Well, we checked another item off our Vermont Bucket list. OK, quick digression. I really don’t like the term “bucket list.” Can we come up with something better? Maybe someone … Continue reading Kicking off summer w/ state parks, swimming & sun
Category: Uncategorized
Checking off the list(s)
Well, we have hit our 3 month mark of living in Vermont, so I find this to be a good time to evaluate my feelings about the move.
To be honest, it feels like we’ve been here a lot longer than 3 months. Perhaps that’s because we’ve witnessed the change of seasons, in kind of a drastic way. We drove into Vermont during a snowstorm on February 18, and today on May 26 the high will be 73 with sun. And in between then and now, we’ve seen lots of rain. I didn’t know how much rain this area sees before moving here. I’m not complaining, I do like gloomy weather as long as I get to have a sunny day to break it up, but I just wasn’t aware that it is one of the cloudiest places in the country. It ranks just below Washington state. Please don’t let that deter you from visiting, it’s still absolutely beautiful. I am so happy to see green and flowers on the trees and fresh green grass, so I can thank all this rain for that! This time of year, you can see why Vermont is the Green Mountain state.
Also, the warped time perception may have something to do with the multitude of tasks I have checked off my “to do” list. I mean that literally. I love and absolutely require lists to keep myself organized and moving forward. I’m kind of forgetful, so the moment I think of something I need or want to do, I open Google Keep and add it to the corresponding list. That includes administrative tasks that have been necessary for the move and settling in, but I also have a Vermont “bucket” list full of places I want to see and things I want to do. I’m also using Google Maps to mark certain places as “want to go.” And I just downloaded Google Tasks to give it a spin. Yes, I am a bit of a Google fan-girl.
I’m happy to say that my “need to do” list has shrunk considerably. We have officially sold our house in Jacksonville, we got our Vermont ID’s & license plates, we’ve settled into our apartment and scoped out our local amenities. I still haven’t found my regular hair place. I visited a nearby stylist, and during my appointment w/ the owner of the salon I made the mistake of telling him that I didn’t know what I wanted done w/ my hair so I trusted his expertise to give me a good cut w/ no instruction. I thought – he’s the owner, I’m sure he knows what he’s doing, so what could go wrong? I walked out of the salon with considerable length taken off, which doesn’t bother me in the slightest, and LOTS of product in my very zhuzhed up hair, which is definitely not my style.
No big deal, I would wash it all out. But when I stepped out of the shower the next morning, I saw that the cut was uneven and I had just the slightest impression of a lady mullet. Ok, it wasn’t that bad, but I wasn’t particularly happy w/ it. So I’m still on the lookout for my hair person.
I’ve settled into my regular routines now and Andriy and I find plenty of time to continue to explore our surroundings. So this place feels more like home every day. I’m feeling very comfortable. And every day I find something that makes me so happy I live here now.
I’ll share more soon about the fun things we’ve been doing. Next weekend we have plans to go camping at a state park near Waterbury and we just booked a place in Maine to celebrate our summer anniversary on June 15. I LOVE having these awesome things to look forward to. That’s what summer is all about!
Ketchup (Catsup?)
Well, I have been a busy little bee during these early weeks of spring in Vermont. Allow me to share a brief rundown on what’s been going on to catch you up.
April 5th-8th – Debbi & Gary visit Vermont
My parents were eager to see how we were living in our new state, so we arranged a visit over the weekend of April 5th. We were still living at our temporary location near the UVM Medical Center at this point, but we had secured the lease and keys to our new apartment in Williston, so it was nice for them to have the opportunity to see both places!
On Friday afternoon, I picked them up from Burlington’s cute little airport (seriously, it’s so petite and SO Vermont.) Andriy was not yet home from work and we had some time to kill, so I gave them a quick tour of the hospital, then we then walked a bit around campus and decided to go have a little drink at The Archives. We took advantage of the free College Street shuttle back to the med center campus, since the wind was pretty brisk. Dinner that night was pizza delivered from Leonardo’s – meat free for the parents since it was still Lent.
