tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91571131052128114802024-02-19T05:47:40.612-08:00AIRSTREAM ADVENTUREThe story of a young married couple, a Boston Terrier named Miss Pickles, and an Airstream named Wally....let the adventure begin!JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-84441711881656540422013-08-05T10:05:00.000-07:002013-08-05T10:09:13.328-07:00OUR BLOG HAS MOVED!whoops!<br />
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seems you're looking at our old blog. our VERY OLD BLOG. you can now find us at <a href="http://airstreamadventure.com/">airstreamadventure.com</a>.<br />
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see you there!JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-44844083419860461822011-03-06T09:09:00.000-08:002011-03-06T09:09:08.201-08:00Laundry day at the OasisLaundry day. Not usually a laugh-a-minute kind of day. However, I did get a chuckle or two with what I found near the laundry room.<br />
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There’s a space right next to the laundry facilities, but for some reason, it was occupied by a near new <a href="http://www.monacocoach.com/">Monaco</a> RV. Now, the Monaco is an expensive piece of kit. So I would assume that the person occupying such a high-end RV would have at least the knowledge of hooking and unhooking utilities.<br />
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The Monaco is a Class A type RV, which means it’s built on one of those huge, 40 feet long busses. You know, the ones with luggage storage under where the passengers sit. Well, with Class A RV’s of this caliber, the passenger seats aren’t put in, and they build it up for living area, and the luggage storage is kept mostly for luggage storage, but at least two of the locations are used for access to the shore water (fresh water for bathing/cleaning/drinking), the black and gray water tanks (where the runoff from the shower and toilets go) and electricity. Now, most of the time with these class of RV’s, all of these connections can be made on the underside of the RV, which most people do, and it makes it look a lot cleaner than what this guy did.<br />
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He opened the locations, plugged in the shore water and his sewer tube, and then closed the locations on top of it. Apparently, he either didn’t have the time to properly connect, or it must have been his first time out. I wouldn’t think the way he had it would have caused a problem, however, the copious amount of what appeared to be clear water was running out of the storage locations.<br />
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This is a problem. Where is it coming from, and what type of ‘liquid’ is it? Fresh water, gray, or even possibly black? It didn’t smell, and wasn’t of the appropriate color, so I was guessing that someone was taking a shower when all this happened.<br />
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So I did what anyone else probably would do. I went in the laundry room and started doing my laundry. After a couple of minutes, another man came into the room and started folding his clothes. “Ok, so which one of us is going to tell the Monaco he’s leaking so much he’s creating his own pond?” He looks, and says “Wow. He’s really leaking, isn’t he?” That’s all I needed. I walked up to the Monaco.<br />
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Right next to the front door they had a sign, “Beware of Dog.” This is going to be interesting. I knock, and was greeting by loud barking, the kind of barking a small, harmless wire-haired terrier could bark. I was greeted by an older woman, dressed in plaid pajamas, with furry slippers to top off the outfit.<br />
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“What?”<br />
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“Hey, you are leaking very badly.”<br />
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“What?”<br />
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I point to what is now a small pond underneath her RV. Her response can’t be adequately summed up in words. It was a kind of response like “I fear you are speaking some sort of foreign language that I can’t understand. Thanks for stopping by!”. However, after I pointed to Lake Monaco, gave her the ‘you need to look at it now’ look did it dawn on her that maybe she should look at it.<br />
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She walked to where the hookups were, and looked at it quizzically. I guessed that maybe she knew what was going on. I did feel a little badly that her furry slippers were now soaked. Not a pleasant way to start the day. I went back into the laundry room to finish what I started, thinking she was going to be ok. What greeted me on my exit was a bit shocking, but not wholly unexpected.<br />
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It was an entire family on a trip. Grandma, son, grandson were all removed from the relative comfort of their RV, and were now staring at the waterfall coming out from under the RV, as well as springing from other storage locations on the bottom. It was a beautifully horrific sight. Now, here’s the thing that I didn’t think about until much later. What was in those other storage locations? I’m hoping it wasn’t too important, or would at least dry out quickly. And hopefully, they took the time to dry out the locations.<br />
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I assume they didn’t. When I went back to put the laundry in the dryer, they were long gone. However, the pond remained for a while. Just goes to show you that more expensive sure doesn’t mean a smarter owner.<br />
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see you down the road!<br />
Richard<br />
<div><br />
</div>JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-89402299560412057912011-02-13T11:50:00.000-08:002011-02-13T12:14:44.761-08:00THE BIG EASY.seems we've got some catching up to do...so we're going to pick up where we left off with the crazy city of new orleans, which we visited back in mid-october 2010. {is it possible that five months have gone by? wow.}<br />
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where to even start: we immensely enjoyed our time here, in the city that's still enduring katrina's wrath but refuses to go down. being both of our first visits here, i think we had some idea of what to expect based off of the tried-and-true cliches. yes, everyone knows of voodoo and bourbon street, the french quarter and the delights of cafe du monde (of which, yes, we became familiar) but there's so much more to new orleans than mardi gras madness. personally, it's like no other city i have ever visited. funky, eclectic, proud, dirty, traditional, beautiful, soulful. it's a city of contrasts. elegant fine cajun dining just down the block from 3-feet-long $5 margaritas. beautiful, ornate iron work overlooking streets littered with trash. the smell of fresh baked beignets next door to the smell of bourbon street. the stunning st. louis cathedral with fortune tellers perched outside its hundreds-of-years-old steps. (speaking of, we had our fortunes told and would like to request our money back.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWguvv2rCIRVy6YY34Cn_e8ReLIzyfUjpVhmfz4efmwKg91gwd8zBIOOF_rpM6KrhqO1DOjsqixNunPlzZLAXxWE_Re20ZFsgtlR12ND3yj-oBw5NzON6KMKGQbQjZ4v53stuEvwrIHF1g/s1600/cafe+du+monde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWguvv2rCIRVy6YY34Cn_e8ReLIzyfUjpVhmfz4efmwKg91gwd8zBIOOF_rpM6KrhqO1DOjsqixNunPlzZLAXxWE_Re20ZFsgtlR12ND3yj-oBw5NzON6KMKGQbQjZ4v53stuEvwrIHF1g/s400/cafe+du+monde.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a classic, and open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k8bKs1m2XXfpNQmTDdeA2Y11pIbCdzBPQrcU1Z58C1L_0jiKAW7IQ-ZPC75kyuBSujvEp5vQC-bp66fdQVRS-0kIG92yM5xM_tWoUrRlH8N0TWiSFSYUPl_cgZcYQsYVM9GR5La-ghuA/s1600/courtyard+restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4k8bKs1m2XXfpNQmTDdeA2Y11pIbCdzBPQrcU1Z58C1L_0jiKAW7IQ-ZPC75kyuBSujvEp5vQC-bp66fdQVRS-0kIG92yM5xM_tWoUrRlH8N0TWiSFSYUPl_cgZcYQsYVM9GR5La-ghuA/s400/courtyard+restaurant.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a quiet courtyard awaiting mid-day patrons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPXqjLJtdfok01IXZoGQ-hx5zMJYJrYpwUyC4rcI1g7xITXJWHk89-tj7cU-7h2Iz22-pYoegIgEguwIG7fwjgIblxSDcdygqUWLzUPWk1q0XkWgNrPvkTNx1eAQK27hhJvLS3gpe-CZV/s1600/FQ+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPXqjLJtdfok01IXZoGQ-hx5zMJYJrYpwUyC4rcI1g7xITXJWHk89-tj7cU-7h2Iz22-pYoegIgEguwIG7fwjgIblxSDcdygqUWLzUPWk1q0XkWgNrPvkTNx1eAQK27hhJvLS3gpe-CZV/s400/FQ+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iconic new orleans ironwork in the french quarter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsTnZ1aPqYStj31zf0mLFZtkG5c_J2_1qRagZXhoPmCtmfg8Eg0a-B8eJI-caH9N_3nwBf0-iNLvQqGiMdpZE7Kt3wmbskzIHnBv3mnL63krt2veJ4DP95vjB9SJOhGj-lrJfRBIEEs7g/s1600/moon+in+FQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsTnZ1aPqYStj31zf0mLFZtkG5c_J2_1qRagZXhoPmCtmfg8Eg0a-B8eJI-caH9N_3nwBf0-iNLvQqGiMdpZE7Kt3wmbskzIHnBv3mnL63krt2veJ4DP95vjB9SJOhGj-lrJfRBIEEs7g/s400/moon+in+FQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">moon over the crescent city</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ucX-URkBI7UuxMnChpHEgfqKIXT2n8bcf6x3sR1NYCzgnKc37LdzKxMRuhbvUdUE607LbpuUHhBzR6liNXHMqczfv7r8PFInm_K0XawbTh_G5Er45h5y_41cu4CqMHrG4kqwQaTC_ES8/s1600/patio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ucX-URkBI7UuxMnChpHEgfqKIXT2n8bcf6x3sR1NYCzgnKc37LdzKxMRuhbvUdUE607LbpuUHhBzR6liNXHMqczfv7r8PFInm_K0XawbTh_G5Er45h5y_41cu4CqMHrG4kqwQaTC_ES8/s400/patio.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looks like a perfect lunch spot. bloody mary's all around?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbSIQPuAwvxuTYv1w187t4NEi7wvGo6ThAj5m5aXWSyik5sCdCVtcL_IN-sbHUbLria1-JCQaEgbk7yV26ewrWE0nbzXurbyxFCMpvceAZg2Uq0l2hco_l9v5M3bcPMJtuTZP9yQCf-P7/s1600/st+louis+cathedral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikbSIQPuAwvxuTYv1w187t4NEi7wvGo6ThAj5m5aXWSyik5sCdCVtcL_IN-sbHUbLria1-JCQaEgbk7yV26ewrWE0nbzXurbyxFCMpvceAZg2Uq0l2hco_l9v5M3bcPMJtuTZP9yQCf-P7/s400/st+louis+cathedral.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">st. louis cathedral in jackson square</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW33k74_PwHDjaSZqMK2n-ZLR7IwbelqhHkUArx2zHfUnVIY6OhNkUKB07YpndSQpdrl6thHw4P-02T5Qcxl7lpfD98YjgMmCFCZdv5uANOyVH7vRkDHKMkaeZotiUWq79fuJFmX5rvpJS/s1600/altar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW33k74_PwHDjaSZqMK2n-ZLR7IwbelqhHkUArx2zHfUnVIY6OhNkUKB07YpndSQpdrl6thHw4P-02T5Qcxl7lpfD98YjgMmCFCZdv5uANOyVH7vRkDHKMkaeZotiUWq79fuJFmX5rvpJS/s400/altar.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">altar inside st. louis cathedral</td></tr>
