The ABCs of Starting Over- OR to KY Roadtrip + WDW 50th Ann. Trip 9/28-10/4; Day 6 and REPORT COMPLETE!

[buzzrelly]

Phew…I made it just in time to wish you all the best on your trip! I know it'll be amazing and I can't wait to follow along!

 

[cforsythe]

I am all in! You will have a grand time I just know it!

The place I would go is Austria. I have always dreamed of spinning in that meadow and singing (which I cannot do well) The Hills are Alive at the top of my lungs.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Slot Canyon Tour that takes off from Page, AZ

That tour looks amazing! I hope you are able to take it.

This will take us from Las Cruces to San Antonio.

I don't know if it is on the way, but Carlsbad Caverns National Park has the most amazing caves I've been it. The formations are beatiful. I was there with my geology class but in 1972 and would love to find a way to get back there.

he says the water is pretty low right now and they are seeing a ton of HUGE (up to 50 lb. he says!) carp that have been jumping up and even OVER the boat.

If those are Asian carp, then yes, they leap out of the water when they hear the noise from the boat motors and have been known to land in boats.

 

[crazymomof4]

I have to start this with how my only 1/4 cup of coffee so far--brain read the title of your thread. I thought "starting over" "becoming a ....woman" was the story of a transgender transformation and couldn't figure out why it was on the Trip Reports forum.
I'm not all the way through this thread yet, but I had to smile reading your description of your kids. They sound so similar to our's! "all-around good “kid”, He is a hard worker, loyal beyond all reason, and genuinely polite. Unless he’s interacting with his 19-year old sister. As with all siblings, they have a love-hate relationship, but if push came to shove, he’d defend her beyond all reason. He loves to play video games (what kid doesn’t these days?), play board games when I bribe him with dinner, and cook. Yep, you read that right
My kids are 21-32, the youngest of the 4 being the only DD. Video games are big but they also like board games with the parents (shocking, I know) and my sons love to cook.... actually more than DD!
Finally, before I close for now because even on a national holiday, a mom's work is never done.... Bowling Green KY holds a special place in my heart even though I've never set foot in the state of KY! Our cat was born there. 12 years ago his little kitten life was spared TWICE there! He was found on the street living alone and a kind person dropped him off at the local animal shelter. All was OK until the shelter got too crowded and he was put on the list to be euthanized (it was obviously NOT a no-kill shelter). Another kind-heart took the initiative to call a rescue group here in New Jersey. That group made the long trip down and loaded a truck with animals who were close to being euthanized to adopt out here in NJ. We saw the little grey kittens pic online and he became ours! We named him "Derby"... he is our KY Derby!! His personality is so unique. He is fun and mischievous. Smart and loving. He's a Peter Pan cat in that he refuses to grow up! Still kittenlike at 12! When I think of how his life could have easily ended before it began and how no one would have ever gotten to know this great personality... my eyes well up with tears. So grateful to all who played a part in saving him so he could brighten our lives for all these years and hopefully many more to come.
Can't wait to read through the rest of your journey thread!!


pic: He believes he has the right to sit and the table with us like this and we have given up trying to tell him this isn't allowed.

 

[Steppesister]

TODAY’S THE DAY!!!


ADVENTURE IS OUT THEREEEEE!!!!



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[juniorbugman]

Looks like you are driving by map like the Muppets. Safe journey

 

[pkondz]

TODAY’S THE DAY!!!


ADVENTURE IS OUT THEREEEEE!!!!

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Safe travels!!

 

[footballmouse]

Good luck and stay safe!

 

[Disneycampfan]

Prayers for safe travels!

 

[rdkeim]

Safe travels - enjoy the ride!

 

[Steppesister]

Day 1’s sneak peeks:

Smoke pretty much wrecked even seeing one place and ruined any shots of crater lake. Stupid fires.

We saw a lot of pretty places, but no good photos- we’ll see what’s on the camera when I get… home. “Home”. That sounds so weird!

Day 2 awaits!!!

 

[pkondz]

Smoke pretty much wrecked even seeing one place and ruined any shots of crater lake. Stupid fires.

