A friend and I decided to take our e-bikes to the Little Miami bike trail on Wednesday. The weather was perfect! We rode 18 miles total. Our turnaround point was Loveland, Ohio where we celebrated his birthday. We each had … Continue reading
On our final day of the road trip, we hiked almost 4 mi on the Hawk’s Nest rail trail. It was a lovely mostly flat trail alongside a creek that had lots of waterfalls. At the turnaround point there was … Continue reading
On Wednesday we drove two and a half hours from Westfield, North Carolina to Grandview National Park in West Virginia. We hiked the 1 mi Castle Rock loop trail. The views were outstanding! Next, we made a stop at Babcock … Continue reading
The destination for our first full day of hiking/exploration was Hanging Rock State Park. We hiked the 1 mile Lower Cascades falls trail and the 7 mile Hanging Rock, Wolf Rock, and Cooks Wall trails. The scenery was beautiful! We … Continue reading
My friend and I departed Monday from Northern Kentucky and drove to Pilot Mountain State Park in North Carolina. We hiked a 1 mile loop trail and did some tree hugging 😊 The Airbnb I reserved was located 30 minutes … Continue reading
I returned yesterday from a two night solo camping trip. I camped at Cumberland Falls State Resort Park in Kentucky. There was one other couple tent camping, they were very nice and helped me put the rain fly on my tent. I haven’t camped in 10 years and I haven’t solo camped for 16 years. I forgot how much work is involved. It was beautiful weather, it did get down to 46° the first night, but I slept better there than I did at home. I hiked 3 trails in 2 days, for a total of 11 mi. Cumberland Falls is called the Niagara of the South.
I prepared my dinner at home and had enough for both nights, it’s called black bean, zucchini and rice casserole. Of course I had to have some s’mores. I met another couple around my age who had a VW camper. I took my chair down to their area and we talked for an hour or two. It was nice to have company. Both couples thought it was brave of me to camp by myself.
One of the hikes is called Eagle Falls. It follows along the shoreline of Cumberland River with a beautiful view of Cumberland Falls on the way to Eagle Falls. I decided to dip my feet in the ice cold water, it was very refreshing.
One of the hikes was 5.5 mi and there was no one on it. There was no phone service, so it was a little creepy, but I only thought about the possibility of bears, snakes, and injuries for the first mile 😊
I drove 25 minutes to an area called the Natural Arch Scenic area (image above). It was pretty. When I got home yesterday, I unpacked, vacuumed my car, and ordered pizza. It’s good to be back.
Since I wrote last, I’ve gone to an event at the Cincinnati Zoo called Blooms and Tunes. The Zoo is filled with tulips and there’s live music.
I also led a hike and went on another hike at Spring Grove Cemetery and Devou Park.
I went bicycle riding with a friend and had a bite to eat afterwards. I went to another friend’s home for dinner one evening.
Last night I took my brother and his wife to Playhouse in the Park in Mount Adams, next to downtown Cincinnati. They have a brand new theater and we saw “A Chorus Line”. It was their Christmas gift.
I have a second date this evening for dinner and then to see the butterfly exhibition at Krohn Conservatory. Hope everyone is enjoying the spring weather.
My activities for the past week have included meeting two new potential dates, hiking, working out at the gym, cooking, and meeting a new girlfriend for happy hour.
I drove an hour north to the historic Clifton Mill for my first date, had lunch, a short hike along the Clifton Gorge, and browsed the shops in a quaint town called Yellow Springs, Ohio.
There’s a weekly hike at Spring Grove Cemetery through a hiking group I belong to. As you can see from the photos below, it’s a beautiful place to walk. It’s mostly active people in their 60s.
I can tell my body is responding to my workout regimen at the gym. I’m getting some guns on me 😅. In my quest to eat healthy, I made homemade roasted minestrone soup, and then treated myself to a root beer float.
I had a first date (now I call them meet and greets) yesterday for a bite to eat in Covington, Kentucky and then a walk along the river front in the Licking Riverside Historic District. When you get to be in your 60s, many people don’t like to have their photo taken, but I always say today’s the youngest you’ll ever be, and in 10 years, if you’re still alive, you’ll think gosh I really looked good.
