- Key West, FL to Vero Beach, FL - 297 miles
- Vero Beach, FL to Delray Beach, FL (round trip) - 196 miles
- Vero Beach, FL to Charleston, SC - 451 miles
- Charleston, SC to Charlotte, NC - 210 miles
- Charlotte, NC to Princeton, WV - 175 miles
- Princeton, WV to Washington, D.C. - 320 miles
- Washington, DC to Asheville/Hendersonville, NC - 471 miles
- Asheville, NC to Nashville, TN - 294 miles
- Nashville, TN to Memphis, TN - 212 miles
- Memphis, TN to Jackson, MS - 209 miles
- Jackson, MI to New Orleans, LA - 186 miles
- New Orleans, LA to Houston, TX - 348 miles
- Houston, TX to Austin, TX - 162 miles
- Austin, TX to Carlsbad Caverns, NM - 480 miles
- Carlsbad Caverns, NM to Roswell, NM - 96 miles
- Roswell, NM to Albuquerque, NM - 198 miles
- Albuquerque, NM to Flagstaff, AZ - 324 miles
- Flagstaff, AZ to Grand Canyon (round trip) - 158 miles
- Flagstaff, AZ to Park City, UT - 517 miles
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Recap
This morning, I was thinking about how far I've come in this walkabout. I started almost two months ago in Key West, Florida, and I'm currently in Park City, Utah. I've covered a lot of ground, seen a lot of old friends and family, and even met some interesting new people. All in all, I'd say that the walkabout has been a success, so far. It's not over yet, but I wanted to know just how far I've come during this time. (All mileages are approximate).
Grand Canyon
In line with my continuing resolution to do one awesome thing every day, I went to the Grand Canyon two days ago. It was not something that I had really planned on doing this trip, but when I found myself in the Southwest, I felt like I had to go see the Canyon. I'm really glad that I did. Most of the pictures can be found on my Facebook page. Here's one of me at the Grand Canyon.
Words can't describe what it's like at the Grand Canyon. If you haven't been, it should really be on your bucket list. It's not easy to get to though. It's way out in the middle of nowhere. I drove for two hours from my hotel in Flagstaff to the South Rim. I would have had to drive 159 miles to reach the North Rim. That should give you some idea of the scale of the Canyon. There was only one road leading to the park. Still, it was well worth the trouble. Looking out into the chasm is breathtaking. It stretches from horizon to horizon. I hiked along the Canyon Rim trail. I walked for miles next to the Canyon Rim, just looking out. I'm lucky that I didn't wander off the trail. After walking for miles, I hiked down into the Canyon. Looking out along the edge is one thing, but venturing down into it is something else. It gives you a whole new perspective on just how huge this canyon is. With more preparation, I think I'd really like to hike down to the Colorado River. However, you need a permit for that. Maybe next time. . .
Yesterday evening, I arrived in Park City, Utah. Southern Utah is pretty amazing. There are lakes, mesas, and canyons galore. The terrain matches exactly what you would expect from movies. Likewise, the roads were almost empty, which gave me the solitude to enjoy the drive.
Words can't describe what it's like at the Grand Canyon. If you haven't been, it should really be on your bucket list. It's not easy to get to though. It's way out in the middle of nowhere. I drove for two hours from my hotel in Flagstaff to the South Rim. I would have had to drive 159 miles to reach the North Rim. That should give you some idea of the scale of the Canyon. There was only one road leading to the park. Still, it was well worth the trouble. Looking out into the chasm is breathtaking. It stretches from horizon to horizon. I hiked along the Canyon Rim trail. I walked for miles next to the Canyon Rim, just looking out. I'm lucky that I didn't wander off the trail. After walking for miles, I hiked down into the Canyon. Looking out along the edge is one thing, but venturing down into it is something else. It gives you a whole new perspective on just how huge this canyon is. With more preparation, I think I'd really like to hike down to the Colorado River. However, you need a permit for that. Maybe next time. . .
Yesterday evening, I arrived in Park City, Utah. Southern Utah is pretty amazing. There are lakes, mesas, and canyons galore. The terrain matches exactly what you would expect from movies. Likewise, the roads were almost empty, which gave me the solitude to enjoy the drive.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Today's Awesome Thing
In line with my new impetus to do at least one awesome thing every day, I'd like to share today's event with you.
This morning, I went to the Petroglyph National Monument near Albuquerque, New Mexico. I hiked to the top of the mesa, looking at petroglyphs that had been carved millennia ago. Scientists have apparently dated some of the petroglyphs to 1700 - 1000 BC, and they've survived all this time. It's amazing. According to the National Parks employee I spoke with, there are 150 petroglyphs in this canyon. Here's a picture from the top of the mesa.
Also, here are some of the petroglyphs.
Lest you think this was the only awesome thing I did today, I also went to see a meteor crater outside of Flagstaff, Arizona.
So, those were my awesome things for the day. What were yours?
