CEFR Level B1-B2
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Monday
On Monday, I got up early enough to have breakfast and check out of the hotel, giving myself 45-minutes for the 20-minute drive to campus. I didn’t think I would need the extra time, but I didn’t see any reason to sit and twiddle my thumbs in the hotel room, either.
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CEFR Level B1-B2
My knees and feet hurt so much on Saturday evening that I had decided to keep Sunday as a recovery day. I planned a gentle walk at Jacob’s Nature Park and then a stroll through downtown.
I think the white car was dropping someone off, not parked there as part of the antique show.
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CEFR Level B2-C1
Friday
Events: Reserve hotel for that night, 10:00 a.m. hair cut, pack car, drive four hours to the Super 8 at Lebanon, VA
Early Friday morning, I reserved a hotel room for that night, selected purely on low price and proximity to The Channels trailhead. A secondary desire was to go somewhere I hadn’t been before, which is partly how I ended up reserving a room in Lebanon, VA. After my 10:00 a.m. haircut, I came home and rushed through lunch before packing the car, kissing my husband goodbye, and settling in for a long drive while listening to Wuthering Heights. 
CEFR Level B2-C1
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In May 2026, I was an online student at Emmanuel Christian Seminary. For some classes, we go on campus for a week. The first week of May was an on-campus week. After evaluating my travel options, I decided that it would be cheaper for me to drive in than to fly and rent a car.
This trip came a week after finals. That week was filled with doing all the things I let slide during the semester. I just could not get my brain to turn to packing. I debated removing the Channels hike so that I would have an extra day to prepare, but I had been putting off the trip for years and going now would only be a 30-minute (one way) side trip.  Can you see the fern and the mushroom behind me to the left? Winter is full of life! I pulled down my neck gaiter so you could see more than my eyes. :) CEFR Level B1-B2 The state parks here often host a First Day Hike on January 1. Even if there isn’t an organized event, you can usually get a free First Day Hike sticker if you go to a state park on the first day of the year. A Master Naturalist friend and I wanted to go to an organized event, but it didn’t work for both of us. We decided to do a Last Day Hike on December 31 instead.
CEFR Level B2-C1
This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Road Trip. Part 2 will be January's Subscriber Exclusive in The Variety Page Circular.
August 11-14, 2025: Solo camping trip to Breaks Interstate Park (VA/KY) and Mammoth Cave National Park
CEFR Level B2-C1
I walk through the rainforest, well not a true rainforest, but with an abundance of wet leaves brushing my bare arms and humidity so strong my skin is wet, it feels like it should be. I walk and try to avoid poison ivy hiding among foliage with names I have yet to learn.
 Read Part 1
The next morning, while waiting for customer service desks to open, I booked the Comfort Inn in Flagstaff. One task down. I went back to searching for transportation options. Maybe I missed something the night before. Nothing.
 It was 9:30 p.m. on May 18, 2025. I settled into sleep, looking forward to our trip to the Grand Canyon starting on May 20. Suddenly, a thought occurred and I begrudgingly picked up my phone, typing in “shuttle from Flagstaff Pulliam to Grand Canyon.” Wait! What? I searched again. And again. And again.
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