Love Begins
todays bird
Sweet Seals For You, Always
official daine visual archive
Discoholic 🪩
⁂
hello vonnie
titsay
🩵 avery cochrane 🩵
if i look back, i am lost
Misplaced Lens Cap
I'd rather be in outer space 🛸
EXPECTATIONS
PUT YOUR BEARD IN MY MOUTH
macklin celebrini has autism
Three Goblin Art
cherry valley forever
𓃗
Lint Roller? I Barely Know Her
almost home
seen from Belarus
seen from Argentina
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from United States
seen from Australia
seen from Türkiye
seen from United States
seen from Netherlands
seen from Malaysia
seen from United States
seen from Türkiye
seen from Italy
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from United States
seen from Argentina
seen from United States
seen from United Kingdom
@wecluelesswanderers-blog
I ain't religious, but...
I ain’t religious, but…
I came to drink the wine and partake of the bread! Actually it was to make my mommy happy by giving her an early 78th birthday present and treating her to a weekend in DC and a day at the Museum of the Bible. I have to say it was quite a cool experience. I grew up in a household where we went to church regularly and as I got older, I made my own opinions about religion and spirituality. I don’t…
View On WordPress
I love not man the less, but nature more...LB
I love not man the less, but nature more…LB
I think it’s proper to start this article with a quote from Lord Byron (English Nobleman, poet, politician and pervert). There actually isn’t any relation to Lord Byron and the Byron Glacier Trail located in Prince William Sound, Alaska. However, I have made it a relationship thus by utilizing his prose on nature as this article’s title and since this article is ofa nature trail…well, my…
View On WordPress
The American Dream
How many vacation days do you get a year? How many sick days do you use as vacation days, hmmm? Are you of the M.O. – “if the leave is there, take it” or do you feel guilty when you take vacation days every other month?
I need someone to set me straight. Fair warning, this is gearing up to be a “soapbox” post. However, first thing is first, a little background on this author du’jour. (Hey,…
View On WordPress
Camping with Fido: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Trip by Aurora James
Camping with Fido: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Trip by Aurora James
Aurora James is an affiliate of DogEtiquette.info. A useful online tool to help you be prepared when taking your furry kids out to public venues such as bars, coffee shops, and vacations. They also provide a resource of dog-friendly establishments. Have an establishment or know of one? Grow the community by listing it on their website. Need a little extra help to so that your pup can be the…
View On WordPress
Me and a dog named Zoey
Me and a dog named Zoey
I was so excited to solo camp in Rickett’s Glenn, located in Benton, PA, for the first time! I had booked the campsite months before and was looking forward to this 4 days and 3 nights of camping ‘how I want’ and it was finally here. Normally, I would have my husband with me and maybe some cohorts. Camaraderie would abound as we would all assist in helping get the tents set up, the food…
View On WordPress
Wrightsville, PA is a beautiful spot along the Susquehanna River in York County. It’s a place filled with families enjoying outdoor recreation along the water and the parks that dot the area. Not far from this location is a portion of the Mason-Dixon trail where you can hike to your heart’s content and then grab an ice cream after. Or, popcorn…trust me root beer flavored popcorn is the bomb-diggity, yo!
I have been feinting back and forth between purchasing either a kayak or a stand-up paddle board (SUP). You would think living just minutes away from the river, I would have some sort of water craft, but there is a deciding factor: DOGS. My adventures never feel complete unless I have a canine companion, or two, by my side. No, I am not canis lupus familiaris dependent…ok, maybe I am, but don’t judge me! In order to decide what to buy, I asked a couple of friends if they were interested in joining me on Lake Clarke for a Sunday excursion. Emily, who owns a kayak, but has never tried an SUP, and Christina, who was also a SUP virgin.
Christina (L) and Emily (R)
We launched shortly after 12pm once we rented 2 SUPs and 1 kayak from Shank’s Mare Outfitters. Emily and I had the SUPs and Christina basing her balance, or lack there of, on a previous aerial yoga adventure, opted for a sit-on-top kayak. I have tried both water crafts before, and with input from my friends, I was hoping to wobble over to a definitive side of the ‘wishy-washy’ fence. My SUP of choice was the Pau Hana Big EZ. This is a great SUP for beginners as the stability factor on it is amazing. You may feel as if you’re standing still, as Emily had put it, but you’re giving up speed for stability. There are lots of different types of SUPs, so make your choice on what you want to gain from being out on the water. Want to cut through liquid like a great white? Check out some of the racing SUPs out there.
