Virginia

March 29, 2013 In BLR Play It Forward 2013, News & Updates, Photos, Virginia

springing around

I took these during sunset at a friends house during Virginia wine time the other day:

There are no edits, no Instagram fixes, or color enhancements in these photos, nothing but a good click of an iPhone 4S and a gorgeous nature view. I love the reflection in the wine glasses. Not much beats a sunset view and good laughs with a friend.

I’m now en route to Napa for another house sitting gig continuing my spring of making sure pets and homes are well taken care of as their owners are in dreamy places like Italy and New Zealand. I’ll be sipping California wine in the Napa Valley during the next few weeks and hopefully watching more gorgeous sun setting like I was during the above photo session. (PS on the pet and house sitting note ~ I’m for hire and happy to provide stellar services anytime for absent home owners, so drop me a line if you need someone to stay at your pad: Diane(@)bluelollipoproad.com)

As I wrap up my 7 month stay in the DC area, I’m thankful for a few of the fantastic people I’ve met and spent time with. (People and conversation are always the best part of any stay wherever I travel and work.) In serendipitous timing of a location that I never expected to be in (isn’t that always the way?) there is one person in particular I finally got to meet face to face after 8 years which has been an incredible surprise. Go figure- click, click, click, and we’ve started work on a project that’s coming together like magic. I will share more when I can. For now I will say I believe more than ever if you keep fighting to be able to do work you love, always following your heart and instinct, it might be 1 year, 10, or 20, but eventually the tipping point will come. Sure, you’ll likely have to endure the shit storm (god knows I have) of horrible bosses, lazy company owners, long hours, little pay, coworkers you’d rather never see again than be in the same room with, or wearing some absolutely absurd embroidered maroon polo shirt (thanks Bottoms Up Pizza!)- but eventually your good fight will pay off and opportunity will knock for you to actually do work you’re passionate about and get paid for it.

Whoa. Awesome.

Until I can share about the above project (fingers double crossed) I keep working on my book, the 2nd Annual Play It Forward event, and a few other client projects that are always fun and rewarding. April through June I’ll be in the following areas (in order of travel) in case any of you out there will be in the same spot of the country and wish to meet up:

San Francisco, Napa, DC, Richmond Va, Wilmington NC, Raleigh, Charlotte, Nashville, Columbus OH, Chicago, Vermont, Upstate NY, Vermont again (BLR Play It Forward July 13th!) Then, drumroll please…(of course I can’t tell you yet:)

See you on the road! (That’s a hint by the way.)

January 11, 2013 In Photos, Virginia

just beer

No Instagram, no special effects, just my delicious Devils Backbone Brewing Company Vienna Lager during a friends kids’ ski day at Bryce Resort:

Yes, this is what non-skiing Vermonters do when they come to ski mountains. (At least that’s what this non-skiing sun and hot temperature loving Vermonter does.) I head to bermuda in 11 days. Waiting for the warm. Until then, a yummy beer with a view, and Friday afternoon laptop time in a scarf and sweatshirt suits me just fine:)

January 7, 2013 In Donations, People, Virginia

thanks for lunch, andrew coast guard

And! Thanks once again to Matt Carter of DPI in Wilmington, NC for branding my bumper nearly 3 years ago. I sure have met a lot of nice and interesting people because of a small gifted piece of vinyl! Awesome.

Andrew:

Here’s to Upstate NY, The Great Alaska Highway, and to writing books. Hopefully we will both get one out in the nick of time- so each of our adventures can continue 🙂

October 25, 2012 In Photos, Virginia

fall

I got out of my car and snapped this tonight.

To this day, I’ve never posted a photo here that I’ve edited, enhanced, or other. so when they still look this good au natural from my outdated iPhone, especially when typical inspiration is quick point and click- it makes me happy.

August 30, 2012 In Photos, Virginia

i love, love, love, love being on the road…

…in the summer. Especially in the country and at sunset:

August 28, 2012 In grow, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin

warning: on this ride, you may get wet

August 1- August 27, 2012:

From the Windy City Chicago, to Madison WI bike trails and green space, to Stevens Point WI for PaddleQuest adventure race, to Southern VT for BLR Play It Forward, to Upstate NY for Finger Lakes and wineries, to Toronto Canada for a first time visit to check one big one off the leap list, back to Upstate NY, to Middleburg VA to a horse farm and dessert shop visit.

