9 great small towns for good food

1. Ashville, NC (Someone already suggested I go here cause it's cool)
2. Danville, CA
3. Ithaca, NY

4. Edgartown, MA
5. Lawrence, Kansas
6. Ojai, CA
7. Burlington, VT
8. Evanston, IL
9. New Haven, CT

I've also heard things about Madison, WI about farmer's markets anyway... and Hardwick, VT... also known as The Town that Food Saved which I am curious to check out... though my food budget is pretty limited. Any advice for towns with great food or great farmer's markets would be awesome!

My favorite food (I'm still in Delaware... heading to Vermont, stop #2, in a little more than a week!)

Marshmallows... Ok, they might not count as real food to some people (if we're talking real food then broccoli wins) but marshmallows are really my favorite thing. I made them for the first time about a month ago and today I made my second batch ever. The first time I made them I coated them in toasted coconut. This time I made 2 styles. Plain vanilla and a s'mores style which is coated in graham cracker crumbs and drizzled with 64% dark chocolate. Both are tasty, I assure you :) I made them to take to dinner with friends tomorrow.

Generally I think it's good to learn to make things that you'd normally buy (even if it's more expensive to make it, at least I can say I did it... once!) Marshmallows are dangerously easy to make and one batch makes a whole lot! I like the Alton Brown recipe, found here at the Food Network. Add a little extra vanilla (or try a different flavor!). If I find myself with a surplus of maple syrup and maple sugar someday I really want to try making maple marshmallows... I'm also curious to see if I could make a savory marshmallow, for some reason a rosemary marshmallow sounds awesome.


I'm curious what I'll find to eat on the road. I want to eat as healthily as I can so that means veggies, more veggies and whole grains and beans! I'll be staying with friends and family a lot and on the road solo the rest of the time. My plan is to rely on farm stands, farmer's markets (need to find a map of farmer's markets yet), grocery stores and keeping a little pantry in my car with things like peanut butter and larabars. My mom offered me a cooler to make sure things don't overheat... I haven't decided yet I'll be starting the essentials packing on Monday and will see how much space there is in the car. I'd like to leave enough space to sleep in the car as well as space for at least one passenger too.

I will be in Delaware until next Thursday then plan to stop in York, PA to visit some friends who I met at Yestermorrow doing the natural building program 2 summers ago, then stopping in NYC to have lunch with my old roommate from college then on to Rupert, VT where I will be an assistant caretaker on a small hobby farm for 2 weeks. I'm so excited! But I also have a lot of work/projects to do before I get there so... back to work!

Cheers!


UPDATE:
My aunt sent me a link to the site I was trying to remember where you can find farmer's markets all over the US, it's called Local Harvest. I'm really looking forward to experiencing other farmer's markets, especially when I get to the southwest!

Updated Travel Route

So I've been doing some planning and whatnot... The beginning of my trip is pretty well planned out. Once I get to Oregon though, no plans, other than to meander back East. Here's a map of my travel plans, updated! As always, I'm open to suggestions for place to visit!


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Mentally preparing

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain


This is what I am doing. I have moments where I want to hold on to a "normal job", 9 to 5, sitting at a desk, making money, having coworkers, regularity, schedule and stability. Then I remember that this is something I've dreamed of doing since the end of college and even the end of high school and I'm finally in a place where it makes sense. (My only commitment is my cell phone bill and student loans, which are held at bay with my AmeriCorps education award for at least a year).

The hard part right now is trying not to talk myself out it and shy away back into my comfort zone/the status-quo. I must remember that I am excited to see where my travels take me; I am excited to meet myself out there, on the road, meeting new people, exploring, trying to find ways to make money to keep the travels going. I'm curious to see if I will miss Brooklyn or find a new city I want to call home. I know I will miss my Brooklyn friends... I have lived here for the most part of 10 years but I'm ready to explore and see what else is out there.

My Great American Road Trip: Planning stages

Hi! Welcome to my blog for my road trip! I'm leaving Brooklyn in May and planning to return in November... or maybe December :)

I have just drawn up a general plan for the big loop. I have some projects I'll be working on along the way and some events to attend (10 year high school reunion, say what?!) and friends to visit scattered about this great BIG country.


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Why you say?

Seaford, DE - This is the starting point where my mom is (and so is my car!), I might even have some work to do on my mom's house
Chicago, IL - I was in Chicago for like a day last summer and loved it, time to go back with a little more time to look around (and hang out with my cousin!)
Howard Lake, MN - building a root cellar with my uncle, a project we've been talking about for a while now and due to my stated of employed-ness I finally have time for! This will probably be my longest stay anywhere, (a month or more) actually I will be more focused on getting to MN at the beginning because of the big project and wanting to make sure I can get to my next destination in reasonable luxurious time.
Port Townsend, WA -approx. Aug 1 - 20 - helping a friend work on his cabin, doing some design and some interior finish work; might even pop down to Seabeck to go to church camp
Portland, OR - 10 Year High School Reunion! Crazy, right... dang, I've lived in Brooklyn for a long time :P
Springfield, OR - I can't be out West and not visit my little brother and his awesome wife!
Sea Ranch, CA - Architecture nerd :)
Pahrump, NV - My friend, Bridgette, who I haven't seen in like 4 years (and hadn't seen for like 5 years when I met up with her in London) recently had a baby and I want to meet him and see her!
Arches National Park, UT - I have always wanted to go here!
Boulder, CO - I have considered moving to CO but have never been... so I'm going to take a look around
Austin, TX - I have a couple friends here I met on my trip to Brazil... and it's supposed to be pretty cool!
New Orleans, LA - I've never been. That's a good enough reason right?! It's New Orleans!
Birmingham, AL - Auburn University has a 1 year long Masters of Design/Build that I've been thinking about applying to. I thought I'd visit and learn more about the program and the 2 tracks (design and construction) to see if it makes sense for me and my "career path"

There will be more stops of course, but these are some of the major (and minor) ones.

Approximately 9,000 miles... Ride shares, maybe some WWOOFing, scavengeing, definitely some couch surfing and camping :) If you can't do a huge long road trip when you're single, don't have kids and don't have a full time salaried job... when can you?! Retirement? Yeah, I don't want to wait that long...

If there are any awesome places that I just have to see in my travels please let me know! I've never done this before and don't know what all is out there... inform me! Please :)

Next step, car insurance and AAA membership (roadside assistance? yes please!) and finding a subletter!