Today, I just wanted to relax and ‘talk stories’ with my friends. The fact that Lake Clarke can have quite the wake due to the motorized water crafts was also a factor. If you fall off an SUP and can’t utilize some solid ground to get back on, you have to start at the tail end and hump it like you’re humping a whale. At least this what I’m sure I look like when attempting to get back on. 😉
We traveled south on Lake Clarke towards Fishing Creek, which is a nice secluded and calm tributary. Shank’s Mare has SUP yoga classes in this area and it’s a great place to watch some of the duck families waddle and splash around. I was really overjoyed when I had asked Christina if she wanted to try the SUP and she said ‘sure’. As she was paddling around, I yelled out to her, “You look like an exper!” No, that isn’t a typo…I didn’t get the whole word out before she fell off the SUP. Oops, maybe I shouldn’t distract her next time. Luckily, we were in shallow enough water that she was able to climb back on without doing the Humpty Dance.
As we decided to head back, to my surprise, Christina wanted to ride the SUP back. There is a low bridge that we had to cross coming in and Emily and I, coming in ‘fun-size’ packages, didn’t have to worry. Amazon-like Christina was going to be a sight! How did she fair? Did she have to get on her knees?! Did she have to limbo?!! Did she have to lie flat on the SUP and hope she wouldn’t get stuck?!?!?! Eh, it was uneventful. She crouched and made it through fine.
So, on the way back we compared notes and here is the gist of it:
Me: I feel the SUP is more of a work out compared to kayaking.
Emily: This would be really fun to take Carter (her son) out on. He likes to run his hands through the water and we don’t have to worry about tipping the kayak so he can reach the water.
Christina: *GASP* I could get an even tan and not have to flip onto my back side later because only the front of my legs get sun when I’m on a sit-on-top kayak!
So, there you have it! I’m getting an SUP, yo!
Much love and Aloha,
your gonna have to train my dogs to sit on an SUP clueless wanderer
Photo credits: Emily Hess
What’s SUP, yo! Wrightsville, PA is a beautiful spot along the Susquehanna River in York County. It's a place filled with families enjoying outdoor recreation along the water and the parks that dot the area.
Camp out with your rad out, ladies!
Camp out with your rad out, ladies!
Do you want a break from the routine? Need a chance to connect with nature while meeting a new friend? Have you been dying to introduce an old friend to the outdoors? Want to simply go on an adventure? Adventure Some Women is teaming up with Global Treksto host a women’s only retreat in stunning Perrot State Park in Trempealeau, Wisconsin. Join us from September 22-24th, 2017 for a 3-day…
View On WordPress
I belong to Adventure Some Women’s Meet-up Group. We’re based out of York, PA. Meet-ups are a give and take of anticipation. You anticipate the amount of people that have RSVP’d and then you anticipate the amount of people that will actually show up. I believe most people have the best intentions of appearing, especially if it benefits them health-wise. I don’t know why some don’t show up, whether life gets in the way or their own failed reasonings do.
This was what I was pondering as I sat in my truck on a morning where rain was a foreboding menace; wondering how many of the three women whom had RSVP’d would actually appear. A red Ford truck pulled up driven by a pleasant, young looking woman. We introduced ourselves and chatted as we waited to see if anyone else would show. Due to the rain in the forecast, I had to change the hiking logistics. The pre-planned 10-mile difficult hike was now a 4-mile moderate hike and we had to drive to the new trail head.
The drive there had me wondering if we would have anything in common to talk about. Being in a situation where I would have to carry on a two-way conversation put a little bit of pressure on me. I’m the type of person that feels the responsibility of making sure all parties have a good time when I’m the event host. Some people would guffaw at my silly sense of duty, I’m sure. However, I’m just ‘that girl’ that has that kind of anxiety and I’m glad that I’m not an event planner for a living. The stress would age me 10+ years!
A mile into the hike and I was having a really good time!!! The conversations we were having were so worldly and mature that I just couldn’t understand what I was worried about previously. An added bonus was that the rain stayed away.
What’s the point of this post and what did I ultimately take away from this experience? The point is that it’s all about quality and not quantity. Even though only one person showed up, it didn’t take away from the fact that we were out there, we were hiking and adventuring the morning away. I discovered topics I had no clue about, I enlightened my hiking partner about things she didn’t know about. Those are the best types of adventures; when you can learn things and take away a better knowledge of the world around you.
Ultimately, I gained a new friend.
Have you ever hosted an event where only one person showed up? How did that make you feel? What was the outcome of the day? Reach out…I’d like to know.
Me and my Plus 1. I belong to Adventure Some Women's Meet-up Group. We're based out of York, PA. Meet-ups are a give and take of anticipation.
