May 2019 - Cruisin with the Colemans

Campground Review Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort

Posted on May 29, 2019 by Cruisin Brian

During our Spring Break in March, we visited the Smoky Mountains and stayed at Camp LeConte Luxury Outdoor Resort for the first time. We loved this campground. It was close to the park and an easy trip into either Gatlinburg or Pigeon Forge.

This campground has everything you need for a successful trip to the Smoky’s including the camper! They have luxury tents that come fully loaded and even two retro RVs outfitted with some pretty nice amenities. There are also tent and every RV site is full hookup. There are laundry, shower houses, a pool, and even some games to keep everyone busy and happy.

Gatlinburg Trolly stop right in front of the campground

Because they are located so close to Gatlinburg, you can catch a trolly into town and not have to worry about parking (or driving back if you’ve sampled a little too much moonshine)! They are a short drive to the Greenbrier entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and about 20-30 minutes to the Sugarlands Visitor Center.

Check out our YouTube video review for more details and to see the campground up close. We’ll be doing more campground reviews in the fall after we get back from Spain and Portugal. Make sure you subscribe on YouTube and Instagram to see every bit of our adventure this summer!

Teacher Life: The Demands, The Schedule, and Why We Travel

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Cruisin Michelle

If you are a parent, you know the anticipation your kid’s experience at the start of a new school year and the excitement of summer looming at the end of the year. Teachers have the same feelings. We look forward to starting a new school year; we want to meet our new students, hear about their summer adventures, improve our teaching plans. At the end of the school year, we are spent. Our brains have been in overload for 9+ months, we are mentally and physically tired from the demands of our students and our administration. But before I talk about that and why we travel, let me tell you about what we do as teachers.

Brian and I live in two completely different teaching worlds. For Brian, the middle school and high school choir teacher, he has his nose to the grind day in and day out. He is preparing students for concerts, contests, and assessing their learning five days a week for about 6 1/2 hours a day. When he is not in the classroom he is grading, planning, listening to music, working on the annual musical, and finding new music so he can continue to inspire their love of music from around the world and through the ages.

For me, a Professor of Communication, my pace is a bit slower but just as mentally draining. I spend my days discovering the latest research in my field, working through the technical challenges of online learning, grading research papers, facilitating learning in the classroom, advising students, and meeting the demands of the administrative parts of my job.

Yes, we are blessed to be in similar, even complimentary, professions. Yes, we are acutely aware of how lucky we are to have large blocks of time off together. Twice a year, during Christmas and summer breaks, we are extremely blessed because we have that time off together. Few teachers are that lucky. However, let me take a few minutes to talk about the drawbacks in the education world, as it relates to home/life balance. Balance is something we all have to seek out when it comes to figuring out how much time you should spend on work, with your family, and self-care. The chunk of time needed looks different for everyone and for most balance doesn’t come naturally.

Brian lives by a bell during the school year. If he has students in his classroom, nothing else can matter (even going to the bathroom has to wait). His students and their parents know him very well, many students take choir for up to seven years. In the world of instant access, he is in constant communication with them unless he literally unplugs. Fortunately, I am not in the classroom to the same extent as Brian, it would throw me completely off balance. My days have a bit of research, grading, teaching, and administrative work. My students are in regular communication with me, but certainly not to the same extent. That constant communication, along with all the other demands is draining for both of us and just like every other professional, we need to unplug and recharge.

Michelle hitting the books in her happy place, the library

However, because we have a few large blocks of time, we don’t have much time to unplug during the school year. This is the part that people who are not in the academic world don’t fully understand. For example, during the school year if we have a niece graduating, a child getting married, and an opportunity for a cheap, long weekend, we would have to make sacrifices because we only have three personal days total in an academic year. Now Brian and I have been teaching long enough, that we know those sacrifices are typically manageable. But it’s something we have to explain to friends/family when we are planning out our school year. I am not complaining, we are blessed, but it’s our reality. And I won’t even start on how ridiculous that our Spring Breaks are never on the same week, so we both typically work through them unless we’re lucky enough to still have our personal days so we can leave for a bit on one of the two weeks. But it’s Brian’s busiest season with his musical and my busy time because the end of the academic year is looming, so truly unplugging during either Spring Break isn’t an option.

As I am sure many professionals face, we deal with the constant work pressures, the “Did I send that email?” “Did I forget to tell Sue about the meeting tomorrow?” and just the “What am I forgetting?” feeling, maybe it’s age! Haha! Working professionals are always thinking about work. Unfortunately, some don’t know how or when to unplug. That breaks my heart because unplugging is good for your soul and your relationships.

For us, during the school year, we are often working an average of ten hours a day, six days a week. Brian has a lot of evening and weekend commitments because of the nature of his job and I have a mind-blowing amount of grading. Haha! Therefore, we can’t truly unplug until school is out of session.

This is why we love to travel! It’s easier to unplug if you go somewhere that doesn’t have cell service. For us, getting metaphorically “lost in the woods” feeds the soul in a way nothing else can. We figured this out very early in our marriage and have made traveling a priority ever since.

