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Rated: 18+ · Book · Personal · #1051691

Life, Adventure, Family, Writing what else is there? Random thoughts.

WELCOME TO:

GEMINI RISING

Banner for my blog, "Gemini Rising"

*Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1* *Flower1*

UPDATED INTRO 30 JUNE 2025:

Just a little about me. I've been married for 33 years this past NOV and currently live in Southern California, but I grew up in New Hampshire.

I've got 2 boys who are young adults.

I work as a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. I enjoy my job a lot. Still. If you can believe that.

I love to write. Thankfully both of my boys achieved Eagle Scout. My Scouting days are over and I'm back to focusing on my writing.

I like to get out in nature, drink coffee and watch football.

Here's a little bio about my zodiac.

GEMINI: Gemini, the sign of the Twins, is dual-natured, elusive, complex and contradictory. On the one hand it produces the virtue of versatility, and on the other the vices of two-facedness and flightiness. The sign is linked with Mercury, the planet of childhood and youth, and its subjects tend to have the graces and faults of the young. When they are good, they are very attractive; when they are bad they are more the worse for being the charmers they are. Like children they are lively, and happy, if circumstances are right for them, or egocentric, imaginative and restless.

Their good qualities are attractive and come easily to them. They are affectionate, courteous, kind, generous, and thoughtful towards the poor and suffering - provided none of the activities resulting from expressing these traits interferes too greatly with their own lives and comforts.

Geminians can be successful in many walks of life though their general characteristics tend to make them unreliable. They are often skilled manipulators of language, in speech and writing, and may be: debaters, diplomats (though in politics they are more interested in theory than practice), orators, preachers (brilliant rather than profound), teachers, authors, poets, journalists, or lawyers.


CURRENT BLOG PROJECT:


FORUM
BCoF 's Virtual 50 State Bucket List Open in new Window. (18+)
We're going to explore one unique place in each of the 50 states in alphabetical order.
#2342653 by Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon


RULES:
1. Blog has to be more than 2 paragraphs, some people have tried putting a one-liner response. That won't cut it.
2.You need to respond at least once every week to other participant's blog posts. This is a 7 week activity= 7 blog responses within each of the weeks. It's fun getting to see what others noted that you might have missed or hadn't thought about.
3. You don't need to blog everyday, catch-ups are allowed if you want to go for the bigger prize award. But each entry must be a separate entry. So, if you do all 51, you'll have 51 entries.
4. Please tag me Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon in your entry so I can keep track of your entries for the prizes.
5. Posting in a book is preferred to keep the forum from being clogged. You can use any book you want.

ALONG FOR THE RIDE:
HOST: Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon
Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon and her wolf, Peyton
Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon and his pet rock, Peachy
AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon
SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon
AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon
WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon and her dog Sprout
Krista Author IconMail Icon
Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon


RECOGNIZATION:
10-24 Entries, MB plus 10K Awardicon
25-50 Entries, MB plus 25K Awardicon
51 Entries MB plus 50K Awardicon

Merit Badges Collected from Virtual Blogging &Virtual Blogging Friends:
Merit Badge in Let Dreams Take Wing
[Click For More Info]

To my upcoming virtual traveling blog companion. Dream big and fly high! Merit Badge in Normal Is Boring
[Click For More Info]

here's to another week of creating adventures!

BLOG ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

SEPTEMBER 2024:

I participated in the
FORUM
Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2025 Open in new Window. (E)
Blogging event from September 1-7, 2025.
#2277665 by WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon
which was a big challenge for me due to my schedule, but I hunkered down and got it done. There's some great entries for the contest and the blog earned the following:

Merit Badge in Nonfiction
[Click For More Info]

Congrats on your Honorable Mention in Blog Week Birthday Bastion 2024

Big thanks to WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!

OCTOBER 2024:

I participated in the
FORUM
13 Poetic Days of Halloween Contest 2025 Open in new Window. (E)
Let your spooky poetry shine. Opens Oct. 13th. - closes 12:00am Oct 26th WDC time.
#2328177 by Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon
which honestly was a big challenge for me considering my schedule, and again I hunkered down and did it! There's some great poetry to be found this October and the blog earned the following:

Merit Badge in Halloween
[Click For More Info]

Congratulations on completing the 13 Poetic Days of Halloween.