I love being outside! I don’t care if it’s sunny and the perfect 75F with low humidity type of weather or a drizzly Sunday-take-a-nap-after-some-hot-chocolate type of weather. Being outside makes me feel alive and an entity of a better version of me.
As ‘Pollyanna’ as I may sound right now, I do admit that after being in the woods for 15 miles and knowing I have 5 more miles before I reach camp; I can get sick of being in the woods. It’s definitely not from want of scenery or lack of Mother Nature’s ample bosom of bountiful greenery (depending on the time of year). It’s from being tired. Bad knees, hot feet, and a growling stomach can skew anyone’s perspective of their surroundings.
Our brains are wired to find things we’re looking for – if you’re always cynical or waiting for things to go wrong, then your life will reflect that. On the other hand, having a positive outlook on life will bring you joy and provide you with inspiration when you least expect it. This is what I focused on as I tried to capture the mood from behind the lens of my Sony A6000.
I’m by no means a professional photographer; more so a hobbyist. However, I hope you enjoy the following pictures and always remember to never take for granted the small joys in life.
Much love and Aloha,
your nature-loving clueless wanderer
Nature does not suck. I love being outside! I don't care if it's sunny and the perfect 75F with low humidity type of weather or a drizzly Sunday-take-a-nap-after-some-hot-chocolate type of weather.
Life is so busy!!! I wanted to get this continuation of my Iceland adventure within a week of writing the first installment, but LIFE!!! However, the only person I have to blame is myself. My own body was telling me to slow down as it tickled my throat with a warning the other week. Did I take heed? Of course not! I proceeded to go on a solo camping weekend in the rain and cold and was promptly thanked with a bout of pharyngitis upon my return. Thanks, LIFE. However not all is lost as I strain to achieve my goal of getting comfortable, subletting max comfort to my dog who only sees me as an organic pillow of softness, and hope to feel better soon. This hiatus from ‘regular’ LIFE has afforded me the down-time to continue on with my Iceland journey to share with you.
Day two of our excursion found me being a liar. The day before, which was our day of arrival, we had started on the road at 630am and checked in to our AirBnB at 1030pm. I told the others that we could sleep in the next day since it was mostly driving and we were only going to hit a few spots. Unlike our initiation day where we played ‘tourist’ to the hilt by hitting as many spots as we could squeeze in! Well, in hindsight, maybe I wasn’t a liar…maybe I was just unclear as to my intentions. I don’t recall suggesting a sleep in time. 7am is considered sleeping in, right?
Our first stop out of Keflavik was Seljalandsfoss. This beautiful waterfall is easily accessible from the main road. You can also walk behind it and have the roaring of the raging water ring in your ears so loud that to have a conversation would render you hoarse. Also, definitely be prepared to get very wet! The spray from the waterfall wasn’t a mist, but more like a whoosh of moisture that soaked your clothes and plastered them to your skin. I imagine this would have been refreshing on a summer’s day, but we were there in April and the temps even made for some ice climbing as we traversed our way around and behind the falls. When visiting here, take the time out to travel the path and discover other waterfalls in the vicinity as well as small caves and the opportunity to do some rock climbing. However, proceed at your own risk. You don’t want to be ‘that guy’ or ‘that girl’ that had to get an ambulance called in. Imagine how much that bill would be if you didn’t have travel insurance!
After warming up with some Swiss mochas at the kiosk, we proceeded on to Skogafoss. This towering fall of water was surrounded by a quaint background of greenery, farmland, and sheep grazing lazily. To the right of these falls, were some steps that would have made your buns of steel have buns of steel! Of course, we had to see what the view from the top looked like and off we went. Not only were we rewarded with a gorgeous 360-degree view, but we discovered there was a trail that lead further into the horizon and quite possibly, glaciers and snow caps? My first notion was that we explore the trail and not hit the horizon as we still had some driving to do to reach Vik.
Well, after we got lost in all the scenery and all the picture taking and all the wonderment, we reached the horizon. From this point, we could see some snow caps and if we had time and been more prepared, I think we would have pushed our adventure further. Since we couldn’t afford the detour this time, we drove on to Vik and the surrounding black sand beaches.
On our way to Vik and Reynisfjara beach, we noticed some parked cars and a long line of people headed out to the ocean. They almost reminded me of lemmings headed to their demise, it was such a desolate looking walk. It wasn’t until we were headed back to Keflavik later that evening, that I realized this was the site of the Navy DC-3 plane wreckage. So, keep that in mind when you’re on Highway 1 between Skogafoss and Vik.