This morning, I went to the Petroglyph National Monument near Albuquerque, New Mexico. I hiked to the top of the mesa, looking at petroglyphs that had been carved millennia ago. Scientists have apparently dated some of the petroglyphs to 1700 - 1000 BC, and they've survived all this time. It's amazing. According to the National Parks employee I spoke with, there are 150 petroglyphs in this canyon. Here's a picture from the top of the mesa.
Also, here are some of the petroglyphs.
Lest you think this was the only awesome thing I did today, I also went to see a meteor crater outside of Flagstaff, Arizona.
So, those were my awesome things for the day. What were yours?
Thoughts from the Road III: Making Every Day Awesome
I was watching old episodes of How I Met Your Mother before falling asleep the other night, and I saw the episode in which Neal Patrick Harris' character (Barney) tries to make every night "Legendary". This episode got me thinking, and I've been mulling it over for the past couple days. If you haven't seen the episode and don't know what I'm talking about ... Spoilers ahead.
During the episode, Barney decides that every single night of his life must be legendary. He wants all of his friends to join him in nightly adventures that they will remember forever. In the episode, this leads to Barney and the main character (Ted) starting a mariachi band, eating every item of food on a bar menu, and even bringing a horse into a bar. Ted and Barney eventually give up after Ted argues that if every night is legendary, no night is legendary. Ted theorizes that quiet, normal nights are needed to show the contrast with a legendary night and convinces Barney to give up on making every night legendary. Ted just wants ordinary nights, on his couch with his TV. The show made it seem like that outcome was good.
I've been thinking about this episode and Barney's short-lived philosophy for the past couple of days, and I find that I completely disagree with the conclusion the show drew. Every day should be legendary. Okay, I don't plan on running out and starting a mariachi band anytime soon, but, I think that if most of your days are ordinary, you lose something. I think you lose a certain zest for life if you don't take the time to nurture and feed it.
Life should be exciting. It should be filled with awesome things, like adventures and fun activities. You should be able to look back on any single day and say to yourself, "I remember that day. It was the day that I ___________. What a great day."
Now, I realize that what is awesome for one person may not be the same for another, but, I think we should all endeavor to do at least one awesome thing every day. Whether it's trying out a new activity (like rock climbing or salsa dancing), reading a good book, or even just taking a walk with a loved one, we should all seize the chance to make each day memorable.
Who's with me?
During the episode, Barney decides that every single night of his life must be legendary. He wants all of his friends to join him in nightly adventures that they will remember forever. In the episode, this leads to Barney and the main character (Ted) starting a mariachi band, eating every item of food on a bar menu, and even bringing a horse into a bar. Ted and Barney eventually give up after Ted argues that if every night is legendary, no night is legendary. Ted theorizes that quiet, normal nights are needed to show the contrast with a legendary night and convinces Barney to give up on making every night legendary. Ted just wants ordinary nights, on his couch with his TV. The show made it seem like that outcome was good.
I've been thinking about this episode and Barney's short-lived philosophy for the past couple of days, and I find that I completely disagree with the conclusion the show drew. Every day should be legendary. Okay, I don't plan on running out and starting a mariachi band anytime soon, but, I think that if most of your days are ordinary, you lose something. I think you lose a certain zest for life if you don't take the time to nurture and feed it.
Life should be exciting. It should be filled with awesome things, like adventures and fun activities. You should be able to look back on any single day and say to yourself, "I remember that day. It was the day that I ___________. What a great day."
Now, I realize that what is awesome for one person may not be the same for another, but, I think we should all endeavor to do at least one awesome thing every day. Whether it's trying out a new activity (like rock climbing or salsa dancing), reading a good book, or even just taking a walk with a loved one, we should all seize the chance to make each day memorable.
Who's with me?
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Unexpected Benefits
When I started "planning" this walkabout before I left Key West, one of the things that I did not foresee was that it would allow me to reconnect with quite a few friends and family members that I had lost touch with over the years. Since I started this blog, and posting pictures and comments about the trek on Facebook, I've been contacted by quite a few people that I haven't spoken with in a very long time. Family and friends from elementary, high school, college, Cedar Point, and law school have all sent messages of support, inquiry, and even jealousy.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell all of you how happy I am to hear from you. Thanks for getting back in touch, and I promise I will do better this time about letting you know what I'm up to and where I am.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell all of you how happy I am to hear from you. Thanks for getting back in touch, and I promise I will do better this time about letting you know what I'm up to and where I am.
Monday, March 23, 2015
This Past Week
I have to apologize for not updating this blog over the past week. A lot has happened since I left Jackson, Mississippi last Wednesday. In that time, I have been to New Orleans, Houston, Austin, Carlsbad and Roswell. I've covered a lot of ground, seen a lot, and met some new people. It's been a great week. To recap:
New Orleans
When I left Jackson, Mississippi last Wednesday, I headed immediately to the Big Easy. If I had to do it over again, I probably would just skip Jackson altogether and stayed two nights in New Orleans.
