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astridtakesphotos · 2 years

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The last couple of days have been a whirlwind! My husband and I had the pleasure of traveling down to Atlanta, Georgia for a family wedding, and made a few stops along the journey. On Thursday, we spent the evening in South Carolina, and early Friday morning hiked Congaree National Park. Have you ever seen trees with knees?

#congareenationalpark #nationalparkservice #hopkins #southcarolina #treeshaveknees #weddingtrip #roadtrip #astridtakesphotos

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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It Only Takes a Moment or Step to Start the Story We Call Life… (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: There was definitely something magical about walking this boarded walk in Congaree National Park! The tall cypress trees all around, sunlight coming from above and a nice coolness still in the air with spring temperatures.

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redheadgleek · 6 years

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I’ve been continuing to update my blog, if you all wanted to read:

https://jcd1013.dreamwidth.org/209789.html - What’s been on my mind https://jcd1013.dreamwidth.org/210038.html - Road Trip #1 - Day 1, Atlanta https://jcd1013.dreamwidth.org/210269.html - Day 2, Congaree National Park https://jcd1013.dreamwidth.org/210913.html - Day 3, Savannah, GA

#all about me #50 by 40 #road trip #national parks #congaree national park #nablopomo #i failed in updating over the weekend #but i'm still going to try to blog the majority of the month

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toldnews-blog · 5 years

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New Post has been published on https://toldnews.com/travel/is-a-vacation-for-a-caregiver-even-possible-yes-heres-your-new-way-to-travel/

Is a vacation for a caregiver even possible? Yes -- here's your new way to 'travel'

(CNN) — Three hospitals. Four rehab centers and nursing homes. And 24/7 private home care in between. That was my widowed mother’s life — and by extension my life — in 2018 and spilling over into this year.

When a family member has an extended illness, there really aren’t enough hours in the day for the necessities: putting in some hours on your job (if you’re lucky enough to keep it like I’ve been), making sure your loved one is cared for adequately, keeping the bills paid, etc.

And time off for a vacation? That’s not conceivable when a full night’s sleep is a treasured luxury and your expenses outpace your income. Or is it?

‘Take care of yourself’

The oaks on South Boundary Avenue in Aiken, South Carolina, provide a natural archway and make even a drive to do errands a pleasant experience.

Forrest Brown/CNN

You hear it a lot when your life becomes engulfed in a loved one’s long-term medical crisis: “Be sure to take care of yourself.”

It’s well-meaning, certainly true, easy to say — and hard to do.

Vacations are one way we take care of ourselves. They are a chance to recharge and refresh. But when basics such as nutritious eating and adequate rest can be hard to come by because of a time or money squeeze, a traditional vacation is completely out of reach.

Every person’s case will vary, but for me, a classic week at the beach or two weeks in Europe is simply not doable.

The situation’s been hard. I’m tired. And I’m envious at times.

I look at my friends’ Facebook trips and think, “That used to be me.” My colleagues at CNN Travel report from far-flung places such as Azerbaijan or Japan.

My travels? I drive between Atlanta, where I work, and my home state of South Carolina where my mother is now in a skilled nursing facility and stable for the moment. It’s about 200 miles each way, mostly down the same ol’ Interstate 20. Not my idea of a good-times road trip.

Despite these limitations, I have managed to find a way to “travel.” This method can work for others who find themselves unable to take a week at the beach or head overseas for whatever reasons that severely limit you in time or money.

The method is simple — and free! You just have to change the way you think.

Redefining ‘travel’ and ‘vacation’

I had a memorable stroll along the Augusta Canal headgates at Savannah Rapids Park in the spring of 2018.

Forrest Brown/CNN

Because of circumstances I couldn’t change, I had to come up with new definitions and time frames for the words “travel” and “vacation.” What used to be a week off is now a day off. What used to be a day off is now an hour off.

“Vacation” might mean one glorious day free of both caregiving and work duties. “Travel” might mean a five-mile, 30-minute detour that has nothing to do with my appointed tasks.

And what I’ve discovered is you can create some precious moments in these little dollops of time and limited place — moments just as meaningful as you’ll have on a big overseas trip.

