Two Birds – One Stone

Yesterday we had a two-for-one experience. Since our good friend Rod lives about an hour from the friends we are staying with in Phoenix and Joel’s Uncle Bill and his wife live about an hour in the opposite direction, they all met us partway at an Applebee’s to visit. So we were able to visit with Rod who we hadn’t seen in 10 years and Sue was able to meet Joel’s Uncle Bill who he hadn’t seen in over 40 years!

Bill and Joel

It was great to visit with everyone at once and even find out that Rod and Bill had mutual friends. We really hope we can come back sooner than later and visit with them all again.

Rod and Joel

Today is our last day in Phoenix and we’ll be seeing Sue’s Uncle Phil and family and then staying the last night with author Alex Zabala and his wife again before heading Monday morning for San Diego.

Eunice, Bill and Fiona

It’s Not a Vacation! We’re Working When We Travel

So we took this whole month of May to travel from our home in Wisconsin down to Phoenix, out to San Diego, up to Northern California, and end up back up June 1. The main purpose is so we can pick up more of our stuff from storage in Roseville, California. However, since we know so many people, friends and family, in Phoenix, San Diego, and Roseville, we are taking time to visit with them as we travel.

But it’s not a vacation! No, we are working while we travel. We are still doing all our usual stuff. I work as a Virtual Assistant managing client’s social media marketing, newsletters, and blogs and am continuing to do so. We have a web design business we are continuing to run and in fact have received new work as we’ve been traveling.

And Joel’s book coaching and publishing business, Someday Box, has continued. We have one client in the final stages of editing her book, another in the U.K. that we’re working on formatting the interior of his book (in fact we had an international call with him yesterday), and yet another that signed up for the Pathfinding Session and Road Map. We had an hour call with her last Monday while here in Arizona and have scheduled another one this next Tuesday while we’re in San Diego.

So for us it’s business as usual – we did spend 18 months living as nomads with no fixed place of residence traveling and working. It’s no different now except we do have a fixed place of residence and travel less than we did.

When we do take a vacation, we’ll let you know. We do take the last two weeks of the year off from work. This year we may just end up in Arizona for most of that time. Perhaps visiting our friends and family here and taking time to see Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, and Jerome. We did spend out honeymoon in Oak Creek Canyon and this December will be our 10th wedding anniversary!

And this trip we are getting to connect with lots of friends and family – in Phoenix it’s been Terry & Virgie, Dan & Annete, Rod on Saturday, and Sunday Sue’s Uncle Phil. In San Diego we’ll see Sue’s mom, Joel’s brother Brett and his family and Joel’s sister Lynn and her family. Also our good friend Ken. Then it’s up to Northern California to see Tom Bentley, Dave Reffkin, Pam & Phil, the Stephens family, and of course Fiona’s big sister Rachelle!

The final four days of our trip heading home Fiona and Sue will get to drive through Idaho, Montana, and North Dakota – all states they’ve never been in before. Oh, and we’re driving through Yosemite. So that will feel like a vacation – though Sue does have a big transcription project she needs to get finished that week as well. That’s when having a colleague comes in handy. Sue is very grateful to Amy in New Jersey for all the assistance she’s providing in that area.

So, don’t ask how our vacation was! We weren’t on vacation! We were traveling and working and having the time of our lives! Don’t you wish you could do this?

It’s About Time for Something New Here!

Since moving to Rice Lake, Wisconsin in April 2012, we haven’t done a whole lot of traveling that we’ve written about. I’m going to try to make sure and write about our travels this month though in May 2013.

This month’s trip will take us out of the snow we just had on May 2 to a nice hot 100 in Arizona.

Goodbye snow!

Snow Rice Lake May 2, 2013
Snow Rice Lake May 2, 2013

We’re taking the month to eventually get the rest of our stuff out of storage in California. That will be near the end of the month. Here’s our basic itinerary:

