Introverted Traveler | Travel IS for everyone a response to Sian Ferguson on Matador Network

I think what bothered me the most about this article was the negative tone of it all. You can't, you can't, you can't; when people have been over coming you can'ts for as long as the human race has been around.

1. When you don’t come from money, the idea of travel rarely ever crosses your mind.
Response: I do not come from money. I have been so poor that many times I ate once a day and I have also been homeless. I never believed anything was out of my reach. If anything the poverty levels that i experienced drove me to work hard to reach my goals. If that meant working extra shifts or sacrificing what I want in the "now" to reach those goals, that is what I did.

2. “Traveling on a budget” doesn’t always cut it.
"At this point, you might point me to a guide on how to travel on a budget. For sure, some of those money-saving tips are super useful – but they seldom cover airfare, passports, and other unavoidable costs. They also don’t account for the money you lose out on when you take time off work to travel."
Response: Traveling on a budget DOES always cut it. You must take your budget and add travel in. You can reasonably predict what it will cost you in gas and food to do something. There are several ways to budget for travel. I met a couple who saved a pay checks amout of money to cover the bills while they were gone so they didn't have to worry about being able to pay them. Then saved for the travel event itself. They traveled every 2 years to wherever they wanted. Think about where you can save money and then put that money aside toward your travel goals. Another way to do this is to live simply and save as much as you can for several years. That's only 3 ways, but there are more and I may do a video on that.

3. The ability to travel depends on your level of privilege.
"Having a disability, whether physical or mental, can make it incredibly hard to visit new places."
Response: *buzzer to the negative* I will give it to this writer that disabilities make it difficult, I would however, draw the line at incredibly hard. Again, this is just one more hurtle for you to overcome. Many if not all places that you can visit are handicap accessable. They are also handicap accomidating as long as they know you are in need. As far as the transgender issue; don't go places that would be detrimental to your health to go. There are places I will not go because I am a woman and just don't want to risk it. We all have to make those decisions. I would love to climb Everest; will I? No. Why? Because my asthma and physical ailments prevent me from doing so. Staying safe is just as important as the other things I have discussed in this video. Planning your trip is a must, but that doesn't make it incredibly hard. I personally know several people in wheel chairs that participate in charity walks, travel state to state and have been across the pond. If you set your mind to things, plan and save you can make your goals happen. Will you be traveling every week? Probably not. Will you get to where you want to go? Definitely!

Link for reference: https://matadornetwork.com/life/lets-stop-pretending-travel-accessible-everyone/

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Downtown Summerville | Third Thursday in June

Third Thursday is a monthly free admission event that gives the community a chance to gather and small businesses a chance to flourish. It also gives wanderers like us an opportunity to relax and get our wanderlust out =^_^=

Important tidbits:

1. Location: West Richardson Ave in Downtown Summerville
2. Bathrooms?: You can use restrooms in certain establishments, but there are no port-a-potties set up.
3. Wheelchair accessible?: Yes! You should be able to get everywhere
4. Water fountains: No
5. Doggies ok?: Yes! On a leash and you must pick up after them.
6. Find out more or buy tickets: http://www.summervilledream.org/third-thursdays.html

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The Yorktown at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant

The Yorktown is an aircraft carrier packed with history, and for me, memory. This grand lady is on display in the Charleston Harbor and can be seen while you cross the Arthur Ravenel Bridge or while you take in some sea air from Waterfront Park in Historic Downtown Charleston. I have been to the Yorktown a few times and every time I go the sense of thankfulness, awe and sadness fill me from head to toe. My family on both sides are military and I have had many experiences with people who serve and have served our country. All of these experiences come back to me while I walk through the halls of remembrance that they have tastefully set up.

Watch our video walk through of just some of the things you will see when you visit the Yorktown!

They have several experiences available for the $22 admission fee. Beside the Yorktown low and stealthy is the submarine USS Clamagore. If you want to experience a cold war era sub, don't skip this! They also have The Vietnam Experience that gives you an idea of what our boys went through during that troublesome war. They sometimes also have the USS Laffey. This destroyer was given the nickname, "The Ship That Would Not Die", and is named after a civil war medal of honor recipient. All of these are covered under the $22 admission fee.