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there's no shortage of cajun classics to enjoy like shrimp etouffee, crawfish, jambalaya and po' boys, and boy, oh boy, we sampled all of them. places like <a href="http://www.mothersrestaurant.net/">mother's</a> are the real deal. nothing fancy but good down-home food. we savored beignets covered in powdered sugar with cafe au lait from the legendary <a href="http://www.cafedumonde.com/">cafe du monde</a>, split a muffaletta from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/central-grocery-co-new-orleans">central grocery</a> (supposedly the inventor of the famed deli sandwich), and indulged in adventurous ice cream from <a href="http://www.creolecreamery.com/">the creole creamery</a>. (no really, check out their flavors!) let's just say that it's a good thing that MUCH walking was involved during our stay in new orleans.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRSayMOZor1h1pKeR_Mw7uQkxZKmkL0sNM2a8EpvhmWofjj98DI07AcuY7gP77auqrKtjNJc4qJL4aD1l_PYSzNxhw-Eh1ZyPp34Sw2nHX8u0vMuCXqMg_AaheAyZwyPIchqolxktWPeY/s1600/beignets+and+cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkRSayMOZor1h1pKeR_Mw7uQkxZKmkL0sNM2a8EpvhmWofjj98DI07AcuY7gP77auqrKtjNJc4qJL4aD1l_PYSzNxhw-Eh1ZyPp34Sw2nHX8u0vMuCXqMg_AaheAyZwyPIchqolxktWPeY/s400/beignets+and+cafe.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beignets and cafe au lait at cafe du monde</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ly1juXAMFKMUz24wmXGHFxFo5hqakqNfx1BHF2psywk6sqiA2crzgc6HaMrf9HGMycDtc18BPK_QyeSlzIpTc7up5ASBmHTd4B_zqKHKypRZdwrSMLFwDpL5PB493kP3IZe_0ZC_gt8m/s1600/central+grocery+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ly1juXAMFKMUz24wmXGHFxFo5hqakqNfx1BHF2psywk6sqiA2crzgc6HaMrf9HGMycDtc18BPK_QyeSlzIpTc7up5ASBmHTd4B_zqKHKypRZdwrSMLFwDpL5PB493kP3IZe_0ZC_gt8m/s400/central+grocery+sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old school.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBPS5VtUyvl_LFHx49LZ6GOltxsQsqrXPSXsz1H4LegGNEqtau2KLfN9GeHnJCrm_vQ4KhBqtuVLHSOnXJXjIEZydGo6AfboZ6_UBHUibg5ctcc1aaMqg_Sop5AzuAcMkppOTA7NUx60_/s1600/muffaletta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBPS5VtUyvl_LFHx49LZ6GOltxsQsqrXPSXsz1H4LegGNEqtau2KLfN9GeHnJCrm_vQ4KhBqtuVLHSOnXJXjIEZydGo6AfboZ6_UBHUibg5ctcc1aaMqg_Sop5AzuAcMkppOTA7NUx60_/s400/muffaletta.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">muffaletta from central grocery. the original.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gJdlibGerEHRZnweH2O302zswZhEyWGAlsZzOKK3uCPDW8oIyjqOQ_RNsslyKHfl2OsZ1TVOzN5IrET-bjhbpa22d_xuBqv9rYMo3C6catydjpZrYonRKHfmS56WGkL_aqIt77Plc_nq/s1600/central+groc+shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2gJdlibGerEHRZnweH2O302zswZhEyWGAlsZzOKK3uCPDW8oIyjqOQ_RNsslyKHfl2OsZ1TVOzN5IrET-bjhbpa22d_xuBqv9rYMo3C6catydjpZrYonRKHfmS56WGkL_aqIt77Plc_nq/s400/central+groc+shelves.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the walls inside central grocery filled with italian imported goodies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJmkRnm4wCqsfNmhI0aiqGqYz6iCyp9xOYOF8m7F0ABN5WJogprXVenQ_7-05CUHQYJjn2xfy-G4Dxv1tqEI-HVE_QxvErenwMFJOr7Tb5WTs9tK-4GYJH3Hm7_Qdvq4wCfWg9Kka2IOi/s1600/creole+creamery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJmkRnm4wCqsfNmhI0aiqGqYz6iCyp9xOYOF8m7F0ABN5WJogprXVenQ_7-05CUHQYJjn2xfy-G4Dxv1tqEI-HVE_QxvErenwMFJOr7Tb5WTs9tK-4GYJH3Hm7_Qdvq4wCfWg9Kka2IOi/s400/creole+creamery.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sinful sampler. and worth every calorie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA2aTB_2qgWHvuhrbQjgjf7aZPFbMZac4oGn2guSZJ_87dDolKH3eySp1tNTu17JJlBqOAi8bZ8Ns-Z3d78ST2AT-J88sc35UaPuz9MlNPzZVtBZ1ALT0YnPf7mEQ7lemur437YwgC8I-/s1600/mothers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgA2aTB_2qgWHvuhrbQjgjf7aZPFbMZac4oGn2guSZJ_87dDolKH3eySp1tNTu17JJlBqOAi8bZ8Ns-Z3d78ST2AT-J88sc35UaPuz9MlNPzZVtBZ1ALT0YnPf7mEQ7lemur437YwgC8I-/s400/mothers.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">po' boy and crawfish etouffee from mother's.</td></tr>
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we decided to stay at <a href="http://www.pontchartrainlanding.com/">ponchartrain landing rv resort</a>. it's worth sharing that it's in a really weird location; but try not to be put off by it, because we truly thought it was the best place to stay. it's towards the very back of some port authority property off of lake ponchartrain (yes, some sites are waterfront) and you'd never know it's there, which is truly a bit of an advantage when it comes to safety. it was clean, quiet, well-run, had a great open air bar/lounging space for guests, and we found the sites (gravel) to be just fine. there is another resort (french quarter rv resort) right in the french quarter, but it's quite expensive and pretty much in the thick of it, which means all of the good AND bad that comes with the territory. i don't know about you, but i'd rather visit the french quarter than stay there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlhKTURFOFH-OEz6t54Sp_FQw6ugnv05pnw5DqUSaChpOClwtmjNNkoWY6IwR2wm88qmtz5PUm-j6wl6ukCCGnYkzbd3n1V3hXQXMHyGgdSNZAScH_9UaGcv-hjpq0Id2yarmwDRcLItC/s1600/voodoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlhKTURFOFH-OEz6t54Sp_FQw6ugnv05pnw5DqUSaChpOClwtmjNNkoWY6IwR2wm88qmtz5PUm-j6wl6ukCCGnYkzbd3n1V3hXQXMHyGgdSNZAScH_9UaGcv-hjpq0Id2yarmwDRcLItC/s400/voodoo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">voodoo window in the french quarter</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSlBio_Ijlu2bTwDD88BLOTbr-lhT5EJpnGp6ESs76mLTakB8Tx0yz0dT6dMUNxfdRE27R9CP9JCtm3PydpJpI1lIbTzXgWCZCyiw_N32KhoZo4_Qms0CRcTzK44GWYCbc4gdmaUVSnN3/s1600/love+acts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSlBio_Ijlu2bTwDD88BLOTbr-lhT5EJpnGp6ESs76mLTakB8Tx0yz0dT6dMUNxfdRE27R9CP9JCtm3PydpJpI1lIbTzXgWCZCyiw_N32KhoZo4_Qms0CRcTzK44GWYCbc4gdmaUVSnN3/s400/love+acts.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no caption needed. bourbon street.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBaCJhXSaoxyWWeMrGQSJg8LwgH3fIF5eD8naP4W4hSJm0n0zR083sfbms2h1b6F3qcqMe__a4NkcGK-Anj7YtWYKkkvcUiHvRq74Mn_OeIH6vsycA1F_5mJnCTYC8bVepM0_dG5t6m5I/s1600/man+behind+the+mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQBaCJhXSaoxyWWeMrGQSJg8LwgH3fIF5eD8naP4W4hSJm0n0zR083sfbms2h1b6F3qcqMe__a4NkcGK-Anj7YtWYKkkvcUiHvRq74Mn_OeIH6vsycA1F_5mJnCTYC8bVepM0_dG5t6m5I/s400/man+behind+the+mask.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">who's the man behind the mask?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdAi0oqkpujsNWjoPqYxUgA6MkgBralrpsZodLRX9SmAHs-10DLhexp4D6mEGgpKNa2Ipsw4QHSq-9O10RQue98gHKqvgpN47Mdo61ekrXhmU68w62huGhBBU-Dfl2_5CnQwwpSTIn4gu/s1600/masks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPdAi0oqkpujsNWjoPqYxUgA6MkgBralrpsZodLRX9SmAHs-10DLhexp4D6mEGgpKNa2Ipsw4QHSq-9O10RQue98gHKqvgpN47Mdo61ekrXhmU68w62huGhBBU-Dfl2_5CnQwwpSTIn4gu/s400/masks.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mardi gras masks EVERYWHERE.</td></tr>
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we took a drive around the infamous ninth ward to witness this hardest-hit-by-katrina neighborhood. wow. sobering. years later, there are still homes with X's on the doors, listing body counts. roofs were collapsed. windows broken. yards overgrown with weeds. debris everywhere. i thought to myself, "why isn't this stuff cleaned up by the city? why are the people that still live in this neighborhood living amidst this sad rubble?" i don't have the answers. even just a mile or so from the RV resort were large derelict tracts of land that i assume belonged to the city. there was a texaco station that had all windows blown out and gas pumps overcome by weeds. if you have seen the movie "i am legend" or "dawn of the dead" then you know exactly what i am talking about. it literally looked like a zombie wasteland.<br />
