After a divorce, 20 years ago, I set off on a road trip that developed into an eleven-month odyssey, during which I traveled most of the US, parts of Canada and a jaunt into Mexico. I visited a lot of people I'd met playing online bridge, shared the tales of my journey via email. An Iranian friend proposed I change my screen name, which already began with 'Mama' to Mamapolo, after the famous explorer. I liked it.