We went into Vik with hungry bellies and found an amazing restaurant called Suder-Vik. This is where I gorged myself on creamy asparagus soup and ate a full-on cheese pizza without any regret. Vik is a small fishing village with not much to see, but it’s a great stopping point if you find yourself on Highway 1 on the south coast of Iceland.
The rest of our adventure consisted of hanging out in Reykjavik and Keflavik for our last day and a half where: we experienced all four seasons within 24 hours, grabbed the City Card for a great deal on museums and local color, I paid $40 for two whiskey sours and a bowl of popcorn during Happy Hour, had ‘some words’ with an Irishman, and highly debated crashing a party at the Kaufman Center.
However, I didn’t want to be ‘that girl’…
Thanks for the memories, Iceland! I’ll be sure to return and stay a bit longer my next time around. Possibly opt for a camper van excursion so that I may lay my head where I park my four wheels. You are truly a land of adventure!
Much love and Aloha,
your will be returning to Iceland clueless wanderer
Iceland and Waterfalls – My Icelandia Journeys Pt. II Life is so busy!!! I wanted to get this continuation of my Iceland adventure within a week of writing the…
Have you heard of Adventure Some Women? It’s a network of adventurous women for adventuring women! Initiated back in June 2016, the community is now over 1,000 members strong and growing. Rad ladies are signing up regularly in the effort to meet a new adventure partner, meet other mommies and their daredevil offspring, and discover or rediscover outdoor/indoor recreation in a more comfortable atmosphere.
Our AmSASSador spotlight shines on Ali Richwine. Ali is a York, Pennsylvania resident who has been an ambassador since March 2017. ASW is extremely fortunate to have Ali as an Ambassador. More and more moms are realizing that they don’t have to stop their recreational lifestyle because they now have children. Ali enjoys including her children in her outdoor excursions and can identify with other moms. Life can be extremely busy having two little ones, but Ali doesn’t want her kids to miss out on nature’s beauty and healing. She actively hosts events where other moms can bring their kids and participate in the great outdoors. Check our Facebook page for the different events we host across the country.
We asked Ali a few questions regarding her thoughts on Adventure Some Women and what it is to be an AmSASSador. Check out her answers below.
What do you love to do outside?
Practically anything! I spend most days with my 3 and 1 year old. We enjoy hiking, walking, swimming, playing at parks with friends, and we try to grow vegetables. On my own, I enjoy competing in 5k’s and playing soccer.
Why did you choose to become an ASW Ambassador?
Motivation and accountability. Before having kids, I was sectionally hiking the AT with my mom, running, and outside constantly. Today, I get lost in toddler world and laundry. I chose to become an Ambassador to connect with other moms and help introduce adventures to our kids. Keep an eye out for kid friendly events!! 😉
What would you like to see in the future for the community?
I would love to see more local events/involvement of moms and kids and more developed “chapters” across the US!
We love Ali and she is a person with a heart of gold. Adventure Some Women wouldn’t be the awesome online community it is today without people like her. Interested in our community? We’d love to have you! Interested in becoming an AmSASSador? We’d love to hear from you!
Be the catalyst, be the change in your community, and adventure on!
Much love and Aloha,
your ASW Forever! clueless wanderer
Adventure Some Women AmSASSador Spotlight: Ali Richwine Have you heard of Adventure Some Women? It’s a network of adventurous women for adventuring women!
A cry for help.
A cry for help.
This letter was a question posed to Adventure Some Women’s columnist, Natalie, of Ask Natalie. Eating disorders and other mental health issues are of a sensitive subject and this inquirer’s letter is such an honest cry for advice that I felt it should be shared to let others know that they’re not alone. There is help available and at the end of Natalie’s response, you’ll find contact…
View On WordPress
I see so many Instagram posts about Iceland and its waterfalls, The Blue Lagoon, Icelandic wild horses and the famous Iceland Hot Dog. So, when I saw airfare being published for less than it would be to fly to Florida, I figured, here’s my chance!
WOW Airlines is the big purple air carrier that touts these amazing airfares. However, as I have learned in life, things are seldom too good to be true. I had purchased my round trip, non-stop flight out of Baltimore, MD for $270.00 departing April 2017. This is the bare bones and you must purchase the flesh that covers these bones. In other words, you must pay to have a seat (having airfare and having a seat are two different things on this airline), you must pay if your carry on is larger than 17x13x10 and weighs over 22lbs. and you must pay for water. I’m on the cheap side so for the four day trip, I only had a backpack that held two shirts, an extra pair of pants, extra socks, a Patagonia down sweater, small electronics, my DSLR, extra underwear, snacks, and water. (Side bar: use a Smart Water bottle, they’re tall and slim. Don’t open it before going through security to show the security personnel it’s sealed, but if you’ve opened it already, just go through with it empty and refill.) I knew the extras that WOW charges you for and aside from that, I would highly recommend this airline. I do encourage you to look at the numbers and compare WOW’s nickel and dime version vs. other airlines. You may discover you could be saving more with WOW. The staff was very nice and accommodating, and my only complaint was their boarding process was a bit chaotic with row numbers not being called and every row boarding without order making for a long boarding process.