A post shared by Eisling (@sleepybluekitty) on Jan 11, 2017 at 9:21pm PST

Something you should not skip when you go is the documentary that plays in the theater to the right of the entrance. In this movie they interview people who served on the Yorktown. In those shared experiences what stuck with me was the way the men called the ship mother. For them, it was a steady area of safety that could always be relied upon. To these men the Yorktown kept them safe and brought them home. When you go remember, as I do, the people who now sit on ships. Whose metal mother glides through the waves keeping them safe and bringing them home to us.

Important tidbits:

1. The Yorktown is located: 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA
2. Bathrooms are located in the gift shop.
3. It is wheelchair accessable, to a point.
4. There are no water fountians
5. Except for certain special occasions, pets are off limits.
6. To find out more and buy tickets visit there website: The Yorktown at Patriots Point

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RVing might be for you!

Part one of my series of traveling with introverts! My husband and I are both introverts. We are different levels of introvert but find we share many things in common when it comes to our introversion. The first being our own space. As much as we enjoying seeing our family the question always comes down to; where will we sleep? Where could we have time to decompress, relax and recharge? We don't like taking over someones' space; so, using a guest room is nice but not ideal (especially if it's one of our family members rooms they are very nicely giving up for us). That is where having an RV would come in. You can define your own space in an RV. You would have your own bed and area that allows you to recharge after a hard days interactions. Beds come in all sizes from single to king and the living area is just as nice.

The second thing we share in common with each other is the amount of time we are able to be around others. We both have a max of about two hours. With an RV we have a separate area that allows us a quiet space to do whatever we need to recharge. Even when parking in a close area to those we spend time with, it's an obvious separation that allows us the comforts of home and the joys of seeing family and friends on our terms.

An RV that I like:

Now lets talk space. Rv's can be small pop ups that you can pull behind your 4-cylinder car or larger ones that need a truck. Depending on what you want to do and where you want to go, either of these can be ideal. I personally like the brand Cedar Creek by the company Forest River. I can bring my kitties in this thing and we will all fit! I like the idea of being able to take everything I love, wherever I want and have my area when it's time to recharge.

Playlist of RVs' that I like. So many options for your home away from home!

If you are anything like us, it's not about staying away from people; but being able to enjoy the people we want to see. This way we have the best of both worlds and find more of a desire to travel. Go to your local RV store and check out what they have. You might be surprised at just how spacious they are!

Tuskegee Airmen Memorial - Walterboro South Carolina

It's November and every year this is the time to learn our history as a country. What keeps us free, what makes us great and the sacrifice that is required for these things. The Tuskegee Airmen are one such example of those who sacrificed and what we can accomplish when hate and bigotry are set aside for love and common sense.

Enjoy the video

While there the stillness of the air provided an atmosphere of contemplation. The plagues and information boards give a small window into the life and times of our boys. What has inspired me most about these men (and others before them) is knowing that as they fight they protect not only the lives they love, but the lives of those who would sooner see them dead. When you fight in our armed forces you fight for not only those you love, but those who ideals are totally abhorent to you. This I think is something that is sometimes hard to remember. Our fighters, our boys; fight for us all. Never forget that these men draw lines in the sand and defend those lines. They make it possible, in a very real sense, for each of us to fight over ideals from our keyboards; rather than having to pick up weapons everyday and fight off those that would tear down the fabric of this nation. Remember to thank them for the freedom and ease that you have. It was won with bitter cost.

Important tidbits:

1. Tuskegee Airmen monumnet is located: 537 Aviation Way, Walterboro, SC 29488
2. There are no bathrooms
3. It is wheelchair accessable
4. There are no water fountians
5. The monument is dog friendly, you must pick up after the dog and the dog must be leashed.
6. It's open sun up to sun down.

Granby Park, Columbia South Carolina

Granby Park has so much potential. My husband and I traveled there as a way to get out of our area after Hurricane Matthew. When we arrived it the area looked exactly as we expected a small park to be; bathrooms, resting area, water fountain for dogs and people, signs that give you information about the animals and plant life that you may see, the hours of the park and last but not least the rules of the park. What we did not expect to see there was a police call box. If you have never seen them before these boxes are typically placed in areas that are not safe. You press a button that calls the police directly and they come to you as soon as they can. We weren't sure what to expect after that, but we forged on to see for ourselves what the park had to offer.