Well, darn. That's too bad. Hopefully that'll thin out as you travel.

we’ll see what’s on the camera when I get… home. “Home”. That sounds so weird!

I bet it does. You're between "homes" right now!

Cute l'il guy.

I see what you mean, but... that's kinda a cool shot.

Kicked Zach out of the picture, huh?

 

[Steppesister]

 

[pkondz]

I see smiles. We'll see if you still have them by the end of the trip... or will you be at each other's throats!

(Actually, that'd be a funny photo op.)

And... The resemblance between you two is pretty uncanny!

Who knew they'd put a windmill on the side of a vertical cliff!

Okay, just kidding. I've never seen one of those in real life.

 

[MAGICFOR2]

The ABCs of Starting Over; A 2-Week Journey in Becoming a Kentucky Woman

“If God closes a door AND a window, consider the fact that it might be time to build a whole new house.”- Mandy Hale

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Hello, Friends Old and New! In the quiet morning hours, a still cloudy sky greets me on one of my last days in the state I’ve lived in for more than 22 years (dissected by 10 years in Central Asia). Change is once again calling out to me and telling me it’s time to pick up some broken pieces, choose a new canvas, and paint a new picture. I’ve been given some beautiful colors to work with and while the brushstrokes may be clumsy at first, I am excited to see what the final masterpiece will be.

A little mood music to set the tone... time to get 'yer Hillbilly on!

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Let me lay a little background for those of you who might be a bit newer to my story. I’ve been writing Trip Reports since 2008 going by All7OfUs once upon a time. When I moved back from Central Asia, where my family and I lived from 2001-2010, I changed my screenname to Steppesister- if you’re familiar with geography terms, the “steppe” is “a large area of flat unforested grassland in southeastern Europe or Siberia.” This is what Kazakhstan is mostly made up of and I thought it a cute play on words. I’ve been living in Salem, Oregon ever since. Sadly, in 2018 I went through a very difficult divorce. My “kids” range from 19-30; 3 live locally, 1 will be moving with me, and my eldest lives in Maryland stationed at Ft. Meade. I have 3 grandbabies, with one being born as I write this. No, literally, my DIL has been in labor for 5 hours with their baby number 3 on her way any time. Obviously, I will miss my children and grandbaby that live here, but nothing dictates that I can’t return to visit on occasion. The good news is that I will be able to see my oldest son and his growing family a lot more often and my younger son will also spread his wings and begin to make a home of his own.

A quick introduction to me: I am an RN who's been working 2 different jobs but both with an emphasis on Recovery Room nursing, or PACU, for the last 6 years. I also have experience in Long-term care, infusion nursing, Pre-op, Med-Surg, and Senior Behavioral Health. I love photography, travel, nature, coffee, fine dining, writing, and spending time with friends. I enjoy home decorating, fresh flowers, and going to Disney as often as I can, but have sights on Italy and Greece, the Canadian Maritimes, and East Africa. Perhaps someday I'll pick up where I left off with learning how to fly. I also love most kinds of music and dancing, quiet evenings and Peter Pan floats. I grew up going to Disneyland, enjoy learning about Disney history, and worked as a CM at the Blue Bayou Restaurant while I went to school at UC Irvine.

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Now that you know me a bit more, let's talk about this epic road trip: Bowling Green, Kentucky is the destination- home of the Corvette, Western Kentucky University, caves, bourbon, horses, tobacco and Bluegrass. It’s also only an hour from Nashville; I may just love a little Honkey-tonking now and then. You may be asking yourself why I would pick up the pieces and choose to move to such a far away place with such a completely different culture and climate and leave a good job and the friends I love to start over. The reasons are so many…

My parents, getting older and slowing down, have offered to sell half ownership of their lovely home to me at a very family-friendly price. It’s exactly my style, the right size, and in a perfect location (it borders a public golf course, so the city takes care of all my “yard work” for free!). One of my sisters also lives in Bowling Green and the other and her family lives in McLean, VA. So, living nearer to my family, that I haven’t had the privilege of doing since I left “home” in 1985, will be nothing short of amazing.