I got a hotel room in the French Quarter, which turned out to be a really good decision because driving in the French Quarter is confusing. Armed with recommendations from a friend who has frequented New Orleans previously, I explored.
Bourbon Street is as loud and in your face as I remembered. You would think, in the aftermath of St. Patrick's Day, that it might be quiet. You would be wrong. There were lots of people out, even though it was a Wednesday. The street performers were out in force. The last picture is of a band that set up in the middle of the street to perform. They had fiddles, cellos, and guitars. They were really good, although I wasn't able to get a picture from the front of the crowd.
I ended up at a bar named the Erin Rose (Yes, it's an Irish bar), and met some English professors in town for a conference. We had a great discussion about Renaissance literature, and medieval literature. Apparently, I'm now eligible to join the New Orleans Philosopher's Salon these professors want to set up. Who would have thought?
I also made my way to the Mississippi River and the Holocaust Memorial.
As everyone knows, New Orleans has great food and music. I was able to sample both during the short time I was there. I had Crawfish Etouffee (I'm missing the accent marks) on a restaurant balcony overlooking Bourbon Street. I tried to get everything in the picture below.
I only stayed one night, but I would definitely go back. I got up early the next morning to wander the Quarter when it was less busy.
What's your favorite thing to do in New Orleans?
Houston
I don't have a lot to say about Houston other than it's big. I mean, really big. However, it was just a stopover for me on my way to ...
Austin
I went to Austin to visit my old roommate Brandon on Friday. By chance, South by Southwest ("SXSW") was going on at the same time. Thanks to Brandon's generosity, I had a place to stay in Austin while this was going on. Obviously, we ended up going to SXSW and had a great time. We met a great couple, Laura and Jeff, in an Irish bar. We ended up going to the various music venues and clubs with them. It was late before we got home, exhausted.
I stayed for a couple more days, seeing more of SXSW and Austin in general. All in all, a great city, and one I'd definitely like to visit again.
This morning, I left Austin, not entirely sure where I would go. I started driving west, and decided to go all the way to New Mexico to see the Carlsbad Caverns. It's a longer drive than I normally take, but there was nothing in West Texas I felt compelled to see.
Ironically, driving through West Texas on I-10 was a lot of fun. The speed limit is 80! 80! I enjoyed the novelty of being able to legally go that fast. As I went further west, I got to see a more picturesque landscape. The mesas and plateaus look just like they do in movies. It was great. Also, during one fairly long stretch of highway, the windmills for alternative energy stretched from horizon to horizon. It was quite a sight.
Eventually, I had to turn off of I-10, and take a back road to Carlsbad, New Mexico. The landscape was desolate and dusty, with oil derricks along the side of the road, and dust blowing across the highway. However, it was all worth it once I got to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Carlsbad Caverns
This park is not easy to get to. I had to take several back roads to get there. I swear, for a while, I thought I might be starring in the beginning of a horror movie. There were no other cars or people around, and the road was winding. It had all the hallmarks of a misadventure.
Thankfully, I made it to the park without mishap. As I said above, the hassle of getting to the park was more than worth it.
Driving up to the caverns is an experience all by itself. Picture, if you will, a stretch of roadway winding through a canyon. There are no other cars, and the walls of the canyon tower over you. You get out to look around, and a struck by the quiet. As you stand there, listening to the wind, you realize that there is not another human being around for miles. You are all alone. Actually, you don't have to just imagine. I took pictures.
I got to the visitor center in the park just in time to take the elevator down to "The Big Room". When they call this the "Big Room", they are not exaggerating it. The cavern is humongous. You should know that elevators stop taking people down at 3:30 p.m., and that, if you can get there before 2:00 p.m., you'll be able to walk down to the caverns from a natural cave. I did not make it by 2:00 p.m.
Words escape me in trying to describe the caverns themselves. Again, I took pictures, but they don't do the caverns justice. The Big Room is huge.
I walked for a couple miles around it. Darkness settles over you, with only small lights to illuminate outcroppings that need to be seen. Otherwise, it's black. Also, although there are other people present, it's very quiet. You can hear the drips of water into small pools. Your footsteps echo loudly off the cavern walls. It's like walking in a foreign world. 750 feet of rock press down above you. It's Gaia's cathedral, and it is beautiful. Seriously, go. This is something you need to see.
Roswell
Eventually, I had to leave the Carlsbad Caverns. I had originally planned on staying in Carlsbad, which is 20-30 miles away, but when I saw how outrageous the prices for rooms were, I changed my mind. Roswell was only 2 hours away, and the prices were much more reasonable. So, I drove more. I'm in Roswell now, and will be going to look around in the morning.
New Orleans
When I left Jackson, Mississippi last Wednesday, I headed immediately to the Big Easy. If I had to do it over again, I probably would just skip Jackson altogether and stayed two nights in New Orleans.
I got a hotel room in the French Quarter, which turned out to be a really good decision because driving in the French Quarter is confusing. Armed with recommendations from a friend who has frequented New Orleans previously, I explored.
