Even though I had tasted some of the Blue Ridge Parkway before, I couldn’t help but be excited by the prospect of dedicating a few days to winding along its lofty route. Dotted with countless overlooks and at least a … Read More
Frost struck this morning! Temperatures dipped below freezing, encrusting Sam’s windshield with icy condensation. For the first time, my first order of business was a quick defrosting. Although I know this weather won’t last as I leave the high country … Read More
Even though I had been to Great Smoky Mountains National Park on numerous occasions, I couldn’t wait to see the park with fresh eyes. As I read about the many offerings, I realized that I had not done many of … Read More
In our post-Congaree sogginess, Cami and I booked it back to New Bern dreaming of a dinner of wholesome vegetables to put an end to our Sweet Theory-induced carb craze. After some sumptuous shopping in Wilmington, we had spaghetti squash, … Read More
With our National Park business concluded in southern Florida (at least for the time being), we started driving north along the incredibly flat and open roads towards Lake Okeechobee, the life-preserving reservoir of the Everglades (and southern Florida). We could … Read More
Just east of the Everglades (and just beneath the surface of the water) lies Biscayne National Park. Established in 1980, this relatively young park is home to an entirely different kind of biodiversity than its relative to the west. Just … Read More
Having taken two days to wander down Florida’s gulf coast and its southern reaches, I was not necessarily impressed by the care with which the state has protected its natural spaces. Just as the dwarves of Moria had delved too … Read More
After retrieving Sam from the shop, Cami and I stuffed all of our belongings into the various nooks and crannies I had created by reorganizing over the past week. As we packed, the steady rain slowed to a mist. With … Read More
Having successfully concluded my east coast tour of urban America, I felt overdue for some time in the clear skies and dense forests of the Shenandoah Valley. Less than a hundred miles south of the Battlefield of Antietam, I turned … Read More