That minor epiphany came to me one sunny, spring day as I walked along the banks of the Augusta Canal and Savannah River outside of Augusta, Georgia. I had a family member who could sit with my mother all afternoon. My plan was to nap for 90 minutes and then work. But the sun, the sky, the gentle breeze — they were calling me and I couldn’t resist. And I’m so glad I didn’t.

My one-hour stroll along the canal and river felt as magical and memorable as rambles I’ve had along the Seine in Paris, the Thames in London and the St. Lawrence in Quebec City. And it was five miles from my motel and in a place where I once lived. That’s when the light bulb started illuminating: This is how I can now “travel.”

Find the beauty in your own backyard

A nighttime view of Atlanta, looking toward Midtown, from the Westin hotel. Turn where you live into a “vacation” spot.

Forrest Brown/CNN

I have self-imposed limits on how far I’m willing to be from my mother in the case of an emergency — roughly 200 miles. That puts points north and west out of Atlanta out of range for now. So where can I go? I’m still left with pretty much all of South Carolina, a decent chunk of Georgia and bits of North Carolina.

I’m fortunate. There’s a lot to see within this part of the Southeast that’s now my range. And it puts tourism heavyweights such as Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, within striking distance, not to mention lesser-known places such as Congaree National Park, mountain towns and coastal villages.

A situation like this makes you find the beauty of your own backyard, so to speak. You gain a new appreciation for what’s always been under your nose when most of the world is suddenly cut off to you.

Some ideas on making this work for you

Take advantage of what’s nearby. Lake Strom Thurmond straddles the South Carolina-Georgia line. This shot is from the visitors center on the South Carolina side of the lake.

Forrest Brown/CNN

You may not be caring for an ailing family member. Perhaps you’ve lost your job and don’t have money to spend on flights and room rentals. Perhaps you’re working two or three jobs and don’t have time to go far.

Despite your personal time, money or geographical limits, here are some other ideas on making the most of the situation and still getting in some quality “travel” time until things change:

— Parks, parks and more parks: Green spaces are nothing less than a salvation, and many are free. It can be a small space in a town or a big state park, which may have a small parking or entry fee. It’s worth it. A chance to stretch your legs, breathe fresh air and soak in some nature is invaluable.

— Community festivals: A lot of these are also free (or cheap), and it’s a great chance to get around some happy people.

— Play tourist in your own city: Pretend you have friends coming in from out of town. Where would you take them? That might be somewhere you’ll want to go for yourself. I’m lucky — Atlanta is geared toward visitors and filled with places I haven’t seen yet even after more than 10 years of living here. But even a smaller city or a rural area should have some diversions you haven’t gotten around to seeing.

— Armchair travel: This one might depend on your mood. But if you think it will lift your spirits to read about places far away, escape that way. For instance, CNN Travel has a wonderful destinations page of more than 50 places — from Abu Dhabi to Vietnam. Click around and see what interests you. It’s a great way to take a journey in your mind when you can’t do it with your body.

— Take photos: These days, most of us have a phone equipped with a camera. Use it! In preparing the photo gallery that’s atop this story, I came to realize my life has been more than hospital, rehab and lonely motel rooms in the past year and a half. Perusing your “vacations” is another way to take a mental break, plus you can share them with your loved one who is stuck inside all the time.

— Use your money and personal connections: If you’re fortunate enough to have deep savings, by all means use that money. Hire someone to replace you some of the time if your particular circumstances allow.

#Caregiver&x27;s vacation: How to redefine &x27;travel&x27; for yourself - CNN #radio 2 travel news presenters #travel #travel e-newsletter templates #travel news 2017 #travel news new york #travel news west yorkshire #travelgirl

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theastonishingkylejackson · 6 years

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– Written By Nikki Cohn-Byrd, Contributor For The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine, Wellness Coach and Founder/CEO of Well Life Coaching

For More About Nikki Cohn-Byrd, visit her Facebook Page by Clicking HERE or Visit Her Page to Read More of Her Articles By Clicking HERE.

