Untangling Alzheimer's on a 10,000 Mile Trike Trip with Susan Straley

Today’s guest is Susan Straley, author of the dual memoirs "Alzheimer's Trippin' with George" which memorialize her 10,000-mile cross-country trike trips after her husband’s dementia diagnosis. 

When Susan and George semi-retired from their machine design and manufacturing business in Waukesha, Wisconsin in 2008, they moved all their belongings into storage except for what they needed for a long bicycle trip on their recumbent tricycles, and pedaled around Wisconsin for 40 days. Throughout their travels, Susan uploaded pictures and stories to an online journal to keep family and friends informed of their whereabouts. This journal began her writing career. 

Born with an urge to wander, Susan thought it only natural to want to run away when dementia entered their lives in 2015, so she and George took off on their trikes for a three-month trip around the States. She again kept an online journal of their adventures, but this time she included the deepest, most personal details of the progression of George’s disease. Her readers, followers, friends, and family encouraged her to tell all. 

"It will be so helpful to others who have loved ones with dementia," they said.

This became her first book.

When Susan and George arrived home she was encouraged to continue writing about their experiences, and the second half of their dementia journey turned into a love story, the love between the two of them, but also the wonderful outpouring of love and support they enjoyed from friends, family, and their community.  

In 2018, George succumbed to Alzheimer’s. Susan still enjoys riding her recumbent tricycle and traverses the country in her camper, sharing her travels and adventures online all the way. 

In this episode we discuss life after Alzheimer’s caregiving, the value of support groups, and turning a travel blog into a book. 

Read Susan’s AlzAuthors post: https://alzauthors.com/2019/10/01/susan-straley-alzheimers-trippin-george/

Start reading "Alzheimer’s Trippin’ with George" now! https://amzn.to/38RDt39

Available in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook.

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Connect with Susan Straley

Website: https://www.susanstraley.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrippinwithSusan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanStraley

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