I met a new girlfriend through hiking. She’s a nurse. We met for happy hour and appetizers last night. It was nice getting to know her better. As we left, the setting sun was beautiful.
I have another meet and greet today. Tomorrow for Easter I’ll be spending it with my brother, his wife and others that are like family.
Hope everyone has a Happy Easter! 🐰
In the last couple of weeks I’ve been out on four first dates. One was for lunch and a walk along the Ohio River in the Licking Riverside Historic district in Covington, Kentucky. That’s not my date. 😊
Another was for dinner and the Leo Sayer concert at the Ludlow garage venue.
There was another one for lunch and a walk along the Ohio River in Warsaw, Kentucky. The most recent was the Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Cincinnati, followed by an early dinner nearby. I did a mini photo shoot with my phone of my date at the museum.
I also played indoor sand volleyball, racquetball, and worked out at the gym a few times per week.
I went on two hikes. One was at Spring Grove Cemetery and the other in the wooded section of Devou Park.
I saw a movie with my brother and his wife. I went out with a girlfriend. She and I took a short urban walk, stopped at a brewery and then had an early dinner in the Dayton/Bellevue, Kentucky area.
The pizza was yummy!
My past week has included getting together with my good friend for a drink at my place and then dinner out. We ended up going to a Mexican food place, although I’ve had my fill since I just got back … Continue reading
This morning, I walked less than 10 minutes from my Airbnb to meet the tour I signed up for through Airbnb Experiences, to hike at Iztaccihuatl – Popocatepetl National Park. The drive there took about an hour and a half, … Continue reading
2022 was definitely a year of travel! My first trip was in late Jan/Feb for almost a month in Honolulu, Oahu. Although I went by myself, I had lined up a few dates through online dating and also went to a couple of Meetup.com happy hours. It was a nice escape from the winter here in Northern Kentucky.
I left in early April for almost three months in Europe, 5 countries, 21 accommodations, with 18 day trips. It was a trip of a lifetime! When you travel solo, you tend to meet people more easily. I met a man at the beach in Mykonos, Greece and had dinner with him, a man and his family from a Facebook Europe travel group in Colmar, France, another lady from the same group in Colmar, France, and was invited to a friend’s country home in Chania, Greece.
I started in Rome for six nights with day trips to Tivoli and Orvieto. (Photo at Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Italy)
I traveled by train most of the time. Next I spent seven nights in Spoleto with day trips to Perugia, Assisi, and Spello. (Photo in the town of Spello)
My next destination was Florence where I spent eight nights with day trips to Siena (photo below), Lucca, and San Gimignano.
With nine nights in Paris, I was able to take day trips to Rouen, Versailles, Chartres, and Troyes (photo below).
Rouen shown below
During my five nights in Tours, France I took a shuttle bus to see some amazing Chateaus: Villandry (the gardens)…
Azay-Le-Rideau…
Cheverny…
Amboise, Chambord, Clos Luce, and Chenonceau.
I also had my hair colored/cut and had a spectacular 90 minute massage!
The seven nights I spent in Colmar, France were some of my favorite. It’s a magical place.
I took day trips to five quaint towns surrounding Colmar: Riquewihr, Kayserberg-Vignoble, Ribeauville, Equesheim, and Turckheim.
I also took a day trip from Colmar to Strasbourg, which I loved!
I began my time in Germany with five nights in Freiburg Im Breisgau (Black Forest) with day trips to a couple of area lakes. My Airbnb host let me borrow her bicycle which I rode often. I also went to a day spa with indoor/outdoor mineral pools.
Next, I made the journey through towns along the Romantic Road and spent one night each in Wurzburg, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dinkelsbuhl (photo below), Noerdlingen and Augsburg.
The last stop was in Fuessen for two nights. The Neuschwanstein Castle is located here. The first photo was taken while on the uphill walk to the castle…
I flew from Munich to Mykonos where I spent four nights.