On Saturday, we decided to take a bit of a drive into the mountains, to Waitsfield to show them Andriy’s daily commute and the Cabot Headquarters, and then to Stowe and Waterbury. My parents had visited Stowe before, but many years ago, so I thought it would be interesting for them to see how it’s developed. Stowe is a charming ski town, and it has a booming food scene. We drove partway up Mt. Mansfield and marveled at the wall of snow that we found where they stop plowing during the winter season. Afterwards, we stopped at The Alchemist, a cool brewery in Stowe (totally worth a visit,) and then of course a stop at the Cabot store in Waterbury for CHEESE. Dinner that evening was at Shanty on the Shore, fulfilling Dad’s request for a seafood dinner, which had a beautiful view of the lake during sunset.
We decided to check out the Long Island Trail on Sunday, which is a walking/biking path that goes all along the coast of Lake Champlain through Burlington. We walked the trail all the way up to North Beach. There are beautiful views of the Adirondacks across the lake. We made a pub top for some liquid refreshments and some Ben & Jerry’s on Church Street before heading home to chill for the rest of the evening.
It was great having them here for the weekend and I think it was nice for them to see that we’re doing fine here.
April 18th – 22nd – The Final Move
This was the weekend I had been dreading and anticipating for a while. We finally were going to pick up the rest of our things in Illinois, Frodo the cat included and move them to Vermont. We flew back to the Midwest Thursday night, then picked up our Penske rental truck Friday morning and headed to the old house on Randall Court to pack up the rest of our furniture. We were joined by my parents and the Fluhr family (with Frodo!), so we had plenty of help loading up the truck. We made good time of it and even had a few hours to have dinner and relax at Mom and Dad’s.
Early the next morning we set off in the truck with Frodo between us in the front and the remainder of our belongings in the back and we headed back east. Thankfully, we had decent weather ahead of us. Our only issues were the wind, which was pushing the truck around on the road (I feel for you truck drivers!), the potholes that we tried to avoid to keep our cargo intact in the back and our upset kitty cat in the front. Frodo really doesn’t like travelling, even in his spacious, expandable new cat carrier. We brought along some treats which promised to have a calming effect. They didn’t seem to work at first, but after doubling the number of recommended treats, he finally seemed to calm down a bit after a few hours (chubby kitty.) Thankfully, this trip wasn’t as traumatic for all of us as I anticipated. At least, I don’t think it was. Frodo hasn’t learned how to speak English yet, as much as I chide him for it.
We set off the next morning, after a hotel stay at our halfway point, and made it to Williston in the early evening hours, which gave us plenty of time to grab some quick dinner and move in the most important items – the mattress, the TV and Frodo. We knew the next day would hold lots of hard work, moving in the rest of our belongings, so we enjoyed the last few hours relaxing to a movie.
May the 4th (and the time leading up) be with you
So many of my days after work since we moved here have been filled with the administrative tasks that come with moving to a new place. Since I’m off work an hour earlier than Andriy, plus I don’t have to drive as far, we agreed that these would be my responsibilities. These duties so far have included: various account address changes, contacting future and past property managers, working w/ my parents to handle things at our old house in Jacksonville (I truly can’t thank them enough,) researching and arranging vehicle license/registration changes including inspections , communicating w/ our realtor about selling our house, handling activation & transfer of utilities, and more. Moving is such a chore. Needless to say, weekends provide a nice break in these tasks to continue to explore the area and have some fun.
I had noticed on my daily commute to work from our new location that I was travelling through a very interesting looking neighborhood that seemed to have lots to offer. After learning from my co-workers that this area is the South End Arts district of Burlington, I proposed that we spend a Saturday afternoon exploring this district.
First stop was, of course, a brewery. Did you know that Vermont was recently named craft beer capital of the world? And it doesn’t offer just beer – just in the greater Burlington area alone, there are 20-something breweries, cider houses and distilleries. We began at Queen City Brewery for a quick flight & pint, then across the street we visited Zero Gravity for lunch & another pint. Oh, I can’t forget to mention the quick stop in between to Lake Champlain chocolates for some free samples. YUMMM.
We continued our walk down Pine street through the arts district to discover…what else?…art! There are lots of cool shops and little galleries to stop in and, from what I hear, they have an amazing art festival here in fall.