Big Thanks to Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon for hosting the contest!



Find me at:

WEBSITE:
http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:
http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

*Exclaim* WARNING *Exclaim*

I intend to be open, honest, and forthright. No topic is off limits from religion to you name it, I'm going there. If you think you might be offended...back up now - this blog isn't for you. For those who "dare" *Wink* check out the "Gemini Rising..."


Another Signature
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July 19, 2025 at 6:46pm
July 19, 2025 at 6:46pm
#1093717
The Party Bus cruised into Bar Harbor, Maine a little late into the day, so Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon signed us up to take the Sunset Cruise on the Windjammer. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon and I were hoping to see some dolphins and whales. We all piled into our windjammer (basically a big sale boat) and we were off.

Our Captain was a really nice guy and gave us a nice historical overview of Maine, the coast and Acadia national park. What he missed Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon filled us in. As we started to sail through Frenchman’s Bay, we saw some really nice rugged areas of Maine’s coast. Krista Author IconMail Icon took a lot of pictures for her Instagram. There were beaches, and cliffs, and tall pines. The air was incredibly fresh smelling – it’s hard for me to describe. In Los Angeles, the air is not fresh. There’s a lingering of dirt, or grime in the air. But in Maine – Coastal Maine – the air is akin to fresh cut grass. There was a hint of sea salt in the air with a whiff of pine. That scent invigorates the soul.

View of Ogunquit, Maine

A nice breeze kept the sails full. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon spied a school of dolphins. They popped out of the water and wiggled their tales at us. Close by, a whale fluke splashed water and the boat got a little wet. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon took a lesson from the Captain on rigging a sail. AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon, WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon, and Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon sat near the front enjoying a refreshing cup of tea. The view of the coast, the dips, the green trees, a lighthouse in the distance – it was all postcard perfect!

As the sunset began to set, long shadows crept over the trees and the wind picked up a little. The Captain brough us back close to shore and Krista Author IconMail Icon got some good pics of the sun just before it dipped behind the horizon. Once on shore we were hungry so Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon took us to this great little place called Five Island Lobster Company. I enjoyed a hearty cup of clam chowder and a big boy lobster roll with light mayo. The others were a bit more reserved with their choices as they had to be mindful of their allergies. Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon had the scallop basket. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon got a beanie and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon bought a hoodie. WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon tried the Moxie and loved it. Moxie is a drink basically only made in Maine. It’s kinda like root beer is the way I described it.

Me in front of Warren's.

This day in Maine was wonderful for me. There’s nothing quite like the Atlantic, clam chowder, fried clams, lobster rolls and fresh air that say ‘welcome home.’

July 18, 2025 at 7:12pm
July 18, 2025 at 7:12pm
#1093659
SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon made Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon drive the Party Bus to New Orleans so she would be wide awake to sample the New Orleans night life. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon said he’d take a power nap and join us at the jazz bar. Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon promised not to loose him.

I gave ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 Author IconMail Icon a call and told her I was going to New Orleans and I wished she could visit. She said she had a few witchy tricks up her sleeve – gave me a couple of voodoo words and told me to snap my fingers a couple times and if the moon was aligned just right she might show up.

Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon parked the Party Bus in our hotel parking lot and we all got out and settled in. He laid down for a power nap while me, Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon, SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon, WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon, Krista Author IconMail Icon, Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon and AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon signed up for the premier ghost, vampire and voodoo tour. The tour guide met us in front of our hotel in a horse and buggy and we were off. Our tour guide had this black, goth going for her and a couple of noise rings. Krista Author IconMail Icon was a little apprehensive, but Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon had an emergency shot of hooch ready and available to calm Krista Author IconMail Icon nerves. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon asked the tour guide for her autograph.

