#atlasobscura – Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond

6 April 2018

With sadness I left Santa Rosa Beach. I enjoyed my decadent week of relaxation in a very pretty upper middle class “predominantly white” holiday area similar (but not really) to the Australian Gold Coast. Here there are mile after mile of mansions mainly used as weekenders, and as I was here during Spring break it felt like all of America’s school age people were here spread across Panama City to Gulf Shores riding their bicycles or driving around in their golf buggies. Most of the people who come to this part of the world are from Tennessee and Georgia. Although the area I stayed in has a private beach so I did not venture outside the gated community often.

Orlando was meant to take me six (6) hours to drive but I allowed two (2) hours for stops to explore. It actually took me 12 hours because I was having so much fun exploring and then was stuck in traffic when a truck burst into flames in the forest on the roadside of the South 10. I was impressed with how quickly all the emergency services responded and put out the fire before all the forest caught alight. NSW could look into their methods particularly when there is an accident on the M1.

I have decided that when I move on to my next stop I have to remind myself to enjoy the journey, explore and not rush straight to the final destination.

Today I had a day of football, witches and fairies.

First stop was exploring Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. From what I saw it is predominantly a university town and has the beautiful and huge Florida State university(FSU).

I was curious to visit the Sod Cemetery at FSU. University football teams have a quirky tradition when they win a big match at the opposing team’s home ground. If the visitors win they take a piece of the playing field (sod) and bury it in their “Sod Cemetery” complete with headstones.

I also took a photo of their walk of fame and entrance of the university football exhibition

A magical stop was at Lichgate on High Road. The house was built by a FSU Professor Laura Jepson. The magical part of the property is the labyrinth she built near the majestic tree which reminded me of the tree in Avatar.

I met 3 beautiful women including identical twins Len and Leslie The twins were born with osteogenesis imperfecta and are 2 of the most inspiring and fun people I have met. I could have stayed in this magical fairyland with these women for hours but I needed to move on. Thank you ladies for reminding me there is no such thing as coincidence.

Next I went to the Tallahassee Old Cemetery to visit the gravesite of a white witch Elizabeth Budd-Graham.

The 9/11 Whale sculptures are a memorial built by Bruce Brinson and his friends. The whales are named Glory, Hope, Faith and Grace.

16 March 2018

My first scary incident was reminiscent of a movie robbery scene surprisingly and fortunately without a gun. I was lined up in a gas station to prepay my petrol (gas) when someone calmly walked in, took a 6 pack of beer and walked out with people swearing and chasing him. I quickly did what they do in the movies, backed up to a rear aisle and made myself inconspicuous. Nothing violent happened, but it was a reminder that there are some questionable areas I need to be careful of. I also thought that if this was one of the NRA States the man would probably have been shot. I didn’t wait there to buy petrol, I walked out to the car and noticed that the area was a bit dubious. I will be more careful in future.

I wonder how these signs work? They were throughout Flagstaff as Well.

I had spent the morning visiting unusual spots recommended in the Atlas Obscura.

First I went to the spaceship house.

Then the Musical Highway, a spot on Route 66 which, when you drive at the correct speed, you will hear “America the Beautiful” played. Unfortunately I could not hear it even when I stopped the car and I expect it is a joke or the cars weren’t going the correct speed for it to play. I got this pic though.

I then went to find the Atlas I

Described as “This pseudo-steampunk weapons facility is the world’s largest wood and glue structure, and packs quite a wallop“.

With an address of Kirtland Air Base I set my GPS. I thought I was going to a display at an unused airbase. I was a little surprised when driving up to the air base, I encountered the obligatory road block and security check. The poor guard must have thought I was a crazy Australian until I showed him the website. I was gently escorted off the air base with a recommendation of where to get something to eat if I was hungry. ??

Then I proceeded to the next item the De Anza Motor Lodge which holds American Indian Artefacts. This is actually being demolished, contrary to what the website states. A consolation, it is on Route 66.