I Have Been MIA

So... I have been MIA for a little over a month now. I was supposed to be going on a road trip, as you all know, and it started off that way, but things changed... quite drastically. I visited a friend of mine that lives on Hatteras Island in North Carolina, and I ended up loving. Sure, other things happened but overall, it is awesome here. Yes... I have been here this entire time (minus a short trip up north and an epic vacation to Georgia/Louisiana). I still plan on doing my road trip, but for now, I am enjoying the island life... working, hanging at the beach, meeting new people, and working on my happiness.

I need to pay a little more attention to this blog, and I have been meaning to, but now that I am more settled in, I will have the time and means to do so. Plus, I miss writing about my adventures. I also have a ton--and I mean A TON--of things to write about... I am not even kidding. I have been jotting them down in my journal, so get ready for a blogging splurge coming up over the next few days.

I got commissioned to possibly do some cool paintings, too (more details when I write that actual post and if my doodles are well-liked!) so on top of working on my writing career, I have been trying to get back into art more and more. (Side note: My story is actually coming along really well, which makes me feel so much better about things).

Some things to look forward to:
- what it's like on the island / what people do for fun / good places to eat
- camping at Jibtopia wakepark in Semora, NC
- hiking at Tallulah Falls, GA
- New Orleans, LA (oh, so very much about this place!)
- snorkeling at the point / beaches in the area / hitchhiking / etc.
- probably a bunch more!

Until then, I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer, whether it be going on crazy adventures or just relaxing and hanging out. :) ... Because it is almost over!

- Nikki Kristan <3

Road Trip Update

I ended up leaving for my trip the morning of July 10 (Sunday). I drove down through New York and into Pennsylvania, which was all traffic and construction as always. I ended up having to go backroads without GPS and winging it, but it was like a mini adventure and I got to find an awesome cemetery. My first stop was Columbia, Maryland... a place I have been before but I enjoy Maryland so it was fun. And for all the Pokemon Go fans out there, I got to catch some sweet Bulbasaurs at the park. After Maryland, I went through Virginia and into North Carolina. Frisco was my stop in NC, and I have been here since around noon on Monday. This is the "vacation" part of my trip so I am going to write about more things about it once I get things more situated and upload some pictures.

Hope everyone is having an awesome day!

- Nikki Kristan

Newport, Rhode Island

If you ever go to the New England area, Newport, Rhode Island is one of my favorite places to go! Sure, it can be a little on the pricier side, but it does not have to be if you plan it right. If you're going for a day trip, there are gas stations in the downtown Newport area that let you park there for a $10 fee (which turns out to be a lot more economically sound than parking in a regular parking lot). If you're staying overnight and want to save a little money on the hotel, there are cheaper motels/small hotels in Middletown, Rhode Island. In Newport, though, if you don't mind spending a bit more, the

Marriot is a wonderful place to stay. It's a waterfront hotel and it's located right on Bowen's Wharf, with a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean and all the boats and sailboats docked in the marina. It's also in a prime location; the wharf is actually a pretty cool place to hang out with it's pretty scenery, interesting little shops, and awesome restaurants. Aside from motels and hotels, there are bed and breakfasts available to stay in, but they require a reservation much sooner as they fill up faster.

Now, whichever you choose, park your car for the day and just walk Newport! It's not as lengthy as you think to see the things you want, and if your feet do get tired, there's a trolley that will take you to/or close to the locations you want. I always park at a gas station and walk down Bellevue Avenue to see all the historic mansions (which some allow mansion tours!) All the way down Bellevue, turn left and go toward the water... this is where park of the Cliff Walk is! (Convenient maps of Newport: Citimaps-Newport)  The Cliff Walk is an amazing walk along the ocean. You can see some of Salve Regina University, the Forty Steps, and other various spots. At the Forty Steps, you can walk down to the water and see a cool little cave and if the water is low enough, go out on the rocks. Careful, though, they can be a bit slippery! I love climbing on things, so I always sneak around toward the weird little cave and climb on the rocks there. Just because I can.