Since it was sunset, gray clouds slowly drifted in and the temperature got cooler. That voodoo chill was in the air. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon thought she saw a ghost. Krista Author IconMail Icon tried to take a picture for her Instagram, but all she got was a blurr. We toured a vampire museum and visited Anne Rice’s house. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon got spooked and started walking around like a zombie. AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon and Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon shook the blank stare out of her. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon bought a couple of Anne Rice's books. I was missing ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 Author IconMail Icon so I said the voodoo words and snapped my fingers. Nothing happened. Totally bummed, we left the Anne Rice house and found ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 Author IconMail Icon waiting for us in the buggy. Everyone was happy to see her.

After the tour, we went to the Spotted Cat to enjoy the jazz music and the drinks. No Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon! Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon was worried. ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 Author IconMail Icon said she’d take her broom over to the hotel and fetch Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon

WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon blaize} sat back and chilled and enjoyed the Voodoo Juice with AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon and Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon. The band was a Siouxsie and the Banshees Tribute band. Spellbound!



ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 Author IconMail Icon showed up with Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon who was a bit sleepy eyed. WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon ordered us all a round and we chilled, jazzing out. At the end of the night, the voodoo spell ended and ⱲєbⱲitϚћ is 18 Author IconMail Icon left us at midnight. We jazzed out at the Happy House and finally made it back to the hotel after four. That was a lot of voodoo to take in! *Smile*





July 17, 2025 at 5:46pm
July 17, 2025 at 5:46pm
#1093603
SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon insisted on parking the Party Bus a couple of blocks away from the Corvette museum because she didn’t want the corvettes to see the Party Bus. Well, Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon and Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon cajoled her to drive the Party Bus right into the parking lot! As soon as we got out, a staff member met us, eye’d the bus, eye’d SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon and pointed to a corvette. “Want to drive a fast car?” he asked. I think she thought that he thought that she didn’t have it in her, but clearly, he had no clue to SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon driving prowess. We all booked rides and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon went first. She got back, the dude’s hair had grown a ponytail and he was all wild eye’d. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon took him for a good, couple of fast loops and aged him five years.



Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon and WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon got their vettes up to about a 100 MPH. Krista Author IconMail Icon had AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon take pictures of her driving so she could put them on her Instagram.

I drove so fast the PoPo pulled me over, but I showed them my 911 dispatcher ID from LAPD and they all laughed and escorted me back to the museum.

After that, Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon followed the speed limit when she drove around the track.

The tour was pretty neat and we learned a lot about corvettes. The first one was made in 1953. Since then, the styles have changed, but not the need for speed.

As we left the museum, WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon and Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon bought some stickers for their Nalgene bottles and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon bought a toy corvette to hang off the rear view mirror to go with the Hawaiian Christmas bus ornament.

After, we took a boat ride in the Lost river caves which reminded me of the Salt Mines I visited in Berchesgarden, Germany.

Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon wanted to ride the zip-line so we were we to say no? Heck, I think Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon and Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon might have tried it, but we were exhausted. Well, Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon had a blast. He put a go-pro on his helmet and tapped the whole thing.

Well, after all that adventure, we were all in the mood for another hot springs. I tried to find a Diner, Drive-in or Dive in bowling green, but alas, Guy Fieri has yet to visit. So after a nap on the party bus, we went to a couple of places and AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon and I wrote to him, recommending some spots. Can’t wait to see if he visits!

July 16, 2025 at 9:51pm
July 16, 2025 at 9:51pm
#1093564
Kansas is another heartland state. Our first stop today was the Monroe Elementary School, which was involved in the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case in 1954. Prior to then, the law of the land was “Plessy v. Ferguson,” which called for separate but equal sites and facilities. The Supreme Court, in a 9-0 vote, did away with Plessy v. Ferguson. All children, regardless of their color, could attend their local schools. Honestly, it was a very sober visit.

Brown v. Board of Education was a BIG win for Civil Rights. Nowadays, the school is part of the National Park System. In my experiences in life, I have not seen segregation like this, and in the type of environment I grew up, I would definitely call it out. I believe the country has made a lot of progress in regards to equality, (I’ve seen that in my own work environment) but there are some places where progress needs a push, and that’s sad.

Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon, WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon, Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon, Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon, AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon, SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon, Krista Author IconMail Icon, Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon, and I got back on the Party Bus and remained quiet, silently reflecting, and quietly contemplating what we saw. No one was really in the mood to visit our next place, the Air Combat museum, but we took a go at it. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon shared her memories about her father who flew C-130’s. Some of us tried the airplane simulators, and slowly, the smiles started to come out again.

WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon skimmed her phone and said, “The Eisenhower Presidential museum isn’t that far away.” Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon wanted to go. She liked Ike. I was game. Off we went. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon drove the Party Bus over to the museum.

The museum is very similar to how the Ronald Regan museum was set up in Simi Valley. School de-segregation was important to Ike. He was a firm believer in Civil Rights and helped to de-segregate schools during his presidency.


July 15, 2025 at 8:23pm
July 15, 2025 at 8:23pm
#1093504
The Party Bus was chugging right along on the way to Iowa when SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon made a wrong turn in Dubuque. She wasn’t paying any attention and the next thing we knew we were driving through a cornfield! WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon got on her apps and tried to find the nearest paved street. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon could have sworn she saw a ghost, jerked the wheel and the next thing we knew, we were driving the bases on the Field of Dreams! Kevin Costner yelled at us. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon didn’t mind. She waved at him, and he waved back.



Between WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon, Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon they got back on the freeway and we made it to Eldon an hour later, where the American Gothic house stood.

Let me tell you, that house is kinda small. We pig piled in for a selfie that Krista Author IconMail Icon took for her Instagram page. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon found a pair of coveralls (something that the Kyles gave us before we left them) and he stood in front of the house holding a pitchfork. Then we all took turns with him recreating the famous painting by Grant Wood with Krista Author IconMail Icon snapping away. I think she’s going to make a scrapbook of all our adventures.

Wood really got around. He was born in Iowa, studied in Minneapolis, and then went to France to finish his studies. He returned to Iowa and was a jack of all trades to include a portrait painter were he took inspiration from real life. If you ask me, the dude in the American Gothic picture looks like Chuck Grassley, but that’s just me.



Afterwards, we visited Chief Wapello’s memorial park. It was a profound visit. Maybe Kevin Costner will direct a movie about the Chief? I’d go watch. After a dinner, the Party Bus was back on the road and since SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon was tired, AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon took over driving – Kansas bound!
July 14, 2025 at 7:43pm
July 14, 2025 at 7:43pm
#1093426
All SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon could talk about was taking a lap with the Party Bus at the Brickyard 400 as she drove the bus to Indianapolis. Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon told her it wasn’t possible, but SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon was determined. Hey, I thought it was a great idea. Mind you, I know NOTHING about NASCAR or the Brickyard 400.

Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon told us all about the race, which sounds kinda cool. I guess it was held in 1909. Nowadays racing is Big Bucks. Not that I would know. I was gonna root for Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon favorite but I heard he retired so I went to NASCAR dot com and found a cutie named Kyle Larson. Well, he’s my guy.



SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon drove the Party Bus right up to the Brickyard 400 gates there in Indianapolis. We all got out and went inside. A really nice guy named Kyle Busch said he was selected to give tours today so we got him. Krista Author IconMail Icon couldn’t stop drooling over him.

He took us to the Pit, where all the race cars were lined up. My Kyle drives a really souped up Chevrolet Camaro. I was surprised to find that out. Anyway it’s a nice car. The seatbelt is more like a harness. Mr. Busch got my Kyle to come over and visit with us and we took some pictures with him. Of course, Krista Author IconMail Icon took the pictures for her Instagram. Then out of the blue SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon asked if she could take the Party Bus on a lap around the racetrack. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon turned all red in the face.

The Kyles looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders, and said, “Why not?” Needless to say, we all went back to the Party Bus. The Kyles cleared the request and there we were just freewheeling the Party Bus around the Brickyard 400 racetrack with Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon took one of the turns so hard we thought the Bus would flip over, but thankfully it didn’t !

Come to find out, Kyle Busch was a driver, too. So the Kyles autographed everything we put in front of them – Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon shirt, WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon sunglasses he bought in Flordia, Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon postcards from Georgia, AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon hot springs towel she picked up in Idaho, Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon used Wrigglyville hot dog container with a mustard stain, and my Kona Coffee Bag I picked up from Hawaii. Before we left the racetrack, Krista Author IconMail Icon and I bought a ton of STUFF – from the Kyles NASCAR shirts to toy cars, postcards – and travel mugs. The Kyles took some magnets and decorated the Party Bus like their NASCAR cars.

