April in New Hampshire can be hit or miss with severe weather and I was fortunate….. until I decided to go for a summit hike to Camels Hump.

After following a dirt road into the middle of nowhere, I finally stumbled upon the trailhead with only 2 other cars in sight. The trail began in a lush forest following a serene stream. Chilly but refreshing. With a steady climb, I quickly stripped off my beanie and gloves while enjoying this calm retreat deep into nature.

Ready for a 6 mile round trip trek gaining elevation rapidly, I should have known my adventure was bound to become hairy. Midway through my uphill quest, the wet rocks became slick as ice encased each step. My pace slowed considerably and I did everything I could to avoid questionable areas. Which I should mention is big growth as I’ve always just plowed forward regardless of the risk.

The last quarter mile added in deep snowpack and I seriously contemplated turning back, as the winds and chill factor dipped into the low teens. The final push to the summit was excruciatingly cold and snail like, but I braved the steep ledges and snow/ice caking all the trees. With overcast skies, I wasn’t optimistic the summit view would prove to be worthwhile but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Peering out to the mountain ridge, the peaks were so majestic and surreal. High above civilization it was breathtaking and worth the extra effort. And after 15 minutes, I knew I had to retreat to a lower elevation.

However, the trek down would prove to be even more challenging. I passed a few avid hikers that were shocked I made it up the treacherous pass without shoe spikes and were even more curious to learn how I would make it back down unscathed. Yikes!

It didn’t start on a good note, as my first fall occurred only 100 yards from the top. I slipped on an icy patch, thankfully in my behind, and ended up sliding down almost 100 yards on my own snow slide. Equally thrilling and frightening. I eventually stopped with my foot catching on an exposed tree root. It took a while to regain some confidence, but I slowly made my way between trees and making my own path for what seemed like hours.

Again I emerged from the woods without any major mishaps (besides losing just one of my fav gloves) and another great trek to remember! (And thankful I tackled this one by myself, as I don’t think anyone would have enjoyed this crazy adventure and would have surely cursed me out multiple times.)

Is it a figment of my imagination that I graduated college 25 years ago? I must have lost time somewhere. So joining our reunion committee was a big blast from the past!

On one hand, I feel like I was walking down the hallways of the girls’ freshman dorm just yesterday. Some memories are so very vivid. I remember throwing water balloons at unsuspecting suite-mates, having Melrose Place & F. R. I. E. N. D. S. watch parties, typing notes on my word processor, making 2am Waffle House runs, going to my first frat party, napping frequently during our 10am daily convocation time slot, trying to sneak extra cereal out of the cafeteria, dreading laundry days once a month & lugging my monstrous pile to the mat, using meal trays to slide down snowy hills, breaking into the boys’ dorm after hours, selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts for sports fundraisers, running the stairs of the football stadium to stay in shape, putting on the waist belts in our intramural flag football games, challenging the guys to smash them in racquetball games, spending lots of time in the training room getting ankles taped up prior to practices, getting excited for mail/care packages from my mom, wild bus trips after winning games, changing in the van between softball games heading to my tennis matches, practical jokes against hallmates, learning to cook in the dorm kitchen, decorating halls for Christmas contests, running to the library to get on the computer bank prior to midnight closing, dressing up for Halloween trick or treating, setting up the telescopes at the rooftop observatory for the best stargazing in the city….. I could keep going!

On the other hand, it feels like a lifetime ago. I keep up with a few close friends and the rest fade over time. Facebook has reignited some of those kinships, so that we can keep up with new additions to families, graduations, losses and life changes. We have now spent more time post college than we did leading up to our acceptance into our school of dreams.

College was where we learned what we were made of and helped shape our future. It was the beginning of whatever we wanted to become and launched us into the big, bad world. I now realize from organizing all our hall team outings that my gift has always been event planning and execution, and has forged me into 2 amazing careers!

What fills the pages in your adventure book? Are some far fetched? Are some easy to check off?