  • May 6 – Leave Rice Lake, WI and drive to Kansas City, MO; stay overnight at a hotel we’ve already booked.
  • May 7 – Drive from Kansas City to probably Delhart, TX where we’ll stay at a hotel we stayed in last time we were through that part of Texas.
  • May 8 – From Delhart drive to Phoenix, Arizona and be warmly welcomed by our very good friend Terry Wilson and his lovely wife Virgie. Go swimming in their pool in 100 degree weather! :)
  • May 9 – Visit with Terry & Virgie and that night Joel will get to play music with Terry and his band.
  • May 10-12 – Stay with our friend Dan and his family in another section of Phoenix.
  • May 13-18 – Back to Terry & Virgie’s to visit more, play music, swim, swim, swim.
  • May 19 – Visit with Sue’s Uncle Phil & family in Glendale, Arizona. Sue hasn’t seen her Uncle in about 30 years.
  • May 20 – Drive from Phoenix to San Diego, California. Stay at a hotel in Chula Vista that has a pool.
  • May 21 – Visit with Joel’s brother and family
  • May 22 – Visit with Sue’s mom; possibly go to Balboa Park.
  • May 23 – Visit with Joel’s sister and family (read about their recent road trip); stay overnight with friends Ken & Kelly in San Diego
  • May 24 – Drive up to Northern California and visit with Tom Bentley.
  • May 25 – Drive to San Francisco and visit with David Reffkin.
  • May 26-28 Stay with good friends Pam & Phil in Roseville, California. Pick up stuff still in storage. Fiona spends two days with her sister Rachelle.
  • May 29 – Leave California for Idaho
  • May 30 – Drive through Montana
  • May 31 – Drive through Wyoming, North Dakota
  • June 1 – Arrive back in Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Of course it’s all subject to change. I plan to take pictures and keep a written journal and hopefully post often here. Fiona may post at her website as well.

We plan on having a blast!

Turning Over a New Leaf

I know – it’s cliche! Six months ago today we drove away from New Jersey to head to our new home in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. It was the beginning of a new phase in our life – turning over a new leaf.

bridge near Fiona's school

In two days we will have been in our new home for six months. I must say I’ve enjoyed living here and plan to do so for a while yet. Sometimes the itch to travel comes on and we have to take a long drive. It’s time for one now as a matter of fact. Maybe this weekend.

We have had beautiful weather the whole time and fall is now here. All the trees changed colors and then a couple of very windy days brought down most of the leaves on our trees. However, there are still some beautiful colors to be seen.

fall colors on the trees

I wonder what winter will be like….? Will keep you posted. :)

 

Good Friends Make Us Feel at Home

We arrived here in Phoenix Arizona last Saturday to stay with our good friends, Terry & Virgie. We knew they’d make us feel right at home. And they sure have!

Over the past year we’ve been through Phoenix several times and each time we’ve stayed with Terry and Virgie. Our friendship is closer now than when we knew them in the Sacramento area for several years. They are a very loving and warm couple who have opened their hearts to us and Fiona. Joel and Terry could sit all day, talking business, playing music. Virgie and Fiona love to bake together and Virgie and I have had some good chats.

Since we’ve also house sat for them, we’re very comfortable here, know where everything is and how they like it. We’re especially enjoying using the pool every evening since we’re have 100 degree plus days! Fiona really likes swimming at night with the pool light on and looking up at the stars.

Today Virgie leaves on a trip. We’re still here another day or so. But she knows we’ll take good care of Terry and her home and that when she returns we will have left behind a tidy home and extra toilet paper in the guest bathroom.

Yesterday Terry said, “You guys always leave before I’m ready for you to leave!” He admits he’d say that no longer how long we stay. We really enjoy being here and are so glad to know we’re “home” when we come to the Wilson’s place. Thank you!

Quick Update on Where We Are Now

We had a wonderful visit in San Diego this past week. We got to catch up with family and Fiona met lots of her aunts, uncle, cousins and second cousins. The van is repaired and runs great!

We drove yesterday from San Diego to Phoenix to stay a few days with our friends here in Arizona. We all enjoyed the pool yesterday and plan to do so again later today to cool off from the 100 degree plus temperatures.

The plan is to drive from here to Albuquerque in a few days for a short stop, then through Colorado and Nebraska to land at our friend’s doorstep in South Dakota for a few days. There are three little girls there waiting to play with Fiona. Then to Wisconsin for a visit with Joel’s mom and finally ending up in Minnesota for our three week house sitting gig.

Visit to San Diego Extended Due to Van Repair

We arrived safe, though tired, in San Diego last Friday night at Joel’s brother’s house. We had a very nice meal together and then got to bed. Our niece is kindly letting us use her new futon to sleep on. Sunday we had a great visit with my mom, Grandma Susan. We enjoyed our lunch at the park.

