Friday, February 3, 2023

2023-4 TRAVEL: Eclipse, Traffic Jams, Festivals USA

To date this site has had more than 94, 000 views. Place your ad on all six Groene sites  for one full year, one low rate. Contact janetgroene at yahoo.com 

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 LET'S TRAVEL

Events listed below are not in chronological order. Scroll down to see all dates, all places near and far, sooner and later

 

April 7-23, Clearwater Beach FLORIDA

     Internationally known sand sculptors come to the sugar sands of Clearwater Beach April 7-23 to craft masterful pieces that will soon be gone with the wind and waves.  It's an art show like no other. Each year more than 200,000 visitors come to  watch artists at work.  

 

VIP tickets allow fast entrance, an air conditioned lounge and complimentary beverages.  See sugarsandfestival.com for hours and discount information for military, police, etc. 



 

May 26-28, White Springs FLORIDA 

    The Florida Folk Festival  is three jubilant  days packed with music, demonstrations of old-time crafts and skills, arts booths, vendors, food, dancing, storytelling and campfires. 

Camp or lodge at Stephen Foster State Park and bring your own fiddle or banjo to join the pop-up groups that get together informally for pure down-home, toe-tapping merriment. See floridastateparks.org/floridafolk festival

 

 


ACROSS THE USA,  APRIL 8, 2024 

 

APRIL IS A BEAUTIFUL SPRINGTIME MONTH IN the southern USA. On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse sweeps a 123-mile-long swath SW to NE,Texas, through Maine and eastern Canada. The sun will be blocked in this area for about 4 1/2 hours. Reserve your campsite or hotel now roughly from from Texarkana through Hot Springs and Little Rock northward to Pocahontas for a good view and the best in springtime weather. 

 

 Florida’s “modern troubadour”,  Gamble Rogers,  is remembered at the annual  Gamble Rogers Folk Festival, to be held April 14-16 at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds, Elkton, Florida. Music plays on four stages. Food trucks, artisans, crafters and children’s activities povide a full day every day. The famous Shriners Fish Fry is back on Friday night. Separate tickets are required for the festival, camping and the fish fry. Details at
https://www.gamblerogersfest.or

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Are you ever far from home when you remember a forgotten birthday, anniversary or other gift need? Instantly send an Amazon gift card. They don't expire nor require a fee like credit card gift cards do. See all the choices of designs, holidays, prices at https://amzn.to/3KhjOwK

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 BE PREPARED FOR FOOD SHORTAGES, EMERGENCIES, HARD TIMES and  MORE INFLATION AT HOME and AWAY

    RISING FOOD COSTS? Supply chain broken? Riots and looting? Power outages?  Money crisis?  Survival Food Handbook is an easy guide to food preparedness and it's NOT about tasteless, high-priced dehydrated foods that people put away and forget.

  Written for sailors and campers who have limited storage space, the book shops the supermarket for familiar,  affordable, everyday food staples with a long shelf life. Read how to evaluate, plan, rotate, stow and prepare foods without refrigeration or with limited stove fuel or minimum water. You'll use it at home and away, indoors and outdoors and in emergencies of all kinds.  Kindle or paperback,  https://amzn.to/2PvOBbx

 



AVOID THESE CITIES?

According to StressFreeCarRental.com, the Top Ten congested cities in the USA are New York, Washington, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago Baltimore, Seattle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Miami. The average time to travel six miles in each ranges from 24.3 minutes in New York to 14.3 minutes in Miami. The average speed in rush hour ranges from 12 mph in NYC to 21 mph in Miami.
                            


 

 

 Bucket List Alert! Hike or bicycle (trail pass required) the 34-mile-long Sparta-Elroy State Trail in Wisconsin winter or summer, when temperatures inside the long, dark, hand-dug tunnels stay the same temperature ( in the 50's and 60's)  all year. It’s said to be the oldest rail-trail conversion in the United States. The railroad opened here in 1873. Campgrounds are found in small communities along the way.  

 

Do you need a one-size-fits-all gift for any person, any occasion?  Cooking Aboard Your RV features more than 200 travel-tested, shortcut recipes for camping, RV travel, tiny homes and all space-challenged cooks.  Amazon can wrap and ship it for you.   https://amzn.to/3nNndWY

 

 

RARE TRIBAL ARTS ON SHOW 

 

 An exhibit of the vibrant works of the late Jimmy Osceola at the Seminole Tribe’s  Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum in Clewiston, Florida will run through the end of March. The museum features rare artifacts and lifelike dioramas depicting Seminole Indian culture. Osceola, a revered Seminole artist,  died in 2021. 

