Welcome to my web site! Accompany me on my 21,000 mile, 3 month long road trip of a lifetime! 4/8/00-7/9/00
2nd road trip: 8/1/01-10/1/01
3rd road trip: "Couch Surfing" 11/19/11-12/25/11
(learn more about couch surfing! It's totally free, they do ask for a donation of $25.00 but it's not required)
Outline of the First Journey (2000)
To the right is a map showing the route that I traveled. Starting in Massachusetts, I drove down the east coast to the southernmost point of the US--Key West,Florida, drove along the border into Mexico, northward through the deserts of the Southwest, up over the Rocky Mountains, explored the Rain Forest of the northwest, continued up through the unbelievable beauty of British Columbia and the Canadian Yukon, over the 460 miles of the dirt & gravel road called the "Dalton Highway", to the town of Deadhorse, Prudhoe Bay on the Artic Ocean in Alaska. Then drove south to Prince Rupert, BC, and sailed on the "Queen of the North" ferry down through the "Inside Passage" to Vancouver Island and continued the journey homeward across the northern & central states until I reached home in Massachusetts.
For me, this journey was much more than a road trip across the US--it was an unforgettable smorgasbord of experiences, emotions, and memories!
To learn more about what it's like to drive alone across the US & Canada (with very limited funds), and to see the photos I took along the way:
Hold on to your hat ,
and click on the dates below!
Above: My "Faithful" Kia Sephia crossing the Arctic Circle 6/17/00
I discovered that America is like a great cornucopia------each state a vibrant fruit rich in its own flavor & uniqueness.
About 26 hostels , 15 National Parks, & 13 campgrounds this time.
Please sign my Guest Book
I always respond ASAP to thank those who take the time to sign my guest book. If you do not receive a response from me, it is because I could not (for some reason) reach you thru your e-mail address. Sincerely, Lynn
Cross Country Road Trip
April 9
Visited in Maryland
Drove all night, not good
The entire journey & photos are listed below in chronological order:
Active and content right up until the end--Puddy passed away swiftly and painlessly on Friday, February 22, 2008 at 3:15 am. Mica and I were with her. We both miss her very much.
Mica, a couple years older, and "filling out", just like me!
On December 31, 2007, a man (Hugo) from Norway finally signed my guest book.
I responded with a "Thank you" like I do for everyone who signs my guest book. He wrote back. Then I wrote back. And that was the beginning...
We made plans to meet in NYC
in June 2008.
We stayed at a hostel from June 1-8, and toured NYC together.
We had a fantastic time together!
A "New Beginning" ?
2008 & 2009
Sept. 2-14, 2008
Hugo & his son Daniel flew over from Norway to visit me.
December 17, 2008
Hugo invited me to his home in Norway! I'll be gone until Feb. 12, 2009.
February 17, 2009
I'm back home. There's just too much to write.
One thing I'll mention now is that during my visit, Hugo and I went on our own adventure...
We drove to Oslo, took the overnight ferry to Germany, then drove to Amsterdam where we stayed with a "couch surfer friend", Tino. Tino lives right on a canal in the center of Amsterdam! He was an excellent host. (check out www.couchsurfing.com to learn more about couch surfing), then we drove to Ponferrada, Spain where we started walking on the "Camino de Santiago". We walked from Ponferrada to Santiago--about 120 miles I think. What a walk...especially since it was fairly "unplanned"! And what a great way to get to know eachother better.
Just too much to write right now...
Anyway, we had an excellent time...and will be together again in August when he comes to the US!
I never would have believed that I would meet someone like Hugo at this stage in my life. It still seems too good to be true.
Major Pain in the Ass Update (6/10/2010)
This Homestead program is not compatible with my new Mac computer, so there will be few future updates because I have to borrow someone else's PC to update.
It's very frustrating having to pay Homestead a monthly fee to keep my site up and running, but not being able to use my own computer (my Mac) to work on my site.
Anyway, I don't have the motivation right now to figure out an alternative to Homestead. Maybe in a few months or next year.
Update: June 5, 2009
Hugo bought the plane tickets for the U.S. ! Hugo and Daniel are arriving in Boston on June 30th!
They will be staying with me until August 27th.
Then, they will go back to Norway and Hugo will wait for the visa to be completed before he returns to the U.S.. Could be another month or 2. It's so hard to wait so long.
See below
for HUGE life changes!
2007-2012
December 31, 2007: Hugo signs my guestbook
December 31, 2008: Hugo and I celebrate New Year's Eve at his home in Oslo. In January 2009 we walk the camino from Ponferrada to Santiago, Spain. (About 120 miles in 10 days--beautiful country & met many kind people.)
December 31, 2009: Hugo and I are finally together in New Hampshire.
We did it!
We got married at 1:30pm on December 31, 2009! And then we took Mica (our beagle) and spent our honeymoon at the Back Lake Tavern and Cabins in Pittsburg, New Hampshire.
August 16, 2010 -- November 3, 2010 (I may stay longer & visit the UK):
We will be returning to Spain to complete the Camino de Santiago (about another 400 miles! It should take 6-8 weeks (I want to take time to enjoy the places and people). We have yet to plan what adventures to undertake before and/or after the Camino. We will only be carrying whatever we can fit in our backpacks!
Update: Sept. 20, 2009
Hugo & Daniel returned to Norway.
I am still waiting to here from the uscis about the visa. The decision is already 30 days beyond the processing timeline.
December 10, 2009
Best Update Yet!!!
Finally!!!
The waiting is over!!!!
We both had to do a LOT of paperwork, but now it's done. He has his visa!
Tomorrow evening I go to Logan airport and pick him up!
Yeehaaaaa!!!!
On December 31, 2009,
Hugo and I got married at our home in Berlin, NH! We spent our Honeymoon on Backlake in Pittsburg, NH. There was a "Blue Moon" that night.
June 10, 2010
Hugo and I have decided to go back to Spain to continue, and to complete the Camino de Santiago (only about another 400 miles). We have found some house sitters through the "couch surfers" website.
Our tickets are for August 16th to Barcelona, Spain. From there we will work our way towards St. Jean Pied de Port, in France. Perhaps start the Camino sometime around the 1st. of September. It will probably take us 6-8 weeks to walk. We must return to the US by November 6th.
August 12, 2010: Brief update: Yesterday Hugo went to the airport in Boston and picked up our "House-Sitters" (that we luckily met through the "couchsurfing.com".) They are from the Netherlands, and have been house-sitting in Cosa Rica for a couple of months. Now they are kind enought to agree to house/pet sit for us while we go to Europe for 2 1/2 months!
We leave on Aug. 16. Change flights in Iceland. Then fly to Barcelona, Spain where we will be picked up by our next thoughtful and kind "couch surfer hosts". 2 nights there, then 3 night in a hostel, then bus to Pomplona where we have signed up for a week course in Spanish. Meanwhile we will be hosted by 2 more couch surfing hosts. After the Spanish course, we will be starting the Camino de Santiago in St. Jean Pied de Port in France. We plan on walking to Ponferrada where we began the camino in January 2009. It will be about a 400 mile walk.
This is going to be a fantastic journey!!!
For me, during the past 2 decades, life has only gotten better and better. Especially the past 10 years. And now even better that I have met Hugo.
We have changed eachother's lives for the better!
I am not really a religious person, but I feel deep gratitude in my heart for all of the blessings that have come into my life.
