Using Google Alerts For Road Trip Inspiration

By Fuzzygalore | July 25, 2017 | Comments 0 Comment

There is no telling what will inspire you to hit the road to go and see something with your own eyes. You could, of course, leave things to chance. Afterall, serendipity is a beautiful thing. But, if you’re an information glutton like me – you like to cram your head full of information. Sweet, sweet, internet. Do thy bidding!

Every morning, one of the first things I do tech-wise is read my Google Alerts Daily Digest. You can imagine what sort of hair-brained things I have alerts for, right? Alerts go out and comb news articles, sites, and blogs that I would never see in a million years and expose stories that match my interests. Even if I only see one interesting story each day, I categorize that as a win.

Why am I telling you this? Well, I’ve had some people ask how I find weird stuff to visit. This is one of the ways.

Some interesting articles that have crossed my path lately, thanks to Google Alerts:

Planting Road Trip Ideas for 2017

By Fuzzygalore | February 1, 2017 | Comments 6 comments

In 2016, I was able to chase down several tickling daydreams that ran loose in my mind. Little did I know when the calendar turned over that not only would I see the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma but that I would also find myself in awe at the base of Salvation Mountain in California.

The machinations that are at work in our subconscious are mysterious. You think you’re just trying to survive the commute to work but, no – you’re actually planting idea seeds for a road trip to far away places.

I go through periods of time where the same ideas will return to me many times. They’re signaling that they need attention, I guess. These ideas become regulars at the bar in my mind. “Oh, hey, West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. Good to see you still coming around.” That’s one that keeps bugging me. “Hi Pedro. Cerveza? Haven’t been to South of the Border since I was a kid!” That’s another. Two rather different stops, rather far from one another.

If I had to choose just one of those two places to visit this year, I think that the trip to Maine would win out. I don’t have a concrete reason – just a gut feeling. Part of the daydreaming of visiting a place always has the peripheral stuff you see along the way to get there. I see green in my mind when I think of going to Maine and gray on the way to South of the Border. Abstract perceptions that don’t mean anything. Or do they?

With my whims being as mercurial as they are – who knows? Perhaps I’ll see neither of those two places and will see a million others instead. As long as I visit the state of bliss, it’s all good.

This post is part of a month-long writing prompt challenge: Brave, Bold, Blogger Challenge (BBBC) 2017 hosted by Kathy at ToadMama.com.

Prompt: State You Most Hope to Visit This Year

Somebody Isn’t Paying Attention Around Here

By Fuzzygalore | September 30, 2015 | Comments 5 comments

While scrolling through my blog’s draft folder, I found a not-so-unusual exchange between my husband Kenny, daughter Chloe and myself. It’s just a little glimpse in to what goes on around here when we’ve been cooped up in the house. This draft was from December 2014 when winter was settling in and I was filling up the daydream folder for 2015.

As 2015 has unfolded, I have managed to visit quite a few of the stops on my wishlist with a few more on deck.

Dream it, do it.

[cue harps for dream sequence]

For the past couple of weeks I’ve jotted down ideas while perusing travel books in the hope that I will visit these places in 2015. One of the books I was reading was Roadside Giants by Brian and Sarah Butko.

Me: Oh, look at that. Did you know there’s another giant coffee pot but on a stick in Winston-Salem? That’s right by the Shell gas station there.

Kenny: What Shell station?

::incredulous glare in unison from both myself and my daughter Chloe::

Kenny: What?

Me: Chloe?

Chloe: Yea, the big shell-shaped station.

::I told you so glower::

Kenny: What? how am I supposed to know where every single freakin’ teapot and weirdo gas station is?

Me: I only know of one teapot.

Kenny: You just said another teapot on a stick right now!

Me: No, I didn’t. I said coffee pot.

Kenny: Whatever. Same thing.

::unison Chloe and me:: Noooooo, they aren’t.

Poor Kenny.

To Do List – My 2015 Motorcycle Roadside Stop Wishlist

By Fuzzygalore | January 21, 2015 | Comments 7 comments

In 2013, I posted a few places that I’d hoped to visit during the year. Some I managed to get to, some are still lingering around waiting for me to find the time. It should come as no surprise that more and more stops get tacked on my wishlist each year.

