Travelogue of Western National Parks and Monuments

November 5th at 6:30 – 8:30

Sue will be presenting a video slideshow of pictures. Her presentation will show van life briefly but mainly focus on 3 destinations (Mesa Verde and Chaco Canyon and Hovenweep National Monument) of the 78 she visited on her last 7 month trip (March to September) this year around the country. Sue has been working on the list of National Parks. She has 11 left out of 63 now… this last trip was filling in on ones she needed. From maps and apps of the route she picked out other things like Nationals Monuments to visit. Sue says she has always been fascinated by ruins. This is what these 3 places have in common. Getting up close and personal with structures people built long ago is fascinating. Sue says she tries to inspire people with her adventures, break down barriers for especially older women like herself.

Long time MOAC member Sue McCarthy is a 62-year-old van life enthusiast from New Hampshire who travels the country in her converted Ford Transit Connect which she converted into a micro camper in 2024 after retiring from her 25 plus year career in psychotherapy. Her journey represents the growing community of solo female travelers embracing the nomadic lifestyle while documenting their experiences through social media. Sue’s love for adventures includes participating in many ‘Dan Kidd trips’ over the years and the completion of the New England sixty seven 4000 foot peaks, and now long distance van life tours. She has been a world ranked Masters Track and Field sprinter. Her friends say, she … “never does anything half way…” She has driven cross country 5 times. Through her YouTube channel and social media presence, she shares both the practical aspects of van living and the joy of discovering America’s natural landscapes while maintaining ties to her New Hampshire roots. Follow Sue on YouTube @SprintSprite-jj2db.

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Meeting begins at 7:00.  6:30 – 7:00 socialize with other MOACers.

Location: the Allen Avenue Unitarian Universalist Church, 524 Allen Avenue, Portland (near Northgate Shopping Plaza). Here’s a Google Map link.