Sad to leave Maine, itinerary, RV, rental car....

posted by Patty James @ 3:37pm, Thursday 20 May 2010.

My new favorite spot....Little Long Lake-no leashes. The pups and I went on 2 great hikes here today. Most of the paths were small and woodsy winding along the lake.


This is the back side of Seal Harbor



I would love to live here...it's a boat house, but if it weren't and if this weren't a park, I would want to live here.



Maine has been good to me and for me. I know that I will be back. I'm sad to leave, but looking forward to my next adventure....which brings us to my itinerary

Tomorrow brings me to Paris, Maine and kids interviews in the afternoon. I will stay with Jan Brogan (from my home town) tomorrow night and on Saturday I'll head to Illinois (21+ hour drive)

I'll be staying in Naperville outside of Chicago with my friend Victoria who has interviews set up for me next Tuesday. Thanks Victoria!

A little side note before I move on. Hertz rental called me last night and said, where's the rental car? I said, with me in Maine, why? (basically) Evidently, the contract was not written correctly and the third month was not accounted for and they have sold the car. Long conversation, but basically, I arrive at Victoria's Sunday night, clean the car Monday morning and return it to the Hertz rental car place at O'Hare Airport. I then pick up another car which I have to fit everything into to drive back to Florida in June. There are more details than this, but that's the bottom line.

Anyway...

On June 5th or 6th, I head south and stop in Atlanta on June 7th and 8th for media stops and after those, I head to St. Augustine to pick up the RV. The new side is on the R.V. as of today, but some parts are missing-whatever, at this point. It should be ready when I get there on June 9th. A day or two later I head to....

Wichita, Kansas (need help here)

Boulder, Colorado  (all set here)

Rapid City, South Dakota  (need help here)

Billings, Montana  (all set here)

Seattle, Washington (with a possible stop in Spokane and Idaho) All set in Seattle

Portland, Oregon  (not sure yet)

Ashland, Oregon  (all set)

Mt. Shasta, CA.  (I have friends here, hopefully they can help)

Sebastopol, CA. .....about mid-August

I will hug and kiss a lot of people, do a lot of media, apply for a lot of grant money, give a lot of talks to local clubs and organizations...basically, I'll be in front of a lot of people for several months. I haven't quite figured out living arrangements yet, but I will. In the fall, I will attend a lot of "Crush"parties (wine harvest parties), paint, read, take long baths, watch my little grand daughter so Olivia and David can go play and so much more. I also want to train for a half-marathon.

Grant money will be coming in while we develop curriculum. I will enjoy holiday baking and singing a lot of Christmas carols, then I will pack up my well-traveled doggies in my car (station wagon) and head out on the 4 day drive to The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, where my friend Amy says I can live in her house rent-free while I write my next book. I will return home in April (ish). That is the very, very rough plan. Who knows what can happen? I might be in Mexico or Hawaii next January...or I'll stay put somewhere and enjoy not being so strong all the time...

The water here is smooth and clear. I have been writing in my 'office' which is outside on the grass, while the dogs have their run of the place. I'm a little melancholy tonight. I could use a hug...

I'm sure I'll be jazzed about everything new to come by morning....