For 2015, it seems like the place on my list are all so far away from where I live. But… if I don’t dream it, I can’t make it come true.

These are some of the places I hope to see in 2015… (and beyond)

Happy travels!

Wigwam Village

Even though the reviews are always mixed and kind of lean towards terrible (dead bugs in the teepee, bad pillows, horrible mattress) for the Cave City Wigwam Village location, I still want to sleep in a teepee. If you’re asking why? I have no idea.

Of the 7 original Wigwam Motels, there are 3 remaining:

Though not one of the Wigwam Motels, there is also the Tee Pee Motel in Wharton, Tx. should you find yourself in the area.

Image Source: Wiley Brewer on Flickr

The Clam Box – Ipswitch, Ma.

The truth is, I’m not a fried clam fanatic or anything – I pretty much just love the building. There is something sweet and New Englandy about it. If I find myself around the Ipswitch area this year, I’ll be stopping in to the ole Clam Box.

The Blue Whale of Catoosa – Catoosa, Ok.

I’m not sure when the whale came in to my consciousness. It seems like it has always been there. The Blue Whale is a Route 66 icon, afterall.

Don’t you love his teeth?

The whale was an anniversary gift. Can you believe that? That dude knows how to keep his lady happy. Am I right? (Probably not.)

Image Source: Larry Myhre, on Flickr

Museum of Bad Art

“The Museum Of Bad Art (MOBA) is a community-based, private institution dedicated to the collection, preservation, exhibition and celebration of bad art in all its forms and in all its glory.”

Don’t tell anyone, but… before the need to support myself, I wanted to be a painter. Yep. Making art consumed me. Then I got a “real job” and the creative part of me died.

Hopefully I won’t spot anything reminiscent of my work here. Judging by lobster nipple-clamps over there, I should be in the clear.

Image: Image Source: dadadreams on Flickr

South of the Border – Dillon, SC

“Pedro welcomes you.” I love the idea of this place so much but I’m not sure why. Maybe because it is just so over the top, so ridiculous.

During Thanksgiving, I found that I’d last visited South of the Border in 1988 with my parents. I would say I’m overdue for a revisit.

Read: Olde Tyme Travel Blogging by my Mom

Image Source: Jim on Flickr

Holdovers from Previous Years

Sometimes I don’t get around to things. These sights are holdovers that have been on my To Do List that I haven’t been able to squeeze in just yet. But here’s to hoping!

World’s Largest Teapot

Chester, WV

Photo Credit: jimmywayne, on Flickr

Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold

Moundsville, WV

Photo Credit: scotti16ape on Flickr

And last but not least – my super-duper wish…

The Gemini Giant

Wilmington, IL
He’s a bit of a stretch being about 900 miles away but anything is possible if you’re willing to work to make it happen!

Photo Credit:Pete Zarria, on Flickr

How About You?

Have you got anything on your to-ride to list this year?

Travel Planning: Offbeat Museums

By Fuzzygalore | October 23, 2014 | Comments 2 comments

Since turning 40, it seems like I have become highly sensitive about squeezing all the fun out of each day. There aren’t lots of things that I really want. Sure, “stuff” is nice but it doesn’t usually set my heart on fire. My daydreams are filled with colorful imaginings of traveling on my motorcycle or some deeper human connection. Maybe that’s why I am constantly stuffing my brain full of beautiful, interesting or curious destinations.

A few weeks ago, I picked up a copy of “Offbeat Museums” by Saul Rubin. You know, just ‘cuz. On an unassuming Wednesday, just like any other humdrum humpday, I discovered that there is a Toilet Seat Art Museum.

That’s right. Toilet. Seat. Art. Museum.

I’m not really sure how I moved through my life for all these years without knowing such a place existed.

Do you stop in to small museums when you’re traveling? Have you been to the toilet seat art nirvana?