After all that excitement, SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon took us to a local escape room in the Party Bus. Most of the gang had never been in an escape room. The escape room staff gave you the first clue to solve and then once you solve that one, you get another one. We had to solve 5 clues. Needless to say, we couldn’t get past the first clue. It was themed to Edger Allen Poe and his stories so you would think between a bunch of writers we could answer the clues about Poe, but trust me, it was not easy. The time ran out, and the escape room staff let us out. After that, Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon broke out her Sammy Hagar tequila and we all had a lil’ bit of hooch to calm the nerves before our next adventure.

July 13, 2025 at 5:17pm
July 13, 2025 at 5:17pm
#1093363
The Party Bus was chugging right along through Illinois on the way to Chicago when WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon News app said there was traffic accident on the freeway and it would be another 3 hours before we got to the Willis Tower. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon said “Hell, no, I’m not gonna drive the Party Bus in 3 hour traffic,” so we parked it at an “L” station and rode the train to the Willis Tower.

Boy, that Willis Tower is tall. It used to be the World’s tallest building back in late 1990’s but now it’s only the 26th tallest building in the world. What a dip – to go from #1 to #26! There’s a lot to do at the Willis building. One of the attractions is the “Ledge” where you go up 1,353 feet and stand on a ledge made of glass! Needless to say, I was apprehensive.

While Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon, AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon, SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon, and Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon said they were checking out the museum, me, Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon, Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon, Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon, and Krista Author IconMail Icon went to the ledge.

Krista Author IconMail Icon was a real sport. She paid her $46.00 and went right out on that ledge and snapped a bunch of pictures for her Instagram. Yeah – can you believe that ! They even charge YOU to walk out on that thing. Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon, Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon and Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon all took their turns and ooh’d and aww’d. Finally, it was my turn. Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon really tried hard to cajole me. (You would think $46.00 would be enough of cajoling) I gave her stinkeye. Heights are nerve racking. There’s a reason I never went airborne. Then she slid her hand into her pocket, brought out a lil ol’ mini hooch bottle of tequila and smiled. And not just any tequila. Sammy Hager Tequila. How could I refuse? I stepped right out onto that ledge and me and Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon did a shot. Calmed my nerves right down and even I took some pics for my Instagram.

After that, we all caught up with Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon in the museum and spent the rest of the day there. After we bought our souvenirs we took the “L” and went to the 10 pin bowling lounge for drinks and Chicago deep dish pizza. We all had a blast bowling and it proved a nice relaxing activity after being up so high.


July 12, 2025 at 10:00pm
July 12, 2025 at 10:00pm
#1093316
When Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon told us we were going to the hot springs in Idaho, everyone was ready to go. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon was happy it didn’t smell like sulfur. Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon was happy it was all mineral water and had lots of bubbles.



When I was in the 5th grade, I picked Idaho for my state to research. It’s true Idaho is known for it’s potatoes. Other than that, Idaho is a pretty low-key chill state. There’s lots to do outdoors like hiking, fishing, and skiing in the wintertime.

SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon hung up her Hawaiian Christmas bus ornament on the rear view mirror and drove straight through the night to get to Idaho. Needless to say, she was exhausted and spent the whole day sucking up the water.

Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon saw there was a golf course and talked Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon into playing a round. They saw a lot of Buffalo on the course. Me, , Krista Author IconMail Icon, SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon, AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon, Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon and WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon enjoyed a wonderful soak in the springs at the nice warm temperature of 102 degrees. Even the pets had a good soak in the Pet park.

After a great soak, I rode the Go-Karts with WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon and Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon . It was a wild ride with plenty of dirt, bumpy hills, and plenty of twists and turns. After an exhausting ride that made our butts sore we went back and soaked some more in the springs while the rest of crew shopped for souvenirs. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon bought Petyon a fresh Kong, Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon and Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon bought more stickers for their Nalgene bottles and SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon bought a golf ball ornament for the rearview mirror. We all had a good sleep in our posh hotel not far from the springs.