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the things i think we loved most about the city were the smaller, quieter pleasures. taking the st. charles streetcar, with windows open, down to <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/rue-de-la-course-new-orleans-2">rue de la course</a> on carrolton street (my favorite location, better than magazine street) for iced mochas and fresh almond croissants. the oddly beautiful chipped paint and antique fixtures on old buildings weathered from summer's brutal heat and humidity. walking through the french market vendors, selling everything from produce, hot sauce, alligator heads and sno-cones. wandering through the "city of the dead" above-ground tombs in st. louis cemetery no. 1 on a sunday morning. perhaps one of the biggest treats was seeing the <a href="http://www.paulinbrothers.com/">paulin bros. brass band</a> perform at preservation hall. talk about authentic new orleans. this place is standing room only, barely bigger than a garage, and has steeped in raw new orleans flavor since it opened in the 60's. the band played dixieland the way it was meant to be played – with heart, soul and sweat. lots of it. hats off to them.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSkTW8chU7EhNwDNPTm8_l7Gq6UPKjx7zQ1-jrbHmV2eUmZ01ynrLmcaUrefHfX3WhHKut3HoHYtUfC1WNATytL1vWkkpTiRcIJ3dwl9o_8VUx2P8TkuuDU8ohHM628YSHGC0S6qaSSUq/s1600/french+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSkTW8chU7EhNwDNPTm8_l7Gq6UPKjx7zQ1-jrbHmV2eUmZ01ynrLmcaUrefHfX3WhHKut3HoHYtUfC1WNATytL1vWkkpTiRcIJ3dwl9o_8VUx2P8TkuuDU8ohHM628YSHGC0S6qaSSUq/s400/french+market.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">great for walking around. reminds me of the market in charleston.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-qwGxWz3qMHLAea-8YXf5GWPXPSbFEGz_wD4TCiikGT-hU47bYubf7WtWO6d90Tw6AwtBzbskbY9kpzkKrDuZEPaAcTifuSfIQkOx-KWE8dnOJNjND3F14ULluY37Fil_WGjjGb3Vc6d/s1600/rock+candy+french+market.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-qwGxWz3qMHLAea-8YXf5GWPXPSbFEGz_wD4TCiikGT-hU47bYubf7WtWO6d90Tw6AwtBzbskbY9kpzkKrDuZEPaAcTifuSfIQkOx-KWE8dnOJNjND3F14ULluY37Fil_WGjjGb3Vc6d/s400/rock+candy+french+market.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet treats at the market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d41-n-VM0N0Cs6ox7hh_uFTjXxwMggdYIVNT6-EwLs7JjInuxN6bv-vQajXkrVzyeWR92pwuqdRlZOe26zTAxQGtfH0uhGCrIM2opu6NsZw5uj4IAuJ85Xf49I5Cw3a8OSrneIbidFI1/s1600/pumpkins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-d41-n-VM0N0Cs6ox7hh_uFTjXxwMggdYIVNT6-EwLs7JjInuxN6bv-vQajXkrVzyeWR92pwuqdRlZOe26zTAxQGtfH0uhGCrIM2opu6NsZw5uj4IAuJ85Xf49I5Cw3a8OSrneIbidFI1/s400/pumpkins.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">produce and pumpkins!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoup42ziLOw94BDES3cDfS6As2xp_LqnydR5WyLOiB87oWxI6MJrCHf14EiUpZSnuMAWmvXFrZ-Zc1sBJIM-0knPR1-N-DdDrS8xdERAdIQT40Ejet4BL1MhcoWHLnap_j0J-_F1BMoViZ/s1600/mint+julep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoup42ziLOw94BDES3cDfS6As2xp_LqnydR5WyLOiB87oWxI6MJrCHf14EiUpZSnuMAWmvXFrZ-Zc1sBJIM-0knPR1-N-DdDrS8xdERAdIQT40Ejet4BL1MhcoWHLnap_j0J-_F1BMoViZ/s400/mint+julep.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">outside pat o'brien's. one of my favorite photos from new orleans.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8qfBgg8LglJL6Lpjbl8c2EJ0W7ydaD9CJVju6HWC5ujEFZAMhsiGO4hP5_k1SUgKSrbBtfYxGI3D-vPHTfDAaNqrJfyf3YiFt0SnoOaxD3aCp4AOwAO05avMS_h6bG-IQ3h3wcQUxYlG/s1600/chipped+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8qfBgg8LglJL6Lpjbl8c2EJ0W7ydaD9CJVju6HWC5ujEFZAMhsiGO4hP5_k1SUgKSrbBtfYxGI3D-vPHTfDAaNqrJfyf3YiFt0SnoOaxD3aCp4AOwAO05avMS_h6bG-IQ3h3wcQUxYlG/s400/chipped+door.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this ain't no faux finish.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVZaC0HC-1J_lx0w5X4GT1VQBxWzZ22slVrGHSnZCWZGG8g0S5VXwYnbRdUk0buoG916Jw41Csw_p6sA2NAhSGLRlYGiKczaxHdaH-lH3LTr92GXpohjEVqMoE8WB3uwadhIooEQlCnww/s1600/gator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiVZaC0HC-1J_lx0w5X4GT1VQBxWzZ22slVrGHSnZCWZGG8g0S5VXwYnbRdUk0buoG916Jw41Csw_p6sA2NAhSGLRlYGiKczaxHdaH-lH3LTr92GXpohjEVqMoE8WB3uwadhIooEQlCnww/s400/gator.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bizarre goods for sale at the market. any takers? no?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEWVzHJ9c2pC5_UmaM440iv8CfgYQkHRmtP1ZJ70Ait6I_VTUTlJmYRljfJtGtq_vDFCSRKmAISTcjD3yMBFlh9lTtLlAz1ClkIxKq1ebwRLg04F_yZ5GTb225uDaIGSWxuS6BFxmZXjn/s1600/FQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEWVzHJ9c2pC5_UmaM440iv8CfgYQkHRmtP1ZJ70Ait6I_VTUTlJmYRljfJtGtq_vDFCSRKmAISTcjD3yMBFlh9lTtLlAz1ClkIxKq1ebwRLg04F_yZ5GTb225uDaIGSWxuS6BFxmZXjn/s400/FQ.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">worn by time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rZ-d99sc3R8AFgzLHK05IjD0qIUNMJIM4DCNxDgxX3n5A8n_B7y9J_IHCN3WYVqjwpvUddKYMEC4koEW5gCxkEjPSNci2CzAy4uFweDr0O3cBgkT8mKdnPQbv3PXMMT0h_kryrNcOu_d/s1600/riverfront+streetcar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rZ-d99sc3R8AFgzLHK05IjD0qIUNMJIM4DCNxDgxX3n5A8n_B7y9J_IHCN3WYVqjwpvUddKYMEC4koEW5gCxkEjPSNci2CzAy4uFweDr0O3cBgkT8mKdnPQbv3PXMMT0h_kryrNcOu_d/s400/riverfront+streetcar.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new orleans street cars.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDtsvcLY7aXp_i-rVHxf3BPxMg9qIdR2iQhrFBHTmxLr0Z6bCcajsPAgTfo3Kz63eBe-1padPHCEsVuKOZ1It9Jkjm5SUzMbV_EyfwzopDlIP6kK-wnOo-XRWqA9SNGcosuNP1wd8-b35/s1600/streetcar+joojy+%252B+daddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDtsvcLY7aXp_i-rVHxf3BPxMg9qIdR2iQhrFBHTmxLr0Z6bCcajsPAgTfo3Kz63eBe-1padPHCEsVuKOZ1It9Jkjm5SUzMbV_EyfwzopDlIP6kK-wnOo-XRWqA9SNGcosuNP1wd8-b35/s400/streetcar+joojy+%252B+daddy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">on the st. charles streetcar. wheeeeee!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb8w6wARetlIrEyB73hhaPPcll3d64pDx_jh4kQJwwt2CgJnrt1qEExFUzSMa2ZV8Ux-6o2GvtGQ_vQEebHovZPKRX9JjOUVUmKwaCfXV4gGgRzkRZTE1u1qgvJrJ3WKwGEeFuPpFeTw-/s1600/preservation+hall+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRb8w6wARetlIrEyB73hhaPPcll3d64pDx_jh4kQJwwt2CgJnrt1qEExFUzSMa2ZV8Ux-6o2GvtGQ_vQEebHovZPKRX9JjOUVUmKwaCfXV4gGgRzkRZTE1u1qgvJrJ3WKwGEeFuPpFeTw-/s400/preservation+hall+sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the real deal. loved this place.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_S0Rbr4HZuNj-RiISvJmQw9VzN9LpX75hYm1O2cqWQb3Y4pqNSluv0NOkGYbACqqXEwi4Rt9wr_piTDSJIfhswzN9OlP0WNLBM9g_oCSU3mMsMU5MzMRO7680ueNOHnUFCMFOGwVVdnsG/s1600/pres+hall+inside+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_S0Rbr4HZuNj-RiISvJmQw9VzN9LpX75hYm1O2cqWQb3Y4pqNSluv0NOkGYbACqqXEwi4Rt9wr_piTDSJIfhswzN9OlP0WNLBM9g_oCSU3mMsMU5MzMRO7680ueNOHnUFCMFOGwVVdnsG/s400/pres+hall+inside+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the inside of preservation hall</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMDeZXYJM8aeDc-YE1QAd1mbNwXeLAkWk3DWQmdmb5kyxH6VHmRibGBok0kNVnvhezQiGizSr28XUGRrMS1UQgmhNzb4FFEDNlaXMOV6-Mv0jayNlDERIYH8AqGz84xSm-HFqJ0HUxYuw/s1600/pres+hall+inside+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMDeZXYJM8aeDc-YE1QAd1mbNwXeLAkWk3DWQmdmb5kyxH6VHmRibGBok0kNVnvhezQiGizSr28XUGRrMS1UQgmhNzb4FFEDNlaXMOV6-Mv0jayNlDERIYH8AqGz84xSm-HFqJ0HUxYuw/s400/pres+hall+inside+2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7tmdhZfzoaRpV6-H8yLMNl7WBGstn08NPF-4qPi8TdKr3ykGAb-QnEjU3aO1Pbs8rFFHFZ6NIOUO4BC7mJigs6bISdV-YKNbuqZKzXYDOHqHsd6F-JwUqsu-IsDpWf-wcFTmnSmT_mh3/s1600/pres+hall+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7tmdhZfzoaRpV6-H8yLMNl7WBGstn08NPF-4qPi8TdKr3ykGAb-QnEjU3aO1Pbs8rFFHFZ6NIOUO4BC7mJigs6bISdV-YKNbuqZKzXYDOHqHsd6F-JwUqsu-IsDpWf-wcFTmnSmT_mh3/s400/pres+hall+band.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">behold: the paulin bros. brass band</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC97aMPvY_AXF9q882oYazdVODlh-xjFLZRRKtfO2Y7d8k_6WDLHB0uLkmJ5uFy8DbKBoBQCXDuqjuq2ZA7i-hBYSFJC3bWLDEuss9o1-k3u4zLpHN8rz6V3XGq7jaTZr9Rra8hCU5_8x/s1600/pres+hall+solo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC97aMPvY_AXF9q882oYazdVODlh-xjFLZRRKtfO2Y7d8k_6WDLHB0uLkmJ5uFy8DbKBoBQCXDuqjuq2ZA7i-hBYSFJC3bWLDEuss9o1-k3u4zLpHN8rz6V3XGq7jaTZr9Rra8hCU5_8x/s400/pres+hall+solo.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">how great is this guy? a smile for everyone.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWJF897ERBSeKZuPPGomiV2Aqtr_ahcQ52mr10mD-zW891PujjO9v8X2tWNWupHmy9lRoncIm078Zceehp_VZ7AU6Y8fUWqIj6hoMVYjJVxEdHtJArsB89bCB-kynMT9fnslx20Ffzrdl/s1600/st+louis+cem+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWJF897ERBSeKZuPPGomiV2Aqtr_ahcQ52mr10mD-zW891PujjO9v8X2tWNWupHmy9lRoncIm078Zceehp_VZ7AU6Y8fUWqIj6hoMVYjJVxEdHtJArsB89bCB-kynMT9fnslx20Ffzrdl/s400/st+louis+cem+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the tomb of infamous voodoo priestess marie laveau, at<br />
st. louis cemetery no 1. the custom is to leave"wordly treats"<br />
in exchange for favors from the great beyond.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94bj5mThW6Ayjs4ANTV4oN_SpZGAwP8A6oTDO-926qOwi_JpnsfrdH5R6QHdsK6qM8ZR3B7-XGupYlixJqxKkY1hYxhCQKxQcUJMh29VWEdLivGAcUg5cnH43mEcAeb-PTlio1LWuptXj/s1600/grave+trinkets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94bj5mThW6Ayjs4ANTV4oN_SpZGAwP8A6oTDO-926qOwi_JpnsfrdH5R6QHdsK6qM8ZR3B7-XGupYlixJqxKkY1hYxhCQKxQcUJMh29VWEdLivGAcUg5cnH43mEcAeb-PTlio1LWuptXj/s400/grave+trinkets.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">aforementioned "treats". hmmm. aveda lotion and a crab claw? really?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz8YtaiotCJss1c3lfNe5dXiYKdvj-zHX2C3E4dNm-rE9A-sZhYDvAeugg7mapC2_6s7AXWFaPbSB6oddUC6oe183dM5_Mm4jdpQYdfo59xeAioOC0m9l3mNkRchxLZf8j8fCBitF0SiS/s1600/st+louis+cem+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLz8YtaiotCJss1c3lfNe5dXiYKdvj-zHX2C3E4dNm-rE9A-sZhYDvAeugg7mapC2_6s7AXWFaPbSB6oddUC6oe183dM5_Mm4jdpQYdfo59xeAioOC0m9l3mNkRchxLZf8j8fCBitF0SiS/s400/st+louis+cem+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eerie st. louis cemetery no 1 ironwork</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H4D2wjERMUVqQ7Wv5mBufL0vpWQjRricxcFBk4gqSu5PWOE0yXgFOWXtXwQQSrW-H58UiJv3YRzXFM1jS3uUIGXFWKOaOqfUQ7XRbCyXGVqztF_WfUd_eJf6Fvlt4oKdsREzevkJnEoz/s1600/st+louis+cem+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H4D2wjERMUVqQ7Wv5mBufL0vpWQjRricxcFBk4gqSu5PWOE0yXgFOWXtXwQQSrW-H58UiJv3YRzXFM1jS3uUIGXFWKOaOqfUQ7XRbCyXGVqztF_WfUd_eJf6Fvlt4oKdsREzevkJnEoz/s400/st+louis+cem+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">there is nothing left of some tombs but rubble.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY59MwjV38i8fxWEFdWh7D-45ZBva3NYaCOrUgoH14JfWwcNgyVngjF_gvulWq2gIjOPwD3CIiIAvP4kSTw7JdhRtEGBCYzW64zTwizdHS_rWckzziX9edxpLmbeDtiga1jzCDfw2S0UW/s1600/st+louis+cem+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOY59MwjV38i8fxWEFdWh7D-45ZBva3NYaCOrUgoH14JfWwcNgyVngjF_gvulWq2gIjOPwD3CIiIAvP4kSTw7JdhRtEGBCYzW64zTwizdHS_rWckzziX9edxpLmbeDtiga1jzCDfw2S0UW/s400/st+louis+cem+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">regal tombs amidst decaying tombs. a stark contrast.</td></tr>