Whew!

The past 26 days have included runs through green fields, corn fields, soccer fields, dirt roads, paved roads, farms and over bridges, time with friends kids, a wedding, boat rides, swimming in rivers, swimming in quarries, fresh grown food from gardens, gifted dinners, dancing under a tent, some seeing old friends, meeting new friends, mistakes, accomplishments, time with family, the biggest event I have ever planned, so much pride and joy, a bunch of tears too, locally brewed beers and locally made wine, a border crossing, intriguing strangers and unexpected connections, life lessons, lots of fun, tons of laughs, deep thoughts and reflection, some regrets, buckets of excitement, another birthday, more miles on a trusty Honda Civic than I have yet to calculate- and then some.

It’s amazing what can happen in a month or less of life. I knew this would be an “epic” August, but I never imagined at the tail end of it I’d be sitting typing reflecting like I am right now. This month proves once again that you just never know. The things you think are going to be off the charts amazing and perfect- often times end up less than stellar, and the things you don’t ever expect- often end up being beyond any stellar you could’ve imagined. Pads and shin guards anyone?

Here’s to being able to roll with the punches, letting yourself feel every bit of the tilt-a-whirl ride, and the wonder of what wild unexpected adventure will come next.

May 17, 2012 In 2012 Best of the Road Rally, Alaska, California, Illinois, Maine, News & Updates, North Carolina, Oregon, Photos, Virginia, Wisconsin

inspired by best of the road

After these past few weeks of talking about, reviewing, voting on, and dreaming of America’s most:

*Beautiful
*Patriotic
*Friendly
*Fun
*Best for food

…small town spots. Team Blue Lollipop Road was inspired to dive into our photo archives and pull out some of our snap shots that reminded us of each category.

*Beautiful

Sitting on a lawn during sunset in Cape Elizabeth, Maine:

Morning grapevines and hot air balloons after a run in Napa:

Hiking near Hood River, Oregon:

On a boat ride and fishing trip in Juneau, Alaska

*Patriotic

Driving through Poland Springs, Maine

On the back roads of Sandgate, Vermont:

The town square in Bath, Maine:

*Friendly

With Ferry Manager in Swan Quarter, North Carolina:

The staff at Mainely Custard in Freeport, Maine said- “Come on in!” when I told them I was a big ice cream fan:

The Popcorn Man in St. Helena, California:

3 gents I met at Alaska Brewing Company in Juneau, Alaska:

*Fun

Our hilarious rafting guide near Hood River, Oregon:

Staff on a Beatles themed Â food bus in Virginia:

Dancing Pedro at a country bar in Illinois:

Concert goers dancing the night away with us in Wilmington, NC:

*Best for food

Me noshing on a whoopie pie in Maine:

Dessert at Dano’s on Seneca, Hector NY

Breakfast crepes in Madison, Wisconsin:

Fresh veggie quesadillas in Illinois:

Dessert crepes in Charlottesville, Virginia

(Clearly we are not afraid to dive right in!)

So many amazing people, place and things in America to enjoy. We love that when you travel, all you have to do is be your interested, open, and curious self- and people invite you right in to join anything!

There is always plenty of adventure around every corner…

Here’s to the road!

May 9, 2012 In 2012 Best of the Road Rally, De-lish, Maine, North Carolina, Restaurants, Vermont, Virginia

one week left to vote!

Team Blue lollipop Road is holding tight in the 2nd spot for the Best of the Road Rally 2012 but we still need your vote!

CLICK TO VOTE FOR US HERE!

Don’t just vote for us, but submit your town, favorite places, food joints and other and celebrate where and what you think rocks in America too! Just a few of my favorites:

Diner breakfast: Sonny’s Blue Benn Diner in Bennington, VT

Beach: Outer Banks, NC

Italian dinner: Mamma Zu in Richmond, VA

Sicilian pizza: Miccuci’s in Portland, ME

Milkshake: Port City Java mocha java shake Wilmington, NC

Ice cream: Bev’s Espresso Oreo in Richmond, VA

…oh so many more. Stay tuned!

September 17, 2011 In Honda, Pennsylvania, People, September 2011 BLR Honda Adventure, Videos, Virginia

day 15: richmond va, to philadelphia

Driving, driving and more driving- so hello from the car:

Traffic really was a bear.