Bourbon Street is as loud and in your face as I remembered. You would think, in the aftermath of St. Patrick's Day, that it might be quiet. You would be wrong. There were lots of people out, even though it was a Wednesday. The street performers were out in force. The last picture is of a band that set up in the middle of the street to perform. They had fiddles, cellos, and guitars. They were really good, although I wasn't able to get a picture from the front of the crowd.
I ended up at a bar named the Erin Rose (Yes, it's an Irish bar), and met some English professors in town for a conference. We had a great discussion about Renaissance literature, and medieval literature. Apparently, I'm now eligible to join the New Orleans Philosopher's Salon these professors want to set up. Who would have thought?
I also made my way to the Mississippi River and the Holocaust Memorial.
As everyone knows, New Orleans has great food and music. I was able to sample both during the short time I was there. I had Crawfish Etouffee (I'm missing the accent marks) on a restaurant balcony overlooking Bourbon Street. I tried to get everything in the picture below.
I only stayed one night, but I would definitely go back. I got up early the next morning to wander the Quarter when it was less busy.
What's your favorite thing to do in New Orleans?
Houston
I don't have a lot to say about Houston other than it's big. I mean, really big. However, it was just a stopover for me on my way to ...
Austin
I went to Austin to visit my old roommate Brandon on Friday. By chance, South by Southwest ("SXSW") was going on at the same time. Thanks to Brandon's generosity, I had a place to stay in Austin while this was going on. Obviously, we ended up going to SXSW and had a great time. We met a great couple, Laura and Jeff, in an Irish bar. We ended up going to the various music venues and clubs with them. It was late before we got home, exhausted.
I stayed for a couple more days, seeing more of SXSW and Austin in general. All in all, a great city, and one I'd definitely like to visit again.
This morning, I left Austin, not entirely sure where I would go. I started driving west, and decided to go all the way to New Mexico to see the Carlsbad Caverns. It's a longer drive than I normally take, but there was nothing in West Texas I felt compelled to see.
Ironically, driving through West Texas on I-10 was a lot of fun. The speed limit is 80! 80! I enjoyed the novelty of being able to legally go that fast. As I went further west, I got to see a more picturesque landscape. The mesas and plateaus look just like they do in movies. It was great. Also, during one fairly long stretch of highway, the windmills for alternative energy stretched from horizon to horizon. It was quite a sight.
Eventually, I had to turn off of I-10, and take a back road to Carlsbad, New Mexico. The landscape was desolate and dusty, with oil derricks along the side of the road, and dust blowing across the highway. However, it was all worth it once I got to the Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
Carlsbad Caverns
This park is not easy to get to. I had to take several back roads to get there. I swear, for a while, I thought I might be starring in the beginning of a horror movie. There were no other cars or people around, and the road was winding. It had all the hallmarks of a misadventure.
Thankfully, I made it to the park without mishap. As I said above, the hassle of getting to the park was more than worth it.
Driving up to the caverns is an experience all by itself. Picture, if you will, a stretch of roadway winding through a canyon. There are no other cars, and the walls of the canyon tower over you. You get out to look around, and a struck by the quiet. As you stand there, listening to the wind, you realize that there is not another human being around for miles. You are all alone. Actually, you don't have to just imagine. I took pictures.
I got to the visitor center in the park just in time to take the elevator down to "The Big Room". When they call this the "Big Room", they are not exaggerating it. The cavern is humongous. You should know that elevators stop taking people down at 3:30 p.m., and that, if you can get there before 2:00 p.m., you'll be able to walk down to the caverns from a natural cave. I did not make it by 2:00 p.m.
Words escape me in trying to describe the caverns themselves. Again, I took pictures, but they don't do the caverns justice. The Big Room is huge.
I walked for a couple miles around it. Darkness settles over you, with only small lights to illuminate outcroppings that need to be seen. Otherwise, it's black. Also, although there are other people present, it's very quiet. You can hear the drips of water into small pools. Your footsteps echo loudly off the cavern walls. It's like walking in a foreign world. 750 feet of rock press down above you. It's Gaia's cathedral, and it is beautiful. Seriously, go. This is something you need to see.
Roswell
Eventually, I had to leave the Carlsbad Caverns. I had originally planned on staying in Carlsbad, which is 20-30 miles away, but when I saw how outrageous the prices for rooms were, I changed my mind. Roswell was only 2 hours away, and the prices were much more reasonable. So, I drove more. I'm in Roswell now, and will be going to look around in the morning.
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Public Service Announcement
This is a public service announcement before we take you back to your "regularly" scheduled postings. Don't go to Jackson, Mississippi. Don't get off the interstate if you're driving through. Just keep driving. Trust me on this one. There's nothing here. The "downtown" area is deserted. Stay away.
This has been a public service announcement. Thank you.
