Category: photo adventure

Adventuring is a state of mind

Adventuring, day tripping, Family stuff, hwy64, photo adventure, rural hiking

I’m proud of us for weathering the worst of the pandemic with humor, grace, and patience. All the people I love most in the world are vaccinated, which means they’re taking care of themselves and those around them. It also means we’re contributing to a re-normalizing of the world. It’ll be a new normal, but hopefully one that involves being able to see and experience the world once again.

We love adventuring far afield, but we taught our son to look at everyday activities as adventures when he was young. It’s a state of mind, and the perfect solution for making regular errands and efforts exciting and fun. We haven’t always had great salaries, or accrued airline and hotel points because of work travel, and we certainly haven’t always had as much flexible time as we’ve had in recent years, so the concept of adventuring was crucial to our creativity and happiness.

So where can you go Adventuring? Anywhere. Take the scenic route to the grocery store. Build in time to have a picnic. Set up a projector in the driveway and watch a movie outside, under the stars. Take a hike on a new nature trail. Make an hour-long playlist and drive along a rural route … all roads in NC lead to Hwy 64 (it runs from Murphy to Manteo). Schedule a photo adventure in the next little town over. Check out the whirligigs. Window shop at antique shops in your county — there is some truly weird shit in antique shops. Mask up and take a horseback riding lesson with a stable like Starting Point Equestrian in Pittsboro. Map out a safe route for a bike ride. Check out the farmers markets in your area … try a different one each weekend. Start a new tradition, like Calabash Night or Adventuretime! Cook a recipe from a different region or country, and use different ingredients than your day-to-day cuisine. Work from a different room in your house, or go outside. Hike with llamas. Take up high tea. Adventuring doesn’t have to be huge, sweeping, grand trips; it’s most fun when you need it the most. When your mind is overwhelmed with deadlines and bills and mundane tasks. Adventuring is a state of mind.

The Greensboro Four

history, perspectives, photo adventure

Sixty-one years ago today, about half an hour down the road, four young Black men staged a nonviolent sit-in at Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro. Now known as the Greensboro Four, Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain, and Joseph McNeil were students at NCA&T, and took an incredible leap of faith and bravery. Doing the right thing is rarely easy, and doing the brave thing is often terrifying. But these young men stood their ground–they stood for something important and bigger than them. And to these community heroes, I say thank you. Courage is contagious.

We are allies. We are learning. We are trying. #Blacklivesmatter

Restored seating at the Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro, which now houses the International Civil Rights Center and Museum in Greensboro. Photo by Peyton Sickles, 2020.

San Diego

Adventuring, photo adventure, tagalong, United States

I had a great visit to San Diego, CA in July 2016 for the annual Romance Writers of America conference. And like recent years, our son traveled with me. He was my tagalong, and had great side adventures to La Jolla (particularly the sea lions) and the San Diego Zoo. I love Southern California, and find it difficult to decide whether I like Pasadena, La Jolla, or San Diego more. I conferenced during the day, and met my son around four o’clock each afternoon. We spent one great half day in Coronado, and rented bikes to tool around the island. We’re big ocean swimmers at my house, but are used to the warmer waters of the Atlantic — with the benefit of the Gulf Stream along the North Carolina coast. California has cold water, even in Southern California in the middle of July. And it’s full of kelp. GAG. So, basically we dashed into the water, got the willies with the seaweed wrapped around our limbs, and wrapped our time in the Pacific. One huge plus in CA: the Ghirardelli shops. Because chocolate.

North Carolina: Wilson

Adventuring, day tripping, hwy64, North Carolina, photo adventure, United States, urban hiking

One of my favorite adventures this summer was our day trip to Wilson, with the highly-anticipated purpose of checking out the Vollis Simpson Whirligig Park. Turns out the small southern town is full of charm, and on the up-and-up. We had a great day! There are a handful of delicious restaurants, a very active arts council (and public art), and beautiful old buildings. A definite great da