Motorcycle Travel Scenario: 3 Days, 3 Items, $300

By Fuzzygalore | April 26, 2011 | Comments 13 comments

It’s fun to daydream about hitting the road. Want to play a little scenario game?

You have 3 days, 3 items & $300

You have $300 in cash for all expenses
You have 3 days to ride
You can choose only 3 items from home to put in your tankbag

The basic premise of this scenario is that you’re leaving home with just the cash in your pocket.

[edit] Your 3 items from home can be anything at all. Clothing, toothbrush, etc. But you can only pick 3. You can acquire anything else you might want out of your $300 budget on the road.

What else you need to know:

You have a camera or a cellphone – but not both.
You have a map or gps – but not both.
You have rain gear.
You happen to have 2 vouchers for overnight stays in motels.
You have the toolkit that came with your motorcycle.
You have no credit cards.

[edit] The items in the above list don’t count against your 3 items from home.

So, Where To?

From where you live right now – where would you go and what would you bring with you?

Would you be able to rely on the help of strangers should you find yourself in need?
Do you choose a map or a GPS?
Camera or cellphone?
Do you have any tips for finding free stuff that you might use along the way?

With gas tank fill-ups ranging around $15 – $20 these days, $100 a day doesn’t go nearly as far as it used to. Looking forward to seeing how you would stretch your dollars!

Links to Free State Maps, Travel Guides and Brochures

By Fuzzygalore | January 10, 2011 | Comments 11 comments

Though many people these days have a GPS, having a paper map does come in handy. Things get broken, stolen, signals get lost and well, some folks like me just happen to like maps.

Many state websites offer free paper maps and travel guides. Remember to give yourself a little lead time. It may take a week or two to get your packet.

Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio

Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Other Free Maps, Guides and Brochures

Do you have other free paper map resources? Please leave your tip in the comments!

Travel Books

By Fuzzygalore | January 30, 2008 | Comments 1 comment

I’ve got a spring trip on the calendar for May and I’ll tell ya, it can’t come soon enough. On Sunday afternoon I took Kenny’s 636 out for a quick ride before the flurries brought me home. I think I forgot what it felt like to ride a true sportbike. So small, compact and tight. It felt so good. As I was humming along under the grey winter sky my mind was in the rolling green of West Virginia… C’mon spring!

..and while we’re on the subject of travelling and maps and all that, of course there are the books that get my motor running.

I received my second copy of ‘1000 Places to See Before You Die‘ as well as ‘The Most Scenic Drives in America‘ for Christmas this year. I spent New Years Eve perusing the pages of Scenic Drives. Not that it takes much to kick my wanderlust into high gear, but it just makes me want to get out there and go, go, go! So much to see, so little time.

Do you have any travel book suggestions? Do tell!

Free Maps and Travel Guides

By Fuzzygalore | January 23, 2008 | Comments 5 comments

I don’t know about yous guys, but I am still in the paper age when it comes to maps. I love the toil of pulling out my file of maps, spreading them out across the livingroom floor and jotting down routes and numbers that ultimately string together to form a route. Call me old fashioned, my GPS is the Girly Pen System. I sometimes even draw little hearts over my I’s.

I can of course see the appeal of the GPS, in terms of telling me where I’ve been, where I am at this very moment, where the next gas station is and all that but I just can’t shake my affinity for good ole paper.

Its pretty awesome how many websites give away free maps. Chambers of Commerce, Tourist Bureaus, States, counties… they are all just dying to get you to come visit them. They want to tell you exactly where you can get that warthog whittled from real colby cheese that you just know your Aunt Myrtle would die for. From? No, definitely for. Need a place to stay? No problem. Often along with the maps, you get restaurant, motel and touristy information pamphlets as well.

I know, I know. This certainly doesn

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Wigwam Village

The Clam Box – Ipswitch, Ma.

The Blue Whale of Catoosa – Catoosa, Ok.

South of the Border – Dillon, SC

Holdovers from Previous Years

The Gemini Giant

How About You?

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You have 3 days, 3 items & $300

So, Where To?

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US States – Free Map Links

Other Free Maps, Guides and Brochures

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