On Sunday, I mentioned I had a blogger meetup coming up… it was KYRIA! After a year of adventures in Europe, she returned to the US on a cruise ship, which docked in Ft. Lauderdale. I took Tuesday off of work so we could have a day of adventures.
After weeks of warm, sunny weather, the universe decided to give us a rare (for December) gloomy, rainy day. As you can imagine, Kyria was undaunted. Someone who rides their bike across the country and regularly camps in the wilderness alone is not going to be bothered by a little drizzle.
We started off at Bill Baggs State Park. We explored the beach, hiking trails. and… A LIGHTHOUSE! Yes, we thought about Elisabeth.
There are guided tours and the opportunity to climb to the top of the lighthouse, but not while we were there. That’s okay! We explored the outside of the lighthouse, and then had a lovely hike.
Obviously we were talking a mile a minute. Honestly, it would have been a lot prettier with blue skies, but I was happy not to be hot and sweaty.
After the park, our next stop was Wynwood, a Miami neighborhood famous for its incredible street art. After Kyria parked my car (ha ha! I haven’t parallel parked in years- Miami really is a foreign country to me) we ate lunch, and then we walked around admiring the murals.
I’ve been to Wynwood, years ago, but I was still blown away.
We could have walked around for hours, but it was getting late. We decided that Kyria will just have to come back so we can explore even more!
I really needed this day. There’s a lot going on right now, mostly unbloggable (ooh, I hate when people do that- tell me all the juicy details! I will say that one of the issues will become bloggable in a couple weeks). It was a relief to be able to talk to someone (Kyria is a very good listener!) It’s funny how bloggers are instant friends.
How many bloggers have you met in real life?
Can you parallel park?-I used to be able to.
25 Responses
What a fun visit!!! I didn’t know she already moved to US, I thought shw was still in Europe.
I met a few bloggers before babies, and then I left US so it’s harder. I’ll visit US next summer again, may just do a road trip to visit blogger friends?! hehe..
DO IT!!! 10/10 highly recommend.
Well, I’ll be here if you come to Florida!!!
I used to parallel park- in NJ where I learned to drive, it was required. I now live in the rural Midwest, where the norm is nice building parking lots. If I have to park on the street, I look for two consecutive spots so I can just slide in.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun! Why am I surprised at a lighthouse in Florida? New England and Nova Scotia aren’t the only places with coastlines!
Sorry about your nonbloggable stuff- life can be hard. Sympathy across the internet for you!
Thank you!!! I wish I could share more, but it’s not all mine to share.
Yes, we have a lot of lighthouses here! And… the funny thing is, I drove around until I found a pretty big space, but I still couldn’t do it. I probably could have with multiple tries, but we didn’t want to waste the afternoon with me trying to park!
I haven’t had to truly parallel park in years and I was always rubbish at it 🙁 I’d ask Kyria to do it for as she is so competent and capable at those sorts of things!
I am TOUCHED you visited a lighthouse and thought of me. The only thing that would have made it better (for me) would have been to be there with you. Sometime!!!! I loved having Kyria visit and my kids still talk about her <3
I have met: Sophie, Suzanne, Kyria, Birchie, SHU, and Kae. I think that's everyone. Why do I feel like I'm missing one? I REALLY want to add you to that list!!!
I want Jenny to be added to your list! If I had a magic wand I would teleport Jenny to your house for a long weekend in the fall, except that it would happen instantly instead of having to wait until next fall.
Maybe you’ll get a magic wand for Christmas and will transport me, Birchie! How about in the spring?
One of these days I’ll make it up there! And- if you ever come down here (preferably in the winter when it’s nice, and I’ll try to have a non-rainy day for you) we can visit this lighthouse.
Haha I avoid parallel parking whenever possible! I can do it if I’m the first or last car, but not in between two cars. We have some parking near the university here that are back in, angled spaces and that sounds even worse than parallel parking!
How fun to have a blogger meetup! I haven’t really blogged in years but I have friends I made online through Instagram that live in AZ that I’ve been able to meet irl at races or whatever so that’s pretty cool.
That is cool- meeting people at races is also an “instant friendship” type of situation.
Back in, angle parking spaces? Eek.
A day with Kyria is a good day! I know that I’ve taken advantage of the IRL AutoTherapy Feature of the Cool Bloggers Network many times.
My list is Suzanne, Kim (Kim Has The Runs), Engie, Lisa, Anne, Kyria, SHU, you, Stephany, San, Julie, Nicole, and Elisabeth and I have a trove of epic memories and heart warming moments because of it.
Wow, that is a lot of bloggers!!! That’s what happens when you travel a lot- you made it happen.