This has been a public service announcement. Thank you.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Thoughts from the Road: On Friendship
This morning, my friend Vicki asked me, "Aren't blogs supposed to be about 'your' experience? What you feel about stuff, what you are learning about yourself? Isn't that the point of the walkabout?" She had just read my blog, and, from it, she seemed to think I was missing the point of this walkabout, focusing on the exterior to the exclusion of my interior. To her thinking, this blog, Wandering Reflections, had become solely about the "Wandering" instead of the "Reflections". I pondered my responses to Vicki's questions throughout the drive from Memphis to Jackson.
She was right. I've been falling into old patterns, focused on showing you all what I was seeing and doing, and not thinking. I shouldn't be surprised that she was right, she almost always is.
Her questions led to me thinking more about friendship. There's that old joke that a good friend will help you move, but a great friend will help you move bodies. While I was driving, I realized that a good friend will love and accept you for the person that you are, but a great friend will see the best version of you that could be and push you to make that version.
I've been blessed with a lot of great friends in my life. Other than family members, Vicki was probably the first "great" friend I've had. She never shies away from pushing me to be better. She's been doing it since we were in the seventh grade together. She should be congratulated on her patience with me, and her persistence. She's already well on her way to being the best version of herself, which has always made my job trying to be a great friend to her very easy.
Like Vicki, Bart and Paulina have been great friends to me. I'll never forget how, shortly after I started working with Bart, he was reviewing the draft of a motion I had written. Afterwards, we sat down in his office, and he gave me the bald truth, that it was not a very good draft. Bart rightly tore the draft apart, and had many valid critiques of my work. But, as we were finishing our discussion, he looked me right in the eye and said that he knew I could do a better job, that I was intelligent and a great writer. He said that he believed in me. I don't know if he ever knew how much that meant to me to hear, but it definitely pushed me to be better. I can only hope that I live up to his belief in me.
With Paulina, she's been there to offer advice and a well-deserved (proverbial) smack up the side of my head when she thought I was being stupid or stubborn. She pushed me to go outside my narrow comfort zone, and be open to new things and new experiences. Sometimes she was successful, sometimes she was not. But she always pushed, and that was and is appreciated.
My list of great friends could definitely continue, but while I was driving, these three examples of came quickly to mind. If it sometimes seems like my friends have to use a bulldozer to push me to be the best version of myself, I believe that has more to do with my stubbornness and intractability than anything else. Please know that I appreciate your ongoing efforts on my behalf, even if I seem sometimes like I don't. Thanks for never giving up on me.
Anyway, I wanted to share these thoughts with all of you, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Going forward, I try to remember that this blog is about Wandering Reflections, and not just wandering. Thankfully, I know I can count on Vicki and others to remind me if I forget.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
She was right. I've been falling into old patterns, focused on showing you all what I was seeing and doing, and not thinking. I shouldn't be surprised that she was right, she almost always is.
Her questions led to me thinking more about friendship. There's that old joke that a good friend will help you move, but a great friend will help you move bodies. While I was driving, I realized that a good friend will love and accept you for the person that you are, but a great friend will see the best version of you that could be and push you to make that version.
I've been blessed with a lot of great friends in my life. Other than family members, Vicki was probably the first "great" friend I've had. She never shies away from pushing me to be better. She's been doing it since we were in the seventh grade together. She should be congratulated on her patience with me, and her persistence. She's already well on her way to being the best version of herself, which has always made my job trying to be a great friend to her very easy.
Like Vicki, Bart and Paulina have been great friends to me. I'll never forget how, shortly after I started working with Bart, he was reviewing the draft of a motion I had written. Afterwards, we sat down in his office, and he gave me the bald truth, that it was not a very good draft. Bart rightly tore the draft apart, and had many valid critiques of my work. But, as we were finishing our discussion, he looked me right in the eye and said that he knew I could do a better job, that I was intelligent and a great writer. He said that he believed in me. I don't know if he ever knew how much that meant to me to hear, but it definitely pushed me to be better. I can only hope that I live up to his belief in me.
With Paulina, she's been there to offer advice and a well-deserved (proverbial) smack up the side of my head when she thought I was being stupid or stubborn. She pushed me to go outside my narrow comfort zone, and be open to new things and new experiences. Sometimes she was successful, sometimes she was not. But she always pushed, and that was and is appreciated.
My list of great friends could definitely continue, but while I was driving, these three examples of came quickly to mind. If it sometimes seems like my friends have to use a bulldozer to push me to be the best version of myself, I believe that has more to do with my stubbornness and intractability than anything else. Please know that I appreciate your ongoing efforts on my behalf, even if I seem sometimes like I don't. Thanks for never giving up on me.
Anyway, I wanted to share these thoughts with all of you, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter. Going forward, I try to remember that this blog is about Wandering Reflections, and not just wandering. Thankfully, I know I can count on Vicki and others to remind me if I forget.
Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone!
Memphis, Tennessee
I was in Memphis, Tennessee last night, and I really enjoyed it. It was definitely better than Nashville. For one, Memphis was easier to get around in, and the roads had fewer potholes. When I left Nashville in the morning, I was once again treated to a traffic jam, and this was after the traditional rush hour. Suffice it to say that I did not enjoy driving in Tennessee.