We … yes, I do have friends, haha … arrived in Keflavik at 0600. I called Lotus Car Rental and they were promptly over within five minutes to pick us up and take us to their office. (Side bar: I have Verizon as my cell phone carrier. I was able to set up a Travel Pass so that I was able to use my phone in Iceland using my regular data package with no roaming charges for $10 per day. Contact your cell phone carrier to see what they can offer you when travelling abroad.) I had researched renting cars in Iceland, and with the ever-changing weather, was really debating about purchasing car insurance this time. We could be driving on a beautiful spring day and then, BAM, snow storm or volcanic explosion or chip in the windshield! Lotus made this decision very easy by providing CDW, SCDW and TP insurance and studded winter tires as standard in the rental. They were the only rental company to provide this and stay below $200.00 for the four days. They also gave you a chip which offered discounted gas at certain stations. We did add an extra driver and GPS, but I would suggest you forgo the GPS. Google Maps is a great tool and the roads and landmarks in Iceland are well marked.
Had to make sure the hubcaps didn’t fall off. 🙂
After picking up the car, we promptly proceeded to our first stop, Thingvellir National Park. Þingvellir (Thingvellir) is a historic site and national park in Iceland, east of Reykjavík. It’s known for the Alþing (Althing), the site of Iceland’s parliament from the 10th to 18th centuries. The park sits in a rift valley caused by the separation of 2 tectonic plates, with rocky cliffs and fissures like the huge Almannagjá fault. We were lucky enough to arrive here before the crowds came and explored the area in amazement of the huge cracks of earth. Silfra is also located here. Silfra is a unique and famous dive site. The visibility in Silfra exceeds 100m, making it some of the clearest water in the world, and divers are able to float between the American and Eurasian continental plates.
After visiting the gift shop and getting some uber awesome Swiss Mochas that generated a Swiss Mocha mission for the next 4 days, where we were unable to find Swiss Mochas as good as the ones at the Thingvellir Gift Shop, we headed towards Laugarvatn Fontana. This is the home of the Fontana Geothermal Baths. They also give bakery tours and you can watch as they dig out a pot of fresh bread from the hot black sand. Guests are offered to taste the bread, served hot from the ground with some butter. Unfortunately, we were in between tour times (1130 and 1430) and didn’t bring bathing suits as we figured we would be too pressed for time to sit in baths, or even The Blue Lagoon, for that matter. Hence, next stop, FOOD!!!!
Okay, I knew food and fuel were expensive in Iceland, but I thought I kept doing my exchange rate incorrectly when I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that a cheeseburger and fries were $25.00. That’s without a drink, but water is free in Iceland. 🙂 Anyhow, yes, $25.00 for a restaurant style cheeseburger and fries…holy Iceland, Batman! Now patrons do not tip here, so there’s that, but unless you limit yourself to coffee houses or pack food, you will be paying around $40.00 for food and drink per person. If you enjoy your alcohol, your drink may cost just as much as your meal. Some coffee houses we found were a bit less pricey, but not by much. Keep in mind, it is an island and a majority of their items are imported.
Camoflaged sheep!
Next stop was Gullfoss. Gullfoss is a waterfall located in the canyon of the Hvítá river in southwest Iceland. The Hvítá (White) river is fed by Iceland´s second biggest glacier, the Langjökull. This amazing site is a true testament to Mother Nature’s power and beauty. The glacial waters have this gorgeous blue tint denoting their source of purity.
A short back track down the road and we were at Geysir and Strokkur, fountain geysers located on a geothermal field believed to have a surface area of approximately 3 km². Most of the springs are aligned along a 100 m wide strip of land running in the same direction as the tectonic lines in the area, from south to southwest. There are bubbling mud pits in the area of sulfurous fog, transporting you to another landscape. Geysir only erupts when Mt. Hekla has a volcanic eruption. Luckily, Strokkur erupts every 6-10 minutes so you’re able to take photos of boiling water being spouted into the air, sometimes at over 70 meters.
Strokkur photobombed me!
