Josh Black in the Wild E.3

?????? I.????????? Introduction by Josh

Welcome to JB in the Wild.? Deciding what to include in this start up newsletter is an enjoyable and somewhat scattered process.? Fortunately, there’s no shortage of inspiration whether its new adventures around my new home state, across oceans or reading a fellow travel writer’s words.? In future episodes, we want to include more voices.? If you are a novice traveler or a proud bearer of a passport loaded with stamps, we invite you to join in the conversation.

We encourage your ideas and suggestions.? Our goal is to inspire and create conversations about travel.? On to what’s inside the delta edition:

?????? II.????????? ICYMI (Ep. 2) – quick review of last episode

??????? i.????????? Introduction by Josh

????? ii.????????? ICYMI quick review of last episode

??? iii.????????? Road trip playlist – summer songs for the road

??? iv.? ??????? Travel planning – A brief look at travel by rail and a European based travel activity platform

????? v.????????? Travel tips – clothing, through a sustainable lens

??? vi.????????? Trivia – answer to last week’s question, plus a new travel trivia question

?? vii.????????? Travel quote – something to be inspired by

?viii.????????? Travel deals – 3 travel deals

??? ix.????????? Next episode – preview of JB in the Wild Ep. 4

?????? III.????????? Photo essay – Florida

The pictures will tell the story (with a few lines of commentary).? To frame the photo essay, I moved to the Sunshine State after decades on the West Coast.?

My first visit to Florida was for a wedding on Sanibel Island, near the infamous Alligator Alley, a cross state highway connecting the Miami area to the Gulf Coast.? It was January about 10 years ago.? The powder blue sky, puffy white clouds floating by felt like a slice of tropical paradise.? At the time I had no thought to relocate.? As time progressed, the idea grew in intensity, from an afterthought to a strong desire to make the big move.? In no particular order, some highlights from America’s 27th state:

The Castillo de San Marcos is a central feature of tourism in St. Augustine. The fort is over 450 years old, dating to the 1570's.

Imagine being a Spanish soldier, in a faraway land. A small outpost on the edge of the new world. Looking out to the inlet, spying a foreign ship's arrival.

Roaming the grounds of the fabled fountain of youth, this proud peacock wasn't getting enough attention strutting around, he had to perch in an a live oak.

The walls of the original fort were constructed of wood. After fires, assaults by invaders and tropical weather beating on the timbers, the Spanish built a more durable structure out of coquina, remnants of sea shells mortared together.

Ginnie Springs is privately owned. A camping and sometimes weekend party zone for the near by University of Florida. During the week, the cool blue/green waters shimmer in the light filtered through the wooded surroundings.

Staircases make getting in and out of the swimming holes much easier. Just beyond the swimming pools, the Santa Fe River is a popular tubing and canoeing site in north central Florida.

A slice of the slow life, Cedar Key is a small island off the Gulf Coast. A quaint town, friendly locals live the good life. A photo after returning from a day long kayak tour around the mangroves.

Holey Moley, says the orange donut sign in the garden. This colorful cabin was my home during a 3-day stay in Cedar Key. My host was irreverent, full of tales of the "old days" along Florida's Nature Coast.

After a long day, my dad and I were settling down. The spring showers enticed me to step out. This hibiscus plant caught my eye. Big rain drops pelted the delicate flowers.

Anna Maria is a barrier island south of the Tampa Bay Area. A slice of beachy suburban paradise. On a rainy spring day, the water temps were pleasant. On this day, we were the only ones on this stretch of beach.

?????? IV.????????? Travel tips – Spotlight:? Rome2Rio

Rome2Rio is a web-based travel planner.? Founded by two Aussie Microsoft alums, the brand is growing a loyal user base.? Founded in 2007, the same year iPhone debuted.? Whether a mobile or desktop, the platform is an excellent travel planning tool.? Their landing page, above the prominent search bar plainly states, “discover how to get anywhere”.? Crunchbase describes the travel platform, “Rome2Rio’s solution is elegant, stable and fast.”

