01. My Way.

I am a big fan of great music, which is probably why I named all nine of my travel eBooks after famous songs. Here's why I chose "My Way" for the theme of my 2025 road trip.

First, my way of traveling isn't for everyone.

I have chosen where to go based solely on a song title, or because I got asked to pet sit some Yaks near a UFO Watchtower, or because I wanted to see some unique destinations like Marfa, Texas, Forest Gump Point in Monument Valley, or the future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. I mapped routes that allowed me to visit epic music sites like Woodstock, Motown, Winslow and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, see cities dedicated to Superman, Popeye or the Wizard Of Oz, or simply to connect with new or longtime friends.

I've driven thousands of miles just to visit quirky places like Wahoo, Frankenstein, Santa Claus, Funk and Nothing, see oddities like the world's largest weather vain, the world's highest tide or a massive Hippie Paul Bunyan, or to view gorgeous scenery in Napa, St. George, Pagosa Springs, Jeffersonville, and Michigan's west coast. Along the way, I've been blessed to attend weddings, graduations, parties and reunions, follow my lifelong calling of helping others in the gym, photograph lovable pets and amazing faces, and even play baseball at the ethereal Field Of Dreams movie site.

Thanks to the hospitality of hundreds of friends, family, strangers, and some very forgiving ex-girlfriends, I've been a grateful guest in mansions and tiny houses, high rises and basements, lofts and guest rooms, Earthships and ghost towns, lake cottages and desert casitas, and on air mattresses, couches and bunk beds. And to stay on budget, I have car camped in farmer's fields, mountain forests, creepy woods, and the parking lot of legendary country music venue, Luckenbach, Texas.

I have been privileged to travel historic Route 66, the Lincoln Highway and Alligator Alley, brave Independence Pass and Route 50 - the loneliest road in America, traverse Canada coast to coast and hit all 48 contiguous US states in one 15,000+ mile road trip. But I have also been challenged by pandemics, hurricanes, tornadoes, atmospheric ​rivers and bomb cyclones, forest fires, flooding, earthquakes and blizzards. 

By the grace of God and the encouragement of many, I have been extraordinarily blessed to have and to share all these experiences with others. And hopefully, in the process, inspire a few to travel their own way or virtually join me on mine.  
​

Second, I moved to the New Jersey countryside about a year ago. I figure if I didn't pick one song from the Garden State's many famous singers, I might get fitted for some cement shoes courtesy of fictional resident, Tony Soprano. :-) So, I chose this song from one of the most famous singers of them all. And while some of the lyrics are rather somber, these few lines below really sum up my way of travel - and life. 

I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way
​
Frank Sinatra, "My Way" < link to song

Table Of Contents
​01. My Way.

Part 1: NJ/VA/NC/GA/FL/NJ Jan 29-Feb 22, '25. Map here 3000 miles.
02. Winter Is Coming. 
03. Winter Is Here. 
04. Florida Sounds Great!
05. My New "Pet" Project.  
06. Amazing Places: D-Day Memorial. Part 1.  
07. Amazing Places: D-Day Memorial. Part 2.  
08. Amazing Places: Scrambled, Greensboro, NC.  
09. Amazing Places: Bog Garden, Greensboro, NC.  
10. Amazing Places: Bicentennial Garden, Greensboro, NC.  
11. Amazing Places: Asheville, NC. Part 1.  
12. Amazing Places: Asheville, NC. Part 2.  
13. Florida: The Sunshine State. 
14. Amazing Places: Celebration Park, Naples, FL. 
15. Amazing Places: The Everglades.  
16. Amazing Places: Rod And Gun Club, Everglades, FL.  
17. Amazing Place: Goodland, FL.  
18. Amazing Places: HavAnnA Cafe, Chokoloskee, FL.  
19. See Ya Later, Alligator. 
20. The Midnight Train To Georgia.  
21. Amazing Places: Cartersville, GA.  
22. Amazing Places: Nagel's Bagels, Cartersville, GA.  
23. Amazing Places: Marietta, GA.  
24. Amazing Places: Woodstock, GA.  
25. Amazing Places: Driftwood Beach, GA.  
26. Amazing Places: The Wharf, Jekyll Island, GA.  
27. Georgia On My Mind. Part 1.  
28. Georgia On My Mind. Part 2.  
29. Georgia On My Mind. Part 3.  
30. Georgia On My Mind. Part 4.  
31. Georgia On My Mind. Part 5.  
32. Georgia On My Mind. Part 6.

​Part 2: NJ/VA  Apr 29-May 3, '25. Map here 500 miles.
33. Amazing Places: Old Town, Alexandria, VA. Part 1. 
34. Amazing Places: Old Town, Alexandria, VA. Part 2. 
35. George Washington's Distillery, Alexandria, VA. 
36. Amazing Places: River Farm, Alexandria, VA.  
37. Amazing Places: Mount Vernon, VA. Part 1. 
38. Amazing Places: Mount Vernon, VA. Part 2.  
39. Amazing Places: Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, VA.  
40. Amazing Places: Del Ray, Alexandria, VA. Part 1. 
41. Amazing Places: Del Ray, Alexandria, VA. Part 2.  
​42. Embracing The Music. 

​​Part 3: NJ/NY/MI  May 16-Jun 9, '25. Map here 800 miles.
43. Amazing Places: Catskills, NY. 
44. A Very Pup-ular Way To Travel. :-)   
45. Amazing Places: Woodstock Way, Bethel, NY. Part 1.  
46. Amazing Places: Woodstock Way, Bethel, NY. Part 2.  
47. Amazing Places: Fair Oaks Drive-in, Middletown, NY.  
48. Amazing Places: Wurtsboro, NY. Part 1.  
49. Amazing Places: Wurtsboro, NY. Part 2. 
50. Amazing Places: Bashakill Vineyards, Wurtsboro, NY. 
51. Amazing Places: Two Farms Brewing, Bloomingburg, NY. 
52. Nature's Streaming Channel.  
53. Amazing Places: Mountaindale, NY.  
54. Amazing Places: Creek Bar, Mountaindale, NY.  
55. Amazing Places: Double Up, Parksville, NY. 
56. Amazing Places: Letchworth State Park, Castile, NY. 
57. Amazing Places: Ellicottville, NY.  
58. Amazing Places: Panama Diner, Panama, NY.  
59. Looking Forward To The Road Ahead.

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