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(3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, covered patio, bonus room, meticulously maintained)
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I am definitely looking forward to bluer skies and regular summer thunderstorms. The weather in Oregon is depressing and difficult for me to deal with 9 months of the year. I know a lot of people here love the cool misty, rainy days, but I am tired of it. Yes, it’s green; yes, there are mountains and beaches all within a short, 2-hour drive either direction from me. And yes, I will miss the incredibly gorgeous landscapes here. But again, that is what travel is for. To be honest, as beautiful as those places are, I don’t visit them as much as I should, given how much I work.

It is my opinion, take it or leave it as you will, that this state is like an avalanche- going downhill at breakneck speed. Without any commentary, I will simply say that “I cannot ‘Oregon’ anymore”. I just can’t. The crime, taxes, destruction of our once beautiful cities… I can’t do it anymore. I am not alone according to the statistics.

Lastly, there is an unspoken understanding that, in exchange for this family-friendly home purchase price, I will provide companionship and care for my parents as they enter their golden years and need more help. The goal, as with any one of us, is to live independently and to be as self-reliant for as long as possible. Maybe with my being there sooner than later, those years will be extended through providing some advocacy and assistance. My sister has been doing an incredible job with that for years and it’s my turn, and honor, to be there for my parents just as faithfully as they were there for me every single day that I’ve called them Mom and Dad.

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So that’s the background. Would you like to travel with me on this grand adventure of moving across the country? Would you like to see some, what I hope to be, fantastic photos of landscapes of our grand and beautiful country? There will be stories of adventures, planning sessions, mishaps, wrong turns, great food (probably some really awful food too) lesser-traveled roads and music along the way. As you might have anticipated this 2-week cross-country journey will end with a trip to Disney to celebrate not only my new Beginning, but WDW's 50th Anniversary with some of my longest-standing DISFriends. In the coming weeks I will be writing about not only the planning of my big, fat move, but also the Disney portion Soon enough, this Pre-Trip portion will “magically” turn into a bona fide Trip Report as I set off on September 7th- 30 days from now. The countdown has begun and the packing is almost done.

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ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!!!!

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And now it's YOUR turn: Where would you go on a Grand Adventure if you could leave tomorrow. Would you move there? Visit? For how long?

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Alright I'm here as requested! I feel a little personally invested now, and I also know how a few things turn out by now. We will be following along because we have to know you are getting there safely! Can't wait to see where you're adventures take you!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

F is for: Finally Nearing the End
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We left off finding us deep in the heart of Texas.

Let’s tackle Days 12-16…

Day 12-

We last left off in either Sheffield or San Antonio, Texas. Depends on how burned out we are with travel. By now we may be saying to ourselves or each other, “When will we get there?” Because no one has ever said that at some point on a road trip. Since I posted my last chapter about San Antonio my mom piped up and thought we would enjoy an area called King William Historic District with fun shops and the Pioneer Flour Mill. Apparently, the Guenther House offers a very nice breakfast. We’ll see if the timing of things works out. Nice to have options.

Day 13-

No time to dilly-dally too terribly much; the Bayou beckons! With no stops, it’s a 4-hour drive from San Antonio to La Fayette, the goal of the day. If we arrive in time, we’ll head to Pat’s Fisherman’s Wharf for some authentic Cajun grub. I worked at the Blue Bayou for a spell and while it was a great setting, it was anything but authentic. My mouth is watering for crawfish, jambalaya, etouffee, etc… I have no idea where we’ll lay our travel-weary heads, but I’m sure we’ll find something.

http://patsfishermanswharf.com/menu-la.php
Day 14-

I made a phone call today to Kim with: https://www.theatchafalayaexperience.com/about-us He will get back to me tomorrow or “soon” about a custom Swamp Tour. My Friends, of all our travels, I think I may be most excited about this. I am obsessed with finally seeing a wild alligator and some snakes in their natural habitat. It’s pretty much impossible that I won’t while on this tour, I was assured when talking with Kim. Moreover, he says the water is pretty low right now and they are seeing a ton of HUGE (up to 50 lb. he says!) carp that have been jumping up and even OVER the boat. I don’t know if this the swamp version of a tall tale but this is some lore I’m willing to see for myself! He said, “It’s a bit terrifying, but super cool!”. Sold!