Every time we travel to a new place we realize how big this world is, our “to do” list grows, our time together on Earth feels limited, and our desire to see it all gets stronger. Traveling is more than simply seeing the landscape. Rather, for us, it’s about getting to know the people, the cultures, and learning about the social expectations.

Backpacking a section the AT for my 40th birthday

Traveling makes us better teachers. This isn’t simply because we unplugged, though it helps. Because we are responsible for teaching students how to communicate (Michelle) and how to sing cultural and historical pieces of music (Brian), we are better at our jobs because we have these experiences. I have been teaching Intercultural Communication for over 20 years but I have never been as sharp as I have been since I started traveling internationally. When we traveled on the Camino in 2017, Brian heard pieces of music where they were intended to be sung. He experienced the history that he only understood because of book knowledge up until that point.

Participating in “Hell Run” mud race for our 5 year anniversary with about 25 of our closest friends

Traveling is good for the soul, whether you hike, bike, kayak, lay on a beach, heat up in a spa, or hole up in a five-star hotel. Next time you travel in the off-season, remember that your kid’s teacher can’t just pull out of school like kids are pulled out of school. However, they are working to finding balance just like you do. They may have to travel during the most expensive times of the school year, but they are thankful for the ability to do it.

Recipe of the Month – Taco Pizza (with gluten-free option)

Posted on May 12, 2019 by Cruisin Brian

We love pizza! I will put almost anything on a pizza: BBQ chicken, ham and pineapple, caramelized apples and oatmeal, or seafood. But one of our favorite pizza toppings is taco and if you’ve never had a taco pizza you are missing out. Other than the crust, there is nothing in this recipe that would include gluten, but always check your store-bought seasonings and sauces to be sure, some may have gluten hidden in the ingredient list.

Start with the pizza crust. If you don’t have gluten issues, use your favorite store bought crust or make your own. After lots of research, for the best gluten-free pizza crust, we have discovered two options. We love the Bob’s Red Mill pizza crust mix that you can buy here but if you want a real treat, try this recipe from MeaningfulEats.com. It is quick and easy to make and works well with any gluten-free flour blend. Do what you need to get your crust ready and start to brown a pound of ground beef in a skillet.

Drain the hamburger and add a packet of taco seasoning (warning: some brands do contain wheat as a thickener) and a quarter cup of water. Mix let most of the water evaporate out. Set aside to cool.

Pre-bake the crust to get it mostly done. Raise the oven temperature to 480º. In a bowl, combine a can of refried beans, a half a can of crushed tomatoes, and one cup of taco sauce. Add one teaspoon each of garlic powder, oregano, and marjoram. If the sauce seems to think to spread, add a little more tomato or taco sauce.

Spread the bean mixture on the pre-baked crust. Any sauce that is left over (you should have about a cup) makes a great dip for tortilla chips!

Top the sauce with one cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, the taco meat, and another cup of cheddar or Mexican blend cheese.

Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly (mine got a little overdone, oops).

Top with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, and any other taco toppings that you enjoy. The most important topping is crushed taco Doritos. Slice and enjoy

Taco Pizza

Pizza dough (gluten free mix, your favorite recipe, or store bought)
1 pound ground beef
1 packet of taco seasoning
1 can of refried beans
1 cup of crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
1 cup of taco sauce
1 tsp each garlic powder, oregano, and marjoram
1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup of shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
shredded lettuce
diced tomatoes
sour cream
Taco Doritos
Other taco toppings that you enjoy

Prepare the pizza crust as needed and prebake it according to directions. It should be almost done.

Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Add the taco seasoning and about 1/2 cup of water. Cook until thickened. Set aside to cool.

Mix the beans, tomato sauce, and taco sauce together in a bowl. Add the seasonings and combine.

Spread the sauce on the crust. Top with mozzarella cheese, taco meat, and finish with the cheddar cheese.

Bake at 480º for about 10 to 12 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly or the desired amount of brown. Top with lettuce, tomatoes, and crushed Doritos.

Does it pizza? What would like to see on a pizza as an unusual topping? Maybe we’ll create a special pizza just for you! Leave a comment below to let us know. Also, make sure you subscribe for email notifications each time we post a new blog. If you want to follow our upcoming Camino, check out Cruisin with the Colemans on Instagram and YouTube!

He Said, She Said: 5 Questions on el Camino de Santiago

Posted on May 8, 2019 by CruisinColemans

As the school year winds to a close, we are getting very excited about our upcoming trek on the Camino de Santiago. As you probably already know, in 2017 we hiked the 550 mile Camino Frances from Saint Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago and then on to Finisterre. This summer we will be repeating part of that trek, walking from Leon to Santiago but also walking the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon to Santiago and the Camino Fisterre, walking from Santiago to Muxia to Finisterre and back to Santiago for a total of 1,162 km (722 miles) over a two month period. Today we bring you “his” thoughts and “her” thoughts about our upcoming adventure as we answer the top five questions that we hear most often.