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speaking of brass bands, we spotted the algiers brass band (from just across the river) marching down bourbon street one afternoon for a celebratory wedding procession. nevermind that the bride's white dress was black at the hem from the dirty streets; she could not have been happier, and it showed. loved that moment; there's no where else in the world to see that. bourbon street itself was a big disappointment. not that we had high hopes; it's one of those places that is what it is: touristy, tacky, in-your-face smut, filthy and smelling of urine and stale beer. yep. that about sums it up. there are much cooler parts of new orleans.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_nd6-SDkdHA5p00G3hcLy2qx-ibtzMZjrYlsxU9ijkBcq7NnOSBabV-ChboHgCltWQhJ9TsIZI6O-yH_xfvTFNcvg98cyWHrueaLIgT-mD8HldsnlTI5SYGWb13DwiXYIPmCcLiULaWT/s1600/street+brass+band.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_nd6-SDkdHA5p00G3hcLy2qx-ibtzMZjrYlsxU9ijkBcq7NnOSBabV-ChboHgCltWQhJ9TsIZI6O-yH_xfvTFNcvg98cyWHrueaLIgT-mD8HldsnlTI5SYGWb13DwiXYIPmCcLiULaWT/s400/street+brass+band.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">algiers brass band wedding procession</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bourbon street bride.</td></tr>
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we ended our time in the big easy with a meal at <a href="http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/">cochon</a>. richard was so-so on it. i thought it was pretty good, although i think in retrospect we played it too safe with our choices and should have ordered some of the more unusual dishes. one thing worthy of note was probably the best cocktail i have ever had: the boss hogg. oh my. made with moonshine, it only takes one. refreshing, different, tasty and potent. i'll definitely be trying to recreate this concoction at home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaLfHmR1o0T_wqGDjOeneQBUjacdQNIGWNnUyvLkSMyBjp1BBOaCSUnpWNVp8adAW4Tnc96fjiPjx3s2tP74Sh9rnXj1SVwUrThOST1wUlhR31MgORjcgTkcpdRXWogCvPw8H7kPx03Lb/s1600/cochon+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaLfHmR1o0T_wqGDjOeneQBUjacdQNIGWNnUyvLkSMyBjp1BBOaCSUnpWNVp8adAW4Tnc96fjiPjx3s2tP74Sh9rnXj1SVwUrThOST1wUlhR31MgORjcgTkcpdRXWogCvPw8H7kPx03Lb/s400/cochon+sign.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cochon, french for "pig"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the boss hog is boss.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">am i right or am i right?</td></tr>
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thanks for a great time, new orleans. we'll remember you as one of the highlights of our airstream adventure. laissez les bons temps rouler!<br />
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xoxo,<br />
jenJEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-34900156299285766682011-01-22T21:39:00.000-08:002011-01-24T12:27:30.574-08:00DETOUR.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><i><b>"life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" </b></i><i><b>– john lennon</b></i><br />
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i can't think of a single phrase that sums up our past few weeks more perfectly. if you've noticed it's been quiet 'round these parts for some time you would be correct. our las vegas christmas adventure started pleasantly enough; we won $100 on a $1 slot machine, we had some great eats at <i>mon ami gabi</i> in the paris casino; we even saw an old school classic vegas-showgirl-esque show called "jubilee" – and boy, did it deliver, with glittered and bejeweled bodies everywhere complete with campy dance numbers. ahhh yes...vegas.<br />
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the grand adventure we did not expect was a trip to the ER on christmas day. the day started well enough – opening christmas goodies via video on skype (god bless skype) with family back in atlanta. about mid-afternoon, richard started complaining of shortness of breath and some odd heart palpitations. once we got to the hospital and ran through some tests, it was determined that he would be admitted for some follow-up tests the next day. ugh. great. merry christmas! the next three days ran pretty much like this:<br />
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test 1: EKG - a few odd findings, but not in panic mode.<br />
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test 2: echocardiogram - no real significant findings. whew! when do we go home?<br />
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test 3: chemical stress test - a few more odd findings. starting to get in panic mode. not going home.<br />
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test 4: cardiac catheter/angiogram - major blockages found – some 100% – in multiple heart arteries. the bottom drops out.<br />
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the news that followed from the cardiologist was that richard would need to have a quadruple bypass. like, pretty much immediately. QUADRUPLE. as in four bypasses. i cannot truly express the shock that i felt standing in that hospital atrium, by myself, in las vegas, with no family or friends around to soften that blow. all i could do in that very moment was find a quiet corner away from the strangers in the lobby chairs and quietly fall apart. one day you're exploring the vegas strip, free as a bird, and the next you are in a hospital with your 41-year-old husband who's about to undergo major heart surgery. it wasn't fair. our young marriage wasn't supposed to endure this sort of thing. i was scared. he was scared. despite this, it wasn't a time for me to express fear; it was a time to pull myself together, wipe the tears and walk into the cardiac testing unit and confidently tell my husband that it was all going to be OK. the tears could wait until i was in the car, in the airstream, somewhere. anywhere. but not in that hospital room.<br />
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after some phone calls to atlanta, my sweet mom went into "supermom" status and left on a jet plane to vegas almost immediately. anyone that knows my mom well knows that woman can pack a suitcase like no other. and i don't mean in an efficient, minimalist way. more like a "ma'am, you have overweight baggage" kind of way. i digress. as my dear aunt bec says, "when the ox is in the ditch, you gotta pull him out." {say what? i know. it took me a minute, too. but now i love it and it's one of my favorite southernisms.} it simply means that you do what must be done when it's got to be done. and i needed some emotional back-up out here STAT. that's right...you guessed it. i was the ox. and i was most definitely in the ditch.<br />
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later that evening, i returned home alone to the airstream for a few hours of much-needed sleep. when i walked in, i was met at the door by our dog, trixie {aka miss pickles}. hmm. that's odd. trixie always stays in her crate when we're away and OH MY GAAAAAAAA heyyyy waaaaiit a minuuute whhhaatttt??? there were chocolate wrappers everywhere! not only had she hound-ini'ed {that's right, she's the canine houdini} out of her crate {that little $%#*&! stinker} but she had also gorged herself on the e-n-t-i-r-e contents of my chocolate bar-filled santa stocking that was sent from atlanta. any of you that have dogs know what this means. chocolate is extremely toxic (even lethal) to dogs and she had plowed through about five various chocolate bars. i completely lost it. LOST. IT. it was just too much for one day. not only was my sweet husband in the hospital about to have heart surgery, but our 11 year-old dog had just ingested a potentially lethal amount of chocolate and needed to get to an animal ER immediately, and i was in a completely foreign city with no knowledge of vets or animal resources. {sidebar: big thanks to ashley and giles - with animal ER experience - who really helped me get through that ordeal with 3AM pet ER googling.} luckily, a 24-hour pet ER was just three minutes down the road. a blessing amidst chaos.<br />
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of course, i couldn't burden richard with the stress that our dog was in the pet hospital with vomiting, diarrhea and on IV fluids. it turned into the lie that was okay to tell. in fact, he didn't know about the entire ordeal until the day he was discharged almost a week and a half later. again, when the ox is in the ditch, you pull that sucker out.<br />
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the bypass surgery was on december 30. happy new year! mom and i arrived at the hospital at 6AM. surgery started at 7:30AM. he was out four hours later. those were the longest four hours. ever. again, major blessings amidst chaos: we landed at the best hospital in vegas and the head of the cardiac dept was his surgeon – we were told by many nurses that he was the best heart surgeon in the hospital. the surgery was successful and richard made it through with no complications. when they allowed me into the ICU just after the surgery, i have never felt such a flood of relief in my life. yes, he had tubes coming and going every which way. he had a ventilator down his throat to help him breathe. he was connected to a million IVs and wires. there were machines beeping and sucking and whirring and he had an incision in his chest eight and a half inches long. but he was out of the OR and alive and was going to be OK...ohh thanks beeee to god! although he was still under anesthesia, i squeezed his hand and asked if he could hear me. he wiggled his eyebrows groucho marx style up and down {no doubt, trying to open his eyes} and softly squeezed my hand. a small and utterly sweet victory. tears of joy.<br />
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the next few days were a blur of hospital visits, phone calls to the vet to check on ol' sweet-toothed hound-ini, cold, crappy fast food meals eaten on the go and a new complication – acute bronchitis for me, and then an upper respiratory infection for my mom. WOW. really, universe? really. this kept me away from the hospital for about two days, because frankly, i was sick as a dog and just could not go. more importantly, i also could not risk spreading any germs to richard post-surgery. that was pretty tough. although he was on some serious pain med cocktails, he no doubt felt alone and scared in the hospital by himself for those few days. ugh. heartbreaking.<br />