Ahhh how wonderful!!! Sounds like you had such a great day, Jenny!
I’ve met a ton of bloggers in my blogging time, because I a) used to work for YMC and so met a lot of people for that, and b) went to a couple of blog conferences back in 2013-14. But I think of all those women (and maybe one man) that I met back then, only Allison is still at it, blogging away. She and I are the OGs! Birchy was here in the summer, and that was glorious.
Ah, a blog conference! That sounds fun. Yeah, I definitely wasn’t blogging back then- you guys are the OGs.
Yay! I did not occur to me that Kyria was the blogger you were going to meet because I forgot she was getting back to the US via a cruise ship! I am so glad you got to spend the day together! She’s probably the blogger I’ve spent the most time with as she’s visited me several times and Phil and I visited her once (and had the best trip). Kyria is THE GOAT of parallel parking after years of living in San Francisco and parallel parking in tiny spots on a hill! We saw her prowess at parking! I am terrible at parallel parking. The rear camera helps but it’s still not a strength of mine AT ALL! I used to parallel park twice/week when I was in grad school for about 2 years so I got pretty good at it – but as they say, use it or lose it, so that skill has been mostly lost. Anyways, Kyria is a great person to spend time around, but especially when you are going through something hard because she is a great listener and is very compassionate and also very pragmatic!
I have met so many bloggers! It’s probably 20+ at this point? I met a lot when I was single and able to travel more. But I will try to see people if I am in their city and the stars align. I’ve spent the most time with Kyria and my OG friend Amber that lives in far north BC. I’m glad I got to meet you and SHU this year, but our time together was far too short.
Woohoo for blogger meetups! I had a lot of fun, despite the weather. I think with good company, anything is possible, and things are not as bad when you have plenty of good conversation. Thanks for hosting me and showing me some new haunts, including some of my favorite things: street art and lighthouses! I will have to do an Ode to Birchie and Elisabeth post one of these days with some gratuitous lighthouse photos! Thanks for sharing your unbloggable stuff with me and although I know some of it seems impossible, I think it will all work out in the end. Hugs! PS Its cold in CA (high 40s yesterday)!
This is so so fun. Of course Kyria rolled with the weather and what not. I have met Suz in Florida and I’ve met Jenny in WV, who doesn’t blog – but reads mine, and I’ve met Kari . . . who freakishly we realized attended my wedding as her ex husband was Coach’s neighbor growing up. Our wedding was in 1996. I randomly started reading her blog in like 2016ish and we met a few years later.
I can parallel park, but it isn’t pretty. I have on occasion parked GW (12 seater) in a parallel spot. I usually make a kid get out and give me guidance, but one time I did it solo and when I got out a bystander was standing there, mouth agape and congratulated me. It really was an accomplishment because it was in the city.
I used to be able to parallel park but I doubt I can now.
I actually have been to Wynwood. But not that park. I did climb a lighthouse near Ft Lauderdale (you get to it by boat).
I have met a few bloggers (many don’t blog anymore) – Cari, Deborah, Debbie, Wendy, Marcia, Kim, Michelle Erica…you!
How wonderful that you had a blogger meet-up!!!! I’ve only had one ever-with Lisa from Lisa’s Yarns and it was so good to meet a fellow blogger.
I haven’t met any bloggers, but I am okay at parallel parking! I was definitely better when we lived in Boston, but I am better at it than many other SoCal drivers so that definitely helps to find parking!
I used to be excellent at parallel parking, from my days in San Francisco. I haven’t had to do it often in the last 30 years, though I can still manage.
I’ve met several bloggers, including Kyria! So lovely that you were able to meet up with her and spend the day together! And knowing FL weather (through you, I’ve never been) I suspect that overcast was better than sunny and humid.
SO FUN!! And LOL that Kyria parked your car. I am not a particularly confident parallel parker, either. I mean, I have done it a handful of times recently (usually if anywhere, outside our Mexican place, because it’s in downtown Madison and it’s all just street parking), but usually Ivan drives on the way there! I feel okay doing it so long as I don’t have an audience or am not on a really busy street trying to do it with other cars waiting for me or something. THAT makes me extremely anxious!
Sorry about the unbloggable stuff… and yes, of course now I want to know. hehehe.
I’m glad you guys had such a lovely visit, even if the weather was gloomy. It sounds like a great day! I’m glad you guys were able to chat about those unbloggables and now I will be asking about them when we meet up in January!
I am not great at parallel parking, but the last time I did it, I did an A+ job. I feel so accomplished about it that I never want to parallel park again because I ended on such a high note!
Oh my goodness, I am so happy to hear you were able to meet up with Kyria! So many blogger meetups this year…. it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy!