Santa Clause, AZ and some random thoughts on travelling

Does anyone keep a travel journal and print out photos anymore? I have so many pics on my computer,never viewed or edited. Simply forgotten. I regret not writing down where some of the photos were taken. My goal is to self publish a book of pics for my own personal enjoyment. I have no desire to monetize my work. I feel as though it is not good enough and is so singular, for my eyes and perhaps a few other interested parties. Just do not want to compete with anyone, do my own thing. Spent the evening looking at Louisiana DPO's (dead post offices). Sometimes, I will plan a trip based on old, abandoned places and travel there to see what is left. Been a while since I have been one one of these excursions. I went out to see what was left of Ged, Lucas, and Lunita in the western part of Calcasieu Parish. The idea to travel to these places came from a few books at the local Genealogy library.Louisiana Place Names and Louisiana Post offices. Also, various newspaper articles in the stacks. The Ged post office is no more. There is a church in Lunita. No clue where Lucas is/was. Researching is one of the best parts about travel.

CB's Videaux and Pizza Inn Express, Vinton, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana 2008

Taken during one of my random road trips in 2008. I believe I ate at the Subway inside. Was full of old 70s/80s wood paneling. Love that stuff. I do not remember if they were still renting videos or not. Would like to go back and take some more pics. Gotta love that spelling LOL

How I plan trips: posts from my art journals

Thanks to a friend's suggestion, I will be scanning pages from my journals that have documented my travels, or musings about places I want to see/have seen. Some pages will be lists, others will have google maps I have printed and written on, and pages with photos and stories (does anyone print their pictures anymore???). Enjoy!

Travel journalling

Of course I appreciate all the blogs about frugal travel, quit your job,vagabonding,ect but where are the posts about keeping a travel journal? Before I make a commitment to where I want to go, I start fretting over the details of my new journal.

Handmade or store bought?
If I go with store bought, do I finally want to get my paws on a Moleskine again?
Closed-spine or spiral bound?
White,line-less paper or a colored,random mix?

Then there are supply issues.
Carry them in my vintage train case or a small army bag?
Water colors or craft paint?
Do I paint the pages ahead of time or do I paint as I go?
Do I glue in my ephemera or wait till I add pictures?

To me, this is a very exciting aspect of travel. I am fixing to drive to New Mexico and have not even made my book yet! Will come soon. So,do you keep a journal? What do you put in it?

Lately, I have been watchin art journaling videos on Youtube. Basically they entail artists flipping through the book. A lot of em are shit, Teesha Moore rip offs. But the ones that are good are really damn good. I especially enjoy the travel journal vids. So here is a spread I did while in the mood and watchin some vids. I got that journal out the dumpster by a local thrift store. Its a teacher's grade book, unused cept for a few pages some kids used for pretend school.

So. Here are some of my art journals. About every other month I lay on my bed with a few of em and flip through them. I love it. They were a bitch to haul, however, when me and my man moved out here. took about three tubs. I also have a collection of mapbooks that I plan on makin into travel journals.