On our way back to Reykjavik, we visited Kerid Crater Lake. A popular stop on the tourist route known as the Golden Circle, Kerið is a volcanic crater lake located in the Grímsnes area in south Iceland. One of my cohorts and I got into a discussion of how the lake came to be. I’ll spare you from the banter and let you know that I’m not always clueless, lol. According to SCIENCE!, it is believed that Kerid was originally a cone volcano that erupted and and emptied its magma reserve. Once the magma was depleted, the weight of the cone collapsed into an empty magma chamber, later to be filled with water. (Side bar: Hey, C.R., it was an implosion!!!)
Fin, Day 1.
Much love and Aloha,
your expert on implosions clueless wanderer
My adventures in Iceland …or… Icelandia rocks! Part I I see so many Instagram posts about Iceland and its waterfalls, The Blue Lagoon, Icelandic wild horses and the famous Iceland Hot Dog.
Are you in the Philly/NJ area? I would love for you to join me for some vinyasa and vino. https://www.facebook.com/events/1770304086632980??ti=ia
View On WordPress
When I think of Illinois, I think of Chicago. Then I think of the surrounding areas of Chicago and I think prairie land. When I think of prairie land, I think of flat and boring. To my pleasant surprise the North Fork Trail at Clinton Lake is anything but flat and boring. It’s kinda weird.
Clinton Lake is a man made lake that serves as a “cooling lake” for the Exelon Company. Exelon has a nuclear power plant located just 6 miles from Clinton, IL in Dewitt County. When I found this out, I was very circumspect as to what I would find at this destination. Thoughts of the movie, “Cabin Fever” came to mind. (SIDE BAR: Forget about the 2017 remake. It was so terrible, it would have driven a nun to commit a holy sin in hopes that you would turn it off. The 2002 original was enough.)
I had no trouble finding the trailhead when I typed in North Fork Trails. Google Maps came up with a location in DeWitt, IL and this took me to the North Fork boat launch access, where you’ll find plenty of parking and bathrooms. Once you park, walk back out to the main road to find the trail marker across the street. If you want to do the trail from the opposite end, cross the street, turn left to take the bridge across the lake and up the hill. Once you crest the hill, look to your right for a circular parking lot and you’ll find the trail marker here, towards your right. Websites say this is a nine mile loop and the trail markers total it at an 11 mile loop (5 miles on the east side, 6 miles on the west side). I completed the entire loop in 10 miles within 6 hours. 6 hours, you say?! Well, I’m here to tell you I have little legs and I kept stopping for pics, okay.
Signs are posted that tout it as a primitive, non-maintained trail. I found the path to be well marked and the white blazes, along with intermittent markers, made it an easy trail to follow. The day I hiked, Illinois had been graced with storms and tornado warnings, so it was a mudfest for me in early April. However, with the rain and the warming weather, the wildflowers were eagerly making their debut. Dead, brown areas were littered with green and colorful surprises and the sun was sending the cloudy clouds on their way making the day blossom into bluebird skies. The only thing that was missing from this nirvana were my trail dogs. I found my heart aching as I crested a slight incline and looked up to imagine two faces looking expectantly, two tails wagging excitedly, and eight paws muddy as hell. For me, having my furry companions always makes a hike that much better.
Not sure what these prickly protrusions are. Would someone care to enlighten me?
So, back to Clinton Lake being weird. I guess it’s not so much the lake itself, but the little treasures you find hiking along the trail. The first one I came across, I slowed to quite a pace as I thought I had just discovered a dead animal. The fur was slowly eroded from the corpse of a bear cub. It was as if Mother Nature caressed the corpse so lovingly with rain that the smooth skull was now exposed, yet the rest of the body was intact for the remaining fur mimicked that of a person with a receding hairline. After feeling sad for this little being, I finally approached it for a closer look. Only to look quickly around for a camera as I thought I was being pranked!
I’m pretty sure this was the dumbstruck look I had on my face!
As I journeyed on through the forested wetlands, I completed the west side trail and came out onto a paved road. In order to continue around the lake, you’ll want to turn left, crossing a bridge. You’ll see a parking lot to your right, bear left to continue back to the boat launch for another 5 miles. Look for the trail marker here.
I would definitely go back to Clinton Lake. This had fast become one of my favorite spots in Illinois to hike. Not only does it provide the mileage, but the trail has been cut so it kept me entertained and the beauty of the area kept me wanting more.
When in Rome, or should I say, Clinton Lake?
It’s a giraffe!
Or is it?
Drop me a line and let me know what sort of friends you make out at Clinton Lake. I’m wondering if I had missed any…
Much love and Aloha,
your Snow White ain’t got nothing on me clueless wanderer
The North Fork Trail at Clinton Lake is…weird. When I think of Illinois, I think of Chicago. Then I think of the surrounding areas of Chicago and I think prairie land.