How does it make you feel? Adventures:

• Make me come alive
• Challenge me to my core
• Give me purpose and direction
• Has taught me more more than textbooks
• Feel grateful for a the simple joys in life
• Allow me to find and fulfill my potential

My idea of adventure is summiting Kili or EBC, while yours might be something completely different. No matter your definition, make time to chase a few crazy adventures in your life and you will be eternally grateful (and hopefully be fueled by even more to come).

85 miles. 7 days. 3 countries. 🇫🇷 🇨🇭 🇮🇹

Besides a couple cruises to popular Mediterranean port destinations, this trek was my first true European experience. I was a little out of my element not knowing any French, as up until this time I had strictly stayed in the Caribbean or South America due to quick & cheap flights plus being able to get by conversing in Spanish.

Chamonix was a quaint and beautiful town to launch this week long trek through 3 countries. The ascents were epic and exhausting, but doable and downright breathtaking around every bend. Our travel group was fantastic and ready for the challenge.

I remember arriving with 2 bags and had to pair down to one day bag, as unlike previous trips, there were no porters or sherpas to lug our extras up the mountain ahead of us to our next lodging site. What?! This was before vacuum bags or cubes so we rolled everything, hung extras off of the bag’s outer straps with carabeeners and strapped the rest on our waists. It was rugged and wonderful.

We crossed over country lines high up in the mountain ranges, trekking through rain and sleet for a few hours, and it was so empowering. It was so very Sound of Music-esqe. I will admit to twirling and singing at the top of my lungs to mimic my hero Julie Andrews.

Each lodge was local owned and the family always had a spectacular 3 course meal waiting on us hungry trekkers upon arrival. We typically would have the afternoon to recover and spend outside enjoying the lush, 360 degree, green landscapes. We would play cards or read books or both. The rooms had bunk beds and we crashed early, as we were up at 6am daily to tackle the next leg.

I even remember one day I was so inspired that I joined 2 others in the group for an extra afternoon run. What was I thinking? These 2 young-ins took off and of course a portion was uphill, but I held my own and was proud of myself for making the most of this once in a lifetime experience.

And I found “my spot” – laying down in the green pasture overlooking the last valley down on our trip back to civilization, I had found complete happiness and relaxation.

I stayed a few days after the group to honestly just do nothing. After a few short treks to the outskirts of town and indulging in pistachio gelato multiple times, I thoroughly enjoyed reading a book next to the ancient church under a beautiful tree. It can be that simple.

I guess the powers at be knew I wasn’t ready to go home yet, and my flight was actually cancelled because they couldn’t get the commode to flush. Yep you read that right. At first I started freaking out that I needed to return to work after my 10 day hiatus in the middle of the summer rush, but let’s put this into perspective….. I got free lodging in the exquisite Swiss countryside, got to run along beautiful farmlands, comped all the pizza and wine we could handle, plus a stipend.

Yeah I lived it up and showed up to work 2 days late, and guess what, the building hadn’t burned down.

Now looking back this trek was extra special. Not only did I get to experience this mystical city in the clouds with my little brother just prior to his first deployment, but this introduced me to my passion of extreme adventure travel.

We booked last minute in November, so it truly was a whirlwind. Flights from Orlando to Miami to Lima and finally the remote Cuzco, which is the launch point for all Machu Picchu treks. Upon arrival, we indulged in authentic cuisine (I think it was ceviche) and I got addicted to the fruity beer Quara (they don’t import but if you ever come across it, please think of me!).

Our travel group was a hoot and we started out exploring the ruins in the quaint town of Ollaytumbo. Then we were off into the wild Peruvian jungle for 5 days of climbing to see the sacred city.

If you’ve ever done a mountain trek, you know the sherpas or porters are your lifeline and they make the trip possible. They load up with 20kg of your gear x 2, rig it up on their backs and attack the mountain. In addition, they carry their own attire (usually minimal as to not add any unnecessary weight) plus meals and camping supplies. And I should mention, they are literally running in sandals past the group of weary travelers because we are so slow and they are on a mission to set up the next nights’ camp prior to our arrival. They are the real heroes on the trail.

