Favorite Saying

My favorite saying:  "you teach people how you want to be treated." 

Problem with Road Scholar

When I first began to travel with Elderhostel (now Road Scholar) in 1997 you had to be 60 years old or older.  A few years later you needed to be 55 years old or older. Eventually the age limit was dropped altogether.  As a result the average age of people on a tour is now around 50 years old.  A much more active group. 

Someone or maybe more reported that I used a walker at FLW first home/studio during a Road Scholar trip this fall.  I did use a walker briefly that was provided by the visitor center.  And I sat in a chair when available at other locations during the tour.  I had injured my right leg previous to the tour.  

So now I am on a Road Scholar list that prohibited me from registering for a Road Scholar program in New Mexico even though my right leg has completely healed.  I have never been asked by a leader to not participate in any activity during a program.  I know my limitations.  

I have written a letter to RS and talked to someone at RS on the phone.  After going on 69 trips with Road Scholar I no longer feel welcome.   

The plus side is that it has forced me to check out other tour companies that do cater to older people.  

Travels with my Garmin GPS

I have a large Garmin GPS that I take on car trips loaded with Geocaches - mostly Virtuals.  When I plan to rent a car during a trip I take the Garmin GPS along with me.  I make sure that I rent a car with a flat dashboard as the Garmin GPS sits on a beanbag on the dash.  I also take a Road Map as one should never rely just on a GPS.  During the trip I also use the Garmin GPS to find nearest Starbucks (love their fruit and cheese), McDonalds (for restrooms), libraries (for restrooms, computers, book sales), grocery stores, Hotels I have reserved, etc.  At the end of a trip I will find my way back to the car rental place.  I loaded the coordinates into the GPS before I left the lot. 

Trip to Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque 2025

Several years ago I wanted to take a weeklong trip to Hawaii.  I checked out the trip offered by Road Scholar.  It was a trip to two islands and rather expensive.  So I made a copy of the Itinerary and the hotel information.  I duplicated just the trip to Oahu, Hawaii.  I hosted a Geocaching Event also.

Two years later I was registered for a Road Scholar trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Because a museum was no longer available Road Scholar cancelled the trip shortly before I was to leave.  So I made a copy of the Itinerary and the hotel information.  I duplicated the trip on my own.

In May 2022, I attended the Road Scholar program in New York City.  After I signed up for the program it underwent several changes.  It became more and more physically challenging i.e. walking tour of Harlem rather than visiting the 9-11 Memorial.  I finally decided rather than getting upset I would just ignore the changes and create my own program.  Some things I did with the Road Scholar group and some I did on my own.  I should have bought a t-shirt: "I survived New York City."

I encountered a problem when I tried to register for the Road Scholar trip to Santa Fe et al so next spring I plan to fly to Albuquerque, rent a car and duplicate Road Scholar's Santa Fe, Taos and Albuquerque Trip. I also want to walk across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge (Earthcache).  Side trips: at Espanola, turn off for visits to Abiquiu, the historic home of artist Georgia O'Keefe, and/or White Rock Visitor Center/Bandelier National Monument.

Traveling Solo

I am often asked if I travel alone.  I travel Solo but I am never alone except when I retire for the night.  

For years I was constantly asked if my husband lets me travel.  People must sense that he died because they stopped asking shortly after he passed away.

Next year I will complete geocaching in all 50 states by finding geocaches in the last two states: Minnesota and Iowa.  The Challenge Cache is located in Michigan.  I want to find a couple caches in Indiana also.

I (Eye) spy!

I had Cataract surgery on Wednesday, November 6th on my right eye.  I called the Eye Group today to move my final checkup a few days earlier so I could get the new lens ordered for my eyeglasses.   

I injured my right leg at the beginning of September.  It has finally healed!  I rarely use the walking stick anymore except for Geocaching.

Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2025.

I contacted Cosmos/Globus and signed up for their Route 66 trip from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2025.  Cosmos motels/hotels are not centrally located but that is what Lyfts are for.  I have requested six Route 66 Travel books from FVRL library.  I have already started my Geocaching List - mostly Virtuals.