The Adventures of Kinky Reggae: A Vagabond for Beauty

We go back to school tomorrow, and I am ready for fall. I am ready for apple cider slushes and pumpkin pecan waffle candles and sweatshirt weather. Many of my coworkers are complaining about summer being over, but it was time. I came back carrying an extra 10 pounds, in need of a haircut and mani/pedi, running low on funds. I love life on the road, but it's time to get back in a routine. This was one of the best, most life-changing summers I've had so far. I traveled all the from Cape Flattery to Chesapeake Bay. I hiked and saw historic sites that had a profound effect on me. Most importantly, I spent time with some amazing people who changed my life.  I was in a funk at the beginning of my trip. My plan was to spend my summer Lemonading, but I had no idea what that looked like. But it happened, and I snapped out of my funk and made the most of every day and feel 100% okay with the breakup that happened in May. It helps that I spent some time with some really good looking men t

While visiting Shenandoah, I got to stay with my friends Jared and Traci for two nights. They went to my church in Phoenix and moved around the same time I did. I always wanted to be better friends with them; I always thought, "I should ask Traci out to lunch," and it just never happened. Well, it turns out she felt the same way about me! So, it was just really great to spend this time getting to know them and talking about everything from church to water conservation to parenting. (They have two adorable kids, Graham and Dahlia, who are just so darn likeable.) I was really sad to leave them this morning and wish we lived closer. It also felt really good to hang out with Mennonite friends. I MISS the Mennonites!!! Cedar Creek and Belle Grove NHP  This is a newer park, and there's not a ton to see yet. I walked through the museum and learned that the people of the Shenandoah Valley voted against secession twice, and the people in western Virginia were so against it that th

Antietam This site took me a half day, and I wish I'd had long to spend. It was the bloodiest day of fighting of the Civil War. One soldier died each second. The casualties in this single day of fighting outnumbered the total casualties from the Revolution, the French Indian War, and the Mexican war combined. I watched the movie and had to avert my eyes during the battle scenes. I almost felt like I didn't want to know what it was like!  After the movie, I drove around the battlefield. I think this is my favorite (that doesn't sound like the right adjective) one that I've seen. The reason being, the landscape seems to look exactly like it did at the time of the battle. There's nothing else around except the occasional farm, and all of those have been preserved/protected; they were all there during this battle. I went for a hike through a cornfield that the Union Soldiers marched through. When they emerged on the other side, the Confederates immediate attacked. This

Allegheny Portage National Historic Site This site is the perfect example of learning about something I'd never even heard of.  Pennsylvanians wanted to build a canal across the state, but the Allegheny mountains were in the way. They built the canal, and then did a portage over the mountains. The boats were loaded onto railroad cars and pulled up the hills by huge steam engines in engine houses. This began in 1834 and made a huge difference for western Pennsylvania. Goods became cheaper because it wasn't so expensive to ship them, and more people started moving west.     Johnstown Flood National Memorial 2,209 people died when the dam collapsed in 1889. It's a horrible story of how the lake was made/owned by the hunting/fishing club for rich people, and they did nothing in terms of upkeep on the dam. An engineer was not consulted when it was built, and they kept the regular water level really high. So when it started raining and raining, it just totally burst. There was al

What a beautiful place! Although the east coast doesn't resonate with my heart the way the desert does. I feel at home there. Out here, I hate the humidity and the bugs.  I did the 3.6 mile Rose River trail, which ended up being about a mile longer because I got lost.  The hike runs alongside a stream, and there are several cascades and waterfalls. I also saw a mama bear and her cubs!    

I am seeing so much and learning so much, it's a little overwhelming.  George Washington Birthplace I watched the movie and walked around outside a little bit. Nothing too exciting because Washington didn't do much here except be born. Chancellorsville Wow. What a place. There was definitely an energy here, which was weird because it's right next to a turnpike. I went on an excellent tour led by a very knowledgeable ranger. I knew nothing about this battle except that Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded here.  Here is what I learned. Lincoln REALLY needed a win in the eastern theater. The Union was doing well out west (like at Shiloh), but all eyes were on Virginia since it was close by and where the Confederate capitol was. Lincoln kept assuring everyone that they were winning, but they really hadn't won anything major. Unfortunately, they wouldn't win this battle, either.  The Union troops far outnumbered the Confederate troops, but General Lee came up with an