Along the route, your mind wanders and you get into the groove in line with your fellow thrill seekers. You snack occasionally and put on headphones during the grueling uphills to stay motivated. You take solace in conquering small peaks just to see the never ending trail weave in and out of even more summits in the distance. The weather changes frequently, so we get the true experience of how rugged and self sufficient the natives had to become in this unforgiving wilderness.

Upon sight of camp nightly, we collectively let out a sigh of relief and escaped from our hiking boots ASAP. Our tents gave some relief to the relentless winds and we all huddled into the eating tent to reminisce about our day and chow down. Meals typically consisted of rice, bread, eggs, meat, noodles – lots of protein and carbs to nourish our tired bodies after our average of 6-8 hours of trekking. The grand finale was hot chocolate and popcorn while playing cards.

Sleeping was hit or miss on the cold ground, while wearing most of the clothes in your bag for extra padding and warmth. It was always tricky after a downpour to dry out clothes for the following day.

One of the funniest moments still to this day in all of my travels was courtesy of a hilarious mate from Wales. She was using the outhouse (which is literally a hole in the ground) and happened to lose her camera in this raunchy pit. We heard her scream from a football field away and all came running. She had then concocted a huge retrieval stick and miraculously retrieved her prized possession. Most people would have probably let it go, but this was at the start of the digital camera phase in the early 2010s, prior to cell phone cameras being of any decent quality. So her storage cartridge was everything. The guides even gave her bags of rice to try to dry it out and salvage it. I don’t remember if it ever worked again, but I’ll never forget this running joke of the trip & all of us wanting to see her put that camera back up to her face!

On the night prior to reaching this elusive city in the clouds, we had to be ready to leave camp at 3:30am with our head lamps guiding the way so that we could reach the “Sun Gate” at sunrise. This spot affords travelers with the first far off glimpse of MP if you get lucky with weather (which is only favorable 30% of the time). We were not so fortunate, but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention we had to conquer the “Gringo Killer”, which is a set of extremely steep steps built into the rock face, immediately prior to our stop. Whoa!

We arrive first to the ruins of all groups and see wild goats grazing all over and get set free to go explore all the crevices and walkways we can find. Half the day we get lost scaling walls and peering out from surreal archways. Fascinating is an understatement and without question it is in the top 10 places I have experienced in my lifetime.

Reluctantly, we hop on the short bus ride down the steep embankment to the small town of Aquas Calientes for an overnight stay. We eat local, grab massages and soak in the natural hot springs prior to boarding our express train back to Cuzco. What a ride!

Most US folk have never heard of this far off beachy town on the southeastern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. But if your an avid traveler, it is an awesome trip add-on when visiting the Middle East.

Prior to my 15th GAdventures group adventure setting off from Cairo, I had planned 5 full days relaxing at a dive resort on a tranquil bay of the Red Sea.

I had actually screwed up in scheduling the wrong Covid test and had to retake it at the Orlando Airport, missing my flights and having to rearrange my entire transatlantic vaca 24 hours later. I’m in debt to Tessa & Dave for tag teaming a rescue mission to save me from sleeping on the airport floor overnight. Rerouting to Newark then Frankfurt and finally Cairo worked out swimmingly. Only speed bump was begging EgyptianAir to reissue my final leg ticket to Sharm el Sheikh and was rewarded a new voucher since the agent I had called 24 hours earlier flagged my account. Yippee!! Upon arrival at 9pm, after now traveling for 33 hours (and a deranged 4 year old kicking and screaming the entire last 40 min flight), my pre-arranged driver was prompt BUT didn’t speak a lick of English and had no idea where my resort was. WTF?! I had the address and after 2 calls it was literally 2 miles away (and I knew that).