The desktop version is robust.? It’s user friendly.? The platform promotes several pre-determined routes, Amsterdam to Paris, London to Stonehenge.? One may also search points A and B separated by large bodies of water, think Rome to Los Angeles.

The mobile app is a stripped-down version, best used when you have your itinerary set.? Available on the apple store and google play.?

Rome2Rio is not just for DIYers, it is also an excellent tool for travelers who work with a travel professional.?

Rome2Rio is easy to navigate. It's a practical travel planning tool for a variety of destinations whether by air, ship, rail, auto or a combination of transport modes.

?????? V.????????? Road trip ephemera

Decades going on road trips, from here to there.? In-state drives to visit family, father and son road adventures designed to follow a theme, such as a minor league baseball game tour in the deep south, crisscrossing the Mississippi River New Orleans to Chicago or a grand solo adventure, months in the doing, incorporating 40 states.?

Along the highways and country roads, unplanned stops at a local county museum, or a natural wonder such as Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, the pamphlets crowd the glove box by the end of the road.? Some are nice mementos to include in a scrapbook.? Most end up in a recycling bin.? Thus, there are some rarities out there.? Over several years my mom and I bonded perusing thrift shops and estate sales.? Here are some recent finds that sparked memories from previous road trips:

?????? VI.????????? Trivia – answer to last week’s question, & a new travel trivia question

Answer to last episode’s trivia question:? Atlanta Hartfield-Jackson (ATL) an estimated 93 million plus people annually go through the airport.? ?

Source:? International Airport Review April 2023

New trivia question:? What is the longest river in the world?

What is your best guess?

Answer in JB in the Wild E. 4

?????? VII.????????? Travel quote:

This episode’s quote is an excerpt from a travelogue published in 1910.? The author accepted a challenge from a college schoolmate, to travel around the world without a sizeable bank account, read a thrifty approach to traveling.

“Range after range of unbroken jungle succeeded each other.? From every summit there spread out a boundless forest of teak and bamboo, turgid with riotous undergrowth.? Mountains that were just blue wreaths in the morning climbed higher and higher into the sky”.

Excerpt from:? A Vagabond Journey Around the World by Harry Franck – describing his surroundings in Malaysia.

?????? VIII.????????? Travel Ideas

i.?Ancient & Modern Japan guided tour – 14 days

Ages 16+, 10 nights in hotels, 3 nights in traditional Japanese guest houses

Transportation during tour by mini-bus, high speed bullet trains, and ferry

Bookings available through November 2024.

October – November - autumn colors season

Mid-March – April - cherry blossom season

$100 Patagonia gift card for bookings purchased in September

ii. Holiday Market River Cruise – 8 days Germany and Austria

includes 3 meals a day on board

6 days of land-based excursions

3 UNESCO world heritage sites

Multiple itineraries still available early and mid-December

Packaged discounts available (while supplies last) if air included with cruise booking

iii. 3 Arctic Island tour – Iceland, Norway, Greenland 50% discount

Bookings must be completed by September 4.? Limited booking available.

Travel commences August 24, 2024, 15-day sea & land excursion.

Additional itineraries discounted 25% - 30%

Save an additional 10% if paid in full at booking

iv. Air & hotel packages to Ireland originating in New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD) and Boston (BOS).? Two to nine people.? Deals ending September 5, 2023.? Travel now through Spring 2024.? Choose between a variety of itineraries including:?

6+ nights – 4 cities:? Kilkenny, Cork, Limerick & Dublin

6+ nights – castles & abbey tours

6+ nights – 5-star resort & road trip, includes rental car and airfare

Thank you for reading!

Ready to travel?? Talk about travel?? Dream up an epic trip?

Come visit us:? Holiday Road Adventures.? Plan.? Dream.? Go!

We’d love an opportunity to help you make your next travel dreams come to life.

Find us online @ https://www.holidayroadadventures.com/

Dream.? Plan. Go!