See Janet Groene's tips on RV travel at https://www.rvtravel.com/author/janet/
Articles include How to REALLY See an RV Show and 20 Tiny Essentials to Take on an RV Rental Vacation

  FREE ENTRY TO NATIONAL SITES IN 2023
    Remaining dates for free admission to national parks, historic sites and memorials will be
   
    April 22 – First Day of National Park Week
    August 4 – Great American Outdoors Day
    September 23 – National Public Lands Day
    November 11 – Veterans Day

 

See Janet Groene tips on RV travel at

 https://www.rvtravel.com/author/janet/

 Articles includeBright Ideas for RV Lighting,  How to REALLY See an RV Show and 20 Tiny Essentials to Take on an RV Rental Vacation

 


See Janet Groene's list of 20 Essentials to Take on an RV Vacation, RV Rental, Boat Charter. Even if this is a fly-in vacation, most will fit in a medium suitcase. https://www.rvtravel.com/renting-rv-take-along-1090/


   

 Parlez-vous Caribbean?  Love sailing stories? Travel the islands vicariously with fictional widow Farley Halladay in this poignant, funny series of cozy mystery e-books set on sea and shore. Kindle, Nook, Google Play  are ideal for space-saving reads at home and away. Start anywhere in the salty , six-book series, January Justice through June Jeopardy.  https://amzn.to/31uR1wr

  

 
ROAD SCHOLAR's Floating Classroom
   
 S/V Golden Horizon is the latest “floating classroom” in the nonprofit Road Scholar program. Eight new programs for 2023 include a voyage across the Mediterranean from Greece to Sicily, Malta, Sardinia and Spain. A replica of the 1913 posh yacht France II, the ship has three pools, five bars, a library, spa, gym, formal dining room, restaurant and ocean views in every spacious, luxurious cabin. 
    Full disclosure: the ship has no elevator and shore excursions  involve walking several miles at a time. Rates are commensurate with the high falutin’ cruising provided by Tradewinds Voyages. See more at https://www.roadscholar.org/

 

JUST ADD SALT to your travels with author Farley Halladay's news and cues for boaters, sailors, charterers, cruisers and all who love life on or near the water. https://farleyhalladay.blogspot.com  

   
 Stay current with Janet's  weekly CAMPING AND RV news at https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com and https://solowomanrv.blogspot.com


 NEED A CAMPGROUND RESERVATION? GET IT EARLY and RIGHT FOR YOUR RIG,  YOUR TRAVEL DATES, YOUR BUDGET. Tips and tidbits on the scary  "new normal" in campgrounds. See BREAKING news weekly at @solowomanrv or https://solowomanrv.blogspot.com

 


READ ABOUT MY TEN YEARS AS A FULL-TIME NOMAD, EARNING A LIVING AS A TRAVELWRITER.

Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, a Guide to the Full-time Life on Wheels begins early, with making the decision and then choosing and equipping the right rig for living board. I take you through all the steps, some of them quite surprising when you realize the unique problems. They include kids, pets, home schooling, finding jobs, insurance puzzles, choosing a "home" address.  It ends with an exit strategy, when and if you decide to hang up the keys. Kindle or paperback.  https://amzn.to/3knbvll

 

YOUR PREPPER "LITE"  

PROGRAM FOR TRAVEL


 

 

  

"Be Prepared"  in TRAVEL,  ROAD TRIPS, CAMPING, VACATION RENTALS, GLAMPING, BOATING, CRUISING means readiness for many emergencies when you're far from home. You might run out of food or water or money, or be hit with  "shelter in place" or "mandatory evacuation" order. Survival Food Handbook is written just for travelers, tiny home owners, campers and boaters who have limited storage space.

This book is about familiar, affordable supermarket staples, not those high-priced doomsday dehydrates. It's about making every ounce, dollar and cubic inch count. Kindle or paperback   https://amzn.to/3mIfryC    

 

 

 


 

 



 

 

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Janet Groene Bio

Updated March, 2022

Mission Statement: My lance is free and always has been. Whether you need a one-time contributor or an ongoing commitment from a truly professional freelance writer, I'm on the job. I'm an independent businessperson who writes, not an unemployed "writer" who is "freelancing" while looking for a salaried job. I meet deadlines with professional copy.  Contact me at 386.658.1586 or janetgroene@yahoo.com. I'm at my desk Eastern time 9-5 but may have limited e-mail access when I'm on the go.
 
 
Photo by Gordon Groene
 
Contact me for a current list of nonfiction credits. 
 
 Janet Groene Bio
 Janet Groene (GRAYnee) was a junior high school student when the local weekly newspaper hired her as a stringer at age 12. It was her first paid job as a freelance journalist.  Dozens of nonfiction books and thousands of magazine and newspaper features later, Janet is a full-time writer whose lance remains free.

Groene, a journalist,  began freelancing in earnest as a way to work at home and choose her own hours when her husband, Gordon, was a professional pilot with changing hours. While still in their young 30's the couple sold everything, bought a sailing sloop and left cold winters behind. For ten years, the Groenes were happily homeless, sailing the tropics in winter and summering in their self-contained, 21-foot diesel RV.

It soon became clear that Janet’s writing and Gordon’s photography could sustain them in a new career as professional travelwriters. When assignments began taking them all over the world they  settled in Florida. Gordon died in 2016.