After sleeping for 10 hours, I spent day 1 lounging on the beach, exploring the 3 resorts lined up together and wading in the crystal blue waters. May temps are similar to the FL summer bake fest without a cloud in the sky all day, so I fit right in. I enjoyed a massive stone oven pizza for 65 Egyptian pounds or $4 at the Bedouin tent. If you’ve never seen or been to one, it is very cozy and boasts padded cushions on the floor with extra pillows. I then read a book beachside, under the stars, listening to the gentle waves, which became my nightly routine. Simplicity at its best.

Day 2 was a two tank dive in the Red Sea and truly spectacular! Since travel in the Middle East is still slow post Covid lockdown, I was solo with the hunky guide and we took off by simply wading off shore and went until we were low on air. The water was crystal clear, coral abundant, fish plentiful, weather perfect in the 90s = ideal conditions! I even got to keep the mask the rest of the day and headed out for more snorkeling from the jetty.

Day 3 I can’t say I did too much (even missed the complimentary breakfast) but lounge on the beach and I wouldn’t change a thing. I even squeezed in a beachside massage and more snorkeling the reef. Rough life, huh?

My final day I arranged a local quad bike tour through the Egyptian desert. It was a blast taking the reigns of my own roadster and we flew off into the dusty unknown in a single file line. From lounging camels to rocky overlooks to yelling across Echo mountain to hear the reverb, we purposely got lost in this vast expanse of nothingness.

And finally while taking in one last sunset along my dive resort jetty, I closed out a seamless first week halfway across the world. Wheels up to Cairo for the next leg of my world tour!

I will be eternally grateful for an enduring group of college friends who are my ride or die. No matter the time or distance between us, we show up for each other.

It is so refreshing to have a supportive group of individuals that isn’t tearing you down or judging your every last move. They know your best qualities and also those stories that you would much rather forget. You can fall back into yesteryear without skipping a beat and tell all those silly tales of when we were so naive and innocent.

From the mountains of NC, to the streets of Atlanta, to LRU football games, to 5k races, to beach getaways, to cabins in the VA countryside, to hikes up Stone Mountain, to basketball games, to meals at obscure diners, to tubing the Toccoa River in Blue Ridge GA, we always find an excuse to catch up.

These days even a quick text can make your day, as we try to survive the ups and downs of life. A group prayer or positive vibes go a long way. My tribe is beautiful in every way and I can’t wait for our next jaunt which is a big milestone….. our 25th college reunion!

Our girls trip to Music City was the perfect long weekend escape. With a direct 2 hour flight, we left after work and arrived ready to explore the downtown nightlife with dinner/drinks.

Our Airbnb was small but central, so we did all the touristy things.

The scooters were addictive and the best way to see the city at your own pace. We whizzed in and out of monuments, waterfalls, farmers markets, food stands and had an absolute BLAST. And only had a few Oops moments that didn’t produce any permanent scars.

No trip to Nashville would be complete without a visit to the Grand Ole Opry and ours was a doozy. Our Uber ride got us as close as possible but we got caught in a torrential downpour. So we walk into the bone chilling arena, dripping wet and have to try to dry out under the hand dryers in the restrooms. Our tickets are disintegrating in our hands but we finally make it to our seats, which are dead center half way up. Tessa’s ticket slips under the seats and we get to go on a scavenger hunt that had us in stitches. After the show, we take our obligatory selfies and grab another Uber. She was a riot and ended up loading us up with mini liquor bottles before dropping us at the local scrumptious BBQ joint.

We try the famous hot chicken and biscuits, tour the Country Music Hall of Fame, go out for a night on Music Row to check out all the local talent, visit the elusive Bluebird Cafe only to miss getting tickets by 2 spots ahead of us (fortunately we got to step inside for a 5 min glimpse).

We even crashed a free, CMT pop up concert across the bridge featuring a few up and coming artists. It was a glorious day made even better with free Dairy Queen blizzards…. any excuse to ride scooters again and eat ice cream!

Our final day we arranged a tour at the local winery and drank the day away!

Full of fun and exploration, Nashville is an awesome getaway that will keep me coming back for more!