The Traveling Suits

MILES TRAVELED

Falmouth, MA to Rockville, MD 476 December 26, 2021

Rockville,MD to Charlotte, NC 425

Charlotte to Fargo, GA 426

Fargo, GA to Tallahassee, FL 120

Tallahassee to Biloxi, MS 305

Biloxi to Houston, TX 415 

Houston to San Antonio, TX  200

San Antonio to El Paso TX 552

El Paso to Tucson,AZ 320

Tucson to San Diego CA 411 January 8, 2022

Total: 3276 miles

We made the largely arid drive from Tucson to San Diego on Saturday. The Rig did us right the entire trip. It is delightful to be here–so many parks, bike paths and of course the water. We are in Mission Bay, right near a sailing and a rowing club. Lots to watch on the water. We are getting the sun and temps we came for–50s overnight, up to 70 by afternoon.

Rachel joined us for our first night here and Beans was delighted to see her–us too! Now, we are settled in, set up for work and looking forward to 7 weeks here!

The Traveling Suits are signing off until we travel somewhere new—might plan some weekend exploring. Sending so much love and good health.

We high tailed it out of El Paso, through New Mexico, to the resort in Tucson where we stayed last April. Yes, we have a view of a golf course and I am so good with that! A few nights with crisp hotel sheets, hot showers, beautiful landscape and room service is very welcome. Sipping horchata by the outdoor fire tonight. Weather is cold in the mornings–the golfers are unhappy to be delayed by frost–and up to 70 by lunchtime. People are bundled up at 50 degrees–except for masks. Who would think wearing a mask would be a cool counter culture act? Dig it.

We are 480 miles from San Diego, where we check in on Saturday. Unclear where we head on Friday…this place will be hard to leave!

Friends and Family! Zipped through Louisiana! We have stopped in Houston, San Antonio and are now in the outskirts of El Paso. West Texas is…vast. We stayed in Uptown Houston, which reminded me of Chestnut Hill on steroids. Or on Texas. We did a day trip to San Antonio and stayed at a winery 30 miles outside–very remote. I had a lively outdoor wine tasting with a retired couple who stated they were fully vaccinated, Conservative Christians from Oklahoma. The also vaccinated, retired Army vineyard owner kept his cards close to his vest, business and all. (Mike chose to stay in the Rig and catch up on work. Wink.) As you all know, I am a lover and not a fighter. When I told them I was a liberal, atheist lawyer from Massachusetts, they told me their God loved everyone. My Jewish brother? Yes! My gay friends? Yes! People of color? Yes! Wonder what the answer would have been to our President? Anyway, we did agree whole heartedly that Congress works for money on both sides of the aisle and the wine was a little sweet for our palettes. Peace in the valley.

Greetings from Biloxi, Mississippi. It is sunny, windy , 79 degrees and we are across from a white sand beach.

We have been on the move in the South. We camped in the most remote spot yet: the Okefenokee Swamp. One of Georgia’s seven natural wonders–cannot tell you about the other six–and it is full of American alligators and black bears. Thankfully, our goal of not confronting any predators was achieved and we saw none. It was tropical feeling, no bugs (yet), different marsh birds and lots of lightening by the campfire.

We spent New Year’s Eve in Tallahassee, hunkering down in AC and reveling in hot showers. We are finding the camping we like (state or national parks) to be lacking on this southern route. So we will travel from place to place, stopping at hotels, with our trusty Rig for food and comfort. We have never been to these parts and there is always something to see, plus the warm weather! Tomorrow we start our three days in Texas and I cannot wait. Love the Lone Star State (hate their politics).

After a fabulous time at Nick and Jamie’s in Rockville, we headed out early Wednesday. Before we dropped Rachel at Charlotte Airport, we made a surprise stop to Elon University! Beans was excited to see the campus and pose with Rachel in front of her first year dorm.

We are in South Carolina, heading to southern Georgia. This will put us below the line of severe thunderstorms coming in–that is the plan anyway. It will be our first night camping with three dogs. We will be in Stephen Foster state park (Way down upon the Swanee River!). It is a partly sunny 76 degrees and we look forward to getting outside.

We had an easy ride to Maryland and love Nick and Jamie’s festive, welcoming home. Bright and early tomorrow, we head to Charlotte airport to drop Rachel and camp for the first night of our journey! Westward Ho!

Sending love and wishes for peace and good health in 2022.

Speaking of 2022….the Traveling Suits are off again to make our way West! Feel free to join us by following the blog notifications. We head off around Christmas time to San Diego–this time, joined by Rachel’s dog Beans (not Rachel) as well as our intrepid dogs, Buoy and Pal. Yes– that is a 3:2 dogs to people ratio. We will take the southern route to avoid bad weather (fingers crossed) and see new places. Georgia! Texas! Alabama! Louisiana! We are all in and cannot wait to get back in the Rig, working and playing on the road.

Looking forward to keeping in touch like we did before. Happy trails to you–Let us know what you are up to please!

Mike drove over 15 hours yesterday from Chicago, IL to Becket, MA. Crazy? Maybe– but by the time we reached Buffalo, I was on board with the long haul to sleep in a familiar place. We head to Falmouth later today, grateful for a cozy landing here.

The numbers do not tell the story of amazing starry nights, countless laughs, fabulous visits with family, how much we learned and the awe we often felt by what we saw. But the numbers do give a sense of how much we traveled. Here is the breakdown of our trip:

Miles out: 3528

Miles back: 3240

Total travel miles: 6768

Days traveling: 27

Overnight stops: 17

States: 21

National parks: 7

Traveling Blog Posts: 20

The Traveling Suits will spend some time as just Suits now but will ride again. Cannot wait to see vaccinated friends and family, spending time outside as the weather warms up. Thinking about Acadia in the fall…stay tuned.

Thanks so much for reading the blog and reaching out. It really meant a lot to me. Sharing the trip and keeping in touch was an unexpected pleasure. Happy trails!