We joined the Long Island chapter a little over a year ago and have had wonderful experiences visiting chapters in Wellington, New Zealand and Christchurch, New Zealand and hosting chapters from Iowa and Costa Rica and we have upcoming visits from Harrisburg and from Tokyo. Not only is it an opportunity to see other places and learn about other cultures, but it becomes very personal. It’s more about people than just places. We’ve also met a group of wonderful like-minded folks in our chapter.
A lovely review of a life's road well- traveled. I can see how much this all means to you. And , indeed, the mountain pic in Alaska is incredibly beautiful... never been there! I am sure that you traveled through my home state of West Virginia at some point, perhaps on your way to DC, however I do not find an adventure that you may have had there.... Harpers Ferry? Wheeling? Hiking in Shenandoah National Forest? I'll be curious to hear more. Thanks for the road trip!
Your welcome! It was fun (not as fun as doing it but still!). I have not spent as much time in W.VA as I would like. I've mostly driven through on the way west. I've spent a little time in the Beckley area and Harper's Ferry, but I still have much more to explore there. I'm glad you enjoyed the mountain photo-it's one of my favorites from the trip.
You’re my hero. You and my brother have checked off all 50!! I am two behind you. No surprise I’m missing the big ones far away. Hawaii and Alaska. Alaska was my brother’s last of the states as well. Most of those states I covered in an RV with my family as you and I have spoken about before. I hit the jackpot with my parents who encouraged us to go every summer. Whether they needed to buy a motorhome before summer and sell it afterward, rent it, or one year they even borrowed a friends motorhome. Tent, trailers, hard wall trailers, and one or two trips where we did hotels, but those were rare. Like you I find myself very lucky. I guess it’s time to try to hit all the countries in the European Union. I have a few, but I need so many more. Where to begin…
I remember your stories about early travel. Maybe you need to write some of that, if you haven’t already. And I agree that it was a wonderful way to spend childhood summers. I’m glad you got to do it.
I know you’ll make it to Alaska and Hawaii. Both take some effort (and some mulah!) they’re worth it.
I’ve been to England, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, so I have a long way to go to get European countries. I’m going to focus on Canadian Provinces for now. I have 5 of the 10, so still a ways to go!
Very happy that Virginia has been your residing state!
I understand your classmate’s lament about never being out of her state. I grew up going to “the river” and we never traveled as a family for vacation. But, Gil and I traveled and then I was introduced to states and countries. Better late than never!!
I agree! I’m sure glad you have travel memories with Gil! That’s a special way to remember him—all the places you visited together. And I’m glad I’ve ended up in Virginia, too.
Check out Friendship Force International https://friendshipforce.org/mission/. I believe there is a chapter in your area.
Thanks, Jeff. I am not familiar with this organization. Sounds interesting
We joined the Long Island chapter a little over a year ago and have had wonderful experiences visiting chapters in Wellington, New Zealand and Christchurch, New Zealand and hosting chapters from Iowa and Costa Rica and we have upcoming visits from Harrisburg and from Tokyo. Not only is it an opportunity to see other places and learn about other cultures, but it becomes very personal. It’s more about people than just places. We’ve also met a group of wonderful like-minded folks in our chapter.
A lovely review of a life's road well- traveled. I can see how much this all means to you. And , indeed, the mountain pic in Alaska is incredibly beautiful... never been there! I am sure that you traveled through my home state of West Virginia at some point, perhaps on your way to DC, however I do not find an adventure that you may have had there.... Harpers Ferry? Wheeling? Hiking in Shenandoah National Forest? I'll be curious to hear more. Thanks for the road trip!
Your welcome! It was fun (not as fun as doing it but still!). I have not spent as much time in W.VA as I would like. I've mostly driven through on the way west. I've spent a little time in the Beckley area and Harper's Ferry, but I still have much more to explore there. I'm glad you enjoyed the mountain photo-it's one of my favorites from the trip.
PS: that a photo of the mountains is stunning. And the words of Tina Faye, I want to go to there.
Isn’t it? Everywhere we visited was stunning!
You’re my hero. You and my brother have checked off all 50!! I am two behind you. No surprise I’m missing the big ones far away. Hawaii and Alaska. Alaska was my brother’s last of the states as well. Most of those states I covered in an RV with my family as you and I have spoken about before. I hit the jackpot with my parents who encouraged us to go every summer. Whether they needed to buy a motorhome before summer and sell it afterward, rent it, or one year they even borrowed a friends motorhome. Tent, trailers, hard wall trailers, and one or two trips where we did hotels, but those were rare. Like you I find myself very lucky. I guess it’s time to try to hit all the countries in the European Union. I have a few, but I need so many more. Where to begin…
I remember your stories about early travel. Maybe you need to write some of that, if you haven’t already. And I agree that it was a wonderful way to spend childhood summers. I’m glad you got to do it.
I know you’ll make it to Alaska and Hawaii. Both take some effort (and some mulah!) they’re worth it.
I’ve been to England, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, so I have a long way to go to get European countries. I’m going to focus on Canadian Provinces for now. I have 5 of the 10, so still a ways to go!
Happy trails, my friend!
Very happy that Virginia has been your residing state!
I understand your classmate’s lament about never being out of her state. I grew up going to “the river” and we never traveled as a family for vacation. But, Gil and I traveled and then I was introduced to states and countries. Better late than never!!
You and Wendy look like Alaska was a perfect 50th
State sojourn!
I agree! I’m sure glad you have travel memories with Gil! That’s a special way to remember him—all the places you visited together. And I’m glad I’ve ended up in Virginia, too.