I’ve been hiding out from winter in Mobile, Alabama. The rainiest city in America, as it turns out! (It’s true! I didn’t believe it when someone told me. Then I looked it up. Mobile gets 67″ of rain per year; easily enough to submerge most 5th graders.) One rainy day,...
The small town of Adrian, Michigan very briefly held the world’s record for largest number of decorated Christmas trees on public display all in one place. Within a few hours, another town took the record. But seeing these trees was still quite a sight, even for someone who hardly cares...
Logistics / Moderately Active / Modes of Transport / Off-the-beaten-path / Strenuous / USA / Wandering
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published August 31, 2021
This story will have more twists and turns than a goat path through the Ural Mountains. It will also be a really long story. For those who don’t want to read the whole thing… TL;DRRV’s engine broke down. I fixed it. The end. First, a key take-away:When I was involved...
Active / Activities / Adventure / Nature / Off-the-beaten-path / USA / Wandering
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published July 13, 2021
For my birthday recently, I decided to take a weekend trip back to my childhood home. I had not been there since I was 12 years old.
On my way across the country, I skimmed through the southern part of Minnesota. There are now only three US states I have never visited. That’s not to say I’ve seen all there is to see. Only that I’ve at least set foot and seen some of 47 different states....
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published October 19, 2018 · Last modified October 16, 2018
There is a place along I-95, near the North Carolina/South Carolina state line called “South of the Border”. Out in the western part of South Dakota is a place called Wall Drug that reminds me of that.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a cold weather person. So it comes as a surprise even to me that I like Wyoming as much as I do. I don’t think I could ever live there. At least not full time. Maybe summers only. Still, I’ve been...
After packing up a large house and two-car garage into two storage containers, I helped SB drive over 2,800 miles from Washington state to upstate New York. After cramming three semi-feral bunnies and her large hunting dog into her small SUV-type car, we only had room left for one backpack...
Housesitting generally entails living in someone’s home and taking care of things while they are away. In my most unusual housesitting assignment yet, the homeowner was there the whole time. She was preparing to move across the country and the assignment was to help her pack and also to help...
by Jeffrey Kontur · Published September 30, 2018 · Last modified September 24, 2018
Homer is a Chesapeake Bay Retriever I’ve been housesitting just outside Portland, Oregon. He has somehow taught himself how to eat hazelnuts! This short video shows him cracking them open, eating the nut inside, and leaving the shells behind.