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From there I am super hoping to visit with Vanessa and/or Michelle in Baton Rouge who are in Disney right now. I am amazed at their resilience having just endured Ida and its aftermath. Hope you’re having a well-earned vacation, @vamassey ! After our visit, our trail heads north and lands us in Vicksburg. But not by way of boring old Freeway. How about a historic highway, and one of America’s most famous at that? Word has it that Hwy 61, known as the Blues Highway, is as iconic as Route 66. Sadly, the Juke Joints that it is famous for, and where it got its reputation from, are few and far between now. This makes me sad to see such a piece of our heritage disappearing. Nevertheless, my research leads me to Leland for the night, where there is still a Juke Joint holdout known as Boss Hall’s Juke Joint. There is live music 7 days a week, so arriving any evening shouldn’t be a problem. If the timing isn’t right for here, there are a few more in Clarksdale further north.

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Day 15-

Leaving Leland, we’ll push on to Paducah with few, if any, stops other than lunch. Boring-ish sort of day.

Day 16-

On the last stretch home we’ll wind through Land Between the Lakes Recreation Area since my folks say it’d be well worth our time. If we feel like we’re just “done” it’s nearby to “home” so I don’t feel quite as pressed to squeeze this bit in.

And that wraps up one heck of a Road Trip Plan.

About 60% of my stuff is loaded into the semi-truck trailer and the movers come either tomorrow evening or Monday morning to load the remaining stuff- almost all of it the furniture and some remaining boxes. We’re down to shopping for our road trip snacks, topping off the gas tank, and packing up my bedding and such. Small things in the grand scheme of things. My camera gear is ready, and I’m stoked to be setting out on this epic adventure.

The goal is to post a photo or two each evening as highlights of the day’s events. It is equally as conceivable I go dark for a bit. It wholly depends on cell reception, internet, and my attitude.

WE didn't even talk about San Antonio! King William is pretty with Victorian Houses. Guenther House is a must for breakfast! Long waits on the weekends. River Walk is over rated but something to do once. Most restuarants there are pretty bland because they expect you to dump a bunch of hot sauce on everything. (sorry if I offend anyone, just my PNW taste buds) For great TEx Mex, go to the Pearl and eat at LaGloria's
outside! Do NOT camp in your car in SA!!! I said it wasn't safe here - 10
times more dangerous there! Remember, we lived there for 6 years.
Fun active thing to do - in the DAYTIME, rent a hop on hop off bicycle in the park near the Alamo, and ride the Mission Trail. There are 5 missions on the trail. Some actually have functioning churches in them still. Just be sure to STAY ON the trail - watch the signs - we ended up in a bad part of town for part of it, and we had a cop driving back and forth to be sure we were okay - kid you not! But it is a really cool activity if you like history.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Smoke pretty much wrecked even seeing one place and ruined any shots of crater lake. Stupid fires.

I was afraid that the smoke would ruin Crater Lake.
We went to visit our daughter who lived north of Denver and smoke from the wild fires that summer had ruined the view of the Rockies.

 

[Steppesister]

Hi All, we’ve been at it dawn to dusk so far seeing all kinds of amazing scenery and points of interest. America the Beautiful has loads to offer.

Last night Zach and I went saloon hopping and listened to live local music until we’ll after 10:00. The Bucket of Blood in Virginia City still serves up whiskey to weary travelers. #Frontierland

Off to Day 3’s adventures after breakfast….

 

[pkondz]

Hi All, we’ve been at it dawn to dusk so far seeing all kinds of amazing scenery and points of interest. America the Beautiful has loads to offer.

My kind of travel.
Sounds like you're having fun!

Last night Zach and I went saloon hopping and listened to live local music until we’ll after 10:00. The Bucket of Blood in Virginia City still serves up whiskey to weary travelers. #Frontierland

Heh... After 10pm??? You crazy night owl, you!

 

[Steppesister]

Day 3 nearing an end…

Bodie and Mono Lake in the books! They didn’t disappoint!