Blogs published weekly
Solo Woman RV, https://solowomanrv.blogspot.com
Camp and RV Cook, https://campandrvcook.blogspot.com
Boat Cook, https://boatcook.blogspot.com 

Other blogs, posted at random

https://farleyhalladay.blogspot.com (boating, sailing, cruising news, views and cues) 
 
https://createagorp.blogspot.com (homemade, healthful recipes for trail mixes sweet or savory for hiking, backpacking, camping, road trips, fishing, commuting, snacks.)
 
https://janetgroene.blogspot.com  (frequent postings of upcoming travel events.)
 
My newest venture is a playful mystery fiction series now numbering six e-books. They are available for Kindle, Google Play, Nook and other major e-book formats. Inspired by my years as a travelwriter, the stories reflect worldwide  places I visited on assignment for magazine and book publishers. 

Farley Halladay is a widow who has an online boat booking business. She also shares her swift, shortcut recipes while she copes with caregiving and solves crimes.  https://amzn.to/3bB5XPh
 
 
 
The e-book series now numbers six books: January Justice, February Felony, March Malice, April Avenger, May Misfire and June Jeopardy
 
 
 

Janet Groene Writing Awards

1st Place, Best Consumer-Oriented Online Article ACC/SATW;
Distinguished Achievement in RV Journalism Award;
NMMA Director’s Award for boating writing (with Gordon Groene);
Parenting Publications of America Gold Award for Travel Writing
Many others


Groene books.  Many are available from Amazon or Alibris (some at collector prices). If you can't find books online and if your book store can't order for you,  I have a few copies of some titles that I can autograph and send for the cover price plus shipping. Email me at janetgroene at yahoo.com


 Survival Food Handbook (McGraw-Hill) 
 America's 100 Best Places to Retire (contributor) 
Cooking on the Go, Grosset and Dunlap, hardback
Cooking on the Go,  Grosset and Dunlap,
paperback
Living Aboard Your Recreational Vehicle,
David McKay, hardback
The Galley Book, David McKay hardback 
Cooking on the Go, Sail Books, hardback
Limericks to Fly By,
Botebooks
How to Live Aboard a Boat,
Hearst, hardback
Living Aboard Your Recreational Vehicle,
ICS Books, Inc.
Cooking on the Go ,
Hearst Books
Dressing Ship, How to Furnish, Refurbish and Accessorize Your Boat,
Hearst  hardback
Living Aboard Your RV
Ragged Mountain Press (Division of McGraw-Hill Company) Cooking Aboard Your RV Ragged Mountain Press
Country Roads of Ohio
Country Roads Press/McGraw-Hill
ABCs of Boat Camping
Sheridan House
Natural Wonders of Ohio,
Country Roads Press
Florida Under Sail ,
Country Roads Press
The Cockpit Companion,
Jones Publishing, Inc.
Country Roads of Ohio,
Country Roads Press/McGraw-Hill
52 Florida Weekends,
Country Roads Press/McGraw-Hill
Natural Wonders of Georgia ,
Country Roads Press
The Drive for Independence,
Crescent Hill Books, hardback coffee table book
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Walt Disney World and Orlando,
Alpha Books
U.S. Caribbean,
Open Road Publishing
 Creating Comfort Afloat , Bristol Fashion Publications
Romantic Weekends Central and Northern Florida,
Hunter Publishing, Inc.
Great Eastern RV Trips,
Ragged Mountain Press
Florida Guide,
Open Road Publishing
Living Aboard,
Bristol Fashion Publications
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, 2nd Ed.
Open Road Publishing
Caribbean Guide, multiple edtions, Open Road Publishing
Camping Digest ,
Krause Publications
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, multiple editions,
Open Road Publishing
Living Aboard Your RV, multiple editions,
Ragged Mountain Press/McGraw-Hill
Day Trips from Orlando,
Globe-Pequot Press
Romantic Weekends Central and Northern Florida, 2nd Ed.
Hunter Publishing, Inc.
Fantastic Discounts and Deals for Anyone Over 50,
Cold Spring Press
Cooking Aboard Your RV, 2nd Ed.
Ragged Mountain Press, also published in French
Caribbean Guide, 4th Ed.
Open Road Publishing
Personal Paradise: Caribbean,
Open Road
Personal Paradise: Florida ,
Open Road
Living Aboard Your RV, 4th Edition, Ragged Mountain Press division of McGraw-Hill
 
Books to which Janet Groene contributed
Fisher’s World, Bahamas; Nelles Guides Florida; Nelles Guide, The Caribbean Greater Antilles; AndrĂ© Gayot’s Best of Florida ; Nelles Guides The Caribbean, Lesser Antilles; Experts’ Book of Hints, Tips and Everyday Wisdom,
Rodale Books, hardback
America’s Best Places to Retire, Vacation Publications, multiple editions beginning
Sailors’ Secrets, Advice from the Masters, International Marine Publishing
Reader’s Digest Ask the Experts.
 
Many features on the Caribbean and Alaska for books published by the cruise industry for placement in every stateroom on appropriate itineraries.

Many of my features are not  online or are password protected. Hard copy clips on request.