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after about a week here with me, my mom flew back to atlanta even though she was not totally well {what a trooper}, but richard was going to be discharged and needed to be able to rest and recover without a crowd in the airstream and exposure to her cold. i went into "airstream sick ward" detox mode. lysol, anti-bac wipes on every surface, all linens to the fluff-n-fold laundry, air purifiers, you name it. i stole a box of surgical masks from the hospital {that's right, i stole them and i ain't apologizing for it either} because i was terrified i would spread my coughy-coughy germs. he was discharged two weeks ago and we are continuing the recovery process day-by-day. i am so, so proud of him. while we still have some recovery ahead of us, his physical healing has been fast and he's doing what it takes to get better. i guess that's the advantage of heart surgery at 41 – the body heals faster than it does at 71. what you don't probably expect is the emotional and mental toll that a surgery like this brings. all very new and scary territory. we'll be staying in vegas for about 4-6 weeks while he gets back to a better version of his normal self {now improved with all-new heart plumbing! yay!} and we'll be enrolling into a cardiac physical rehab and this will be really helpful on so many levels. the plans are to continue our airstream adventure once he's up for it. we have nowhere we need to be, and can stay here as long as we need to.<br />
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we certainly never saw this coming, and most definitely not while we were on the road, away from everything that would have been familiar and comforting. it's been an incredibly challenging few weeks and not the beginnings of 2011 we would have hoped for. i suppose the moral to the story is that you never know what life has in store, and for this reason, we feel even more strongly about picking up where we left off. there are still many places to see and we intend on seeing them. we've found the silver lining to this black cloud and that lining is filled with thankfulness.<br />
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thankful for being a city with top-notch medical care {believe me, we have traveled through some podunk towns along the way}.<br />
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thankful for a talented, easy-going surgeon who made us feel confident about such a scary surgery.<br />
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thankful for every ICU nurse that made me feel like my husband was in the best hands possible.<br />
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thankful for a mom who flew across the country to offer love, support and a warm body to sit next to in the hospital waiting room.<br />
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thankful for family and friends who have offered continued support and well-wishes from afar.<br />
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thankful that those blockages were caught early in life before any heart damage was done or a heart attack occurred. i feel sure this outcome would have happened if not for this life-changing surgery.<br />
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and one more...on a personal note...thankful for a husband with a heart of gold {really! the surgeon confirmed it! amazing!} that is the best friend and partner that every woman deserves.<br />
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everyone wants to get lucky when they come to vegas, and as odd and counter-intuitive as it sounds...we were. while we'd prefer the winning-thousands-of-dollars variety, we were blessed nonetheless. life isn't so much about what happens to you, but how you handle those circumstances and what you make of it. we debated about keeping this off of the airstream blog because, well, it's incredibly personal and even talking about it is kind of like reliving it again. but this blog is supposed to be a chronicle of our life on the road, and we felt like not including this would somehow rob authenticity from this experience.<br />
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we'll be off exploring again in just a few weeks, and until then, we'll use this time to get caught up on all of the great places we've been and just haven't had the time to blog about. until then...happy trails to you, friends. take care of yourselves and hug your loved ones. really. go do it. now!<br />
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xo<br />
jen<br />
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p.s. miss pickles is fine. $700 later. little stinker.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-82239845000623887472010-11-25T10:55:00.000-08:002010-11-25T11:07:03.392-08:00HONKYTONK HEAVEN!ahhh nashville. city of cowboy swagger. the grand ole opry. the neon signs of broadway. the ryman auditorium. the legendary letterpress shop, hatch show print. the loveless cafe. (OH THE LOVELESS CAFE!) what can we say – we loved our time here in early september! ( i know, it's november. we're playing catch-up on the blog and trying to post cities in order of visit.)<br />
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we had the good fortune to grab a last minute spot at a <a href="http://www.lrn.usace.army.mil/op/jpp/rec/">corps of engineers campground</a> (and those places are always such treats) on lake percy priest. wow. did i mention we got lucky? not only was the campground pretty much full, but the spot we were able to snag was right across from the water. love those water sites. our drive into town was only about 10 minutes to the heart of broadway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAZGQgGaOiQI1HRb81d6wfNRu0asi3RoN_Q1-49_L4x6324etgOh70hkCBV9AoOxzNpx_2B2xEmubLh3lGH4_FdPnGfRs57kowp7rFa9o8QsY52WhJCIrcGBpR_4lS_jMcIF6UxCxUYWP/s1600/DSC06318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAZGQgGaOiQI1HRb81d6wfNRu0asi3RoN_Q1-49_L4x6324etgOh70hkCBV9AoOxzNpx_2B2xEmubLh3lGH4_FdPnGfRs57kowp7rFa9o8QsY52WhJCIrcGBpR_4lS_jMcIF6UxCxUYWP/s400/DSC06318.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love us some percy priest!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sunset just across from our site.</td></tr>
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we had so many great recommendations from friends about must-visit places that it was nearly impossible to fit everything in, but we definitely managed to have a full week. i think my absolute favorite stop was at the awesome <a href="http://countrymusichalloffame.org/our-work/">hatch show print</a>, the country's oldest letterpress print shop. kind of a mecca for me – and it did not disappoint. these folks are the real deal of letterpress and have been cranking out posters for everyone from johnny cash to modern day alternative rock giants. the studio is filled to the brim (literally, the ceiling) with old wooden type, plates and posters. i could have spent hours in there just shuffling through the magic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all hail hatch show print.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a treasure in every corner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a feast for the eyes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWiaOqP99JS2E2oaP5C0uTUfKyYK-HJ67uSQH1DGI8bD4IQDE59E6UMMYgUmtgFuRXBCc9JW42zu7K84fIC57YNZtDE256riSQyxvzEJIau15Sq57ko46wWDS0RGJvxonmwQx6XgpanvA/s1600/nashville23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWiaOqP99JS2E2oaP5C0uTUfKyYK-HJ67uSQH1DGI8bD4IQDE59E6UMMYgUmtgFuRXBCc9JW42zu7K84fIC57YNZtDE256riSQyxvzEJIau15Sq57ko46wWDS0RGJvxonmwQx6XgpanvA/s400/nashville23.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">floor to ceiling. i do not kid.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Iulk5pKqX_7H72fbisXA49f2XERn79ABZdcmAnxWqtdbkS_W8t9CPBLSPUrrs269OzpEbcGRDmUGb67HJsvMCRyirBtS8ESAJj-uTYoZhr87r4Fbsoc-1L8YpNKurDY1-ZqfvlpBV-wt/s1600/nashville18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Iulk5pKqX_7H72fbisXA49f2XERn79ABZdcmAnxWqtdbkS_W8t9CPBLSPUrrs269OzpEbcGRDmUGb67HJsvMCRyirBtS8ESAJj-uTYoZhr87r4Fbsoc-1L8YpNKurDY1-ZqfvlpBV-wt/s400/nashville18.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hatch show print security patrol.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEOWwkG5PA3v1LPn-o5mRl17xG2GPP9yjkvqDQCIbp-nuEY38nyz5eif_U_dGprBTXvoEs2t2rRNomtG6jwA_kddETwj8qfohjcVIYPAIswG_AeNCceShLyCFrLNqjrAkt6b3AXw4L9lh/s1600/nashville25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiEOWwkG5PA3v1LPn-o5mRl17xG2GPP9yjkvqDQCIbp-nuEY38nyz5eif_U_dGprBTXvoEs2t2rRNomtG6jwA_kddETwj8qfohjcVIYPAIswG_AeNCceShLyCFrLNqjrAkt6b3AXw4L9lh/s400/nashville25.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old posters cover the walls.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpj2Z2GUcJhpFC3ioTdK1Ine3dv5c_JpJ5zvqUw0T2VY8WtaVjPlgzI-xpr7fQ0GgfgX12Gd6OsbZUIb-UeLy8E8ye6sWdJdmli7cvo59iq1XGIfDsGhfUUffX2k0bcEkfoPusCp-bC4D/s1600/nashville22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPpj2Z2GUcJhpFC3ioTdK1Ine3dv5c_JpJ5zvqUw0T2VY8WtaVjPlgzI-xpr7fQ0GgfgX12Gd6OsbZUIb-UeLy8E8ye6sWdJdmli7cvo59iq1XGIfDsGhfUUffX2k0bcEkfoPusCp-bC4D/s400/nashville22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wooden type.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8m1zHNyhAQLIdN7k7dDi7MyY_81JZIsopiMY0JDqG-9t6e_fZnbhfmVnEyE0WpvhgAxUqpI9mesN6gnlPei-D5IHV28J3nRZu-yRpdd9Sv7QNhjYJO_uMMRpHjUzLCX-9tBVIA2em4cc/s1600/nashville24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs8m1zHNyhAQLIdN7k7dDi7MyY_81JZIsopiMY0JDqG-9t6e_fZnbhfmVnEyE0WpvhgAxUqpI9mesN6gnlPei-D5IHV28J3nRZu-yRpdd9Sv7QNhjYJO_uMMRpHjUzLCX-9tBVIA2em4cc/s400/nashville24.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">classic circus type.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XhsfTvol1abGRHnlTamWZ3v-vC05NAWO0gEOE2T31YdbIIIwbOELe-QwpWW1mLe5y1yPhifdXlaJ7TfiU4OEeGvxhYSuPSAn9vlWh-IslBeWjDjMCcumsICv3mVsP0KMjv3lvP_L-LH4/s1600/nashville26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6XhsfTvol1abGRHnlTamWZ3v-vC05NAWO0gEOE2T31YdbIIIwbOELe-QwpWW1mLe5y1yPhifdXlaJ7TfiU4OEeGvxhYSuPSAn9vlWh-IslBeWjDjMCcumsICv3mVsP0KMjv3lvP_L-LH4/s400/nashville26.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">american trailer prints drying on the line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Du8x1F-jF0FvolNPzW43esbPiR-ilMziuF2quk7YoyLUP7Cbdu1kb71sk8M-3f2GRluLAq6x8Q5Cl_Y9aw3DtLSgdgMywP6G2T2tSo8xlxnx9wwRXIf3UpWJxSg5CROdNyLZ7nJhDGb/s1600/nashville27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3Du8x1F-jF0FvolNPzW43esbPiR-ilMziuF2quk7YoyLUP7Cbdu1kb71sk8M-3f2GRluLAq6x8Q5Cl_Y9aw3DtLSgdgMywP6G2T2tSo8xlxnx9wwRXIf3UpWJxSg5CROdNyLZ7nJhDGb/s400/nashville27.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a letterpress plate for the grand ole opry.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom3ylKygY4kOS-lz9Fg9YuZU6AsXtDBF0DyKggxBkrdWmu0Ph124aptWmFyHiSR_NgCYRdiqYvBNaLg86-zK6cyYjc_82-lvWnsMpQNI5w85NKqniFULO18oquH3RbEb65RBTTtcUo36e/s1600/nashville21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgom3ylKygY4kOS-lz9Fg9YuZU6AsXtDBF0DyKggxBkrdWmu0Ph124aptWmFyHiSR_NgCYRdiqYvBNaLg86-zK6cyYjc_82-lvWnsMpQNI5w85NKqniFULO18oquH3RbEb65RBTTtcUo36e/s400/nashville21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a vandercook printing press, ready for action.</td></tr>