There are a good amount of mansions you can get a tour for, all you have to do is look online and schedule properly because they all don't have the same seasonal times. Newport was a prominent port city in the 18th century and many of these mansions are from this era. There is also a lot of Guilded Age history in Newport, but back to the mansions...

Here's the list of some mansions to definitely look into:

• The Elms
• The Breakers
• Isaac Bell House
• Marble House
• Kingscote

But there are also a few more.

Not only are there cool mansions in Newport, there are some awesome antique shops. Even if it's not
the kind of stuff you'd wanna buy, there are interesting artifacts in there, old style clothing from another era, and old magazines/books. (Last time I went, I bought a couple National Geographic magazines from the 1920's.) There's antiques salvaged from old ships and the mansions, old cameras, knives, and jewelry. Pretty much, there's a ton of stuff and it's worth looking through. The biggest antique shop is right in downtown, but there are a couple others scattered around if you feel like searching for them.

There are quite a lot of restaurants in Newport, but one of my favorites is Wharf Pub Newport on Bowen's Wharf. It has a unique take on pub food, the prices are not too high considering, and it always has a great beer list (from all New England breweries). The grilled calamari is delicious and they even have a peanut butter burger! Don't worry, though, if you're not into exploring odd foods, there is normal food on the menu. If you don't want to do dessert at the restaurant you have decided on, go back on the main street and enjoy some sweets from the local fudge shop. It's one of my favorite places to hit every single time I go to Newport!

Last of all, don't forget about the wonderful Newport beaches! The beaches are beautiful, with white sand and cool water splashing on the shore. The mansions are still visible from the beach, giving it an even more scenic view. The prices to park closer to the beach are more expensive, so definitely make note of that when you decide what you are going to do.

I hope you visit and enjoy!

- Nikki Kristan xo


ps: If you're interested in looking into it, help me with my trip around the USA! Just go to my GoFundMe and take a look. Support, in any form, is always appreciated. <3

One of My Favorite Things

I think one of the most relaxing things in the world is reading a book on the beach and drinking a nice, cold beer! Not to mention, the sun on your skin, warm sand on your toes, and the sound of the waves breaking on the shore.

This picture might have been taken in Connecticut but I cannot wait to spend some time on the beaches in North Carolina on my road trip. I have never been to NC (aside from the Charlotte airport, but that does not count!) and I am excited that it's going to be one of my first stops. Plus, one of my best friends lives there and is going to show me around!

But honestly... I wish I lived right by the beach!

Photo Information: Taken by me in Waterford, CT at the Seaside Sanitorium. City Steam Brewery is located in Hartford, CT (definitely an amazing place to visit if you are traveling through the area or staying in/near Hartford).

Mount Greylock

Sometimes, it's cool to be able to say, "I hiked to the top of the tallest mountain in a certain state!" Well, that's what we did in Massachusetts when we hiked up Mount Greylock. Now, there are a few interesting things to know about Mount Greylock... aside from it being the tallest peak in Massachusetts. Mount Greylock is a Monadnock, meaning it a lonely mountain that rises up steeply from the surrounding area (as far as I know, there is no dragon living in its depths, but I did not explore it that far). Also, legend has it that the shape of the mountain and the way the clouds float around its top inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick. Pretty cool, if you ask me.

Now, onto the actual hike...

Mount Greylock is the highest point in Massachusetts, its elevation 3491'. That might not seem impressive, but the scenery is what makes it amazing. Mount Greylock holds claim to being one of the most scenic mountains in the Eastern United States. We went before mid-May, which is when the roads to the summit are open. Of course, we would never drive to the top (that's cheating!!) but we were thinking to stop maybe 3 miles from the top, and have a decent 6-mile hike. NOPE.

We got to Adams, Massachusetts from Newington, Connecticut and were super excited to be doing this hike... until we found out the season was not yet in full swing. Just kidding, we were still super excited. Instead, we found a parking spot further down, which is fine. Nothing was going to stop us! So... the original 3-mile hike to the top turned into a 6-mile hike to the top. Who doesn't love a good workout?

