Karen at Fifty Four

The journey has begun. Off to a slow start - seven hour layover in Chicago. I’m using miles to get this flight so I can’t complain. I even had enough miles left over to get a one-day pass to the admiral’s club to help ease that layover. I wasn’t impressed though. The snacks were not good. Very salty and you’re supposed to avoid salt when traveling to reduce bloating. Hopefully I’ll sleep on the plane and arrive in Dublin ready to roll. 

The cycling group that is going to Ireland together did a ride from Irish 31 (an Irish pub). They slowed the ride down for me and maybe another member, but probably mostly me. We rode 29 miles and I was beat! After we had lunch and a shot of whiskey 😋

Part of my new effort to not be alone was to join the Florida Freewheelers Board of Directors, which led me to being a member of the Membership Committee, which led me to manning a table, peddling club memberships. Not exactly my favorite activity, but we’ll see where this goes.  Here I am with my friend and fellow knee-replacement-victim, El.

While visiting Jen after my week of work at Ft Campbell, we visited the town of Berea. There is a small liberal arts collage and nice small-town feel. I may want to move to KY for my final home. I really don’t think Orlando is it for me. Too hot and crowded. Of course, I’m making friends and getting to know the area, so I hate to move to a new town. Being a stranger is hard… but the alternative is retiring in Orlando 😝. 

Every time I’m in KY, I have to make a side trip to visit my best friend, Chrisula. I wish we lived closer and we became friends long before I moved away, but life is weird. We keep in touch via text and when our paths cross, we pick up like we never left each other. She is such a special person and I cherish every visit with her!!! Our favorite activities are hiking and birding. One this trip we went to check on the blue bird boxes and found newly hatched chicks! The Northern KY parks are beautiful and have the best “city” hiking trails. I wish I lived close to a trail like this!!!