Wisconsin

January 11, 2018 In Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Photos, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Travel, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

celebrate everyday: day 10

1.10.18

I took this photo at the DMV today:

…and I had a shockingly easy, helpful experience. (See?! There’s hope for everything!)

The license plate is always the first thing I look at when I see a car. Still. Since I was little, anytime we drove anywhere, I would look for plates from states I hadn’t seen before, and daydream about where the people inside the cars were going. I would wonder about what these places looked like, and fantasize about going to them someday.

I’ve spent time in all 50 states and 19 countries at this point. Seeing this wall yesterday made me feel that fire inside I love, for adventure and the possibility of everything out there, to see, be, and do. I still believe “travel” is the fastest route to your truth; Putting yourself in any completely foreign/uncomfortable/new environment, staying flexible, and figuring out how to independently navigate is incredibly empowering.

Today I celebrate possibility in the unknown, and all the magic that can happen when you take a step towards life to somewhere new.

Today is the day. The road awaits. Where are you going?

#StartDriving #LifeOutsideTheDroneZone #StepOutside

*Feeling stuck? Overwhelmed? Ready to make a change? Call me! (804.339.6514) I can help.

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.

August 2, 2012 In BLR Play it Forward 2012, BLR Reunion Soccer Weekend 8/18/12, Illinois, Live the life you want to live, New York, Vermont, Washington DC, Wisconsin

epic august

The word “epic” has become very trendy and overused these days to describe anything and everything big time and cool. I’ll have to jump on the epic bandwagon here like everybody else, because I’m quite sure my August is going to be epic and them some. Here’s what this month has in store for Blue Lollipop Road and I:

*Major road trip action~ Chicago to Wisconsin to Vermont to Upstate, NY Finger Lakes to Toronto to Washington DC to Virginia

*A 34th birthday

*BLR PLay It Forward Event

I always end up doing some kind of fun adventure each year this month because It’s summertime and my birthday time.. This August though, I’m by far more thrilled about and anticipating than any other. It might be something about a bunch of great road trip time, feeling happier healthier, and more balanced as I get older, and hosting an event that means everything in the world to me. Yeah…that.

Here’s to august 2012 and living life like you mean it!

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!

March 10, 2012 In People, Photos, Wisconsin

road trip!

To my horror, I realized the other day that I had not been out of the state by car in 5 months. How did that happen?- I though. Simply unacceptable for me.

So I decided I’d drive to Nashville this weekend.

The week didn’t turn out quite the way I had anticipated, so I am taking a a shorter, quicker road trip. Hint: To a cheesy place with really cute kids:

I’ll have to go get my country on in Nashville another weekend soon. This face is too hard to resist.

The road and good old friends await, so I am off…

Here’s to not letting too much time (like 5 months) pass in between doing what you love and seeing who you love.

February 13, 2012 In Food, Funny signs, Photos, Wisconsin

hot date

Reader and friend Grace sent this to me yesterday with a caption: “Only in Wisconsin!”

Hilarious. I wonder if they are all booked up? Nothing says Valentine’s Day love like a White Castle burger!

Thanks Grace! Keep ’em coming. I dig reader participation.

August 9, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Photos, Wisconsin

a delicious loop around

***(Continued from can you believe i didn’t get the nutella one…)

After our Bradbury’s crepes, we continued up the hill to the packed Capital Square of Madison and made out way through the crowd. There were all kinds of fruits, veggies, flowers and baked goods to be bought. My favorite; Fresh corn:

…pretty flowers making me wish I had my own cute little apartment, so I could buy them and have them on my cute little dreamed of balcony table:

…cherries at their peak of perfection:

…and of course we had to do a repeat visit to get the Stella’s fresh, warm, spicy cheese bread:

(The only way to do it is buy, take a seat on the Capital steps, tear, and eat as the cheese oozes out. Mmmm…)

The Gord Man was having fun freaking the kids out:

…and I couldn’t resist one of the huge cinnamon buns at one of the bakery tents:

I ate the whole thing. Yes, alone and did not feel very good after. The portion size could’ve fed 6 people, but it was so good I kept eating and eating! Lets just say my run later that afternoon was shorter than usual and a bit painful. What can I say?- I get excited when there are delectable treats around. I’m an easy sell on sugar, and clearly I was trying to make up for not getting that Nutella crepe. (Laughing at myself as I type this.)

Wouldn’t it be great if every town could have a Saturday market as large and as accessible as the one in Madison? I’m already looking forward to my promised annual visit back to my friends there next summer!

August 9, 2011 In De-lish, Food, Photos, Wisconsin

can you believe i didn’t get the nutella one?

I know right? I can’t believe it either. It probably won’t ever happen again. The thing is, I had some life-changing fresh peaches last week when I made some red sangria, so when I saw the option for a peach and blackberry crepe:

…at Bradbury’s:

…on Saturday morning, I just had to have it. I made a good choice:

I gobbled this thing up in a second. It was the perfect fresh and all-organic breakfast to fuel me for the mac-daddy of all farmer’s markets; the Dane Country Farmers MarketÂ on Capital Square in Madison.

***(To be continued in part 2…)

August 8, 2011 In Alaska, Live the life you want to live, Wisconsin

welcomed interruptions

Scene; Sitting at Starbucks in Wisconsin this morning typing away on the patio with my coffee.Â Gentleman walks up to me:

“Sorry to bother you, but I’ve gotta ask you- What’s Blue Lollipop Road? I drove in behind you.”

A conversation ensues and in a few short minutes I share that Blue Lollipop Road is my blog, that I have traveled for years, and actually today was the day 1 year ago I crossed the Alaska border, hitting my 50th state in Skagway. He has been too. He grew up in Maine, and right near one of the towns I will hopefully be going to, so I can meet up a very interesting guy on my Honda Adventure in September. (Working on a few things, still TBA.) I share where I am from in Vermont, he has been there as well, and is now currently living in the Midwest like me too. Our conversation quickly wraps as he apologizes for bothering me again (which clearly he is not) and I go back to my head down typing away.

Moments like the one that just happened are fairly regular for me and I absolutely love them. Small worlds, unexpected and welcomed interactions with people I would have never otherwise met. I’m sure I could have talked to that gentleman for hours. Blue Lollipop Road has offered me such a great platform to open conversation on all subjects, and to prove that everyone has a story and something in common.

I can’t wait for my next random stranger interruption.

July 22, 2011 In Photos, Wisconsin

i might have been in heaven this morning

Actually, I was in Wisconsin driving as the sun rose:

I was exhausted and racing back from camping to pick someone up at the airport and grumbled a bit at the early wake up call. That is until I drove out of the park and saw this sky above.

I wish I could properly share how scenes like this make me feel when I am alone, windows down, in the summer, and on the open road. There’s just not a single better feeling of peace for me, or an understanding that anything is possible…