I arrived in Memphis in early afternoon and immediately headed to the river. It was a nice day, probably one of the nicest I've had since I left Florida weeks ago. Sunny and warm, I wandered around near the river for a few hours, seeing the sights. I wanted to take a ride on one of the paddle boats, but I wasn't able to do so. It's a beautiful area, and will be even better once the trees regrow their leaves.
I like this sculpture outside of my hotel. Google helpfully put together a panorama from my pictures by the river that I would like to share.
Watching baseball at this field would be a lot of fun.
After I was done walking around the river, I went to Beale Street. In my opinion, Beale Street is better than Broadway Street in Nashville. Broadway Street tries very hard to be loud, and in your face. The music from all of the bars blends together until you can't tell where it's coming from. On Beale Street (at least while I was there), the venues don't project the music out into the street. You need to go inside to listen.
I was walking outside one of the restaurants, when I heard this great music playing. Needing to eat, I went inside. The music was great, and I had deep-fried ribs of all things. (They were fine.) Nevertheless, what made the place memorable were the others sitting at the bar, a nice couple just returning from Marco Island in Florida, and a man in from Texas for the day on business named Chris. We all got to talking and they were quite interested in my story.
It seems that no matter who I tell that I've left Key West for a walkabout, their immediate reaction is "Why would you ever leave Key West?" I've heard those seven words so many times now from so many different people. No matter what answer I give, the disbelief never leaves their faces. I think it takes living there to really understand why it becomes necessary to leave.
I ended up hanging out with Chris and his coworkers on Beale Street. They reiterated Chris' disbelief with my walkabout. They were great guys, and it was fun meeting new people.
I'm in Jackson, Mississippi tonight, but I can honestly say there is nothing here that is interesting. I doubt I'll come back here.
I arrived in Memphis in early afternoon and immediately headed to the river. It was a nice day, probably one of the nicest I've had since I left Florida weeks ago. Sunny and warm, I wandered around near the river for a few hours, seeing the sights. I wanted to take a ride on one of the paddle boats, but I wasn't able to do so. It's a beautiful area, and will be even better once the trees regrow their leaves.
I like this sculpture outside of my hotel. Google helpfully put together a panorama from my pictures by the river that I would like to share.
Watching baseball at this field would be a lot of fun.
After I was done walking around the river, I went to Beale Street. In my opinion, Beale Street is better than Broadway Street in Nashville. Broadway Street tries very hard to be loud, and in your face. The music from all of the bars blends together until you can't tell where it's coming from. On Beale Street (at least while I was there), the venues don't project the music out into the street. You need to go inside to listen.
I was walking outside one of the restaurants, when I heard this great music playing. Needing to eat, I went inside. The music was great, and I had deep-fried ribs of all things. (They were fine.) Nevertheless, what made the place memorable were the others sitting at the bar, a nice couple just returning from Marco Island in Florida, and a man in from Texas for the day on business named Chris. We all got to talking and they were quite interested in my story.
It seems that no matter who I tell that I've left Key West for a walkabout, their immediate reaction is "Why would you ever leave Key West?" I've heard those seven words so many times now from so many different people. No matter what answer I give, the disbelief never leaves their faces. I think it takes living there to really understand why it becomes necessary to leave.
I ended up hanging out with Chris and his coworkers on Beale Street. They reiterated Chris' disbelief with my walkabout. They were great guys, and it was fun meeting new people.
I'm in Jackson, Mississippi tonight, but I can honestly say there is nothing here that is interesting. I doubt I'll come back here.
Monday, March 16, 2015
One Night in Nashville
I have a few issues with Tennessee, mainly because of the state of their roads. My first issue was with the state of the roads in Tennessee. Almost as soon as I crossed the state line from North Carolina, I started seeing signs to beware of potholes. Over the miles from the state line to Nashville, I lost count of the number of those signs I saw. I also lost count of the number of potholes I saw too. Those signs are not empty warnings, let me tell you. The interstate is pitted with potholes, really large ones. It was not safe. I'm no engineer, but if you can take the time to warn people repeatedly about the horrible conditions of your roads, it's probably better to just fix the problem.
While I'm on the subject of roads, whoever sets the speed limits on the interstate needs to be forced to take a ride on those same roads. The speed limits fluctuate wildly for no reason that I could see. The speed limit would drop from 70 to 55 and then up to 65 before dropping back down to 60, and finally rising again to 70. There weren't even exits or towns around which might have been using the fluctuation as a speed trap to generate revenue. And, before you ask, no, it was not in a construction zone. There was one "construction zone" in which there was not a single orange barrel, safety cone, or, indeed, any workers at all. It's as if Tennessee decided that it was enough to declare that stretch of road a construction zone and leave it at that.
When I arrived in Nashville and checked into my hotel, I was sure that things were looking up. The Embassy Suites near the airport is really nice. The rooms are large, beds comfortable, and the price was good. (Gotta love last minute deals on Expedia.com). I was even able to do a load of laundry.