Being active in the wellness aspect of my community and beginning to venture out into other markets has really opened my eyes to a world of amazing fitness opportunities across the globe.

Nikki Cohn-Byrd, Contributor for The Astonishing Tales and Wellness Coach at Well Life Coaching

And I’m sure what I’ve found is just the tip of the iceberg.

I’ve used my research to compile a HIGHLY comprehensive list, narrowed down to bucket list items across different categories, all centered around fitness and adventure.

And I use the term “narrowed down” loosely, because there are still around 183 items on this list!

Check them out, see if you agree, and follow my journey to complete the ENTIRE list whilst sharing tips, techniques, trainings, and joining me on the world’s GREATEST fitness adventure!

Recreational accomplishments:

Hike the Appalachian Trail

Surf Hunington Beach

Hike ALL of the Colorado 14ers

Mt Elbert

Mt Massive

Mt Harvard

Blanca Peak

Laplata Peak

Uncompahgne

Crestone

Mt Lincoln

Grays Peak

Torreys Peak

Mt Antero

Castle

Quandry

Mt Evans – done 7/16/17

Longs

Mt Wilson

Mt Cameron

Mt Shavaro

Mt Belford

Crested Neddle

Mt Princeton

Mt Yale

Mt Bross

Kit Carson

El Diente

Maroon

Tabeguade

Mt Oxford

Mt Sneffels

Mt Democrat

Capitol

Pikes

Snowmass

Mt Eolus

Wisdom

Challenger

Mt Columbia

Missouri Mountain

Humbolt

Mt Bierstadt

Conundrum

Sunlight

Handles

Culebra

Ellignood Point

Mt Lindsey

North Eolus

Little Bear

Mt Sherman

Redcloud

Pyramid

Wilson

Wetterhorn

San Luis

North Maroon

Mt of Holy Cross

Huron

Sunshine

backpack Yosemite

Mountain bike Crested Butte

SEA Paddle NYC

Boulder at Hueco Tanks

Kayak Lake Powell

La Jolla Rough Water Swim

Brooklyn Zoo NY Parkour

WOD at Reebok Crossfit

Workout at muscle beach

Study at BKS Lyengar yoga school

Hike Kilimanjaro

visit/hike ALL of the National parks

Denali

Gates of Arctic

Glacier Bay

Katmai

Kenai Fjords

Kobuk Valley

lake Clark

Wrangell

American Samoa

Grand Canyon

petrified forest

Saguaro

Hot springs

Channel islands

death Valley

Joshua tree

Kings canyon

Lassen volcanic

Redwood

Sequoia

Yosemite

Black canyon

Sand dunes

Mesa verde

Rocky mountain

Biscayne

Dry Tortugas

Everglades

Haleakala

Volcanoes HI

Mammoth Cave

Isle royale

Voyagers

Glacier NP

Great Basin

Carlsbad

White sand

Smokeys

Theodore roosevelt

Cuyanoga

Crater lake

Congaree

Badlands

Wind cave

Big bend

Guadalupe

Virgin islands

Arches

Bryce Canyon

Canyon lands

Capitol reef

Zion

Shenandoah

Mt Ranier

North Cascades

Olympic

Grand Teton

Yellowstone

Events:

Wanderlust – done 7/15/17

The Big Float

Yoga on the Rocks

Daybreaker

SoulCycle

November Project Boston

The Arnold Classic

Bay to Breakers

Bolder Boulder

Summer mountain games

Mountain Gear Red Rock Rendezvous

Crossfit games

Beach to Beach St John power swim

Montage deer valley pro series

Cyclocross

Day hikes and swims:

Swim Havasu falls

Hamilton Pool

Chutes & Ladders

Homestead Crater

Queens bath

Devils Den

Big Deep

Dorset Quarry

Chena Hot Springs

Opal Pool

Hot Springs NC

hike Valley of Fire

hike Ludlington state park

hike Hammondsport

hike Cache river St area

hike Weavervillw

hike Damascus

hike Katy trail st park

hike Ghiopyle st park

hike Dismo beach

hike Jekyll island

hike Estes park

hike Door country

hike Fort Bragg

General fitness goals:

Do a pull up

Complete a 10k

3 min plank

Long bike tour, 7+ days

Bar/ring muscle up

Advanced yoga pose

Complete a marathon

Ascend the 7 summits (or just 1…)

1 arm push up

Trapeze

Complete a Triathlon

run a sub 6 mile

Complete weight specific strength training standards

martial arts immersive training

cycle a century

run in multi-day challenge

complete a team adventure race

ski a double back diamond

cross country ski

30 day yoga challenge

complete an ironman

do a backflip

do a perfect roundhouse kick

master the splits

compete in a bodybuilding competition

obtain a belt in karate

compete in an archery tournament

complete a 1/2 marathon

run in an ultra

go dog sledding

kayak rough water

participate in a health retreat

compete in an MMA/boxing match

compete in a rowing race

paddle boarding

Races/obstacles:

Boston Marathon

Run Disney Marathon

Mt Washington Road race

Escape from Alcatraz

Beer Relay

The Dirty Dozen

Ragbras

Nautica Malibu

Master the handstand

Learn rock climbing

Hood to coast relay

Merrell Oyster adventure race

Spartan race

Spartan beast

Gemini adventures

Empire state building run

Pikes Peak summit race

Cycle gran fondo – Echelon

Xterra

tough mudder

Death Valley race

Reykjavik marathon

Patagonia marathon

Florence marathon

NW Passage marathon

Safaricom marathon

Messa Falls marathon

Emerald nuts midnight run

Great Wall marathon

Yoma Yangon marathon

Tokyo marathon

Australian outback marathon

Honolulu marathon

Professional competitions:

Attend:

World Cup

UFC fight

Superbowl

Crushed Ice

Olympic games

Ididderod

Masters

Wimbledon

NBA Championships

Stanley Cop

Indy 500

World Series

United States based travel:

Compete in a race in every state/visit the state capital/visit the state’s most rural town!

