101 Things

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liveuponatime.com

The first time I went skinny dipping was in high-school in my best friend’s pool (sorry Mr. and Mrs. Weldon).  It was the middle of the night, the moon was full (no pun intended), and we were too innocent to care about getting caught.  I’ve been an avid stripper-dipper ever since!  There are few things more freeing than water hugging your every curve, moonlight complementing your skin, and…whatever that magical spell is that skinny dipping has on your soul.  I’ve skinny dipped at all different times of day, in two large oceans (Pacific and Atlantic), in rivers, lakes, and springs, in public pools, and just about every friend’s pool (again, sorry to those that were blissfully unaware).  Luckily, I’ve never been arrested, but I have been high-beamed by four-wheeler headlights on beach patrol.  I think there’s less of a risk getting arrested while skinny dipping, because that’s just an awkward time to approach someone.  Perhaps, if I’m ever confronted, I’ll claim the waves knocked my clothes off.  No?

There’s apparently a show called, Skinny Dip (http://www.travelandescape.ca/shows/showdetails.aspx?sid=9534), where the host travels the world in search of the best places to skinny dip.  Costa Rica happens to be one of the highlighted destinations…for good reasons.  Reason number 1 - it’s not illegal to dip in the buff in Costa Rica.  On the second day of my family’s Costa Rica vacation, we were able to sneak a skinny dip and got swept away by the long tide.  We giggled as we fought our way back to shore, were bumped and jarred by jutting rocks that stayed hidden by the gray water (ouch), and then were suddenly pushed back to the beach by the powerful waves before being carried out to sea again.  One thing is for certain - clothes would have been a drowning hazard (reason 50 bazillion for shedding your clothes before diving in).  There were a few people that were hundreds of yards down the beach.  For all they knew, we were wearing flesh-colored swimsuits.  We went swimming with a large group a few days later, but we were too focused on the sand building up in the lining of our swimsuits to really enjoy ourselves.  Naked is the way to go!

I feel like I can’t do this post justice without posting a picture of the view around me.  Enjoy this vision of tropical heaven…

FYI - Baltimore actually attempted a world record for the largest simultaneous skinny dip in June 2009.  Too bad I didn’t know about this in advance; I could’ve knocked out #83 (skinny dip) and #16 (Guinness Book of World Records) in one try.  Perhaps this year

I guess it’s time to start planning our coast-to-coast road trip (Thing 53), even though it’s still a couple years away.  I’d hate to miss a once in a lifetime opportunity in a state in the middle of nowhere and have to buy a plane ticket to re-visit.  My husband and I have decided to explore the northern part of the U.S., since we were both raised in the south.  Growing up in Texas, I was able to make road-trips to the east and west coast of the southern states.  I also made several trips to Missouri for family reunions and one to Wisconsin for a Green Bay Packers game.  Now that we live in Florida, we’ve gotten to see much of the east coast – from the southernmost point in the 48 contiguous states (Key West) to New York.  I can’t wait to see how the north compares.  Get this – our family of four is planning to travel the entire way in a camper van (see Thing 97)! Our tentative plan is:

Maine:

- Start in West Quoddy Head in Lubec, Maine (the easternmost point in the 48 contiguous states)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Quoddy_Head

-  Drive down to Acadia National Park to explore more than 120 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads

http://www.acadiamagic.com/welcome.html

New York:

- Kayak or hot air balloon through a section of Adirondack Park

http://visitadirondacks.com/

Ohio:

- Chow down at Chrissie Hynde’s The Vegiterranean Restaurant, Bar, Coffeehouse, and Bakery

http://www.thevegiterranean.com/

Indiana:

- Ransack The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

http://www.childrensmuseum.org/

South Dakota:

- Dig for fossils in the Badlands National Park

http://www.travelsd.com/placestogo/badlands.asp

- Stroll the half-mile Presidential Trail at Mount Rushmore

http://www.travelsd.com/placestogo/rushmore/index.asp

Wyoming:

- Catch a glimpse of bison, elk, bears, and wolves at Yellowstone National Park

http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm

Idaho:

- Pretend like I’m training to be an astronaut and walking on the moon at Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve

http://www.nps.gov/crmo/index.htm

Washington:

- Officially complete our coast-to-coast trip in Cape Alava, Washington, the westernmost point in the 48 contiguous states

http://www.experiencewa.com/attraction.aspx?id=1513

I’m really excited that our journey starts at the easternmost point and ends at the westernmost point of the 48 contiguous states; although, I hate that we’ll probably have to miss the northernmost point, Northwest Angle in Lake of the Woods, Minnesota.  Other than that, what other must-sees should we add to the agenda?