Grandma Susan and Fiona at our Sunday Bible meeting
Grandma Susan and Fiona at our Sunday Bible meeting

We also got to visit over the weekend briefly with Aunt Lynn and her kids. Fiona also got to meet some of her second cousins and play with them. Baby girl Bonnie is her favorite of course.

Second cousin Bonnie
Second cousin Bonnie

Then there’s Uncle Brett (Bonnie’s grandpa) and second cousin Timothy.

Uncle Brett with granddaughter
Uncle Brett with granddaughter
Second cousin Timothy
Second cousin Timothy

When we arrived last Friday we thought we’d be leaving on Monday or Tuesday. But over the weekend the van started making this noise in the front right wheel area much like it had a few years ago when we had trouble with the wheel bearing – that had been covered under warranty. So we took it to the Kia dealership Monday and they confirmed that was the problem. Fortunately the van is still under warranty and all repairs will be fully covered.

We just found out today they can do the repairs on Wednesday and we can make plans to leave San Diego now to head for Wisconsin later this week.

So though we’d rather not have vehicle problems, the timing couldn’t have been better. And this way we get to stay and visit more with family. Fiona’s really enjoying getting to know more of her family – especially baby Bonnie!

Early Morning Start at Begins at 4:45 am – Heading to San Diego

Today we leave Roseville to head to San Diego. I woke up at 4:45 am knowing the alarm would go off at 6 am. After laying in bed just a bit, I got up, showered, and started packing. It’s now 6:20 am and everything is set to put in the van, Joel and I have had our morning tea and time together, and we’ll be on the road by 7 am.

It’s an all day drive today. We’ll arrive at Joel’s brother in South San Diego about dinner time. We’re looking forward to a few days to visit with family, including my mom on Sunday. Fiona hasn’t seen grandma Susan since March when Rachelle got married.

We really enjoy our long drives. We’ll catch up on some reading. I read aloud to Joel and take notes on things he wants to write about in his next book. Fiona picked up her stuffed panda bear to cuddle with in the van while we drive.

Look out San Diego – the Nomad Canfields are coming!

Canfield family
The Nomad Canfields

Grateful for Our Children

fiona and hat
Hang on to that hat! It's windy up here!
I’ve been thinking a lot about our kids lately. We have 7 between us: Joel has 4 grown children, I have 2 grown children and we have Fiona. Their ages range (after 7 year old Fiona) from 21 to the oldest is about to turn 30 next month. We’re proud of all our children.

Since my two grown children, James and Rachelle, had lived with us for 5 years before we started traveling, I’ve been missing them more lately. They are both fine young adults and I wanted it to be a matter of public record. :)

Rachelle recently got married and was a beautiful bride.
My son James is an author of young adult fiction.

The gorgeous bride!
The gorgeous bride!
James D Ashman
James D Ashman, Author of Dangerous Rainbows

And in the last photos I saw of my four step-children they all looked happy and well. If any of them are reading this I want them to know I’m proud of their accomplishments as well.

Family on Bikes Denied Guinness World Record

When we began traveling last year it wasn’t long before we connected with the Vogel family online. This family of four set out with their two young boys three years ago to make a new Guinness World Record. When they finished their trip earlier this year, we were very excited for them. Joel even wrote a song in their honor. Today they learned they’ve been denied the record.

Here’s what they posted on Facebook as having received from Guinness:

“Thank you for sending us the details of your recent record attempt for ‘Youngest Person to pedal the length of the Americas’. We are afraid to say that we are unable to accept this as a Guinness World Record.

Unfortunately, we at Guinness World Records, have decided to rest this record, meaning we have decided to no longer recognise the category as a record, due to the fact that the record would reach an age where a person would no longer be able to break it or attempt (i.e. a two-year old attempting to do it) and as it would become limited under these terms, we choose to to no longer recognise it as a category.

The achievement, however, is an amazing one and we hope you and your family enjoyed it.”

You can read the thread on Facebook as well.

Whatever happens, whether the family decides to pursue trying to get Guinness to recognize the record or not, we want it known that we think the Vogel family did something worthy of note. It’s not the world record that matters so much. It’s that this family persevered in a goal together. It’s about what the journey meant to them. Please read more about their journey on the FamilyonBikes.org blog.

And send the family a Tweet of support!