Do you know anyone from Bujumbura, Burundi? Sounds exotic, right? Well, how about curious, witty, kind, opinionated…and all about adventure? Wait, am I still talking about Bujumbura or the best export they’ve ever exported? I may be talking about Nellie Umutesi-Vigneron. I may be comparing Africa with this woman. She’s generous, she’s bold, and she’s beautiful. Read on to discover more about this extraordinary woman…
What do you love to do? So many things I love to do… My top three would be spending time with family, read, a good glass of Pinot Noir, hike and camp (ooops that’s 4). I do it as often as time permits. Most of my family lives in Rwanda and Burundi, so I make time to visit home every couple of years. I read quite often, I average 2 books a month. I hike year round and camp whenever the weather permits. I make time to do the things that I love, they help me stay active, feel alive and replenish my soul!
What can you do today that you could not do a year ago? I can travel solo in a country that does not speak my language. I am fluent in both English and French and would always pick countries whose official language were either. Last year, I embarked on my first solo trip to Cuba and Costa Rica and to my surprise was able to communicate with my limited Spanish or used a lot of hand gestures.
Do you like your job? I love my job and the people I work with. More importantly I love the fact that with my job I am able to afford a pretty decent life for my son and myself as well as fund my adventures and passions. I have always looked at work or a career as a leverage to do the things that I want to do.
What would you regret not doing? Not sharing my love for adventure and the outdoors with other girls and women. Adventure has done so much for me in terms of self-esteem and having a positive outlook on life. It is not simply doing something new, it is more setting aside my fears and knowing that I can do anything I put my mind to. I want that same feeling for everyone. Last year, I made it a goal to share this with other women and girls and organized my first mother/daughter yoga event. For everyone who attended, it was something new, a time for mothers and daughters to bond and a start of them thinking of other things they would want to experience. It was a total success! Not going through this event (cause I was so scared it would be a complete flop), not sharing my passion will be one of my greatest regrets… and I won’t let that happen!
Note: I will always be referring to this paragraph as inspiration to not let my fears define my walls. Thank you, Nellie. TCW
When was the last time you traveled somewhere new? My latest new destination was Costa Rica and I fell in love with the people, the country, the food. It is an adventure paradise for an adventurous chica like myself. I first stayed in the rural part of the country. Stayed with a Costa Rican family, cooked and shared meals with them, volunteered at the local elementary school. Then I moved to another city, Samara, closer to the beach, where my days were filled with surf lessons, ziplining, horseback riding, sun bathing. I love Costa Rica because you get it all. If you love adventure or if you like to just lay on the beach sipping a mojito, there is something for everyone!
Have you done anything lately worth remembering? In December 2016, I went Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda. It was EPIC. I still look over the pictures and cannot BELIEVE IT! It was a hard trek but it was oh so worth it and being really close to silver back gorillas is freakishly scary and humbling!
What does success mean to you? First it means being a good mother to my son, exposing him to different cultures and adventures, giving him the BEST opportunities in this world. Success also for me is not to be constantly on a high, always happy, but also learning to manage and cope with the difficult times (because they will come). Success for me is always trying, maybe not always succeeding, but damn sure try my hardest!
What are you doing to pursue your dreams right now? I dream of visiting every country on the African Continent so I make it a point to visit on new African country per year (if budget allows). Finally, I created with the help of a friend, Adventurous Chica. We are essentially sharing stories of others; Adventurous girls and women. We also give 3 scholarships per year to deserving young ladies who want to attend an outdoor/adventure camp. Finally I have 4 events per year where I take women and girls kayaking, camping, hiking and some yoga!
What are you most scared of? Death scares me, but not just death, but also dying without having realized my dreams.
What are you most proud of? Being a mother to my son is what I am most proud. I take motherhood very seriously and want to give him all of the opportunities in the world to succeed (whatever his own definition of success is).
Where would you like to live? I am happy to call Atlanta my home for now, but definitely see myself living either in Senegal or Rwanda later on in life. Moving does not scare me at all, but I don’t think it is quite time yet.
If you left your current life in order to pursue your dreams, what would you lose? A steady paycheck.
What bad habits do you want to break? I am ashamed to say but I am a smoker. I have been struggling to quit for the last year or so, but I know one day I will be smoke free.
If you were someone’s life coach, what would you tell them? Freedom and happiness is on the other side of fear. From the stories others tell us to the stories our minds make up, fear can be paralyzing at time. Once I realized that fear is just an illusion everything changed for me. I still get afraid, but I don’t let it overtake me. A lady I look up to once told me: fear is growth! And I agree!
