Leighton’s Blog

Before I left President Lincoln’s birthplace I went into the visator center and to ask  some questions about Annual National Park Passes. I told them about my big trip across the country starting in June. They told me they didn’t sell them but they are sold at Mammoth Cave National  Park an hour away. I told them I was actually heading there to camp. They told me I’d better hurry about because they close at 5. They told me there is a fee to get into the park and they thought the campsites were closed.   Well I didn’t like hearing that so I drove down the street and pulled in grocery store parking lot to came up with a new plan. Also needed to do a bit of work on my laptop. I spent about 20 minutes looking at Mammoth Cave National Park on Gaia to see if there were any dirt roads going into park that might have a secluded spot to camp.  I found one dirt road and verified it was a good place to go after looking at the satellite image, the public land map, the private land map and the N

Nashville Mission Trip Update   - Day #5   I did a lot better yesterday...I only spent six hours at a rest area working on the Mission For Hope website. But in the morning I did work in a convenient store parking lot for two hours doing social media stuff. Time management is definitely something I need to work on for the big trip.  Last night around 9:30 I ended up in the White Sulphur Horse Camp in the Daniel Boone National Forest in Bath County, Kentucky.  I had my pick of sites and special treats which included an outhouse and picnic table.  All the luxuries of home!  By time I settled in, the meatballs that I made in the rest area earlier in the day were ready in My HotLogic.  It was a bit warm last night. 60! So I clipped my USB fan to the visor to get some air moving in the Jeep. No bugs so I didn’t have to put the screens in. After dinner I watched a movie and fell into a deep comforting sleep.  Woke up around 6:30 this morning and went into my usual routine of cleaning u

On Monday I hope to be able to leave for Tennessee to volunteer at People Loving Nashville and Bridge Ministry.  Both are non-profit organizations that provide food and services for the homeless in Nashville. This trip is something I’m doing on my own. PM me if you would like to know how you can help. Yes I will be going over a few mountains there and on the way home. This is basically the route I will be taking there and back. 

I'm a Gaia GPS affiliate now and I can save you a few bucks. Great app to find trails off the beaten path. https://www.gaiagps.com/leighton

So while I was in the woods of Florida, I found a great place on my Jeep to transport trash, bags from my portable toilet or smelly boots. Yes I know about the Trasharoo. I owned one for a day. Too big and covered the logo on my spare cover.  Instagram http://bit.ly/2B6CNpj

Some people have asked which route I took to Key West and which way did I come home. And why did you drive so many miles and why did it take so long? Click on the link below to see my route and the photos I took along the way. https://www.gaiagps.com/public/KM9MrqNqcNUNstspDFtEJRBZ

When I left Key West on Monday my goal was to drive on as many beaches as I could on my way home to Massachusetts. A little bit of challenge because of the shut down. I did manage to drive on the beach at Amelia Island State Park, Cape  Hatteras National Sea Shore, Corolla, NC and Barnegat Light, NJ.

What a trip! Really enjoyed it. National Parks & Forests are the way to go overlanding. 

What do you do before you even get home after driving over 4,500 miles? You wash all the dirt, mud, sand, salt and shrubs off...particularly the undercarriage!  Yes I got home before the snow!

Table for one for soup & a sandwich please.

Another great sunrise this morning but about 600 miles north of where was for yesterday’s sunrise. Very peaceful tailgate breakfast. Off to Corolla just a bit north of here. 

Here is some of the stuff that’s in my Jeei cockpit. It’s all about being comfortable… particular if I might spend 200 days my jeep starting in June to visit 30 of the most homeless cities in the US. Those are baby wipes. 

Last week I did a post with a list of items I have squeezed in the back of my Jeep for overlanding. (Remember my #1 goal is to be able to take the top down wherever I am.) While I was packing to head up North from Key West I took a few photos of “some” of the gear. Below the photos is the list of the gear. Make a comment if you have any questions about any of the gear.  Cargo net over gear so nothing blows away.  Non-woven quick drying camp towels on footlocker with two burner stove, propane, dry goods, Mini Hotlogic, small pans, utensils, cups, napkins, plastic plates & bowls, plastic bucket and cleaning supplies. Next to the footlocker and a 7 gallon water tank with spigot.  12 Volt marine outlets I wired into cargo area.  One both sides of cargo area are two fire extinguishers and LED lights.  Drop down tailgate table with cutting board. Two burner Coleman stove goes on the table when I’m in camp mode.  Brace for top when I need to access cargo area but don’t want to put the to