What I’m up to Q1, 2024

What I’m up to Q1, 2024
I've been immersed in all things related to the Ohio River as I pitch a book on the racial legacy of the country's longest slavery border (north of the Ohio River was slavery-free per the Northwest Ordinance in 1787, all 981 miles of it).

Instituting a Quarterly Check-In

Instituting a Quarterly Check-In
I write two free newsletters, focusing on what interests me instead of chasing likes and followers on social media. My life is so much better now.

Hit The Road: A Woman’s Guide To Solo Motorcycle Touring

Hit The Road: A Woman’s Guide To Solo Motorcycle Touring
I wrote Hit The Road, A Woman's Guide To Solo Motorcycle Touring to help readers experience the joy that a solo road trip gives me. It includes practical tips that anyone can use—whether traveling alone or with others, and regardless of sex. Solo-wanderlust or solo-curious? Group riding...

How to Turn a Picture into a Book Cover (How I did)

How to Turn a Picture into a Book Cover (How I did)
Four Octobers ago, in the mountains of West Virginia, my friend Jill took this photo of me. It remains one of my favorite shots—as a photo, and as a memento of a gorgeous day with a dear friend. When I wrote my new book, Hit The Road: A Woman's Guide to Solo Motorcycle Touring, I knew I wanted ...

My Grandmother could have used the Hashtag MeToo in 1934

My Grandmother could have used the Hashtag MeToo in 1934
Social media platforms are blowing up with the campaign #MeToo that protests the culture of silence around sexual assault. While the hashtag is used mostly by women, others are coming forward with their stories of abuse too. If my beloved mamaw were alive today, I'm not sure she would join the c...

History, Music, Food, and Serenity at Kentucky’s Shaker Village

History, Music, Food, and Serenity at Kentucky’s Shaker Village
When you hear the word "Shaker" you likely think of 19th-century furniture. Fair enough. That said, Shaker innovations went far beyond furniture and crafts. They invented: The flat broom The circular saw blade The spring clothespin Chair tilter buttons The paper seed envelope. ...

I’m Headed to Tuscany, Corsica, and Sardinia by Motorcycle in 2018

I’m Headed to Tuscany, Corsica, and Sardinia by Motorcycle in 2018
[caption id="attachment_12360" align="alignright" width="300"] Our outdoor dining room, Podere la Strega[/caption] In 365 days I'll be on my second Italian motorcycle tour. From Rome, where we pick up our bikes, my group will head to the fabulous Podere la Strega in Siena. I catch myself think...

Henry Ford’s Kentucky Coal Camps: My Great-Aunt’s Memories

Henry Ford’s Kentucky Coal Camps: My Great-Aunt’s Memories
I recently spent a week in Kentucky with my Great Aunt Buntin in the video above. She is the youngest and only surviving sibling of six, all of whom born in the 1920's and 30's in a Kentucky coal camp near the West Virginia state line.

Four Mobile Apps for Finding Great Roadside Stops

Four Mobile Apps for Finding Great Roadside Stops
Planning a great road trip might start considerations like a final destination on a specific arrival date, but why not add some roadside kitsch and history along the way? My philosophy is that the journey is an equally-important part of the vacation. #TravelSlow #ConnectDeep.

Lazio Italy by Motorcycle: Civita di Bagnoregio “the town that is dying”

Lazio Italy by Motorcycle: Civita di Bagnoregio “the town that is dying”
Orvieto's morning air delights my soul, encouraging me not to think about the tour’s end in the afternoon. Instead I remind myself to wring joy and memories out of its last day.