AL- Rocket City/Montgomery/Oak Hill town

AK- Mayor midnight/Juneau/Bettles city

AZ- Phoenix marathon/Phoenix/Winkleman town

AR- little rock marathon/Little Rock/magnet cove town

CA- bay to breakers/Sacremento/Vernon

CO- golden leaf marathon/Denver/lakeside

CT- Manchester road race/Hartford/Mashantucket

DE- old to new castle/Dover/Slaughter beach

FL- Ft. Lauderdale marathon/Tallahassee/Noma

GA- peachtree road race/Atlanta/Edge Hill

HI- maui paradise marathon/Honolulu/Manele

ID- Idaho potato marathon/Boise/Dixie

IL- BOA Chicago marathon/Springfield/Valley City

IN- One America 500 mini/Indianapolis/Westphalia

IA- Living history farms/Des Moines/Garden Grove

KS- Honey badger ultra/Topeka/Freeport

KY- Bourbon chase relay/Frankfort/South Park view

LA- Crescent city classic/Baton Rouge/Mound village

ME- Sugarloaf 15k/Augusta/Eastport

MD- JFK 50 miler/Anapolis/Pt Tobacco Village

MA- Boston marathon/Boston/Gosnold

MI- Woodstock/Detroit/Turner Village

MN- Ham Run 1/2/Minneapolis/Kinbrae

MS-MS Blues marathon/Jackson/Satortia village

MO- Cow bell marathon/Jefferson City/Cavetown

MT- Missoula marathon/Helena/Dixon

NE- Good life halfsy/Lincoln/Monowi

NV- LV Rock n roll marathon/Carson City/Puckerbrush

NH- Mt Wash road race/Concord/Harts location

NJ- NJ 1/2/Trenton/Brainards

NM- Bantaan memorial/Santa Fe/Madrid

NY- NYC marathon/Albany/Red House

NC- Krispy crème challenge/Raleigh/Crossnore

ND- Fargo marathon/Bismark/Ruso

OH- Flying pig marathon/Columbus/Rendville

OK- Route 66 marathon/OKC/Arcadia

OR- Portland trail series/Salem/Greenhorn

PA- Philadelphia marathon/Harrisburg/Baileyville

RI- Cox providence marathon/Providence/Central falls

SC- Cooper river bridge run/Columbia/Smyrna

SD- Crazy horse marathon/Pierre/Bruce

TN- Music city st jude rock n roll/Nashville/Silerton

TX- Houston marathon/Austin/Guerra

UT- St George marathon/SLC/Ophier

VT- Covered bridge 1/2/Montpelier/Victory

VA- Ukrop monument ave 10k/Richmond/Scotland

WA- Lilac bloomsday/Olympia/Marblemount

WV- Freedoms run/Charleston/Aurora

WI- Green bay marathon/Madison/Egg Harbor

WY- Run w/horses marathon/Cheyenne/Buford (America’s smallest)

If You’ve Got A Fitness Bucket List, Share it with us and let us know! And If you don’t, then build one based off this list!

I Am The Astonishing Nikki Cohn-Byrd, Contributor For The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine And I Am Astonishing, And I Approve This Message!

Check out Nikki Cohn-Byrd on Facebook by clicking HERE and HERE, and Also Visit Her Website by clicking HERE.

Nikki is a Well Life Coach and always willing to help others. Visit her social media links above to find out more information on how she can add wellness to your life.

Want To Leave Some Feedback On This Article? Be Kind, Be ASTONISHING! Fill Out The Form Below And Leave A Comment On This Article!

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The Greatest Adventure Fitness Bucket List…Ever – Written By Nikki Cohn-Byrd, Contributor For The Astonishing Tales Digital Magazine, Wellness Coach and Founder/CEO of…

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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My Path is Forward (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: With my compass giving me a few directions along the way! While walking the Boardwalk Loop Trail.

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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Effect I Created from an Image While on a Flight to Alaska Out of Austin (Black & White) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: I got the idea for this image several years ago from an e-book I was reading that Jason Odell wrote on how to use Capture NX2. This post-processing effect involved working with the levels & curves and then making a few other adjustments before converting to black & white. I found the the tonal contrast brought out a better image then the original image which had a blue haze. I had no GPS lock, but the image was looking over the Gulf coast of Texas while on a flight from Atlanta to Austin.

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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Where Do We Go From Here? (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: While walking the Boardwalk Loop Trail and using a compass in hand to add a story to an image captured.

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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Nature is Presenting a Blockbuster, Showing for All Who Are Interested! (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A forested setting with bald cypress trees and knees while walking the Boardwalk Loop Trail. Light from the morning sun helped to add to the vibrant colors present. I was able to add to that by working with color control and control points to adjust saturation, contrast and brightness in Capture NX2.

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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The Undergrowth and Life in the Congaree Floodplain (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A forested setting that captured my attention with the variety of plantlike present, including palmetto leaves. Anywho, there was lots of greens across this floodplain landscape.

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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Standing in Wonder as I Look Up Under the Trees All Around (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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I Took a Traveled Path That Led Me to a Wilderness of Adventures (Black & White, Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: A conversion to black & white using Capture NX2 where I made some adjustments to color filters to bring out a much richer tonal contrast for the final image.

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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This Place is More Than a National Park...It's an Adventure! (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens

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thorsenmark · 3 years

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Getting Outside Through Photos (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Views looking through a nearby forest while walking the Bluff Trail.

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thorsenmark · 4 years

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I Wonder If Those Above Us Wonder in Amazement Looking Below As We Do Looking Up? (Congaree National Park) by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: Sometimes even on days with overcast skies, one happens to look up and find that small break where blue skies seem to come out and add that contrast of colors to compliment a setting. This was not long after leaving the visitor center on the Boardwalk Loop Trail. I was trying to capture that image of the trees coming together above me like spokes on a wheel. Metering the image was a little trickier in not blowing any highlights from the brighter areas of the tree canopy while still being able to pull out the more shadowed areas and minimize color cast when I worked with that in Capture NX2.

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thorsenmark · 4 years

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Waters and Forest of Congaree National Park by Mark Stevens Via Flickr: One of the many settings I walked across along the Weston Lake Loop Trail.

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