Clothes cleaned, I was ready to go explore downtown Nashville. The only problem was that I was trying to get into downtown Nashville at the exact same time that University of Kentucky basketball fans were trying to get out of the area. The interstate was completely backed up, and it took me over 40 minutes to go two and a half miles. I actually found myself missing rush hour traffic on the Florida Turnpike through Miami on a Friday. From where I sat in traffic, I could see the streams of cars lined up to enter the interstate. After my earlier experience with potholes and speed limit fluctuation, let's just say that I did not enjoy driving in Tennessee.
Once I got to downtown Nashville, it was fairly easy to find my way around. Parking was an issue, and I ended up in a parking garage that wanted to charge me $21.00 for four hours of parking. I was missing Hendersonville at that point, where the same amount of parking would have been $2.00. I was irritated as I started wandering downtown Nashville, and, at that point, I was ready to write off the whole state of Tennessee as a bad idea. (I know I shouldn't judge a whole state by one day's experience, but, seriously, the roads ARE that bad.)
Downtown Nashville is pretty interesting. The skyscrapers are pretty unique, and there are hidden gems. I found a coffee shop marked only with the logo of a monkey. I think its name was The Frothy Monkey. It served beer, wine, and liquor, in addition to coffee. I had an iced fruit tea, which I was told was the shop's own brew. It was pretty good, and the barista was friendly and funny.
I found my way to Broadway Street, and this is when I actually started to enjoy myself in Nashville. For those of you who have never been to Broadway Street here in Nashville, I'm not sure words can adequately describe it (although I am obviously going to try). Hitting the corner of Broadway Street, I was assaulted by a cacophony. It was a wild riot of sight and sound. Every bar had live music pouring out of it and street performers played on every block. People walking, talking, and cheering added to the noise. Because this was soon after the University of Kentucky's basketball game, there were a lot of blue jerseys. I'd been warned earlier at my hotel that the town had turned into a suburb of Lexington, Kentucky because there were just that many UK fans in town and that whatever I did, I should not wear red. I went with blue jeans and a white shirt so that I would blend in.
The picture above is from the corner at Broadway Street. Google was kind enough to create a panoramic picture from three photos I took. I included it here because it gives you a good idea. Here are the three original shots.
I went into two bars, both of which had live music. The bands were both pretty good, but I think I preferred the one at Legends Corner the most. I tried to take a picture, but it didn't really turn out. The sun streaming into the window behind the band makes it impossible to see them.
I continued to wander.
Ultimately, I found an area called Printer's Alley.
I ended up having dinner at the Fleet Street Pub in the Printer's Alley. It had traditional British fare, offering Bangers and Mash, Shepard's Pie, Beef Stew, and Yorkshire puddings. Surprisingly, the pub was out of Guinness, and I was told that it would probably be Tuesday before they received more. It was one of those disconnect moments. I wasn't looking to have a beer, but how can it call itself a British pub if it runs out of Guinness? In the words of the infamous Chewbacca Defense, this does not make sense. Despite the lack of Guinness, my Shepard's Pie was fine.
My trip back to the hotel was much less crowded, although I did encounter even more potholes. (Seriously, Tennessee, fix the roads!). I've spent this morning trying to decide where to go next, Memphis or St. Louis.
As a somewhat amusing anecdote, while I was driving to Nashville, it was a little before 11:00 a.m. I was looking at the GPS route on my phone, and it said that I had a little over two hours of driving left, but that I would arrive in Nashville at 12:15 p.m. I stared at the numbers with incomprehension, thinking maybe there was a glitch with the phone.
It took me about a minute to realize that I would be crossing time zones on the way to Nashville, and that, once again, my phone was right.
While I'm on the subject of roads, whoever sets the speed limits on the interstate needs to be forced to take a ride on those same roads. The speed limits fluctuate wildly for no reason that I could see. The speed limit would drop from 70 to 55 and then up to 65 before dropping back down to 60, and finally rising again to 70. There weren't even exits or towns around which might have been using the fluctuation as a speed trap to generate revenue. And, before you ask, no, it was not in a construction zone. There was one "construction zone" in which there was not a single orange barrel, safety cone, or, indeed, any workers at all. It's as if Tennessee decided that it was enough to declare that stretch of road a construction zone and leave it at that.
When I arrived in Nashville and checked into my hotel, I was sure that things were looking up. The Embassy Suites near the airport is really nice. The rooms are large, beds comfortable, and the price was good. (Gotta love last minute deals on Expedia.com). I was even able to do a load of laundry.
Clothes cleaned, I was ready to go explore downtown Nashville. The only problem was that I was trying to get into downtown Nashville at the exact same time that University of Kentucky basketball fans were trying to get out of the area. The interstate was completely backed up, and it took me over 40 minutes to go two and a half miles. I actually found myself missing rush hour traffic on the Florida Turnpike through Miami on a Friday. From where I sat in traffic, I could see the streams of cars lined up to enter the interstate. After my earlier experience with potholes and speed limit fluctuation, let's just say that I did not enjoy driving in Tennessee.
