Update from the Road: May 29

EDITOR'S NOTE: As our intrepid travelers -- Keven and Georges -- transverse the East Coast in their Casita, we asked Keven to provide us periodic updates. Here's the latest dispatch from somewhere in Virginia. By the way, Keven notes that as of May 22, they had covered 6,140 miles since departing March 1, and visited nine states, averaging 512 miles a week.

Q.  What has surprised you most about the trip so far?
Keven: "How little we miss the comforts of home. The important ones we have with us - each other, fresh brewed coffee, shower/toilet, good food. Plus, we get great views - a new living room every time we move!"

Q.  Is it going according to plan, more or less?
Keven: "Yes, totally according to plan - such as it was. So far. About all the plan was: Fla in April, Maine by July, Vancouver by Labor Day, Christmas in Tucson.... and visiting friends along the way as their schedules permit...."

Q. Anything you would have prepared for or done differently?
Keven: "Not really. "

Q. Any trouble getting a good Internet connection (hope you have an unlimited data plan!)
Keven: "Only in certain remote areas. We were w/o connex in the Everglades for two days, for example. Understandable. Also four days in Shenandoah Natl Park.  Understandable. Sometimes we go without connection for an hour or two on the road as we pass through a rural  area, and that can be annoying if you’re trying to start a new Google map or look up a particular bird. But that’s a trifle, really not much of a problem."

"PS: I’ll be posting a blog item sometime soon about advice for travelers on an adventure like this. That might be worth looking for.  The headline might be something like The Miracles of Windex and Duct Tape.... " 

Thanks Keven -- we look forward to reading that. In the meantime, stay current with the latest from the road at their website, POSTCARDS FROM THE PERIMETER.

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"We both love to hike and bike, to travel and explore. We’re conservationists by nature, adventurists by inclination. We’re both storytellers and pleasure seekers . . . 
We love the sensory pleasures of fine food and wine and it is
our joy to share the meals we make with friends and family. -- Keven Willey

By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

You're just retired from a prestigious job at one of the country's leading newspapers. Now what?

For Keven Ann Willey and her husband, Georges Badoux, the answer is "road trip." And not just any road trip, but a major league road trip. As in, a one-year odyssey along the entire perimeter of the United States, a journey spanning anywhere from 10,000 to 50,000 miles, depending on the route (shoreline or coastline) and side trips. 

Their starting point was Dallas, Texas, and their home-away-from-home is a 17-foot-Casita. While small, it has most of the comforts of home, including solar panels as an additional power source.

One month into the trip, they have transversed the Texas-Louisiana-Alabama coastline, driven the length of Florida's Gulf Coast all the way to Key West, and back up the Atlantic side. So far, 4,166 miles  ... and counting.

Some background:

We first met Keven and Georges in 2003, when Keven started a new job at The Dallas Morning News, where Pam and I also worked. Keven is an award-winning journalist recently retired; Belgian-born Georges is a master chef, former restaurant owner and professional tour guide. We became instant friends. So you can imagine how excited we were that their itinerary would bring them to North Palm Beach!

During their visit, they had a chance to see the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Frenchman's Forest, Blowing Rocks, the Jupiter Lighthouse and a sampling of local restaurants. But the best part was preparing meals together under the guidance of Master Chef Georges, who can turn any kitchen (or Casita two-burner stove) into a five-star restaurant.

Our time together was much too short -- they had to be on their way north. Stay tuned for updates as we chart their progress around the country!

Pam and Keven at Blowing Rocks

Pam, Keven and Georges explore Frenchman's Forest

Georges gets up close and personal with a rescue turtle
at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Pam looks on as Keven and Georges work on the Casita

Check Out Their Website:

Keven is updating a travel blog from the road and this map shows their progress.

Evelyn, center, joined the first part of the trip to South Texas

Make Room for Mom

Keven's mom, Evelyn, joined them for the first leg of the trip to South Texas, where she had an opportunity to visit relatives in Weslaco and see parts of Texas she hadn't seen before. Later on, she's rejoin the trip at stops in Connecticut, Ohio, Washington State and Arizona, where she lived for many years. While she enjoys travel, she admits she is more of a "stay at home" these days, enjoying pursuits like line dancing and golf. We asked if she has thought about keeping her own diary while Keven and Georges are away, along the lines of "Postcards From Home." "That's a good idea," she said. 

Keven and Georges outside the Marinelife Center
as seen through an aqaurium.

Watching the fish at Frenchman's Forest

Georges works his magic in the kitchen

Photos by
North Palm Beach Life

Monkfish on spinach with grilled tomatoes and fingerling potatoes: Fantastic!

Comments

"Pam and Gerry are the best hosts in the world, and they have a wonderful circle of friends we enjoyed eating (and drinking) with. What a beautiful part of the country. It was hard to leave this morning ... we’ll just have to get together again sometime! SANTE!" -- Keven Ann Willey

Thank you Keven -- and you are the best guests in the world! SANTE!!