Friday, November 29, 2024

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. 

Monday, November 25, 2024

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.

Sunday, November 24, 2024

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.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

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.

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

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. 

Monday, November 4, 2024

Cachly App for Geocaching

I have an iPhone 11 Pro.  I prefer and use the Cachly app.  Cachly is a simple and powerful Geocaching app for iOS that includes many advanced features.