Couple share traveling experiences in their first book
A couple of 62 years, who found a passion that they were both fond of, shared an everlasting experience together for 30 years when they traveled abroad to 65 different countries.
Luella and Clarence Bredhold met one another during high school in Jasper, Ind. Luella said she only lived four blocks away from the school on the west side of the campus and typically hung out with others from the same area. She said Clarence slowly started appearing on her side of the school, which began a new friendship and a few dates.
Clarence said smiling that he heard there was a beautiful woman on the west side of campus, so he made his way over there.
“My mom thought he was the sunset perfect, he was a keeper,” she said about Clarence.
After graduation they both traveled to Evansville for their education in 1946 and found jobs before they got married on Oct. 22, 1949.
Luella worked as a secretary for the Whirlpool plant and Clarence worked as a lab analyst for the Warwick plant before they both retired many years later.
The couple eventually moved into their first home of 13 years in Evansville before building a home in the suburbs where they resided for 20 years.
The bug of traveling began when they went on their honeymoon to the Smokey Mountains in the fall.
Luella said they wanted to see bigger mountains, so they traveled to Colorado.
“Clarence must have been born under a wandering star, as he was always eager to see what lay beyond the next bend in the road,” she said.
While they lived in Evansville, the Bredholds traveled from coast to coast.
The only three states the couple has not explored are North Dakota, Vermont and Connecticut.
One of their destinations of multiple times was Florida. Luella said during one of their stays in Bonita they decided to go for a drive and check out what the area had to offer.
The couple ended up in Cape Coral and then eventually followed a sign that lead them to Pine Island. When they came to the four-way sign, Clarence told his wife “when in doubt turn left,” which is what they did.
They made a stop at Rum Point for lunch and witnessed the mail boat and thought it was really neat. Luella said the boat pulled up and mailbags were thrown on and off the boat, along with people getting on and off.
The Bredholds enjoyed the island because it was an interesting place and the people were nice.
A waterfront lot was eventually purchased on the island and later sold when they decided to build another home in St. James City. Clarence whipped up a floor plan and they found a nice builder for the project that began in April and was completed in August 1990.
After the couple saw all the states they wanted to, they decided to take their first trip oversees in 1976 to Hawaii. Luella said they saw three islands in 10 days.
“We had a good time,” she said.
Luella decided to begin journaling their trips oversees so they could keep the memories. She said she would try and write everything down from their trip within two weeks of their return.
Two years later their oversees travel continued with a European tour to 9 different countries in 17 days.
Over the next couple of decades they had the opportunity to travel to places like the Scandinavian countries, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Australia, New Zealand, Peru and Munich for Okterberfest where Clarence had the opportunity to direct the band.
The last trip that Luella and Clarence made was in 2008 when they went down to Chili for a cruise. The couple’s traveling oversees is now complete because they both are content with what they have seen and experienced.
They both have many fond memories of their travels, which included individuals eager to shake their hand when they found out they were Americans, along with the great cuisine, friends and cultures they got to experience and meet.
When they traveled to each country they tried to bring home a souvenir – an ornament – to put on their Christmas tree as another reminder of the great experiences they had.
“It’s fun to put up the Christmas tree every year because of memories of people I met,” she said.
Luella’s friends kept on encouraging her to write a book about their travels, since she was always journaling, which always received the reply “someday.”
That someday turned into a reality on Aug. 24 when “Our Global Adventures: Volume One” was printed.
“I feel real good about it,” she said referring to the book. “We are both real pleased with it. It couldn’t be any better.”
The Bredholds are holding a book signing at their home on Dec. 16 from 1- 3 p.m. in Clarence’s garden. Their home is located at 3934 Papaya St. in St. James City. The event will feature refreshments and musical entertainment by the “Fiddler and I.”
Luella said they will have copies of “Our Global Adventures: Volume One” available for purchase at the book signing.
The second volume, which will share tales of 14 other countries the couple has visited, is tentatively scheduled to be published in February.