We picked up some fresh coffee beans at a local roaster called Speeder & Earl’s (which came w/ a complimentary cup of coffee) and then ended our walk down Pine Street at Citizen Cider. If you are less of a beer person, or even if you thought you were mainly a beer person, you might enjoy the many offerings made by Citizen Cider. I had never before experienced the complexities of flavor and aroma that cider can provide before this visit. So refreshing! So unexpected!
Spring is finally here?
Our settling in and exploration period in Vermont continues. To be honest, I’m not sure the exploration will ever end here. There’s so much to see and do! And every season brings new activities. Spring has arrived, but that hasn’t stopped us from fitting in more skiing. Partly because we still had snow on the ground a week ago! But now things are finally starting to warm up, and I’m ready to see some green things coming from the ground and trees. Here’s how we have passed our time recently:
St Patrick’s Day Weekend
Historically, St. Patrick’s Day weekend is one of the only times of the year we have actually gone out to the bar for a few drinks. So this year, we decided to walk down to Church Street to do some exploring and find some tasty things to eat and drink.
Church Street in Burlington is a fantastic and historic pedestrian road located downtown. It’s four blocks which are closed to traffic, lined on both sides with lots of shops and great places for food and drink. If it’s a holiday, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something happening on Church Street.
We wanted to find some place to enjoy a full Irish breakfast, so we stopped at Rí Rá Irish pub, which promised this on their menu. It did not disappoint. We enjoyed a couple of local beers w/ our breakfast (don’t judge, it was actually lunchtime) and enjoyed the lively atmosphere, which was accentuated by the small crowd that had gathered to watch the rugby tournament on TV.
After lunch, we walked down to the lakefront, and stopped in Foam Brewers for another pint. The place was packed, so we took our beers outside to drink in the courtyard. It was chilly, but that didn’t seem to bother us much. I think our bodies are adapting to cooler weather!
Our last stop downtown was to meet up with a new local friend, Courtney. I’m jokingly calling her a “hand-me-down” friend because before we knew her, she was a schoolmate and friend of our good friend, Jeremy. He connected us once we moved here, and I’m glad he did! We met Courtney for a couple of drinks at a great bar called The Archives. Besides being a comfortable bar, it’s also a vintage game arcade. And the soundtrack playing was great music from the 80’s. What’s not to love? Next time, I’m totally tackling Ms. Pac-Man.
Another XC skiing adventure – plus syrup!
The next weekend we decided to travel a bit to visit another ski resort, this time at Burke Mountain in the Northeast Kingdom. This was about a 2 hour drive away for us, and just after a substantial snowfall. Thankfully, the roads were clear and it promised to be a warm sunny day. After attempting to dodge the multitude of ridiculously large potholes along the route, we made it safe and sound and found the Nordic skiing area pretty much empty. So, we enjoyed the sunny day on the trails, pretty much all to ourselves! The snow was wet and “sticky” but we still had a great time and got a good workout in!
Our après-ski activity had us heading to Happy Hill Maple Farms to get a tour and taste some samples. We were greeted by a very friendly and knowledgeable young man who gave us a comprehensive tour, and afterward we tasted some maple cream (incredible), lavender infused maple syrup (very floral, not for me), and maple cotton candy (YES.) Satisfied and exhausted, we headed home.
Observations in the Green Mountain State.
I really love people watching. I don’t mind being by myself and it gives me the opportunity to watch, or at least listen to, the things happening around me and take mental note. It’s not really something I always do consciously. I think I just inherently find it interesting to observe the quirks, idiosyncrasies and mannerisms that make people so unique. I feel like I get this trait from both my parents. My mom is naturally a very observant person and my dad has an affinity for odd and unusual things and people.
So, as it would be, I’ve taken to noting the unique aspects that I’m starting to attribute to the new state I now inhabit and the people who live here. Please note, I have only been here a few weeks, and I currently live in the “big city” of Burlington and at a very large and busy hospital, so some of these observations may be misguided due to my current surroundings and short time here. But it will be interesting to compare later on to see if I feel that my first impressions still ring true.
- Vermonters don’t complain about the snow and cold – or not as much as what I’m used to. I’m guessing it’s because winter lasts a while here, so there’s no use in complaining about it. Plus, many people here have found ways to enjoy the cold and snow. I often hear my coworkers talk about how they went skiing, snowboarding or snowmobiling on the weekend. I read an article recently about a group of people that enjoy “wild ice skating” on Lake Champlain (which recently completely froze over for the first time since 2015!)