Once I got to downtown Nashville, it was fairly easy to find my way around. Parking was an issue, and I ended up in a parking garage that wanted to charge me $21.00 for four hours of parking. I was missing Hendersonville at that point, where the same amount of parking would have been $2.00. I was irritated as I started wandering downtown Nashville, and, at that point, I was ready to write off the whole state of Tennessee as a bad idea. (I know I shouldn't judge a whole state by one day's experience, but, seriously, the roads ARE that bad.)
Downtown Nashville is pretty interesting. The skyscrapers are pretty unique, and there are hidden gems. I found a coffee shop marked only with the logo of a monkey. I think its name was The Frothy Monkey. It served beer, wine, and liquor, in addition to coffee. I had an iced fruit tea, which I was told was the shop's own brew. It was pretty good, and the barista was friendly and funny.
I found my way to Broadway Street, and this is when I actually started to enjoy myself in Nashville. For those of you who have never been to Broadway Street here in Nashville, I'm not sure words can adequately describe it (although I am obviously going to try). Hitting the corner of Broadway Street, I was assaulted by a cacophony. It was a wild riot of sight and sound. Every bar had live music pouring out of it and street performers played on every block. People walking, talking, and cheering added to the noise. Because this was soon after the University of Kentucky's basketball game, there were a lot of blue jerseys. I'd been warned earlier at my hotel that the town had turned into a suburb of Lexington, Kentucky because there were just that many UK fans in town and that whatever I did, I should not wear red. I went with blue jeans and a white shirt so that I would blend in.
The picture above is from the corner at Broadway Street. Google was kind enough to create a panoramic picture from three photos I took. I included it here because it gives you a good idea. Here are the three original shots.
I went into two bars, both of which had live music. The bands were both pretty good, but I think I preferred the one at Legends Corner the most. I tried to take a picture, but it didn't really turn out. The sun streaming into the window behind the band makes it impossible to see them.
I continued to wander.
Ultimately, I found an area called Printer's Alley.
I ended up having dinner at the Fleet Street Pub in the Printer's Alley. It had traditional British fare, offering Bangers and Mash, Shepard's Pie, Beef Stew, and Yorkshire puddings. Surprisingly, the pub was out of Guinness, and I was told that it would probably be Tuesday before they received more. It was one of those disconnect moments. I wasn't looking to have a beer, but how can it call itself a British pub if it runs out of Guinness? In the words of the infamous Chewbacca Defense, this does not make sense. Despite the lack of Guinness, my Shepard's Pie was fine.
My trip back to the hotel was much less crowded, although I did encounter even more potholes. (Seriously, Tennessee, fix the roads!). I've spent this morning trying to decide where to go next, Memphis or St. Louis.
As a somewhat amusing anecdote, while I was driving to Nashville, it was a little before 11:00 a.m. I was looking at the GPS route on my phone, and it said that I had a little over two hours of driving left, but that I would arrive in Nashville at 12:15 p.m. I stared at the numbers with incomprehension, thinking maybe there was a glitch with the phone.
It took me about a minute to realize that I would be crossing time zones on the way to Nashville, and that, once again, my phone was right.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Hendersonville, NC
Yesterday morning, it looked like it would be yet another day of cold weather and rain. That was true for most of the morning, but, around noon, it started clearing up, and I went to downtown Hendersonville to look around. The area is kind of a throwback. It seems a lot like a movie set-piece for "Main Street America". The buildings are classic Americana, and there's even a sandwich shop, set up as an old-time drug store, with a mural of Coca-Cola on the side of the building, promising to cure all ailments. It's a fun area, with coffee shops, restaurants, pubs, and even the old Courthouse.
I even got to see the fog rising from the mountains.
While I was wandering, I saw a pet masquerade at the local playhouse, where the dogs were all dressed as Wizard of Oz characters. (Apparently, the local theater group is performing the Wizard of Oz right now, and the pet masquerade was a way to promote the play as well as support the local animal shelter.) I don't know how much you can see in the picture below, but it was pretty entertaining.
After my wanderings were done, I got to hang out more with my cousins, aunt, and uncle. All told, a pretty awesome day. I definitely enjoyed my time in the Asheville/Hendersonville area, and look forward to returning.
For now, it's on to Nashville, Tennessee!
I even got to see the fog rising from the mountains.
While I was wandering, I saw a pet masquerade at the local playhouse, where the dogs were all dressed as Wizard of Oz characters. (Apparently, the local theater group is performing the Wizard of Oz right now, and the pet masquerade was a way to promote the play as well as support the local animal shelter.) I don't know how much you can see in the picture below, but it was pretty entertaining.
After my wanderings were done, I got to hang out more with my cousins, aunt, and uncle. All told, a pretty awesome day. I definitely enjoyed my time in the Asheville/Hendersonville area, and look forward to returning.
For now, it's on to Nashville, Tennessee!
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