July 11, 2025 at 8:31pm
July 11, 2025 at 8:31pm
#1093250
Welp, there’s only 2 ways to get to Hawaii – Fly or take a Cruise Ship. So SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon parked the Party Bus at the Port of Los Angeles and we hopped on the next cruise ship to Hawaii. We kenneled the pets except Peachy and were off. It took 5 days, but it was 5 days of fun. We karaoke’d, shared drinks, hung out in the jacuzzi, ate dinner at the fancy restaurants and watched the sunsets on the main deck. I did a lot of reading about Hawaii.

When we got off the Cruise ship, the weather was mild, the breeze was cool, and there they were roasting a pig on the beach! First stop was the Kilauea Volcano. Let me tell you, it was just as scary as the Colorado Bridge. It rumbled and spit up some lava. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon wanted to leave. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon told us if we took the lava rocks from the volcano that the Hawaiian god, Pele would curse us so we left the rocks right where they sat!

Krista Author IconMail Icon heard that Hawaii had the BEST Kona coffee so we went to a coffee shop and tried some. I was hooked! It was wicked smooth and smelled wonderful. AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon pigged out on the Macadamia nuts.

Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon arranged for us to take a jeep tour of the island. We passed more volcanos, saw workers harvesting coffee beans and macadamia nuts, and even passed a Sea Turtle center. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon had us stop and we hung out with the sea turtles. They were bigger than the turtles in Georgia.

Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon was having a poke craving so stopped in this place that Guy Fieri went to in Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and pigged out on the poke.



On the way back to cruise ship, I told the party gang that Hawaii used to be part of the mythical continent of Lemuria. No one believed me. Go figure. They all thought I had too many Mai Tai’s.

Back at the terminal we shopped for souvenirs. Krista Author IconMail Icon put all her pictures on Instagram. Richard ~ Looking for Luck! Author IconMail Icon and Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon bought a lot of stickers and decorated their Nalgene bottles. I bought a ton of coffee and mailed it home. The gang bought t-shirts, keychains and WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon bought 25 postcards. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon was missing the Party Bus and bought an Hawaiian Christmas Bus ornament to hang off the rearview mirror.

July 10, 2025 at 10:56pm
July 10, 2025 at 10:56pm
#1093206
So the Party Bus broke down on the Jekyll Island Causeway right before we were supposed to get to Jekyll Island. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon called AAA. Sung'manitu Author IconMail Icon came up with a great idea – rent a canoe. Why not? We had a schedule to maintain. Let’s just say the canoe was stuffed. Lyn's a Witchy Woman Author IconMail Icon stayed in the back and steered while everyone paddled. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon stayed with the bus and the pets. Peyton was a good wolf and stood guard.

We made it to Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island and Krista Author IconMail Icon was impressed. She took a lot black and white pictures for her Instagram. In a way, the driftwood reminded me of the photos that Ansel Adams would take in Yosemite – just raw nature, standing still, in a pose, capturing a moment in time that transcends time.

I did an Internet search and found out Jekyll island was named after a dude to paid 600,000 pounds to found the colony. I wonder if he knew Mr. Hyde? In 1886 a bunch of rich people named Rockerfeller, Morgan, and Vanderbuilt, founded the Jekyll Island Club for Hunting and Recreation. However, the club broke up during World War II.

Then we canoed to the Sea Turtle Center. Princess Megan Rose Author IconMail Icon loves sea turtles. The doctors and nurses at the center were so patient with us and we learned a lot about Sea Turtles. Female sea turtles have to lay their eggs on land. It takes 50-60 days for eggs to hatch. Sadly, Sea Turtles don’t make good pets, so AmyJo-July 2/3s done Author IconMail Icon and Jellyfish Author IconMail Icon bought a stuffed sea turtle to take home with them. WakeUpAndLive Author IconMail Icon bought a couple of postcards to give to SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon

At the end of the day, we returned the canoe and found SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon chilling with the pets on the bus. Turns out the battery went dead so AAA brought out a new one. SandraLynn Author IconMail Icon was really touched by her postcards. Onto the next adventure!


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