Just Trippin'Two weeks gone, a half a week back. The family and I loaded up the truck and headed on the road a couple of weeks ago. It was a first for all three of us to be out on the road together. I've always tended to be a bit of a road junkie (turn up the music and drive away) but I was curious to see how it was going to go with everybody together?The plan was simple, see the mid-southeast and build a fence in the span of a week and a half. After loading the truck with the essentials (new map, bikes, reading material: "The irresistable revolution, Velvet Elvis", the Ipod) and saying a quick prayer, we were gone, the journey began:
Ozone, Arkansas: After a pit stop in Alma, AR (insert Alma jokes here) we made our first stop just outside of Ozone, in a tiny camp run by the Christian missionary Alliance. Our main purpose was to honor a man dearly loved by many, my father-in-law. Although he's not around in body his life continues on in so many people. He's got a putt-putt course named after him at the camp, it's a great tribute to him and pretty cool to roll up to some camp in the middle of nowhere and see his name on a golf course. The camp itself is simple; a chapel, some cabins, a pool, and the woods. Simplicity, love, and the beautiful creation of this earth continued to echo throughout my thoughts in the short time here. Hopefully I can take these three thing and apply them to my life day in and day out.
Asheville, North Carolina: Several hours, a couple of stops (and a diaper change in a moving car), and a beautiful mountain drive later we were in what is possibly the best city east of Texas-Asheville, NC. This eclectic little town has it all; hippies, rednecks, liberals, conservatives, straight laced, freaks, and any other label under the sun. My cousin described it best when she said it's like a big Willie Nelson concert. What a great place to go to visit family! The days pretty much went like this: Wake-up, eat, hike or bike to some waterfalls, eat, swim or hike, eat, sleep.
Favorite hikes or bikes of the trip- http://www.dupontforest.com/,
http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/skinny_dip1.htm, and
http://www.ncwaterfalls.com/graveyard_fields1.htm. Whatever you do, don't ever volunteer to go on a thirty minute float of any river with my uncle unless you have at least two hours. j/k, it was a really good to tame the mighty rivers of Pisgah forest.
Favorite eats of this stop-My sisters kitchen, thanks for the burgers and malt balls. My aunts kitchen, everything from BLT's to a great vegan meal. Black Bear Coffee,
http://www.mountainshops.com/bear.html, a great place to start off any day. And
http://www.laughingseed.com/index.php?page=1, a great place for a fantastic vegetarian meal and a good, sweet ale brewed right next door. And last but not least: Piggy's Ice Cream in Hendersonville!!!!!!!
Favorite Memories- Being thankful that my sister's house didn't flood! (We left the ark in H-Town) Seeing little girl going on her first hikes!! She loved it. All week little girl got to play and hike with her counsins.
We can't wait for them to all hang out at the gulf. Seeing old friends from cornerstone and wellspring (and their beautiful mountain home), and just being someplace so beautiful for a couple of days.
Then it was time to pack up the car and start the journey home after a couple of quick stops.
Chickamauga, Georgia: You know your in Georgia when _____________. We had too quick of a stop here in the Northwest corner of Georgia to see Deanna's cousin and her husband. They have a beautiful house that looks out over Lookout mountain. Rumor has it that you can stand on top of the mountain and see like 6 states or something. Shared some great eats with them and Deanna's aunt and uncle and then hit the road.
Tuscousla, Alabama: Overnight stay, but I can't stay in the town that "Bear" Bryant built and not mention it. Also had some
http://www.krispykreme.com/ doughnuts. When in the southeast do as the southeasterners do!!
Next Stop, Next Post: The home of the Rangers and Home!