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i know. lots of pictures from hatch. i couldn't help myself. on to other things...<br />
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you can't visit nashville without taking in some of the neon from broadway, and let me tell you, there were some really fantastic signs. after having some tasty BBQ from jack's (another legendary BBQ joint) it's fun to walk up and down broadway and take in the honky tonk bars and tacky souvenir shops.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w0bzYwXAE3ToWK-_AI0PgnsIjEuK5ZfeRaeatP10dmSK6_vOmMPgsfT4biWEf6O42_Ujh-xN-Ovx6_GD0vGMjeMDu1WlheE10eiq-4925dSUHtUo3vrbxbuc6T5f1c46d45nz1ILpZ2D/s1600/nashville13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5w0bzYwXAE3ToWK-_AI0PgnsIjEuK5ZfeRaeatP10dmSK6_vOmMPgsfT4biWEf6O42_Ujh-xN-Ovx6_GD0vGMjeMDu1WlheE10eiq-4925dSUHtUo3vrbxbuc6T5f1c46d45nz1ILpZ2D/s400/nashville13.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pigs fly at jack's.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWZEMfen90B-F0HFVd5b6ymHCgpLr91xji58AGNk81jJiT-zepuq8QYJnXapO7PkymzoNKBGKGY5t0ozInBy3JtT53r0wQsoPbdW4m4zeUeX4f3h3zk2-IOdUEKfnD53RttIxxXVPZMxj/s1600/nashville08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsWZEMfen90B-F0HFVd5b6ymHCgpLr91xji58AGNk81jJiT-zepuq8QYJnXapO7PkymzoNKBGKGY5t0ozInBy3JtT53r0wQsoPbdW4m4zeUeX4f3h3zk2-IOdUEKfnD53RttIxxXVPZMxj/s400/nashville08.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magoo takes down some ribs at jack's.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHnY8fMU-mUVfInVXTWSonp93_pKtIdC_rFm7ztFgejAfIDPjjLPCd6uu5KxTkB1GuTn_8YuGKWrBgFr_xHHI5COiNyXtjnuVlSEjFz9Al9Wt6mYDdMTrDX4KV7c-JEdiQQO_moOYMx5R/s1600/nashville14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrHnY8fMU-mUVfInVXTWSonp93_pKtIdC_rFm7ztFgejAfIDPjjLPCd6uu5KxTkB1GuTn_8YuGKWrBgFr_xHHI5COiNyXtjnuVlSEjFz9Al9Wt6mYDdMTrDX4KV7c-JEdiQQO_moOYMx5R/s400/nashville14.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love that neon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-sxTN5Dy6Aax06POCAsEV_-eBgPGbJGQqax2VarsmTIRmPyVzUieVZZdsiUht7G07qz9q1pO1Mu4Sfhk4v238vd1IOTbsw2Iw6hdR4VeIYfHiGPMGgQ9whFn4WN7IZU542ycCRVu7u21/s1600/nashville15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-sxTN5Dy6Aax06POCAsEV_-eBgPGbJGQqax2VarsmTIRmPyVzUieVZZdsiUht7G07qz9q1pO1Mu4Sfhk4v238vd1IOTbsw2Iw6hdR4VeIYfHiGPMGgQ9whFn4WN7IZU542ycCRVu7u21/s400/nashville15.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">betty boots! one of my faves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno8GvnuI8erUSVSqew8EeIMC3in2HEdBSrlk0A2UVzkVYojaTDtjXyPkq4oSk0D6TgfOPtZU_53VtzxhkzPfI9fyNOjdeqDwWMtEQxqx9QV3UQH7FtG1hLvk7uGeVnNoSVVqrn1C2zTot/s1600/nashville09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjno8GvnuI8erUSVSqew8EeIMC3in2HEdBSrlk0A2UVzkVYojaTDtjXyPkq4oSk0D6TgfOPtZU_53VtzxhkzPfI9fyNOjdeqDwWMtEQxqx9QV3UQH7FtG1hLvk7uGeVnNoSVVqrn1C2zTot/s400/nashville09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ya dern tootin'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCxdbE8JzFExevNBQtVFx6iOBovUiiqI_827K1aPJdAOyuZqxx-FtcRN2eL6Ql1HuEkOI0ySpUZoLBljZlD5JO5SPMIEuoCEaQSdg021Mj3gn_SRqBoBd2zjjh6Oi0fHR6h2AMGrx7VwP/s1600/nashville10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCxdbE8JzFExevNBQtVFx6iOBovUiiqI_827K1aPJdAOyuZqxx-FtcRN2eL6Ql1HuEkOI0ySpUZoLBljZlD5JO5SPMIEuoCEaQSdg021Mj3gn_SRqBoBd2zjjh6Oi0fHR6h2AMGrx7VwP/s400/nashville10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">when in rome...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DORN0r5XQ_-zqtZZzR48AECtl1UdXX4StsLuZBzGPgxtE_IPxDOQc74mabTWIXpB6xDnoCaTLVL5MvGYn5wSSWG7-Y0vZS4xIqHD90ahcmQ6ZS5C9YxTk0sE9hbh9uoontbhx0M8J5B5/s1600/nashville11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0DORN0r5XQ_-zqtZZzR48AECtl1UdXX4StsLuZBzGPgxtE_IPxDOQc74mabTWIXpB6xDnoCaTLVL5MvGYn5wSSWG7-Y0vZS4xIqHD90ahcmQ6ZS5C9YxTk0sE9hbh9uoontbhx0M8J5B5/s400/nashville11.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hunka hunka hubs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMApfzXhAOU5qoGNfa-ZE8dxxqnBZlEEG_0-eWzJshQOsqe362LY29e_Y_l7fK1EHvu8kHXs1NGC4Jm0_jyyo-RLWHsJw3EAKQShWV6RtmfppNGiit6tRcy5bcLoWpxElVQX_gkWcGTBBj/s1600/nashville12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMApfzXhAOU5qoGNfa-ZE8dxxqnBZlEEG_0-eWzJshQOsqe362LY29e_Y_l7fK1EHvu8kHXs1NGC4Jm0_jyyo-RLWHsJw3EAKQShWV6RtmfppNGiit6tRcy5bcLoWpxElVQX_gkWcGTBBj/s400/nashville12.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">not only is elvis alive, but he lives in this <br />
fortune-telling machine on broadway. who knew?</td></tr>
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</div><div>you can't come to nashville without taking in some good eats. having no shortage of places to choose from, we settled on a no-frills visit to <a href="http://www.rotiers.com/">rotier's</a>, which has been in business since 1945. it ain't for fancy folks, and it's a classic. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR11DOn6g3Joqc7g_sACqcCWT38ugCvdk9w7iQQTb7bx5mYm0ReDq7tYq3rzNRDIULnADu_8Clm10RcRss1WzGro4X9vg_k1or6j741fx-msBIKXfkK8fV5Sfr5IjepNxPV8UMKvue0R6/s1600/nashville16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggR11DOn6g3Joqc7g_sACqcCWT38ugCvdk9w7iQQTb7bx5mYm0ReDq7tYq3rzNRDIULnADu_8Clm10RcRss1WzGro4X9vg_k1or6j741fx-msBIKXfkK8fV5Sfr5IjepNxPV8UMKvue0R6/s400/nashville16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">get the burger on french bread. trust us on this.</td></tr>
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</div><div>our absolute favorite place to eat was <a href="http://www.lovelesscafe.com/">the loveless cafe</a>. good gracious, where do i start? this gem is a little bit of a drive out from town, but it is well worth the drive AND the wait you will likely encounter once you get there. in fact, we ate two meals here and it is HANDS DOWN the best southern meal we've ever had. the loveless cafe is known for many culinary treats, but the most famous is probably their biscuits. praise the lard and pass those biscuits around, people. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DN00aM4jnDEeP3VyXEiWHE-f1_0WUQNOoe_Ze6TnjAWatqIxV3pP0yX3R6PAEb0MRLUiTV_vbFBxKbzqhOLdbDhk_pBdXmObZRHUx7cxYH79KJhWn_KxhdjqKzwg2dza-XS47nuHyKVp/s1600/nashville03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DN00aM4jnDEeP3VyXEiWHE-f1_0WUQNOoe_Ze6TnjAWatqIxV3pP0yX3R6PAEb0MRLUiTV_vbFBxKbzqhOLdbDhk_pBdXmObZRHUx7cxYH79KJhWn_KxhdjqKzwg2dza-XS47nuHyKVp/s400/nashville03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love the loveless.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53AsXnt5KMR8G6B_6nBOIsjIfwACohLHrP5foarcn-xozZKdmB57DXNFt1r9mQI2Sb1gsEjVGNuO8_ixpjVP2W2aq5JmdblUkgVe2P107ispDywaj9MX_bZin_wOrG6CnIpDAfnzm11VA/s1600/nashville04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53AsXnt5KMR8G6B_6nBOIsjIfwACohLHrP5foarcn-xozZKdmB57DXNFt1r9mQI2Sb1gsEjVGNuO8_ixpjVP2W2aq5JmdblUkgVe2P107ispDywaj9MX_bZin_wOrG6CnIpDAfnzm11VA/s400/nashville04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stars lines the walls of the loveless.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFXrAYNWdo56czVi1-9STLTkQQtWNVJW31lWyuoUQBSJBnzhf8X15CFkPaFFZFMH-5s57O1AY9ykXoKsWZPVnSK1_KXEOrAV-Li5DOjUJQfEd9fI8dTVLnHi9RjWZtF0HHEL5pkMWewNd/s1600/nashville05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFXrAYNWdo56czVi1-9STLTkQQtWNVJW31lWyuoUQBSJBnzhf8X15CFkPaFFZFMH-5s57O1AY9ykXoKsWZPVnSK1_KXEOrAV-Li5DOjUJQfEd9fI8dTVLnHi9RjWZtF0HHEL5pkMWewNd/s400/nashville05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seriously.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9vnoXOWtNOGdeHRX1bsb1HnsHxhKU8XA5PMbPUPmIlBsWZKHhxhccOoJ7_oiDcooycfMYmUBZVA5Z5Sbs5NxDVUqlT3eWUweveT6Jc8N7Nv9aCMeKGphxcWKfrgBdvSA4oqwB1f1ATA5/s1600/nashville06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9vnoXOWtNOGdeHRX1bsb1HnsHxhKU8XA5PMbPUPmIlBsWZKHhxhccOoJ7_oiDcooycfMYmUBZVA5Z5Sbs5NxDVUqlT3eWUweveT6Jc8N7Nv9aCMeKGphxcWKfrgBdvSA4oqwB1f1ATA5/s400/nashville06.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little circles of heaven.</td></tr>
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</div><div>the cafe itself sits on a few acres of land which also houses a "hams and jam" shop where you can buy their famous country ham, bacon, jellies, jams, t-shirts, cookbooks...just about anything branded with their iconic loveless logo. there's also an old motel that used to house road-weary travelers, but nowadays, it houses some artist galleries and a bicycle shop. we absolutely loved this place. it's the real deal, y'all.</div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-qG3_k-hG9DKP8dCjcRGMuWpLJ-zFCYfQ0Y5P-pKNWnRQTQrymYnFC5VwC0Gbgv1w5U8dBAQEqn7OFhR0ai_Cfh4iyUfWtxUmKPubOvJsxJ9Wv9c8gX3h4uFC3l-QfCMQsuUyKTmDMuL/s1600/nashville01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia-qG3_k-hG9DKP8dCjcRGMuWpLJ-zFCYfQ0Y5P-pKNWnRQTQrymYnFC5VwC0Gbgv1w5U8dBAQEqn7OFhR0ai_Cfh4iyUfWtxUmKPubOvJsxJ9Wv9c8gX3h4uFC3l-QfCMQsuUyKTmDMuL/s400/nashville01.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carol fay, the biscuit lady.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgVHlpvu3BO7NTS8N5562AOENSf5vh41ylB8zujrK6czQ5jQ5_3GRvzyvhdpnujqqECj9MqOK8xvWzikYxMjFRaq6JCcxKUkYg528Jx9-gUOEC1YTLt_9U97ch39dcFibRvFobdpO3Cfa/s1600/nashville02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgVHlpvu3BO7NTS8N5562AOENSf5vh41ylB8zujrK6czQ5jQ5_3GRvzyvhdpnujqqECj9MqOK8xvWzikYxMjFRaq6JCcxKUkYg528Jx9-gUOEC1YTLt_9U97ch39dcFibRvFobdpO3Cfa/s400/nashville02.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love the folk art at loveless.</td></tr>
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</div><div>we were fortunate to be around while the tennessee state fair was in town, and while it was a little disappointing, it's always fun to walk the fairgrounds and take in the sights. and sights there were. hot beef sundae booths (no, that is not a typo), a bluebell ice-cream eating contest, agriculture and livestock shows and the expected midway rides. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGr_tW7T6_GBAeySx621sl_K5aAM9JPyIR-G61e46qAfwgN7uWX4gMcoySc2_oPWdd5P2C74WgjbPjt418Gm4gik7d604KkPg_mQbxTAFi87vk_8q6irYsTzDg18P2XI3DrAp2HFQ218T1/s1600/nashville28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGr_tW7T6_GBAeySx621sl_K5aAM9JPyIR-G61e46qAfwgN7uWX4gMcoySc2_oPWdd5P2C74WgjbPjt418Gm4gik7d604KkPg_mQbxTAFi87vk_8q6irYsTzDg18P2XI3DrAp2HFQ218T1/s400/nashville28.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet little cows.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGIHyh0m8SZxOw34wArQ3I8mTECYZNUwrEE3mPgTSNXHdHTvFmUgfMoSjDRYpeWFlbE9nITDdT3t7eH8QLZ0a4udx9paE8yqYlnlp-qnvVXslpGt4I3uzKR2xYpKyueShpxBAbefoVXgf/s1600/nashville29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGIHyh0m8SZxOw34wArQ3I8mTECYZNUwrEE3mPgTSNXHdHTvFmUgfMoSjDRYpeWFlbE9nITDdT3t7eH8QLZ0a4udx9paE8yqYlnlp-qnvVXslpGt4I3uzKR2xYpKyueShpxBAbefoVXgf/s400/nashville29.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the yoyo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrjqZdr4AzBu87KmjY08fYFDL2JYS7bIwpHlI7UA9jaXqrwHISvqKRDW23-IC7qMStVM6ET-Ivb0eUAZZYAOwk7ODJu6RsCgHtjNNGCo7U_9CZalfu9r_roHVfH5UU2N8HJaoCIT9HtB5/s1600/nashville30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrjqZdr4AzBu87KmjY08fYFDL2JYS7bIwpHlI7UA9jaXqrwHISvqKRDW23-IC7qMStVM6ET-Ivb0eUAZZYAOwk7ODJu6RsCgHtjNNGCo7U_9CZalfu9r_roHVfH5UU2N8HJaoCIT9HtB5/s400/nashville30.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">carousel horses.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGq_ewqqsKzsbym-RSK7iMYbMkwyVyWJ7_ywtDB_AJOWbQF9mXe542_HxSXR-pY3zbCs6JTEEB6t3qLEmSRrq74w2FZQin5joxyXxc1PyPipwQcHC6JRCNlV3NbJ-1zBTM5W0IfwLAIjc/s1600/nashville31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGq_ewqqsKzsbym-RSK7iMYbMkwyVyWJ7_ywtDB_AJOWbQF9mXe542_HxSXR-pY3zbCs6JTEEB6t3qLEmSRrq74w2FZQin5joxyXxc1PyPipwQcHC6JRCNlV3NbJ-1zBTM5W0IfwLAIjc/s400/nashville31.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lights on the carousel.</td></tr>
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</div><div>we had a full week and still didn't get to see every single sight...the opryland hotel was still under some renovation from the floods, but i have a feeling we'll be passing through again. thanks for a great week, nashville!</div>JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-75040640883561248602010-10-16T00:20:00.000-07:002010-10-16T00:20:18.699-07:00LIFE ON THE ROAD.so, we've had a few really nice comments lately about how nice it must be to be doing this airstream adventure thing. professions of jealousy and the like. i know. we're pretty grateful that we can do this. i won't pretend to be naive, and admit openly what an incredible opportunity this has been and continues to be. but in the interest of fair and accurate reporting, i have to say...life continues to march on. life can be mundane. life can be frustrating. it can be happy one moment, and sad the next. it's surprising. joyful. disappointing. thrilling. it's not a vacation every day.<br />
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i think this is the biggest misconception about what we're doing, this living-life-on-the-road thing. and i can see why. hey folks! we're headed to the cape! big plans for new orleans! send recos for austin! we don't, however, blog so much about the stupid trailer stairs that broke. again. or the fact that two adults are working full-time jobs monday through friday, and sometimes won't even get to step outside during that time except to let the dog out. nope. i don't write much about our tiny "contortionists-only, please" bathroom. nor do i write about how 150 square feet gets cluttered up <i>really</i> fast. other blog titles you aren't likely to see include:<br />
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"ohh, that gassy dog! we can't catch a breath in here!"<br />
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"laundromats! live like you're in college again!"<br />
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"mystery unsavory camping neighbor who actually lives at the campground year-round!"<br />
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not that we're trying to hide any of these details. it's all part of the experience. i guess it's just more fun to talk about powdered sugar of epic proportions at cafe du monde, bluegrass street jams at country stores and the honky tonk heaven of nashville, tennessee. but that's after hours and on the weekends. the other hours of the day, we're working chumps, just like you. (unless you live a life of fabulous retirement like my mom. sheesh. the nerve of that lady!)<br />
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nope. this isn't a year-long vacation. it is, however, a different way of living; living with less "stuff" and making do with more. it's a new front and backyard every week. it's stiff bones during long rides in the truck and hefty gas bills. it's the discovery of just how varied and truly special this country can be. it's stepping out of your comfort zones and trying something new, all the time. it can be tiresome. it can be rejuvenating. it's constant togetherness. it's missing your family and friends. it's the prescription for the life-is-passing-you-by blues. it's not having enough room for pretty-girl shoes and having one table, which is both a desk and a dinner table.<br />
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as you probably could have guessed, we wouldn't trade it for anything.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-78052031429461248572010-10-12T09:10:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:12:15.053-07:00BLUEGRASS HEAVEN: FLOYD, VIRGINIA.we're fans of bluegrass music. the banjos. the fiddles. it's an instant foot stomper and gets in your belly and makes you just wanna move and clap your hands. a couple of years ago hubs and i had the opportunity to visit floyd, virginia and what we found was a sweet little town not far from roanoke and the mountains of western virginia and north carolina. we knew we'd pass back through at some point and made a point to stop in on our airstream adventure. i'm glad we did.<br />
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needing to break up the drive from the cape to western virginia, we stopped for one night in front royal, va., which is the northern terminus for the breathtaking <a href="http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/driving-skyline-drive.htm">skyline drive</a>. by sheer luck, we came across a campground called poe's southfork, and let me tell you what an absolute jewel this place was. right on the banks of the shenandoah river, nothing but open green spaces and sky. it's not fancy, but i'll take room to breathe and riverside camping any day over an overpriced jammed-in RV resort. the man that owns the land doesn't advertise, and they come around in the morning and collect money (cash and check only) for your stay. talk about an honor system. it was a great place to spend an evening and for pickles to stretch her legs off-leash. we could have stayed longer if we'd had more time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blue skies and open space at poe's southfork. yes please!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">much needed ball-time for miss pickles.</td></tr>
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once near floyd (copper hill, VA, actually) there is a lovely little airstream only park (that's right! all aluminum, all the time!) nestled up in the mountains with spectacular views. this little gem is called <a href="http://www.vahighlandhaven.org/">highland haven</a> and the hosts that run the place could not be friendlier. when i called to make the reservation, they said, "well, we'll see ya when you get here! y'all have safe travels!" – no credit card required to hold our spot and no pesky check in and check out. pretty refreshing since most campgrounds are pretty stuck on their rules and varied policies. we were invited to have some rhubarb pie down at the clubhouse and were always met with smiles and waves. ahhh, the hospitality of the south, God bless.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">highland haven airstream park. love!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty flowers on every site.</td></tr>