- People are polite, but not overly so – In the Midwest, it feels to me that people go out of their way to be overly polite. It’s nice, but can be overbearing at times. Plus I feel I then am expected to be overly polite as well. Lots of Thank yous, Excuse mes, and often unnecessary apologies. And that I need to walk around with a smile on my face at all times (a habit that I think I’ve broken myself of pretty well.) So far, it seems to me that while people aren’t necessarily rude, they also won’t go out of their way to hold the door for you or get out of your way or provide the “extra” niceties that I’m accustomed to. I’m ok with this so far. I will not stop holding the door for people and saying ma’am and sir (I was gently teased about this the other day at work) and pardoning myself when necessary, because it’s deeply ingrained in me, but I’m not offended by others not doing the same.
- Yes, there is a Vermont accent – The Vermont accent is subtle, but I’m growing an ear for it. There are some similarities to other East Coast speech patterns, but it’s not as obvious as Maine or Massachusetts. Not as much “r” dropping. It sounds a bit like you took an East Coast person, and plopped them down between a farm and some hills, just south of Canada. Wait, that’s exactly what it is! Sadly, I haven’t met anyone that sounds like this guy yet.
- There is a fifth season here called Mud – Many people have told me this already, and I understand why it is so. In the winter, there is (hopefully) lots of snow and ice. And once spring comes, it all melts. After a couple of 50 degree days, I think it’s safe to say we are currently in the Mud season.
Don’t beat yourself up
Hey!
I’ve been thinking a lot about goals recently, and not the sports kind.
I’m at a weird point in my life where I am working on a few goals for myself, and I don’t feel like I’m getting very far with them.
First off, I started a new job about 2 months ago. I’m a buyer at Passavant Area Hospital. I really like the job, it’s a great move for me and the work is very rewarding and I know that what I do actually makes a difference. I left Production Xpress, which I had been wanting to do for some time. So, I did meet that big goal and felt very happy about it. I’m going to sound like I’m tooting my own horn here, but they really like me at my new job. My boss regularly tells me what an amazing job I’m doing and how happy she is they have me.
But, at this new job, I sit at a computer all day. At Xpress, I walked around a lot. I was almost always moving. But here, my job is to order supplies at the hospital, and it is quite demanding, so I don’t have a lot of time to walk around and move like I used to.
So, I’ve gained about 5 lbs since I’ve been there. Which isn’t a huge amount, but it’s just been two months and I don’t want to gain any more. I’d like to get back down to my normal weight, which is what I was holding steady at for almost all of my adult life. This might not seem like a big deal, but I have literally weighed the same since I was in high school, give or take a couple pounds.
I’ve been working out, as I was before. I run 3 times a week, usually for 1/2 hour. And I do yoga about 3 times a week. So i feel pretty good. But still, those extra 5 lbs annoy me. I’m sure it’s vanity, or that weird mental thing that society puts in us to always look a certain way. But also, I want to be healthy. And for my smallish frame, an extra 5 lbs makes a difference.
I don’t feel great about my progress with this goal to lose this weight at this point. The problem is, the weekends are perfect for drinking and eating. And I don’t really want to change that too much. But, I think I will have to just be more aware of the food & drink I put in my body and make sure I’m not an idiot when it comes to what I consume. I hate to put restrictions on myself when it comes to drink and especially food, but at my age, I kind of have to. *sigh*
I’ve been thinking a lot about goals recently, and not the sports kind.
I’m at a weird point in my life where I am working on a few goals for myself, and I don’t feel like I’m getting very far with them.
First off, I started a new job about 2 months ago. I’m a buyer at Passavant Area Hospital. I really like the job, it’s a great move for me and the work is very rewarding and I know that what I do actually makes a difference. I left Production Xpress, which I had been wanting to do for some time. So, I did meet that big goal and felt very happy about it. I’m going to sound like I’m tooting my own horn here, but they really like me at my new job. My boss regularly tells me what an amazing job I’m doing and how happy she is they have me.
But, at this new job, I sit at a computer all day. At Xpress, I walked around a lot. I was almost always moving. But here, my job is to order supplies at the hospital, and it is quite demanding, so I don’t have a lot of time to walk around and move like I used to.