Enjoy the video!

The first little jaunt was not long as they do not seem to have developed the walk way to the right. It ended at some very overgrown woods and it wasn't a long walk either. There were a couple of people there; one fishing from an area that appeared to be a dirt slide for personal water craft and a gentleman sitting on at a picnic table listening to music and watching the sun set. We ended up turning around and taking the concrete path to the left. Several steps in and we found a homeless man fishing for turtles. We greeted him and he told us this park had been here for a long time. I looked it up and it was started in the 1990's. We thanked him, wished him luck and kept walking. Here the trail gets very scenic and you have a few stopping points to view the river. A couple of these viewing points were rendered pointless, however, because of the overgrowth directly in front of it. You could tell by the tree and grass growth that it was not well cared for.

A photo posted by Eisling (@sleepybluekitty) on Oct 25, 2016 at 8:15pm PDT

We continued down the way to the abandoned trussel finding broken beer bottles, graffiti and more police call boxes to the winding back end of the park. Passing a few people walking back to the front, we witnessed at least one drug deal going down and a possible deal waiting to happen as we passed. We also saw a few people using it as a spot to drink beer while sitting in their truck (a definite no-no according to the park rules) and proceeded to come down with a distinctly unsafe feeling about the whole thing.

A photo posted by Eisling (@sleepybluekitty) on Nov 2, 2016 at 9:36pm PDT

Our final thoughts: It is unfortunate that a place with such beauty and potential is struck down with the plague of being so unkept and forgotten looking. We wish they would place a walking or riding cop in the park to help clean it up a bit. If you want to go to Granby Park, go with a buddy, some sort of weapon and not after 4 p.m., that would be our advice. It is also our sincere hope this park is cleaned up, organinzed and made safe by the people who use it.

Important tid-bits:

1. Granby Park is located: 100 Catawba Cir, Columbia, SC 29201
2. Bathrooms and water are available at the beginning of the trail area.
3. If you find yourself in trouble or hurt the police call boxes are everywhere and they can get to you without having to know a number or anything.
4. What is developed is handicap friendly, except for certain low lying areas in the development that could have water on them if it rained.
5. Go with a buddy and do not go there at night! If you want to go, we would not stop you. But please, do not go alone and do not go unprepared. You may find yourself in need of the police call boxes if traveling there unprepared.

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2016 Charleston Heart Walk

I participated in my first heart walk this year. The walk itself is only three miles, 1.5 one way and the same 1.5 back all along some of the most well known areas of Downtown Charleston. This walk is dedicated to survivors of heart disease, raising money to help fight heart disease and stroke, and raising awareness for living a healthy lifestyle. I went with three friends and had a good time trying to beat their time from last year and waving at the volunteers that cheered us on while we walked. Film crews from local news stations and college students recording for film class were also present. We had several photo opportunities which included Batman, the Heart walk Heart and the Stingrays mascot. We got our picture with Batman! :)

Enjoy the video below!

When you go you want to get there early as traffic was crazy! You are allowed free parking in the parking garage of the Aquarium util 12pm that day, it is suggested that you carpool if you can. According to my friends there are a bunch of freebies that are also given away before you start the walk. Those include but are not limited to: free water for the duration of the walk, cookies and coupons provided by Subway, face painting and bounce castle for the kids and more! This event is open to everyone and is pet friendly. You don't have to pay to walk and it's a good way to see the iconic places of Downtown Charleston.

Important tips:

1. Water is provided free of charge to walkers and bathrooms are located in the parking garage
2. Parking is free in the Aquarium garage.
3. This is a pet friendly event. Your pet must be leashed and you must pick up after said pet.
4. This event is handicap accessible. Watching the video you will see everyone is included in this walk.
5. Get there early!! Traffic is terrible for this event as thousands of people are going. Plus you want to get in on these freebies :)
6. Be aware that there are many people filming and taking pictures.
7. To find out more about the Charleston Heart Walk visit there website: Charleston Heart Walk

Our final thoughts on this free event is that we will be back next year and early!

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