I made it from Forsyth, Georgia to Paducah, Kentucky, with stops in Chattanooga and Nashville. Two more weeks of road tripping before I start my new job in Wisconsin!
Crossed Off the Travel Map: Tennessee (mostly) Edition
I made it through Georgia in one piece, despite some pretty epic rain storms. I don’t know why the South has this weird thing about rain, one second it’s perfectly clear and the next it’s pouring so hard the road is barely visible. Anyway I’m in Chattanooga for the weekend & it’s still raining. Hopefully I’ll be able to find some stuff to do despite the weather.
Crossed Off the Travel Map: Georgia Edition
I’ve been busy packing & planning my drive up to Wisconsin – lots of fun stuff to see along the way! I have 3 weeks of road trip between here & my new job so I’ve just been adding pins to my Google map for anything that sounds remotely interesting, plus of course looking for things to do over the summer & fall on my days off. I’ve already earmarked Sputnikfest in Manitowoc in September & the Midwest Historical Archaeology Conference in Chicago in October. Looking forward to getting my hands dirty as an actual working archaeologist!
Added to the Travel Map: Summer in Wisconsin Edition
House on the Rock, Spring Green – weird house with crazy stuff inside.
FAST Fiberglass Mold Graveyard, Sparta – giant molds laying around in a field.
American Science & Surplus, Milwaukee – crazy awesome store.
Mars Cheese Castle, Kenosha – when in Wisconsin, celebrate cheese.
Stavkirke, Washington Island – Norwegian-style church.
45 x 90 Geographical Marker, Athens – The exact geographical center of the N. Western hemisphere. Stop at the Wausau Visitor’s Center to sign the log book & get a commemorative coin!
Al Johnson’s Swedish Restuarant, Sister Bay – they have a sod roof with goats on top, who wouldn’t want to go there?
UWM American Geographical Society Library, Milwaukee – thousands of historic maps, globes, expedition photos, etc.
Circus World, Baraboo – Ringling Brothers circus museum.
Crash site of Korabl-Sputnik 1, Manitowoc- pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Sputnikfest September 7th & 8th!
Man Mound, Baraboo – human-shaped effigy mound.
Mr. Marvel’s Wondertorium, Wisconsin Dells – museum of the dime museum, compounding the absurdity.
Toy Train Barn, Argyle – giant model train diorama in a barn.
Pabst Mansion, Milwaukee – historic home of Milwaukee’s beer baron.
Little Bohemia Lodge, Manitowish Waters – site of a shootout between John Dillinger & the FBI.
I got a job! I’m heading up to Wisconsin to work on an excavation for the summer & fall. Planning an epic road trip to get there so be watching for new posts!
I also bought a new inflatable kayak, so hopefully there will be some great paddling in my future!
Crossed Off the Travel List:
Well, it’s done. Two & a half years at USF & it’s all over. That doesn’t seem like something that should have snuck up on me but it’s a weird feeling to suddenly have this chapter of my life closed.
I’ve been applying for jobs but haven’t gotten anything yet. Maybe I’ll go on a road trip.
In other news, I watched a bazillion bats fly out of a huge bat house at Fort Cooper State Park. There were also two owls hanging out there obviously waiting for the bat smorgasbord to begin, which must be really stressful for the poor bats but was really interesting for me.
I finally bought a GoPro & I’ve been having so much fun with it! I’ve just been playing with it in the little pond in my apartment complex but thankfully Florida’s weird wildlife can be found even in spots like that so I’m getting some good stuff. I can’t wait to take it on some adventures!
Crossed Off the Travel Map:
First week of my last semester is in the bag! Historical Archaeology, Cultural Resource Management, and an independent study working in the 3D visualization lab learning to do laser scans & stuff so it should be interesting!
I spent my Christmas break exploring small parks near where I live & doing a whole circuit of South Florida to visit family before taking a short train jaunt back to Tampa. The interior of Florida is truly a flat, flat, dull place to travel through. Not much to look at but cows and the occasional farmworker village.
Crossed off the Travel Map:
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Homosassa, Florida – sort of a combination park/zoo, this place is neat because they have the “fishbowl,” an underwater observatory with views of the fish and, when they’re out in the main pond, manatees. Aside from a resident hippo who’s been there since the 60s, all of the animals on display are native to Florida. Adults $13, children 6-12 $5, open year-round.
Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park, Homosassa, Florida – a tiny roadside park that encompasses the namesake ruins with a few interpretive panels and a small picnic area across the street. Free, open year-round.
Crystal River Preserve State Park, Crystal River, Florida – hiking trails along the river, boat tours, canoeing, etc. Free, open year-round.
Fort Cooper State Park, Inverness, Florida – trails through the site of a fort used during the Second Seminole War. The fort today consists of a small section of recreated palisade. Reenactments & living history displays during Fort Cooper Days in March. $3 per vehicle, open year-round.
Morris Bridge Park, Thontosassa, Florida – hiking trails, boardwalks, & fishing on the Hillsborough River. Watch out for alligators! I don’t recall what the admission fee was & the website doesn’t say, I think it was $2 or $3 per vehicle. May close if the river floods.
Tampa Union Station, Tampa, Florida – my train back home stopped here & it was weird because the way the route is laid out it feels like you pull into town & then go backwards out of town on the same track, but it’s just because the station is at the end of the line & then the train goes back out toward Orlando.
