Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question, please just ask it. When we receive a lot of the same questions, we'll post the answers here.

Your blog is out of date--what happened?

I have been so busy getting my new life together that I have been remiss. I am working on catching up now (mid-June). Stay tuned.

Are you still traveling?

Yes and no. Our long trip is over, but as life allows, Izzy and I take shorter trips. Plus, we are having many new adventures here in the northwest.

What was your favorite place or experience?

This is the most common question (or some variation). I don¹t have an answer. I had some amazing moments--and it is really the moments that stick with me: seeing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington DC; watching Izzy jump straight in the air when a wave washed over her feet at Ocean City beach; seeing a golden eagle fly over Lake Ann in NW Arkansas; watching a world-class woodcarver in the Appalachians work on his tribute to Waylon Jennings; eating Kangaroo in Asheville NC with my friend Kathi; watching rippled clouds pass overhead in the Sierra foothills.
Choosing a favorite would be like choosing my favorite child (which is actually easier since I only have the one).

How is Izzy doing?

As always, Izzy is having a blast. She loves dogs, people, being in the car, and new experiences. She wags her tail and smiles all the time. In fact, she was so happy when we visited some old friends and their three children, Izzy sprained her tail. She has had several dips in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, a river, a "crick," a bay, a lake, and several swimming pools--and has even learned to body surf. Izzy has had a couple of boyfriends, has been adopted by other dogs, and makes friends easily. She is having a bit of a hard time since the long trip ended--and she still loves to be in the car.

What kind of car are you driving?

A 2008 Honda Element. Honestly, this car is like a Transformer toy: very flexible. I bought the car for the purpose of this trip--and it was just perfectly suited to a variety of terrains and conditions. Plus, I liked Honda's tag line: "The Power of Dreams."

Did you plan out a route for your trip?

Yes and no. Some destinations were planned and some were not. It was wonderful to be able to change course mid-stream when I a) got lost or b) decided to visit someone or someplace on the spur of the moment. I tried to be as flexible as my car!

Where did you stay?

At times, I stayed with friends and family or rented a motel room or condo.
I had intended to do some camping or sleeping in the car, but the weather pretty much nixed that. Oh yeah, there was also one not-so-delightful stay in a major hospital, which resulted from being exposed to some not-so-nice bacteria on the road. Happily, I did not repeat that experience.

Did you board Izzy when you spent the night somewhere?

Most of my friends and family are pet friendly and my dog is very well trained. My biggest problem was convincing my friends to let me take Izzy with me when I left!

What did you do with your stuff?

I gave away and donated a lot, had several garage sales, kept a few things with me, and put the rest in storage. It was difficult not to accumulate more.

When did you leave and how long were you gone?

I left on Friday, October 10, a little after 6:00 p.m. and rented a house in Portland, OR on April 1.

How did you afford this trip?

I am a writer and continued to earn a living writing. Plus, I used some of my savings.

Will you return to Dayton?

Definitely. I plan to return regularly throughout my journey. My next trip will be in late June.

How did you receive your mail?

I worked with a mail forwarding service, which sent my mail to wherever I was whenever I wanted it. The service worked out rather well--and I received mail about once a week.

Were you scared?

No. However, I am also a big believer in the old adage "plan for the best AND prepare for the worst." Several people recommended that I buy and carry a gun (which I didn't do). Most of the people I met during my travels were as nice as could be. I only had one scary experience and several people called the police (who broke up the men fighting right outside my hotel room). Izzy had thrown herself across my body, so I suspect that in the event anything had gone seriously awry she would have summoned her inner Hellhound.

Are you glad you took this trip?

Absolutely! I would highly recommend everyone take some time out, see the country, and get out of their comfort zones. This was an experience I will never forget and am profoundly grateful to all the people I stayed with (and met) along the way.

Did you design your website?

No, a very talented web designer named Ted O'Connor of PrimationDesign created my site. He came to my house and listened to me talk about my plans--and got to know me a bit. We talked about the site's purpose and the kind of content I wanted and he ran with it. The site he produced is beyond my wildest expectations. I am responsible for the text.