I’m not joking when I speak of these dance parties I have in the car and belting out tunes. So? I just kept the camera rolling:

Yep, I realize I’m never going to live this one down. My Mother will crack up about my comment on the aerobics (because it’s true.) I certainly didn’t plan on posting this one, but? Ever have those moments when you really want to do something but you get all shy? Then you think- what the heck, just press send you chicken! How embarrassing could it possibly be?

Well, there you have it.

I might just get DORK tattooed across my forehead.

Hello Philly! Let’s go have some more music fun and make fools of ourselves shall we?

Blink 183- I totally crush on you!

***Total miles driven today, day 15: 279

***Total miles driven since trip start (9/2/11): 2,608

***Total blue lollipops gifted/left behind since trip start (9/2/11): 22

September 16, 2011 In Funny signs, Honda, North Carolina, People, Photos, September 2011 BLR Honda Adventure, Videos, Virginia

day 14: nags head, to stumpy point bay, to columbia, to fairfield, to swan quarter, nc to richmond, va

Yes, that many places in one day and then some. This is where I will ask you to get out a map to follow this story.

No really, go grab a NC map- you are going to need it!

During yesterday, day 13 around OBX and after hearing there were going to be issues with getting to Cape Hatteras with road closures, rearranged ferry’s and ferry schedules, I started asking and calling and calling and asking. Yep, the 800 numbers, locals, staff at various business and visitors centers, even police officers- you name it, I asked and tried and tried and asked, determined to make it to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. As you will hear in the following videos and see in the photos- I didn’t make it, but I did meet some southern sweeties and had quite the drive through the back roads of NC.

I was told/given several stories before I began my attempt to make it on a ferry. Everyone had good intention and really thought they were giving me the right information, but turns out no one really knew what was going on and I didn’t find out the actual deal until I went allllll the way to the end of the line to learn Cape Hatteras was not in my cards this go around. What a wild good chase!

(Ok, now unfold that NC map.)

I left from Nags Head and drove through Manns Harbor to Stumpy Point Bay to catch the ferry I’d been advised to try. (For all of you who are not familiar, normal practice to get to Hatteras is to simply drive from Nags Head on route 12. That route is currently closed, so the reason this fun debacle began.) I was met by a police officer in Stumpy Point Bay next to a “road closed” sign. The officer broke the news that only locals and supplies could be sent on that ferry. He advised me to go to Swan Quarter, so back up the road I went to Manns Harbor, then to Columbia. I headed south from Columbia, through the Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge to Fairfield:

…then into Swan Quarter:

…where I pulled over to park and learn after all that calling, asking, and driving, my plan was not going to work:

The good thing is, met and ended up spending the next 2 hours with incredibly warm and funny Swan Quarter Ferry staff:

Mitchell, Wayne, and Glenda fed me coffee, encouraged me to sit and stay as long as I wanted, gave me a desk so I could charge my camera battery (no WIFI at that little building) and treated me like I was part of the family. From my videos it’s plain to see that I thoroughly enjoyed my time with these fine folks. Here I am with Ferry Station Manager Mitchell:

What a trip it was to hang out with these people, what a run around, and what a bummer in the end that I wasn’t able to make it to Cape Hatteras. Then again, it’s the journey- not the destination, right?

A huge thanks to All the staff at Swan Quarter Ferry. I am so coming back to see you all!

North I headed, deciding to take back roads on my way to I-95. (Why not keep going with the theme of the day right?) I passed cotton fields:

…and roads that really felt like they just my stop at the end of the earth, so I thought it was funny that I passed this sign:

By the time I reached VA, I needed a big ol’ shower and sleep and that’s just what I did.

Now? Off to Philly with my gifted tickets to the Honda Civic Tour concert this weekend (Thanks Honda!)- and to wrap up the last couple days of this trip.

Making it to all three of the top voted spots from the Honda Facebook page? Sigh. Well, I made it to Kitty Hawk, tried very hard but obviously didn’t quite make it to Cape Hatteras, but I’m determined to make it to the top-voted Statue of Liberty before returning my awesome loaned Civic Hybrid on Monday, so stay tuned!

Here’s to being reminded we it’s impossible to compete with Mother Natures plan, expecting the unexpected, and getting a big fat “E” for effort!

***Total miles driven today, day 14: 244

***Total miles driven since trip start (9/2/11): 2,329

***Total blue lollipops gifted/left behind since trip start (9/2/11): 21