What are you most excited about?

Brian: Revisiting some of our favorite cities (such as Astorga and O’Cebreiro) along the Camino Frances is really exciting but I am most looking forward to being back in Santiago on Feast Day. Seeing the fiesta from a pilgrim’s perspective was a great experience and getting to participate again now that the exterior of the Cathedral is finished is going to be awesome.

The opening of the Festival at the Cathedral in Santiago

Michelle: I agree that seeing the Fiesta in Santiago again will be fantastic, especially since the Cathedral is complete on the outside so I hope the projections will be on the Cathedral this year. But, ultimately, I am most excited about walking every day with friends! Walking next to my best friend, meeting new friends, meeting up with an old friend in Portugal, and sharing this incredible moment in time with so many other pilgrims.

What are you most nervous about?

Brian: On the Camino Frances we were averaging about 13 miles a day with frequent stops every 5-8 km. In Portugal, the villages are further apart and our days will be significantly longer with an average of 16 miles a day. Add to that the fact that we are further south and the summer heat can be brutal, I think there is plenty to be nervous about!

Michelle: Yes, what he said! I am nervous about how early we will have to get up in the morning to beat the heat. Also, the last time we walked the Camino, we were so lucky with the rain. It only rained twice while we were walking the entire summer. I am hoping for cooler temperatures and the rain is tolerable. But, what I am most nervous about, and it’s something I haven’t shared with people who don’t see me in person. I injured my foot when we were in Gatlinburg in March. I have been walking with a boot because of two stress fractures on the top of my foot. The doctor said I will be healed by the end of May and can do light walking until we leave on June 10th. Unfortunately, I fear re-injury. However, we have accepted that we may need to taxi ahead and accommodate as needed. There is magic on the Camino and I am praying some healing magic comes my way. Brian is quite patient and we always have each others back in tough situations like this one. Safety is always goal number one.

What village are you most looking forward to?

Brian: Duh, Porto, the home of Port wine! We plan to do plenty of Port tasting while we are there. I’m also really excited about Tomar. While we are there, the Fiesta de los Tabuleiros will be happening. The Festival of Trays only takes place every four years and just happens to coincide with our layover. For me, one of the primary reasons for hiking the Camino is to experience the local culture and big festivals are a great way to meet locals.

Michelle: Mmmmm port, tinto, cheese, pastries, festivals. Let me dream about all of that for a moment! I don’t have one particular village in mind but I am excited that the first and last legs of our trip will be a repeat of some of our favorite spots. I love Foncebadón because it’s this super tiny village that many pilgrims stay at in order to hike to Cruz de Ferro at sunrise. O Cebreiro is another tiny village that we couldn’t stay at last time because they didn’t have any rooms, I am looking forward to staying there this time. If the village is tiny, I am looking forward to it. The big cities overwhelm me because Brian wants to walk them! Haha

What are you doing differently this time?

Brian: My packing list is a little different this time. I’m taking less clothing and getting rid of some of the same extras that Michelle mentions below. I’ve decided to take a dice game (Farkle) for evenings in the albergue (but to save weight, I’ve created an online score sheet on Google Drive). I also have some new camera gear that you can read more about in the next question.

Michelle: I am taking a smaller pack going from 48 liters to 36 liters. I am not taking a sleeping liner or towel because we will be in private rooms and they are provided for you. The biggest thing I am doing differently, beyond the “stuff,” is a shift in attitude. I was overwhelmed last time. This is a big adventure, far from home, where nobody speaks your language (or so I thought). I didn’t know if we could do it. This time, I know we can. I am more open to the relationships that form on the Camino. I am open to whatever food we eat as a pilgrim. I am open to the entire experience, in a way that I was not before. What a blessing.

What is the most essential piece of gear you are taking?

Brian: Because we are documenting this trip more actively on YouTube and our blog (we hope), my gear is probably the most essential equipment. I’ve found new trekking poles that can double as a monopod and I have a gimbal to help with better video quality. I’ll also be bringing a boom mic for voice-overs. All of the videos will be shot on a new iPhone X that I’ll be upgrading to in the coming weeks.

Michelle: I am adding extra shoe insoles because mine were quite beaten up last time. Finally, as of this moment and this could change, I am taking 3 pairs of shoes to help manage my foot problems. I am taking my Merrell Moab 2 hiking shoes and my New Balance 880 tennis shoes which I will switch between during the day, and then my Chacos for evenings and rest days. Again, we’ll see but I have to figure out how to manage my foot problems.

There you have it, another edition of He Said, She Said. We are just counting down the days, practicing our tinto arm, making sure we have all of our gear, purging as much as possible, and most importantly wrapping up the school year so when we return we will be ready to start another year. Do you still have a lingering question about the Camino? Leave a comment below! Your question may just show up in our next He Said, She Said blog post.

Outside the Templar castle in Ponferrada

If you haven’t already, make sure you click the subscribe button on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/cruisinwiththecolemans and click on the bell so you will be notified when a video is posted.