Fun and furious questions:
If you could do it all over again, would you change anything? Yes, maybe a couple of heartbreaks I’d avoid.
How old would you be, if you didn’t know how old you are? 30 year old.
What activity makes you lose track of time? Hiking
Best cheat indulgence? Pinot Noir
If you could only speak one word today, what would it be? Grateful.
To stay up to date with Nellie, follow her social media sites here:
Adventurous Chica
Much love and Aloha,
your I’m a big fan! clueless wanderer
Nothing is stopping this single parent! Bonjour, Nellie Umutesi-Vigneron!!! Do you know anyone from Bujumbura, Burundi? Sounds exotic, right? Well, how about curious, witty, kind, opinionated...and all about adventure?
My husband and I spent some time in the Philippines back in January. Away from the erratic East Coast weather, away from the busy hum of our daily work lives, and away from our beloved dogs (wahhhh!!!!). Now if you’re thinking “Ooooh, Philippines! How exotic!” stop your train of thought by putting a brick wall smack in the middle of them tracks. You’re not going to find reviews of amazing beaches here. You’re not going to read about how we swam with whale sharks (due to storms in the area, it wasn’t recommended, just our luck during the dry season). Also, forget about discovering Tarsier monkeys and their mesmerizing eyes.
Hey there, handsome!
This vacation was part family reunion, part memorial, and part business. Our five separate families descended upon the family property located in Los Banos, Laguna and our lazy days were comprised of laughter, catching up, lots of karaoke, and reforming relations.
Mount Makiling, or Mount Maquiling, is a dormant volcano in Laguna province on the island of Luzon, Philippines. The mountain rises to an elevation of 1,090 m above mean sea level and is the highest feature of the Laguna Volcanic Field (thanks, Wikipedia). It’s protected as a forest reserve under the official stewardship of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB). You can explore Mt Makiling through the UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources. Make sure you have 10 pesos on you for the entrance fee and be prepared to trade your ID/passport for a numbered block. This is to ensure you trade your block back for your personal identification. I was told that they’ve had people in the past go up the mountain, never to return. Maybe they pissed off Maria Makiling – the fabled protector of this volcano. She’s described as a fantastic creature, half nymph, half sylph, born under the moonbeams of Filipinas, in the mystery of its ancient woods, to the murmur of the waves on the neighboring shore.
The mountain is ideal for hiking, camping, trekking, mountain biking, and bird watching. Approximately 2,048 species of plants can also be found here! (Side note: At UPLB, make sure you check out Makiling Botanic Garden – 20 pesos entrance fee.) We came across quite a few MTBer’s huffing and panting as they refused to let the brutal incline take them prisoner. They probably committed to pedaling faster when they saw the ferocious look of anger on my husband’s face. Refusing to antagonize this beast of fury, they rode faster.
Shots from the MBG.
(Pics above are from Makiling Botanical Garden). And, back to the story…
My husband doesn’t dig hiking that much. So, the fact that I suggested we trek to Mud Springs located at this dormant volcano, the fact that I left out it was 4 miles with a 1300 foot elevation gain, and the FACT that, wellll…the fact that I was being particularly annoying to him that day…Yeah, I almost got divorced on Mt. Makiling.
You’re lucky you can’t see his facial expression!
Our destination was Mud Springs. One of my uncles had told me that this was a sight to see as it was a hot spring, but it was covered with mud that would bubble and pop, glub glub. Hiking up wasn’t difficult as we hiked along a road where the only motorized vehicles allowed are motorbikes. The off-shoot trails are well marked and it was easy to find the entrance to the Mud Springs trail. Once we left the main road, the trail itself can be a little difficult with jutting roots and because of the uncommon rains during this time, it was a little slippery in parts.
The water was so hot here it felt like I was stepping into a sauna just standing on these rocks.
Mud Springs was so cool! It was like being on another planet! I didn’t notice a stinky sulfur smell and I was okay with that. As the mist and fog seductively surrounded us and a soft tropical rain began to fall, my beast turned as docile as a kitten. Having a destination to reach, and having reached it, gave him a sense of accomplishment to this otherwise seemingly infinite trek of up and up and up. On the way down, we also took a detour to Flat Rocks (see the pics below) and we both had a great time traversing the rocks.
View from the main trail.
He even said that after I return from Peru in June 2017, he would be interested to talk to me about backpacking weekends. YES!!!
Much love and Aloha,
your see, not so annoying clueless wanderer
I almost got divorced on Mt. Makiling. My husband and I spent some time in the Philippines back in January. Away from the erratic East Coast weather, away from the busy hum of our daily work lives, and away from our beloved dogs (wahhhh!!!!).