So, I’ve gained about 5 lbs since I’ve been there. Which isn’t a huge amount, but it’s just been two months and I don’t want to gain any more. I’d like to get back down to my normal weight, which is what I was holding steady at for almost all of my adult life. This might not seem like a big deal, but I have literally weighed the same since I was in high school, give or take a couple pounds.
I’ve been working out, as I was before. I run 3 times a week, usually for 1/2 hour. And I do yoga about 3 times a week. So i feel pretty good. But still, those extra 5 lbs annoy me. I’m sure it’s vanity, or that weird mental thing that society puts in us to always look a certain way. But also, I want to be healthy. And for my smallish frame, an extra 5 lbs makes a difference.
I don’t feel great about my progress with this goal to lose this weight at this point. The problem is, the weekends are perfect for drinking and eating. And I don’t really want to change that too much. But, I think I will have to just be more aware of the food & drink I put in my body and make sure I’m not an idiot when it comes to what I consume. I hate to put restrictions on myself when it comes to drink and especially food, but at my age, I kind of have to. *sigh*
Also, I had a goal to write more. In my head, I was thinking I would write a little every day. That hasn’t happened. I don’t think it’s very realistic, with the way my day is structured right now. So I’ve decided that I’m still going to write more, just not every day.
So, these self-created goals, the thing they have in common is they won’t really harm or benefit anyone other than myself. So I only have myself to answer to if I fail or succeed.
And what I need to do, is not worry about it. I need to take it easy on myself…of course it’s good to make goals and stick with them, but it isn’t healthy to get upset with myself if I don’t totally succeed the way I think I should.
The only thing I can do is make the most of my time and effort right now, and if i feel the need to work my ass off, I will. And that will probably be satisfying.
But if I feel the need to treat myself, that will be pretty great too.
The butt scope had been disinfected.
It’s such a perfect day outside. It’s sunny, like 65 degrees, plus it isn’t raining, which is a nice change.
Ok, if I write about the weather, truly nobody will want to read these things.
But I had to comment, as I feel like we have had shit weather for a week straight.
Although, I do love a good rainy day, as many do. There’s a comfortable melancholy to it. I’ve heard people say that it’s because you have a good excuse to sit inside and do nothing. There’s something to that, for sure. But I think there’s more to it.
I think part of it is we feel like we should be striving to be happy all the time. I think this is a really American thing….maybe I’m wrong? Anyone from another country *ahem Andriy*, chime in here. And if you’re not happy, people generally don’t want to hear about it. But being not happy is totally normal.
Being inside on a good rainy day is like the feeling of listening to a sad song. Sometimes it feels really good. Like, I used to LOVE Elliott Smith. I mean, I still love him. But I don’t really listen to him much anymore. When I was younger, I used to embrace sad music so much more than I do now. Why is that? Maybe it’s because I was an emotional young adult, going through all kinds of relationship ups and downs and general hormonal wackiness.
And now, as far as emotions and relationships go, I’m pretty stable. Sometimes I feel like that’s boring…but usually, I love it and I strive for that comfortable feeling of stability most of the time now. I love the feeling of a routine and ritual. Do all people go through this at this age?
I do still feel that thrill, though, at doing something out of my routine or something kind of “risky.” I’m not sure that feeling will ever really leave me. It reminds me that there is more out there than what I know. That’s a really good feeling.
It’s kind of the same feeling for me now that I get when I learn something really new. Like there is a new door that’s opening that I feel like I can walk through.
It’s kind of the same feeling for me now that I get when I learn something really new. Like there is a new door that’s opening that I feel like I can walk through.
Take my new job: in March I took a job at Passavant Area Hospital. I’m a buyer, which means I purchase items the hospital needs, everything from toilet paper to bone saws. And, as someone who is brand new to the healthcare industry, I find it SO INTERESTING. I get to learn something brand new almost every day.
My vocabulary is expanding, as I encounter words used only in the healthcare industry.
Did you know there are different types of spinal needles? Quincke, Tuohy, Whitacre…and I think there are even more that I haven’t encountered yet.
The other day, someone dropped a scope on my desk that needed to be returned to the vendor. A member of the OR staff walked into my office to ask me a question, and as she left, she said “did you know that’s been in somebody’s butt?” No….no I did not.