Then took a ferry to Santorini for three nights.
To finish my Greek Islands experience, I flew to Chania, Crete, and spent three glorious days.
Next up was Switzerland…I flew to Zurich, took the train to Lucerne and spent two nights.
I backtracked and spent three nights at Lake Como, visiting Varenna, Menaggio and Belaggio (photo below).
I spent eight additional nights in Switzerland and discovered it’s my favorite European country! The hiking is amazing!
Took the Bernina Express Scenic train to St. Moritz for two nights. (Photo taken from a hike)
Took the Glacier Express Scenic train to Zermatt for two nights. (Photo taken from a hike)
Spent four nights in Lauterbrunnen (Photo taken from a hike)
In September I took a 10 day road trip through Michigan, Traverse City, Taquamenon Falls State Park, Marquette, Munising in the Upper Peninsula, and Mackinac Island. My dear friend Sherry joined me for the UP and Mackinac. (Photo: Pictured Rocks Boat Tour)
In October, a friend and I drove to the Smoky Mountains and hiked for a couple of days.
Finally, in December I found an inexpensive ($160 including luggage) flight to St. Petersburg, Florida and rented a beautiful Airbnb for 10 days. A new girlfriend joined me for part of the trip.
The holidays are rough for me since my husband and only child passed away a few years ago. I don’t contemplate suicide like I used to. I’m getting used to living alone. On Christmas Day I had brunch with my brother and his wife and then went to a get-together at a girlfriend’s home.
A few other things to note: I had my bathrooms and kitchen remodeled and after a six month break from online dating, joined five sites and have gone on too many first dates to remember 🙂 I also joined a health club and have been working out pretty regularly.
I’m writing this on my deceased son’s birthday. We named his Justin, because he was born Just-in time for the new year. I miss him so much. I’ve been invited to go out this evening, but I’ve decided to stay home.
I’m looking forward to a trip I planned to Mexico City for the month of February. I’ve always gone to beaches when I’ve visited Mexico, so this will be a nice change.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!
My friend Scott and I left Tuesday Morning on a road trip to the Smoky Mountains National Park. I had booked an Airbnb for two nights above Gatlinburg. It was more room than we needed, with three bedrooms and two baths. The highlight of our lodging was the view from the balcony on the third floor.
The following day we did a 2 1/2 mile hike at Laurel Falls.
Autumn is my favorite season, I love the colors!
We stopped to check out Mannish Branch Falls, but weren’t able to cross the creek to see it up close.
Our next stop was “the Sinks”.
Our second hike was 5.5 miles at Rainbow Falls. The elevation change was 1,500 ft.
The mountains were dusted with snow.
Since it hadn’t rained much for a while, the falls were smaller than usual but still beautiful.
We saw two bears from the car.
All together we walked over 10 miles yesterday, and my body knew it. After a hot shower, some pizza, and a couple of Tylenol, I was almost good as new.
I had a date Saturday morning to take an urban hike. I suggested meeting at Eden Park Overlook and hiking to Mt. Adams…approximately 3 miles round trip.
Eden Park
Eden Park Overlook
We took a break at The Bow Tie Cafe and had some water. The view was gorgeous!
View from the Holy Cross Immaculata Church
He wasn’t a match, but it was a beautiful day!
Yesterday, I led 11 hikers on a wooded 3.6 mile loop trail at Devou Park in Ludlow, Kentucky. The trails are seven minutes from my home. I’ve been a member of Meetup.com for 15 years and am an Assistant Organizer for the Tri-State Hiking Group, one of the meetups. Recently, I’ve been making more of an effort to get out to meet people and do more activities. In the past three years since the death of my husband and son, I’ve tended to isolate and lost my passion for most things in life, except travel, which I’ve used as a form of therapy. It was a great 1 ½ hr. hike with wonderful weather.
The leaves are finally beginning to change color.
Afterwards, a couple of the hikers and I went to The Standard Covington Restaurant in Covington, Kentucky for dinner/drinks. This morning I scheduled the same hike for an upcoming Saturday.
Sherry Lachelle Travels 