Well, the hike was definitely more than a workout. We slipped and slid around the mountain as we got higher up because there was still quite a bit of ice on the trails. Don't get me wrong, though, this made the mountain look absolutely amazing, especially with the foliage that was recovering from the winter. It was incredibly interesting. There were a few spots on the way up that broke through the trees and you could see the surrounding area.

Closer to the peak, the hikes gets a little more steep. This is where the ice got a little more dangerous, but if you went slightly off the trail, the grass was long enough to get a decent foot-hold. Or you could just walk on the ice. Whatever makes you happy! As you're walking up this part, the Veterans War Memorial becomes visible (currently, the tower is closed for renovations until 2017, unless that has changed since I last went).

The summit is pretty cool. It's a wide, mostly flat area but if you walk over to the edge, there's a sort of wall that has different points written on it. On a clear day, you can see as far as Connecticut and certain areas of New York, which is nifty.... but who wants to stand behind some short wall? Nah, hop right over that! There's a grassy area that slopes downward and has some rocks scattered about it. You can wallk down a ways, but be careful, it leads right to a steep ledge with a nasty drop. Getting pretty close to that ledge is awesome, though, and it seems as though the world drops off in front of you. I have to say, it was definitely a breathtaking view.

(In my picture, I stood where you could see Connecticut off in the distance, as long as the weather was clear.)

It came time for our 6-mile hike down to the bottom. No big deal, we did it on the way up. Right? Wrong. The sun was setting and we had to be smart about the situation and walk on the road on the way down (we did not want to get stuck on an icy trail at night!) I could see why the roads were closed, though. They were caked in thick ice and there are absolutely no lights. We obviously did not run into trouble, but it was a little freaky all the same!

I would absolutely recommend Mount Greylock to anyone who loves hiking (but if you're doing the longer hike, try to leave as early in the morning as you can! We would have been fine if we planned for 6 miles instead of 3.)

I am going on a road trip!

Things have been pretty hectic in my life lately and I have been trying my best to, well, make the best of it. Finally, I decided I have had enough. I'm only 24 (25 soon!) and I am definitely not where I thought I would be in my life. I'm a writer, and I have yet to finish my book; I keep losing inspiration and drive randomly, I keep changing my ideas, I keep second guessing myself. I'm not living where I want to live and I don't have the job I want to have.

I am sure there are tons of people who feel that way, and every time someone does and I catch on, I want to help them. In some way, even if it is small... because every little thing does help, honestly.

So, on July 8th, I am starting my adventure across the USA and then back around to New York. I will be gone for approximately two months, give or take. It's something I have been wanting to do and just never did. Life kept getting in the way and this time, life is NOT going to get in the way. I barely have enough money saved up (and Hell, if I need to live like a hobo a little bit, I don't entirely mind, I guess) and I am getting in my little, lime green Hyundai Accent hatchback and heading out that morning. I am so excited for so many reasons:

1) I cannot wait to see more of the country I live in and experience new things / meet new people.
2) I am getting a National Park Pass and I am beyond stoked for all those hikes and adventures, you have NO idea.
3) I am going alone; it's going to be awesome and sometimes, maybe a little bit lonely but I am totally okay with that. (And I get to see a couple friends on the way, depending what state I am in! -- CT, NC, AZ (maybe), CO.)
4) I want to gain my inspiration back; I want to finish my book while I am away, so when I do get back to New York, I can go through the editing phase, get a cover working, and then publish it. (This is going to definitely take some time and money, haha)
5) Most of all, I want to find myself again.

I started a GoFundMe but I did not promote it to anyone because, really, who is going to help some random girl going on a road trip? I put a ridiculous amount as my goal, because it would help on the journey and with my book after... but I realize that ANYTHING I get would be amazing. Hell, if I only get $5.00, I will take it... because that means someone out there cares and understands.