But that’s cool.
Let’s form a new (good) habit
I really miss writing, and I think about doing it all the time, but then I don’t do it because I don’t take the time out of my day/week to do it.
I heard somewhere that in order to make something a habit, you should do it consistently for two straight weeks and then your mind and body will become accustomed to it and continuing the practice will be easy. I have found that to be mostly true so far, so I’m giving it a go.
So, don’t expect anything spectacular out of it, but I am going to write a little something every day for the next couple of weeks to see if it sticks (I’m telling myself this mostly because I don’t think anyone actually reads this.) As I said multiple times this past weekend (mostly about drinking water while drinking booze,): I won’t regret doing this, but I might regret not doing it.
So, here’s what’s going on right now.
Andriy’s at class, his last on location class of the semester (woohoo!) so I’m home alone. Well, with Frodo.
I’m waiting for dinner to cook, drinking a glass of wine (whatever we had open) and listening to music. I got this idea from Chris Hardwick where he makes a playlist for every year of his life. So, while he’s, say, 42, if there is a song that catches his ear or that he’s really digging at that time, he adds it to his “42” playlist. Right now I’m listening to and adding to my 35 playlist. Recent additions:
“Prisencolinensinainciusol” Adriano Celentano (what does that even mean? no idea, but the song’s a jam.)
“Oogum Boogum Song” Brenton Wood (also such a jam)
“Pure Comedy” Father John Misty (which feeds my soul. It makes me sad and really pleased at the same time. like someone really gets how fucked up it is right now and I’m glad they do)
“Waiting Room” by Fugazi (I totally forgot about Fugazi until recently I found a mixed tape that a boy had made with that song on it and I was like OH YEAH)
“Them Changes” Thundercat (this is the most recent addition to my 35 playlist, it is thanks to All Songs Considered and good luck not doing that shoulder move when you hear it)
BTW, what are your thoughts on Chris Hardwick? I guess lots of people think he’s a total tool, which I kind of get. But I think I really like him. Even when he tries to psychoanalyze everyone on his podcast, I still forgive him. He means well.
Well, this was fun. I’m going to eat dinner and watch something with David Tennant in it.
I’ll end this with a photo of me right now.
For those about to rock
Some of you may have heard the big local music news today. The boys from Park have announced that they’re getting the band back together. Woohoo!
If you don’t know who Park is, then here’s what you really need to know:
Park is a rock band from Springfield, IL. They’ve been around since 1996. They’ve released 4 full-length albums and they’ve toured extensively across the US, garnering quite the indie fan base. Their style has been described as emo, punk rock, indie rock, alternative rock. (I hate the term “emo,” so let’s not call them that anymore.) They broke up in 2007, much to the dismay of their devoted followers. Since then, they have played a few reunion shows, and they’ve had amazing turnouts at each one. Then in 2011 Ladd & Miles released a 5 song EP as Tiger Tank. As a result, I think Park’s fans have been in hopeful anticipation for the band’s return. Now, it looks like it’s actually going to happen.
I am proud to say that I know these guys. I’ve known Miles and Ladd since 2000. There’s a lot of back story there that doesn’t need retelling and, happily, we are all still friends.
I feel honored to be part of Park’s history. These guys have made so much incredible music. Do yourself a favor and read Ladd’s lyrics. The man is a poet. He pours himself into his thoughtful lyrics. And these fellas love LOVE playing for their fans. If you’ve ever been to a Park show, you know. You can’t help but feel something when you’re there. You will have the opportunity to see them on June 8 in Springfield or on August 17 at Fubar in St. Louis.
I, for one, am so excited to hear of their return. I knew they weren’t done making us music. We are eager to hear what you have in store. So, to Alex and Aaron, to Miles and to Ladd, I salute you!
I, for one, am so excited to hear of their return. I knew they weren’t done making us music. We are eager to hear what you have in store. So, to Alex and Aaron, to Miles and to Ladd, I salute you!
Coooome onnn spring.
It’s always this time of year that my wanderlust really kicks in. I find myself thinking, “where I can go next” and “when will it be warm enough to go camping?”
This spring, we have two trips in the works.
