Certified International Tour Manager

I just completed two beautiful weeks in Cuernavaca, Mexico, but fellow readers, it was not all play. I went to Mexico to get trained to be an International Tour Manager, and I succeeded. I not only succeeded in getting certified, I meet some of the most incredible, wonderful people ever. Frank Slater and Daniel Slater, CEO and President, respectfully, of the International Guide Academy in Denver, Colorado were the main instructors for the two weeks. We also had two Tour Managers from Denver, Donette Stroberg and Connie Dineen.

I guess I should explain how I found this great school. Back in 2003 0r 2004, I attended a class instructed by Gina Henry. The class was called, Travel the World for Free, and she still instructs this class all over the country. Google her and you will find the website. Anyway, one of her suggestions was to check out the website, http://www.bepaidtotravel.com. So I went and checked it out and decided then and there that this was my calling. Whoa, I know, that was 2004, well what can I say, Life Happens.

But back to the story. I registered to attend a March 2005 class, sent in my registration fee, but then discovered that since I had a 12 year old son, this wasn't going to happen for me at this time. I called and spoke to Daniel and he assured me that when I was ready, he would have my registration fee.

So along comes 2009 and I am finally ready. My son is 17 and off at military school. I am living in Dallas and the current occupation is just not what is was supposed to be. So I called Daniel and requested info on the Cuernavaca class. Then I asked the impossible, "Will you still honor my registration fee from........gosh, 2004???" And he did. So I signed up and prepared for the trip.



When I arrived in Mexico City, I met Daniel and Frank in front of the Baron Rioja just as explained. We had a little time till the van was to leave for Cuernavaca, so I asked one of the other classmates, Kirk Speer, if he wanted to grab a bite to eat. So we went to one of the Airport restaurants and had a very nice conversation. Kirk is from Colorado Springs, and a photographer, and a very nice funny genuine person. We caught the van to Cuernavaca with some other classmates, Jane Wittkopp, from Michigan, who turned out to be my roommate, Allison Bitten, from Chicago, Mike Tartaglia, from Washington State, and Frank. Wonderful views and my first view of PoPo, officially known as, Mount Popocatepetl.







When we arrived in "La Cuidad de la Eterna Primavera", we were shown to our rooms, but first we had to walk through the wonderful courtyard at Rosita's house. Now who in their right mind could ask for a better start than this.


The rest of the class arrived that evening:
Koba Tilet from California, Kathy Hill from Houston, Rene Ostberg from Chicago, Gabriella Iona from Las Vegas, Michael Trant from Florida and Paul Bjork from Colorado Springs.

The next day, we met the rest of the class, Juli McCormick from Minnesota, Bara Robertson from Washington State, Chris Todaro from Miami, and Carla Gardenia from Brazil. We were a range of ages from 20 to in our 60's. And we had a wonderful time. More to follow.........

The Ultimate Road Trip - 2017

Ok, first let us do the Who, What, When, Why and Where of this Trip:

WHO you may ask, will be taking this Ultimate Road Trip? Well that would be yours truly, Terri Sinclair and her son, Tyler Sinclair.

WHAT is The Ultimate Road Trip? A year long journey around, and I mean literally AROUND, the United States. List of Major stops and Cities:

Dallas, TX
San Angelo, TX
Fort Stockton, TX
Alpine, TX
Big Bend National Park, TX
Carlsbad, NM
El Paso, TX
Las Cruces, NM
White Sands National Monument, NM
Tucson, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Sedona, AZ
Flagstaff, AZ
Grand Canyon National Park, AZ
Las Vegas, NV
Death Valley, CA
Palm Springs, CA
San Diego, CA
Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco, CA
Napa, CA
Ukiah, CA
Redwood National Park, CA
Gold Beach, OR
Lincoln City, OR
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Spokane, WA
Missoula, MT
Kalispell, MT
Glacier National Park, MT
Butte, MT
Billings, MT
Yellowstone National Park, WY
Rapid City, SD
Mitchell, SD
Minneapolis, MN
Wisconsin Dells, WI
Chicago, IL
Sturgeon Bay, WI
Manitowac
across Lake Michigan
Ludington
Traverse City
Mackinac Island
Sault Ste. Marie
Sudbury, Ontario
Toronto
Niagara Falls
Buffalo, NY
Schenectady, Ny
Burlington VT
Bangor, ME
Bar Harbor ME
Portland, ME
Boston, MS
Cape Cod National Seashore
Martha's Vineyard
New York City, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Atlantic City, NJ
Dover DE
Baltimore, MD
Washington, DC
Virginia Beach, VA
Nags Head, NC
Myrtle Beach, SC
Charleston, SC
Savannah, GA
Daytona Beach, FL
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Nassau, Bahamas
Miami, FL
Key West Florida
Everglades National Park, FL
Naples, FL
Tampa Bay, FL
Panama City, FL
Destin, Fl
Mobile, AL
Gulfport MS
New Orleans, LA
Baton Rouge, La
Shreveport, La
Dallas, TX

WHEW, wears you out just thinking about it, but since we plan on taking a year to complete this journey, we should be good. The above list also answers the WHERE part of this question.

Next question WHEN and maybe, why 2017, because that is when I will retire from the world of Anixter Fasteners and begin the next phase of my life. IF, I can do this is 2015 financially, we may move this trip forward, but for practical purposes, and MONEY, we are calling it 2017.

WHY? I have visited many of the 50 United States, and of the 48 contiguous states, I only have

Arizona

Oregon

Washington

Idaho

Montana

Minnesota

New York

New Hampshire

Vermont

Maine

Connecticut

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Delaware

North Dakota

West Virginia

Alabama

left to visit. I am still going to miss North Dakota and West Virginia this trip but hey, I have a few more years left in me. Hawaii and Alaska will be a separate trip on their own and I will probably do those before this Ultimate Road Trip.

So those are the answers to your 5 basics questions. Here may be a little more history than you truly desire. I have had 32 different addresses in my 53.5 years of life. And since I spent 10 of those at one address, I have moved quite a bit.

I must have been a Gypsy in a previous life. And I know that my moving days are not over but for the next 8 years, I plan on staying, at least in Dallas, Texas, and hopefully in the same apartment.

So the plan for this little blog page is to outline the trip in legs.......average daily mileage will be between 350 - 600 miles depending on stops etc. I will point out all the places of interest in the areas and links to all of these places where available.

OOPS, I think I forgot the HOW. Well, the plan is, a fifth wheel trailer, with cargo area, pulled behind a pick up truck and carrying two motorcycles. I know what you all are thinking.....a 59 1/2 or 62 year old woman on a Harley.........please MEN DO IT ALL THE TIME.

So, those are the basics. Between now and then. Photography classes, film classes, writing classes and we should be on our way. So begins the basic layout of The Ultimate Road Trip 2017.