not all who wander are lost

After days in the stunning Appalachian mountain ranges we find ourselves on flat ground in Asheville North Carolina. Not only have we found showers and a hostel to crash at and rejuvenate but our electronics work again! Not having a phone or internet access for days at a time was refreshing but without a doubt missed. Beginning in Virginia, just hours from Sterling, John and I found the Starline Drive. This mountain road winds all the way through the peaks of the mountains presenting stunning views to both the east and west. We wathced the sunset on the mounains and saw more stars in the sky that night than I knew existed. During the star gazing I witnessed my first and second and third (and so on) shooting stars! As the sunrose we watched the blue mountains light up and munched on all the wonderful fresh fruit Aunt Elia packed us. Thank you!! The first mountain chain is the Shenandoah National Park and is 105 miles. It took us a few days to drive through. About every half mile there is a pull off spot with spectaular views. There are also many hiking trails and visitor centers. At first I was very nervous about seeing a bear but we attended an informational talk by a park ranger and learned proper bear etiquette. The very next day I saw a bear while we were hiking! John has seen two others as well. No worries though, we remembered to make lots of noise and the bears just run away. I really hope that's as close as we get to the big fuzzy guys.
Before ascending onto Skyline Drive we made a stop at Harper's Ferry. The once booming trade town was really neat and we hiked to Jeffersons rock and picnicked. The town was the spot where Lewis and Clark actaully stocked up prior to their trip west. While we didn't buy riffles or dried ham portions we did soak up some history and enjoyed the beauitful view from atop the town.
While exploring Shenandoah National Park we saw turkey, mice, deer, bears, racoons, beavers, and quite a few tourists as we approached the weekend. The speedlimit is 45 throughout most of the park and becuase of its' winding nature the road can be very dangerous with deer always wandering out onto the pavement. So we took it slow and really absorbed the beauty. The Skyline Drive leads right into the next mountain chain The Blue Ridge Parkway. We took this road and camped in the woods there as well. Standing atop the mountains looking out over the valleys and seeing at some points up to 7 mountain chains in the distance is truely a majestic and powerful experience. You can feel our creator and explore the worlds oldest mountain chain while up there. I will tell you though that the less you pack on your back the easier the hike. Sounds simple enough but I learned the hard way after hiking miles with a 30-40 some pound pack on my back. And I will never again take for granted a glass of ice cold water!
We have spent the last 2 days in beautiful Asheville at a local hostel. The people are really nice here and it felt nice to sleep on a matress and have running water (yay! showers and electricity)
Our six month anniversary came about while on the Blueridge Parkway. That night we came across a look out pull off that held a magnificent lightening storm off in the distance. We watched as the silent lightening bolts stretched across miles and miles ... the sight was beauitful and an experience words cannot describe. What a wonderful date!
Next we're off to the Smokey Mountains and then its westward! Sending my best wishes and love to everyone!

So much to say; so much to see

Almost a week in and so much has happened! We started on the road towards NYC, our first choice of destination, and after hours of breath taking back roads through New Yorks' beautiful Catskill mountains we found a small camping area and, by that point, set up the tent in the dark. While an interesting challenge to connect poles to a tent frame with minimal lighting and rummage through the trunk of a car for pajamas, this is one challenge that we quickly found out is better done in daylight than darkness. Let me just add here I have grown a whole new appreciation for the luxury we call "the mattress". I'm getting used to ground sleeping though and from what I've heard it may actually be better for your spine.
The small town we found ourselves in the morning in was an artsy town called Woodstock. Riding bikes down the main street and getting lunch at a small pizza shop filled our morning quickly and we found our afternoon consumed by busy city traffic as I wound the streets into Manhattan. A first and not too stressful experience for me- driving into the city. Leaving the city was another story...not too interesting but involving an extra hour of wandering and winding through the outskirts of the highways that themselves wind around places and buildings one would never know to exists except out of pure coincidence and an uncanny ability to take the wrong roads. But the great part of getting lost or off the projected route on this trip is the fact that we have no deadlines or specific places to be by a certain point in time. Getting lost turning on the wrong road, or taking the incorrect exit ends up being nothing more than an invited unknown adventure.. a pleasant change from the normal stress and anxiety that inevitably ensues after one wrong turn for most travellers.
Our three days in NYC were filled with friends, family, and rain. John's sister was so kind in letting us crash at her place in Manhattan. Although the rain decided to visit the city the same time as us I did not allow the dreary weather to keep me indoors. After three days of the subway and visits in and out of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan I had seen so many beautiful friends and places. To reconnect with some of my so well loved friends was such a boost and recharge to my spirit. To see everyone settling in their own burrow of NYC and hear how drastically their lives are moving in different directions since graduation from Fredonia was truly interesting. I'm so proud of all of them for following their dreams and working extra hard to make a dime in the big city.
Columbia Law school was an important visit while in Manhattan. I toured the entire law school and stopped into the admissions office for a quick chat. Also, right around the corner from the school was Grant's Tomb and beautiful landscaping on the river. This was not the first National Park/Monument that I visited. On our way into the city we spent the afternoon in Hyde Park touring the Vanderbilt Mansion, FDR's Presidential Library and home and Eleanor's country home. My favorite was the Vanderbilt mansion- luxury upon luxury and all kept in it's original condition and furnishings from the early 20th century. The most interesting part of the tour was a fact our guide Demetri told us: that the woman of the day had to have mistresses that travelled with them in order to help change the woman into their 4-16 different outfits a day! And I thought my occasional habit of changing clothes 2-3 times a day was a lot!
After camping in Pennsylvania's Ravensburg State Park last night we arrived in Sterling Virginia to a wonderful tasty home cooked meal at my Aunt and Uncles' house. How wonderful to have such welcoming and warm family! Tomorrow brings Washington DC and visits to George Mason Law and Georgetown Law. Although less than week since we have departed I have met and shared meals and conversations with many loving caring friends and family. What a blessing to have these beautiful people apart of this life I am living.

and so it begins

So, it has been a while since my last post but it is here. And by "it" I mean my dream to travel is becoming a reality. This very week my travels across the USA begin. A few months ago I sat confined by the dreary march weather of upstate NY and the fear of accidentally dropping even one precious quarter out of my sparse pocket book. Now, mid June, amidst warm sticky weather and stormy nights I count down to the moment I wave goodbye and pull out of hometown towards opportunity and adventure. For sure I know I will miss my family and it does tug at my heart to leave my sister during her hurried summer wedding preparations but she honestly probably doesn't need one more opinion on wedding invitation styles or seating chart options for the reception. - But kate if you do need anything no matter how small or crazy you had better contact me!
I've almost completed my packing..the whole leaving more than half my wardrobe behind gives me feelings of guilt towards my soon to be packed up and neglected clothing jewelry and purses among many other deemed unnecessary items for the trip. But a girl can only have soo many pairs of shoes when traveling I suppose.
Other than packing and sewing up loose ends on all my affairs I've been diligently researching national parks, historic sites, and museums that we will be visiting. And in case anyone is wondering "we" is defined as John Malcovitch and I. As a duo we have planned this trip for months now. We caught the travel bug.. actaully I'm quite sure I was born with it.. and are now about to fly off to wherever our hearts desire. I have a handful of law schools on my agenda as well as historical destinations that I get excited just thinking about.
It would be pretentious of me to assume an audience to my blog but for those who have taken an interest in my words and soon to be travels I thank you for being apart of my life and hope you find my travel readings worth your while. I can't promise Mark Twain adventure, grammer, or insight but I can promise you my pure words and heart recorded on this page while on the road. Whether it be inspiration, information, or just a laugh every now and then I sincerely hope these words and photos bring a degree of warmth and sunshine to all.