Epic Road Trip to the Land of AZ

This green kid scratched SIX MORE NEW STATES off his list! He drove through 9 states in 10 days with Barb, Libby and Georgeann, with their destination being a new home in Tempe, Arizona. They started in Illinois and headed to: Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri -- and back to Illinois to end their epic journey. WHOAH! Talk about some epic pickle business. He made many stops along the route.

The U-Haul van was packed to the brim and Mr. Pickle was on board to supervise.  

And to get into some mischief, of course. 

Finally on the open road! Adios, Illinois!  

They crossed the Mississippi into Iowa. Is this heaven? Where's the field of dreams? 

Time to cross Nebraska! 

Julesburg, Colorado rest stop. Mr. P did NOT stay away from the wildlife.  

Another rest stop, Colorado style. 

This time it's another pit stop on Route 66, in Albuquerque, New Mexico for Mr. P and the gang.  

Mr. P always buckles up for safety. 

Along the Continental Divide in New Mexico. 

In Phoenix, Arizona Mr. P met a new friend named Elwood! What a cutie! 

ALAS! Mission accomplished! The new apartment has been reached.  

Mr. P wishes he could stay and be a roomie.  

Definitely an Arizona relative! 

Taking some time to relax at the pool in Phoenix. 

Perhaps Mr. Pickle's first maker space adventure? They visited Tech Shop in Chandler, AZ. Mr. Pickle built some dreams there. 

But first he had to stand in The Help Line to get some help with some sunglasses.  

Amarillo, Texas 

Mr. P checking out the rims at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX. 

A spot to rest in Oklahoma! Okie noodlers! 

Mr. Pickle is welcomed into Missouri! The 9th state he visited during the 10 day road trip, and the 6th new state to him from this trip. 

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WOW! 

Mr. Pickle is crossing the states off like no tomorrow! 

He's now been to 29 states and 14 countries. 

Check out his itinerary. He wants to travel with you! 

Kentucky? Oregon? Maine? Tennessee? 21 left!

One Pickle, One Vegas, Thousands of Librarians

Mr. Pickle joined one of his favorite traveling librarian pals Karla (of Seattle trip fame) for the ALA Annual Conference in Las Vegas from June 25 - July 1. This is not his first time at ALA, as he loves his librarians. Being Vegas, he saw a little more than he should have.

A dapper pickle checking out the details.

Um, hello lady friend. Thankfully Mr. P did not slip any singles anywhere.

Lord of the Rings! Games! Vegas! Winning!

Counting cards.

Mr. Pickle hangs at Caesar's Palace.

While there he hangs out with a few new friends.

He takes a bath in this one's tea.

Oh, and look at these feathery friends! Sparkly and twinkly.

One of the coolest things about the trip was that Mr. P and Karla were reunited with Jenny and Elizabeth, ALL of whom have traveled with Mr. Pickle! They have each taken him to ALA at some point. Ha! 

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Oh, such fun! You never know what this green guy is going to be up to next.

He's got room on his calendar for summer times, and needs to check more states off his bucket list. View his itinerary and see if he fits your sched.

Boston Baked Pickle

Mr. Pickle spent May 14-21 with my friend Darla and her fam on a trip to Boston to hang with some Smithies! He had fun taking in some historical sights, moon gazing, staying in a haunted hotel, and meeting a freakish relative. Weeeee! 

First up was a stop in Hull, Massachusetts - a teeny peninsula town south of Boston. Mr. P sits on Nantasket Beach watching the full moon rise over the Atlantic ocean.

At Hull Public Library reading stories with his new buds. 

 On the very tip of the peninsula is Fort Revere Park.The fort dates back to the 1630s when it was used to protect Boston harbor. There are cool abandoned skeleton of buildings covered in graffiti. Here's Mr. P in the ruins with the ocean in the background.

 Hanging out in the ruins.

The next stop was Northampton, Massachusetts - home of Smith College!

Here is Mr. P at Smith's "Illumination Night" where the entire campus was strung with paper lanterns lit with candles.

Here are some lovely living friends at the Smith College Lyman Plant House.

Smith College Lyman Plant House.

At the Smith College Japanese Garden. 

Mr. Pickle stayed at the historic (and haunted!) Parker House Hotel, right next door to the Honeyfitz suite. (JFK had his bachelor party at the Parker House - the place was big with the Kennedy family!) Apparently the 10th floor is haunted, and Mr. P stayed on the 11th floor! Egads!

 A stop at the Boston Children's Museum ended up in a meeting with a distant relative?! It's in the eyes!

Mr. P also visited the Boston Tea Party ships & Museum and met up with Samuel Adams.  

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Oh, another great trip to the coast!

Thanks so much to all of you who sign up to travel with Mr. Pickle. His goal is to get to all 50 states. He's nearly halfway there. Will you help him?! 

Travelin' with E, Pt. 2: Belgium

In traveling with his pal Elizabeth back in February and March, they stopped in Turkey on their way to Belgium, where Mr. P and his guests ate all the food and visited all the sights in Antwerp and Bruges. He swam in frites, ate a lemon, and almost got mailed far away.

In danger near a statue for one of Antwerp's many historic guilds.

Mr. P with a Belgian hero, Tintin.

Checking out frites, a Belgian late night staple.

There are no bridges over the Scheldt River. Mr. P is hanging out at the top of a very scary wooden escalator down into one of the pedestrian tunnels under the river.

Sampling a 'bolleke', local slang for a glass of De Koninck.

 Mr. P trying on a cuberdon, a nose-shaped Belgian gummy candy.

Mr. P at Middelheim, a large sculpture garden. He got some strange looks for checking out the (very strange) still lifes.

More still lifes.

More still lifes.

More still lifes.

More still lifes. WAIT! That car is crooked!

A day at the zoo with Mr. P! He liked taking his own pictures with his new camera.

Zoo times. Check out the glasses on that tree!

Mr. P was pretty dang excited to see windmills! Though maybe not as excited as E was.

Mr. P enjoys written correspondence and so had to check out several interesting mail slots.

More mail slots. OUCH!

Tiptoeing through the crocuses in a park in Antwerp on a springy day.

Mr. P checks out a fo' real castle: Het Steen, a medieval fortress along the Scheldt River in Antwerp.

Playing with his food at a birthday dinner. Pucker up!

Mr. P was excited to check out some of the oldest working printing presses in the world at the Plantin-Moretus Museum.

Plantin-Moretus Museum.

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Another grand trip with his pal Elizabeth! Knocking new countries off his list is one of Mr. P's favorites. 

He has some traveling to do this summer! Where are you taking him?! His schedule is pretty open...