But... here it is: gofundme.com/2byvh3w4 <--- My GoFundMe page and everything. I definitely procrastinated and I leave the 8th, but that's okay.

Thank you for your support, whether it's by going on my funding page or simply viewing this blog whenever you can. I will be posting about various hikes until I go, and then once my journey starts, I will be posting about that for the weeks I am away. <3

- Nikki Kristan xo

The Horse Caves - Amherst, Massachusetts

One of my favorite hikes of all time on the NET (New England Trails) is the Mount Norwottuck and Horse Caves Hike on the Holyoke Mountain Range. I have done this trail twice, and I honestly wish I had the chance to do it again (maybe someday!) The best way to get to this trail is to park at the Notch Visitors Center in Amherst, MA. Starting here, there are a few trails with different colored blazes. The blue blazes are the actual NET trail, the orange blazes are the Robert Frost Trail, and the white blazes are the Metacomet and Monadnack Trail (M-M) lead to the Horse Caves. Depending on how you combine the blazes, it's easy to turn the trail into a loop back to the parking area.

The difficulty of the Horse Caves trail is a bit strenuous and it's approximately 3-3.5 miles, depending on how you go about it (it could definitely be more if you want to see Rattlesnake Nob and possibly detour to Long Mountain). Following the white blazes, there's a beautiful view at the top of Mount Norwottuck. The height of the mountain is 1106' and looks down into the Connecticut River Valley.

From there, descend the mountain and as the trail veers to the left, you'll see a rockslide... and guess what?! YOU GET TO CLIMB DOWN IT, which is pretty awesome. Keep your wits about you, though, because there is a cleft in the rocks that you're going to need to go through. This "doorway" leads to the horse caves.

A little history on the Horse Caves...

The horse caves were used during Shays Rebellion (led by Daniel Shay) in Massachusetts during 1786-1787. Shay was a Revolutionary War veteran that began leading rebels in an up rise against economic injustices and civil rights. He and his rebels used the horse caves as a hiding spot after their defeat from the Massachusetts militia.

Now, the horse caves are mainly a set of rocky ledges, though there are smaller, cave-like structures in them. It's a neat area to look around; you can walk under a large overhand, which is a massive rock that looks like it is balanced precariously atop the other rocks. There's also a larger ledge under it where you can sit and look down into the woods and the other trails. The first "cave" is a narrow opening that you an shimmy into and prop yourself up onto the next ledge by wedging your feet on either side of the rocky walls. This leads to another narrow tunnel that you have to crawl through on your stomach, essentially. (Someone even painted some cave paintings in there to add some ambiance! Though, they are in hot pink and purple, so they're not true to history, but cool all the same). This cave leads to nothing but a very small opening (you can probably only get your hand through) but if your friends are standing outside the cave, you can wave to them or take a cool picture through the hole!

The next "cave" is more open and rocky, as though it had fallen in at some point over the years. This one leads to two different areas. One is a smaller ledge that is big enough to sit on and again, look out into the woods (I like looking out into the woods, I suppose). The next one is higher up, so you can sit on top of the rocks. This one, if you go through the top part, leads to the very top of the rocks. They split into two areas, another ledge (I like calling them Lion King ledges because they make me think of Pride Rock) and the other is a cliff. They give the same view, but the Lion King ledge is definitely more precarious than the other!

When you are done here, follow the M-M trail (remember, white blazes!) until it joins with the Robert Frost Trail (orange blazes). This trail leads back to the Notch Visitor Center and the parking area.

There is another way to do this hike (which is what I stumbled upon my second time around) where you start off in Holyoke, MA instead of Amherst, MA. This makes the hike so much longer, with a lot more various terrains and twisting trails. Make sure you have a map or good bearings (and a lot more time!) if you come into it from the Holyoke side! This way, you come upon the horse caves from the woods instead of the rock slide through the cleft. Both hikes are amazing, but I prefer the Amherst side as there is so much more to see that way and cooler areas to explore.

- Nikki Kristan