Neither one of us felt much like moving this morning. We left the awakening process happen on its own....or rather by the sounds of children harking at ungodly hours of the morning.
Game plan in hand we marched out the door and into a semi warmer and sunnier morning. For the third time we ( and I mean I) navigated the highways to downtown Asheville. Parking across the street we could smell delicious smells wafting our way. The shop was filled with college and business like folk. Either chatting to themselves on gadgets or to counterparts. My brain was overwhelmed with having so many choices. Usually when faced with a menu I have to figure out how I'm going to tweak it to serve my needs but here...no tweaking was at all needed.. In the car I savored half of his hummus sandwich and could have easily devoured my entire chocolate croissant in one foul swoop. It was just unbelievable , and I've had my fair share of chocolate puff pastry confections.
Our plans, in fact the main reason we came down this far south, got derailed at a small visitor center just a few miles outside of Asheville. The man behind the desk after playing Jingle Bells on his hearing aids (please don't ask) informed us that the mountains had been blessed with 30 plus inches of snow. There was no way we were either a.) going to be able to make it through the roads nor b.) hike in those conditions. Heaving a very very deep sigh we decided to mosey on out and drive to Nashville.
All be it the drive was gorgeous, stunning and breath taking. Wrap up all the words into a neat package that make you stop and muse for a moment and that was what that drive was like. Large thick icicles clung to the mountain sides, big boulders towered over head and tiny trees fighting for life stuck out like sore thumbs.
We said goodbye to the mountains as the drive continued.
Again, we were taken by surprise as large and small alike rain drops splish splashed on the windshield, at times clouding the view ahead. Nashville was a bustling town that afternoon. We found out that several venues were scheduled for that day. Parking was a nightmare and hellish robbery. Pooor poor signage nearly got us stuck in a cubicle that they called a parking area of sorts. I'd call it a way too small play pen for cars.
The streets were filled to the brim with tourists all attracted by the bright flashing lights and barbequed piggy pies. We walked into a few stores and were sticker shocked at the first with cowboy hats that cost more than my pay check. My father would have been tickled at the record store that had shelves and shelves of vintage records. The state capital (not to sound like an adolescent middle schooler) was the lamest that I have been to . There were a few statues that struck some interesting notes but other wise the facing and architecture were drab and otherwise a second fiddle to the busy music city. Hearing his stomach rumbling we headed to seek out BBQ.
One person manned slapping meat onto plates while another rang up your bill and sloshed "veggies" onto your little Styrofoam tray. We had a really nice view in the upstairs seating area where the lights continued to dance and the rain continued to drizzle.
The rain began to pick up as we ambled into Kentucky and southern Illinois. We weaved into the oddest rest stop that had been "closed to state funding." That seems to be the Illinois motto these days or at least the words I utter every five minutes at work. Anyhoo I got side tracked.
I had seen on TV the festivals in Metropolis with a giant superman and had always semi wanted to go. Making a last minute decision we swerved back onto the road and again followed signs that just yelled to go on blind faith and keep driving straight. He popped out of nowhere, well lit and donning a Santy Claus hat. Funny pictures and posing and side splitting laughter surrounded the plaster man of steel.
Making one wrong turn led us down a road that literally brought me to tears. I had a few tears of laughing fear from going down a road tht felt like a scene out of CSI. It didn't help that a deer appeared and stared us down with bright shinning eyes. I was never happier to see a major highway in my life. Ever. And I hate highways.
Feeling the drag of the day we wound up in a hotel that makes you just scratch your head a lot...for several reasons....
Well, it was a busyish day that has left me tired and yeah tired. Off until tomorrow..or should I say....
Up Up and Away!
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