Saturday 16 May 2015

Come Drive With Me!

Well the Road Trip is now underway and if you'd like to sign up then simply click on the badge above to be taken there.

Last year, I visited those blogs that I liked the sound of on the original sign up list and I probably only visited another 50 or so during the Road Trip but this year I've decided to do it in order working from those at the top and going on through and I might just make a few notes on those that I land on.

But before I begin I do want to say thank you and award a big
to a lady I encountered at the very end of the Challenge but who has since kept in regular contact and left comments on many of my posts and that my dear is you, Yvonne - over at NashvilleCats2.  This extraordinary lady, I learnt recently, was the very first person to sign up for the very first A to Z Challenge and she has made it her mission to help and support those along the way.  So a really big thank you for all that you do :)

Now back to those blogs who I've recently visited on my first few miles along the highway that stretches out before me -

Nicole at The Madlab post wrote really long and detailed posts for her A to Z Challenge and in her review was wondering why she hadn't received as many comments as she'd have liked.  My personal thought was that maybe her actual style of writing because of its high quality might have put certain people off?  I know I can be rather intimidated because some people are SO good you just feel rather inadequate in your response.  Also long blog posts take time to read so if you were like me trying to get through about ten new blogs a day as well as keep up with those who you already really liked or those you had found along the way that were talking your language then you probably wouldn't revisit those longer ones.

C Lee McKenzie headed one of the teams for the Challenge and her blog posts for April covered Burma and her recent visit there.  Lots of lovely photos and obviously lots of info about a place I don't know much about so made for some interesting reading.

Alex J Cavanaugh is another awesome co-host who I have had visit my blog a number of times and has left me really useful feedback.  He seems to always have endless energy or is a sucker for punishment and is co-hosting another blog hop with Heather Gardner as we speak.

Sue's Trifles is probably a blog I will be dipping into for future reference as she has a penchant for craft activities - she posted pictures of crochet on her latest blog entry I visited before heading backwards to see her Review post and some of her A to Z entries.  I think if I had come across her during the Challenge I would have left a message but probably not returned as her topic didn't really interest me.  I suppose this shows that choosing a theme might put some people off who might respond better to your more everyday posts?

Due to now taking part in the Celebrate the Small Things blog hop I have also visited several members who also took part in the Challenge as well -

Carole Ann Carr - an established author blogging about her life in England with lots of photos and interesting tit-bits - I'll certainly be coming back for more :)

Precious Monsters - who writes books about zombies - so not really my thing but her celebrate posts give an insight into an author's life so I will be visiting her to find out what she gets up to.

Tanya Miranda - one of Stephen Tremp's Troops - who rather like me writes everything at the last moment so is forever playing catch up but in a good way!!  She wrote a short story for each letter -something that I am toying with for the next challenge!!

Stephen Tremp himself - who always had lots of really good questions to hook you in as a reader and commentator.

Eclectic Ali was also writing short stories for the Challenge - however as her name suggests she is eclectic and so far I have been catching up with all of her May posts which have been great reading for me!

Remember I have only just begun this Road Trip and these are only my views.  Everyone is different and what appeals to one might not float the boat of another - but that's life.  As I continue on, I hope to find more blogs that I will become a follower of and learn many new and fascinating facts about this world and possibly others!!

I'd love to know whether you're signing up or if you've begun your journey and who you might suggest I visit?

Have a great weekend :)






19 comments:

  1. Thank you for the praise but I enjoy the A to Z so really it's a joy.
    Great post.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Well I think it's lovely that you help so many and give a kindly word :)

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  2. Enjoy the road trip. I have found a couple new blogs already that I have added to my reader. So many, many blogs on the list. I am working my way through those who signed up to do the Road Trip and then I will head to THE LIST. See you on the Road!

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    1. Yes that's the way I'm approaching this one too, Paula :) Be seeing you!

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  3. Some of these sound really interesting. And you've made a really good point about themes - I read or didn't read depending on whether or not the theme interested me - last year there were a lot more general random blogs ...The idea of a theme freaked me out and ultimately it was why I didn't do the challenge - I had screeds of notes about different themes and it was becoming too much like homework. So when it comes around to next year I'm just going to go random. Great reviews.
    Fil
    Fil’s Place - Old songs and Memories

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    1. Random is a great way to go - whatever you feel most comfortable with as I'm sure we're supposed to be having as much FUN as possible even though it is called a Challenge!!

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  4. I’m thinking about the road trip. Before I do that, though, I am sifting through my own reading list. I have decided that I need to be more diligent about reading and commenting on those. Also, I am deleting those blogs who have not posted in over 6 months.

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    1. Yes that's a good way to whittle down the list as 6 months is a LONG time to be completely quiet! Good luck, Lyndagrace :)

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  5. Thank you for the kind words!
    Yvonne and I have participated since the very first Challenge in 2010. That's when we became good friends.
    With so many visitors during the Challenge, I don't get the opportunity to explore many new ones. So really looking forward to the road trip.

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    1. Thank you for visiting once again, Alex and taking time out of your very busy schedule - it is always most appreciated :)

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  6. I haven't signed up for the road trip, but I'm coming along to read your reports :)

    So I guess I shall be a passenger rather than a driver... hope you feed your passengers plenty of hot drinks and have loo breaks! :)

    Mars xx
    Curling Stones for Lego People

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    1. I'd be delighted to have you as my driving buddy and yes there will be plenty of stops along the way :)

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  7. I enjoyed C. Lee's A to Z too...loved her pictures! I find that long posts put me off and I tend to skip them. I'm sure I'm probably missing out on some great people out there, but I just don't have the time or patience for longer posts during the A to Z. Good luck on the Road Trip...I look forward to hearing about some other bloggers that I missed out on!
    Katie @TheCyborgMom

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    1. I think that's why the Road Trip is such a good idea - time is so short during the actual Challenge that if you want to visit as many blogs as possible something has to give and as you say it's often those longer blog posts - with extra time it's possible to really savour and enjoy those amazing writers out there :)

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  8. Just cruising by on the Road Trip. I am comparatively new to blogging so was proud of my own efforts in completing the challenge. I did not have a theme either which I found easier to cope with. I too will be looking for blogs of interest to me, I agree sometimes it is just easier to start at the top and work your way through. Carolyn @ Pastimes-Passions-Paraphernalia.org

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    1. Hi Carolyn - nice to meet another A - Z er :) I'll be popping over to your blog later.

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  9. Thank you for reminding me of the Road Trip. I'm still trying to get caught up on the blogs I got behind on during April (and whilst my laptop was playing up) so I've not even visited many of the Reflections posts.

    I shall have to sign up now and I'll look out for those blogs you've recommended. :-)

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    1. There were so many blogs this year that were entertaining to read - I didn't get through very many at all from start to finish so that's what I'll be leisurely doing over the course of this year as well as discovering some new ones along the way :) Enjoy the ride!!

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  10. I found you through the Road Trip and through you found 2 others through the Celebrate the Small things hop. Look forward to reading more.

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