Our big outing of the week: an evening at Pirates Voyage, a dinner show in Myrtle Beach produced by Dolly Parton. We got the front row, which meant lots of swashbuckling went down right under our noses. Because it's Christmas, they somehow worked in the "Christmas Carol" with a pirate captain as Scrooge...and somehow that … Continue reading 11-19-18 →

To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, this week I'm going to be an "intentional tourist" in Myrtle Beach, SC. My younger sister's family is joining me in the land of sand, shopping malls, and miniature golf. (Note: we are not in any of the pictured hotels, but in a condo across the beach road.) I'm excited … Continue reading 11-18-18 →

I was on the beach at sunrise to mark today's departure from the Outer Banks. (Those who know me well understand that this required effort!) Perfect sky. Perfect morning. Perfect way to launch the next leg of my journey. And before heading out, I said goodbye to Duck with a stop at their famous make-while-you-watch … Continue reading 11-17-18 →

It's my last day on the Outer Banks, and the first truly sunny weather in five days. I bundled up in gloves and two pairs of pants to spend four hours on the beach. Goodbye (only briefly!) to shells and seagulls and surf. There are more beaches in my future, but the Outer Banks are … Continue reading 11-16-18 →

Here are four things you probably won't find in Montana: (1) Christmas holly growing wild along a trail. (2) Mountains of oyster shells waiting to be used as construction material. (3) Wreaths hanging from docks and Christmas lights strung on shrubs that are still bright with flowers. (4) "Crab" being used as a verb. Oh, … Continue reading 11-15-18 →

My friend Carolyn and her sister Susie (see last week) came for a visit - they are making sure I learn something about local history! We managed to squeeze in the Currituck Lighthouse (1870s); the Whalehead Club (1920s); and the Lost Colony of Roanoke (1590s). The lighthouse still operates. The house went to ruin but … Continue reading 11-14-18 →

Driving on the beach. I. Love. It. There are beach homes north of Corolla, but the only way to access them is via the sand. This isn't just off-season beach access, it's how people get around the neighborhood (if they have 4WD). If Xterras ever come back, I think I should star in the first … Continue reading 11-13-18 →

After ignoring my bike for a month while in New Hampshire, I'm proud to say I'm actually using it here. I took a long ride north toward Corolla, the last outpost of northern OBX. I toured through mazes of enormous (and colorful!) vacation homes. I explored an Audubon nature trail through a jungle of twisted … Continue reading 11-12-18 →

I'm settling in at my temporary home in Duck on the northern end of NC's Outer Banks (or in local parlance, OBX). In this quiet season on the shore, most of the big houses are vacant, businesses closed, and beaches empty. This morning, I walked a couple blocks to the beach and found myself alone … Continue reading 11-11-18 →

Today's travels took me through Richmond, Norfolk, and Jamestown, Virginia. Yes, I mean that Jamestown of 1607 and John Smith and Pocahontas. I am both awed and overwhelmed by the complex layers of American history, and so grateful to our National Park system for preserving it! I eventually arrived in North Carolina's Outer Banks, where … Continue reading 11-10-18 →

Original plan: spend last night at Carolyn's house in Harpers Ferry and drive on to North Carolina today. New plan: spend a sleepless night in an ER in Reston, VA after her sister had a car accident and serious concussion on her way home from joining us for dinner. Thankfully she's all right! To celebrate, … Continue reading 11-9-18 →

Today I left New Hampshire and began making my way to North Carolina where I'll spend the rest of November. While taking a shortcut I came across the Vermont Country Store. Turns out it's a real place, not just a catalog! A quick tour revealed lots of flannel and "good old fashioned" stuff. Then later … Continue reading 11-8-18 →

It's a bittersweet feeling to leave New Hampshire, but timely with the appearance of the oriental bittersweet (see photo). This plant appears on many country fence corners and is apparently an invasive (but pretty!) species. Also found on every corner: Meleagris gallopavo (turkeys!). I now totally get why Puritans served it and Ben Franklin wanted … Continue reading 11-7-18 →

Moving on from New Hampshire soon. It's got gorgeous scenery and quite a few quirks: (1) The Old Man of the Mountain silhouette is revered on license plates and highway signs - even though the actual rock face collapsed in 2003. (2) There is no seat belt law for adults. Yikes. Makes you think about … Continue reading 11-6-18 →

Lots. Of. Leaves. It's the last week of my sojourn in New England, and I'm trying to help my brother-in-law with a few chores before I head south. Let's say I'm paying it forward for the people who are raking my yard back in Montana. But in this case, where does the yard end and … Continue reading 11-5-18 →

The goal of today's Sunday was to find a few of New Hampshire's 50+ covered bridges. We had a list of 5 or 6, but between lunch and side trips we ended up only viewing two - the Blair bridge (built in 1870) and Turkey Jim's bridge (winner of best name). That's my brother-in-law Sal … Continue reading 11-4-18 →

Massachusetts was one of the very few states that I had not visited - but not anymore! To make it official, on my way back to New Hampshire I jetted over to spend all of 90 minutes in Rockport, MA. Note to self: come back to this historic town with its winding streets and rocky … Continue reading 11-3-18 →

What a great day! I spent the morning sharing Montana stories with my Rhode Island friends and hosts. I spent the afternoon visiting with faculty and staff from mathematics, education, and distance learning. My seminar talk went over well, with a good crowd for a Friday afternoon. And about 15 of us attended a reception … Continue reading 11-2-18 →

New adventure today! I drove down to Kingston, Rhode Island where I'm giving a talk about teaching and learning mathematics online. I'm staying with some longtime friends - Lynn was my pastor for several years in Bozeman, and Dave was the Provost at MSU. I arrived in time for a lovely dinner at the Coast … Continue reading 11-1-18 →

I've been keeping an eye on my sister most nights, tending to household and medical needs, and preparing for a presentation. Short sleep, stress, and multitasking had me on the brink of bronchitis. I dropped in at an urgent care today for some TLC, and got it from these medical professionals who know how to … Continue reading 10-31-18 →