Our Journey

Over six months in 2013, Allison and I seized an opportunity to travel during some time between jobs.  We took a series of trips to America's geographic corners, adopting an "out of the box" perspective in search of different and unusual people, places and things.  We hope that you will enjoy sharing this journey with us.

Our journey was comprised of a series of trips to America's corners:

• northeast - Maine;
• southeast - Florida;
• northwest - Washington;
• southwest - California;
• north - Alaska; and,
• south - Hawaii.

Where practical we visited the actual geographic landmarks, such as South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii or West Quoddy Head in downeast Maine.  However, our real goal was to find and enjoy America's hidden treasures; traveling to the corners is merely a vehicle for that search.  We also visited the regions surrounding the corners, and many other places during our journey.  For example, our first trip was a tour of extreme northern Maine during the coldest days of winter.  And we experienced these areas in many different ways: driving, hiking, SCUBA diving, boating, etc.  So our journey was not the pursuit of a list, but rather an open-minded exploration of America.

We did not know how long this journey would last, and therefore planned our journey flexibly.  We decided to schedule our trips with intervening gaps of several weeks when we can take care of business at home. Some of the trips were previously planned; in other cases we took advantage of opportunities as they arose.  The time we devoted to this journey was a precious opportunity that Allison and I did not want to squander.
      
Allison and I love to travel, and we travel well together.  While she sometimes tempers my more adventurous schemes, Allison is a real explorer too and was enthusiastic when I shared my original idea for this journey; she quickly responded with many ideas of her own.  As some of you know, in 2003 I summited Mount McKinley in Alaska.  After that climb the Portland Press Herald quoted me as saying that "McKinley was an important goal  . . . .  [b]ut the mountains I'd like to climb now are  . . .  one- to two- to three-day trips I can make with my wife coming along."  Allison had the article framed, and occasionally reminds me of that quote!  This journey was an opportunity for us to enjoy a series of diverse trips together, a prospect that we relished.  And we also relish the opportunity to share with you the many treasures that we discovered hidden in America's corners.

Me and Allison in Belize