The first is our first camping weekend. It will most likely be at Sangchris Lake State Park, which is between Springfield & Taylorville in IL. We’ve never camped there, though we’ve checked out the campsites and found the sites right next to the lake to be maybe picturesque. That will most likely happen near the end of April with some friends.
I’ve also been wanting to plan a camping visit to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL. I have fond, yet fuzzy, memories from hiking around that area as a kid and I want to revisit and get a better feel for the place as an adult. That’s a 2 hour drive so it will probably be a smaller camping group, possibly just Andriy and me. We want this first camping trip to be a friendly affair, so the closer destination seems ideal. Check out the Starved Rock website though, it’s nice.
Over the past few years, we’ve had 2 great camping trips with larger groups of friends that really stick out. The first was at Schuy-Rush Park near Rushville, IL. We camped for one night and, I’m going to admit, it’s a bit of a blur because 1, we weren’t there for very long, just a short night and 2, we mainly just drank beers.
The other camping trip that I remember fondly was at Pere Marquette. We camped for 2 nights, did some hiking, played some badminton, made some great food over campfire/camp stove (Ladd made steaks!), witnessed the destruction by rain of a borrowed canopy (sorry J Bird) and slept in tents while it poured outside. That was a great trip because we didn’t just sit around drinking beers and, therefore, walked away with great stories and a song about a rock toilet.
This spring, we have two trips in the works.
The first is our first camping weekend. It will most likely be at Sangchris Lake State Park, which is between Springfield & Taylorville in IL. We’ve never camped there, though we’ve checked out the campsites and found the sites right next to the lake to be maybe picturesque. That will most likely happen near the end of April with some friends.
I’ve also been wanting to plan a camping visit to Starved Rock State Park in Utica, IL. I have fond, yet fuzzy, memories from hiking around that area as a kid and I want to revisit and get a better feel for the place as an adult. That’s a 2 hour drive so it will probably be a smaller camping group, possibly just Andriy and me. We want this first camping trip to be a friendly affair, so the closer destination seems ideal. Check out the Starved Rock website though, it’s nice.
Over the past few years, we’ve had 2 great camping trips with larger groups of friends that really stick out. The first was at Schuy-Rush Park near Rushville, IL. We camped for one night and, I’m going to admit, it’s a bit of a blur because 1, we weren’t there for very long, just a short night and 2, we mainly just drank beers.
The other camping trip that I remember fondly was at Pere Marquette. We camped for 2 nights, did some hiking, played some badminton, made some great food over campfire/camp stove (Ladd made steaks!), witnessed the destruction by rain of a borrowed canopy (sorry J Bird) and slept in tents while it poured outside. That was a great trip because we didn’t just sit around drinking beers and, therefore, walked away with great stories and a song about a rock toilet.
Our other big trip for spring will happen over Memorial day weekend. We’re planning on this one being a camping road trip that will take us through Indiana and Ohio, stopping somewhere in Pennsylvania the first night, then on to Boston for two nights, then up to Stowe, VT for two nights, then up to Niagara Falls for two nights, then shortcut through Canada (mainly so Andriy can use his passport for the first time), then through Michigan and back home. It will be Andriy’s first trip to New England. Not my first, but it will be my first time to Boston. We’re actually talking about staying in between Boston and the Cape Cod area. I’m looking forward to lunch at a seafood shack. It sounds so Cape Cod-y. 🙂
I’ve been to Vermont and Niagara Falls before as well, but I was younger and the memories are fuzzy. I remember the unspoiled green beauty of Vermont and I know Andriy will LOVE it. And Niagara Falls is simply an amazing power to behold. We’re trying to decide whether to stay at Niagara on the NY side or the Ontario side. My vote is for the Ontario side, just to say we stayed in Canada. And I will try poutine while I’m there. I’ve wanted to try it ever since the boys from Park and Moneen told me about it.
This trip is panning out to be another KOA adventure, since we enjoyed these campsites on our big West Coast vacation and they’re super easy to book. We’re probably going to enjoy the comfort of their camping and deluxe cabins at Boston/Cape Cod, Vermont & Niagara, and probably tent camp in Michigan. Our initial stop in Pennsylvania will be at one of their many state parks and we will be staying in our trusty Kelty tent again. Here is our proposed route.
I’ll post photos from both spring trips, so be ready for that.
Go Eat Listen See 