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on friday nights <i>the</i> place to be is the floyd country store bluegrass jamboree. standing room only, folks. music lovers and musicians alike come from miles and miles (states, even) to play at the floyd country store. it's legendary and is celebrating its 100th year in operation this year, and the friday night jamborees happen every week, rain or shine. the store itself is an old-time country store with 5 cent candy barrels, jams, books, lotions and even an ice cream parlor. it's a step back in time and i truly enjoy that magical place every time i walk through the doors.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi354bEiexCAsyTycNI65b6vyu3ZwY9wcoRWl-XSXKPdOKiiRKGyjTpQmASvFBcSPgOn6jmzO3FbgbwiEFkFzeI8bTtD0bFO1pnii58Ow0oFTSaF8OZzR5RjH6Ywe0hmkUKsEOfWAEZ5B4Z/s1600/DSC06211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi354bEiexCAsyTycNI65b6vyu3ZwY9wcoRWl-XSXKPdOKiiRKGyjTpQmASvFBcSPgOn6jmzO3FbgbwiEFkFzeI8bTtD0bFO1pnii58Ow0oFTSaF8OZzR5RjH6Ywe0hmkUKsEOfWAEZ5B4Z/s400/DSC06211.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">clogging taps on old wood floors...how i love that sound!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i'll take a scoop of that, please.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old timer at floyd's. seriously impressive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">musicians gather and have impromptu jam sessions in the street.</td></tr>
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there are some other cute places in floyd – it's not all country store. we enjoyed a tasty lunch of brick oven fired pizza and locally brewed all natural root beer at <a href="http://www.dogtownpizza.net/">dogtown pizza</a>. the town has grown in the past few years and we noticed new shops and restaurants had popped up, although there are some local legends, too. we had supper at the <a href="http://www.thepinetavern.com/">historic pine tavern restaurant</a> and it was classic southern family style fare. meats and threes to the max.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">all natural, no preservatives and 100% delish.<br />
5 penny root beer from dogtown pizza.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i love mason jars for drinks like they serve at dogtown pizza.<br />
they're simple, big and beautiful when the light shines through.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">people watch you while you eat at the pine tavern.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWUVO8RpS0B0Y6hwQTrmpXuZUx3hyphenhyphenZnSLyfTRBcFj7eYE4DVcOthrfCx-USiqLtSKnvfhhJIODRd2tjHAPqv504O_lcyzMMHiZVWYcNWsCk0FQ4dcJ7mQ7Z_p9Xp9UCMw-FWGgMNeJ4h5/s1600/DSC06182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWUVO8RpS0B0Y6hwQTrmpXuZUx3hyphenhyphenZnSLyfTRBcFj7eYE4DVcOthrfCx-USiqLtSKnvfhhJIODRd2tjHAPqv504O_lcyzMMHiZVWYcNWsCk0FQ4dcJ7mQ7Z_p9Xp9UCMw-FWGgMNeJ4h5/s400/DSC06182.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old school.</td></tr>
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one of the most interesting stops was the hillsville flea market, which is touted as being one of the largest flea markets in the southeast. being flea market junkies, we didn't mind the hour plus drive to get over there. WOW. the streets were filled with booth after booth of junk, junk, junk. crappy t-shirts, knock-off purses, confederate flags and the like. eek. and let's not forget the miles of food stalls...funnel cakes, corndogs, polish sausage, frozen lemonade, etc. it wasn't until after we got there and walked around for a bit did we learn that the <i>real </i>goodies were inside a gated area sponsored by the local VFW post. by the time we made it inside most vendors were packing up their wares, but we did manage to see a few interesting tents and i was able to ooh and ahh over some old tin packaging, which i'm kind of a nut for. i know. weird. but i love it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqGrgm58jxbpDsKBs1PVRdP_WpsGyseAhJUI7zvsdVmkBYxgVoXRiZhqp6epkVYYdbgYOijz82EuMcQMq2a-omZ5o0MWbbqYwvwR2a3NYcl20irFeoe2Oh0SKaEaig6v7cfZHt_4dUM10/s1600/DSC06120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqGrgm58jxbpDsKBs1PVRdP_WpsGyseAhJUI7zvsdVmkBYxgVoXRiZhqp6epkVYYdbgYOijz82EuMcQMq2a-omZ5o0MWbbqYwvwR2a3NYcl20irFeoe2Oh0SKaEaig6v7cfZHt_4dUM10/s400/DSC06120.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">street food at its not-so-finest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5p6C1FIOMPpzCHYLGAUhmvm8DGS_CAVxY-sPONArYuLMa4Tmzt-nH1K2kDiRbIMgoHFFlCZPZp9keMkuqzub87Cpr-9mZCK8bcQJrDSttLwR1ZQHvFYRXc91CT69G8Y4x1MZre43VKf6/s1600/DSC06121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw5p6C1FIOMPpzCHYLGAUhmvm8DGS_CAVxY-sPONArYuLMa4Tmzt-nH1K2kDiRbIMgoHFFlCZPZp9keMkuqzub87Cpr-9mZCK8bcQJrDSttLwR1ZQHvFYRXc91CT69G8Y4x1MZre43VKf6/s400/DSC06121.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">love all the decorative type and color of these bygone relics.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my favorite tins, dixie queen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YuBkeYQNBv450KspC_L_8P5k4mWuEfb2yOnxD7cVHRpZ26GnEcPvJOgUAI2QhQFM6MWjQIT0M7Nw-JVX0vb0Wm9H353IPJG6R5J6FaTz-_LkXrj_JZXxp9bbdm5mX6HGxjJuxeIDcjGc/s1600/DSC06126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YuBkeYQNBv450KspC_L_8P5k4mWuEfb2yOnxD7cVHRpZ26GnEcPvJOgUAI2QhQFM6MWjQIT0M7Nw-JVX0vb0Wm9H353IPJG6R5J6FaTz-_LkXrj_JZXxp9bbdm5mX6HGxjJuxeIDcjGc/s400/DSC06126.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more dusty treasures.</td></tr>
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a week was plenty of time to relax and take in some local sights. by the end of the week we were ready to move on and get on down the road towards our next destination, although we enjoyed the slower pace of floyd and copper hill. nights were filled with the sound of crickets and clear starry skies and metal taps on old wood floors. what's not to love?<br />
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next up...honky tonk and southern soul: nashville, TN!JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-26666963562629381042010-10-11T23:48:00.000-07:002010-10-11T23:55:46.266-07:00BOSTON and THE CAPE. (and hurricanes, too!)greetings dear friends!<br />
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due to some technical difficulties (meaning, technically, life on the road has been busy, and technically, i just learned how to auto-batch photo exporting thus making my <i>blogging </i>life much more enjoyable) we've had a teeny lapse in posting. no more, i say! we're back in action and ready to roll out some airstream adventures.<br />
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i'll admit, our time in bar harbor, maine was a tough act to follow. the sights were beyond beautiful and memorable places were around every corner, but there's still much satisfaction in visiting places we've been before, and our time in the boston/cape area was no exception. we decided on a RV resort – normandy farms – that we have stayed at before even though it's a bit on the pricey side. our site was fantastic. then the rains came. and came and came. four days of rain with no end in sight. so much rain, in fact, that our front window seal sprang a leak and soaked our mattress. now that's a fun time.<br />
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the best thing about normandy farms is the proximity to handsome hub's family in warren, RI and my old stompin' grounds of boston, MA. after the monsoon subsided we enjoyed a cookout on a cool (and dry!) late summer night with the mageau clan and caught up with richard's best friend, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmLoKU7cCjHIJmKpNYbI706U7MTgVl-opb8IlmTBN2zRhnszEK_BCiPX8v02QRYESTEXdQcEMhuRMLY35TYaQ2eZ6HEuz1YqeUlB9iz4IAblvDLSbKJUSB0o6MyVHJ88mXEqPXDAcOdsL/s1600/DSC06078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmLoKU7cCjHIJmKpNYbI706U7MTgVl-opb8IlmTBN2zRhnszEK_BCiPX8v02QRYESTEXdQcEMhuRMLY35TYaQ2eZ6HEuz1YqeUlB9iz4IAblvDLSbKJUSB0o6MyVHJ88mXEqPXDAcOdsL/s400/DSC06078.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">burgers, dogs and string lights. good times, good times.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio242UwK2GttymXjD8WmOwY4oUgTLX_0CYyyTQs9QLs6XXapysltsoNtKHNQr7oKkVrhRpyV_R94xiB0YZja_r4YkcqJmRP11jyX8uDUJ18UdAzQqQ4oqA9mzW5VC-qbF6MPpZPGCuc-3h/s1600/DSC06087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio242UwK2GttymXjD8WmOwY4oUgTLX_0CYyyTQs9QLs6XXapysltsoNtKHNQr7oKkVrhRpyV_R94xiB0YZja_r4YkcqJmRP11jyX8uDUJ18UdAzQqQ4oqA9mzW5VC-qbF6MPpZPGCuc-3h/s400/DSC06087.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cozying around the fire.</td></tr>
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we wanted to spend some time on the cape since we were in the area. we decided on a campground in bourne, MA called <a href="http://www.bayviewcampground.com/">bayview campground</a>, of which, interestingly enough, we had no bay and no view. (their mascot, in case you are wondering, is "clammy the clam"...really? clammy the clam? OY.) we found the campground to be cramped and the security gatekeepers to be a bit overzealous. you'd think the campground options would be better in such a popular and scenic area, but we didn't find a ton of great offerings. the sites weren't great and there were a good many seasonals (translation: lots of assorted lawn decor in varying colors, shapes and sizes. think plastic woodland creatures).<br />
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in our usual fashion, we did seek out the little moms-and-pops and enjoyed some good seafood and summer treats. i'd been excited about these few days on the cape – although my visions of the ferry to martha's vineyard, ice cream at mad martha's and sun-filled days on scooters were not meant to be. hurricane earl (dangit, earl!) tracked his way up the eastern seaboard until it came time for us to make a tough, stressful decision: stay or go? weather forecasters were predicting a direct hit on the cape, and without knowing for sure which way the storm would turn, we opted to head inland to <a href="http://www.circlecgfarm.com/">circle CG campground</a> in bellingham, MA. better safe than sorry when we're talking about our home on the road for the next year. ehh. bummer. you win some, you lose some.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPN1UEoT9Ke1LTD_9BCOSn7aaXEhvNIfcEuNF1sJuHvXPUXsgE6jWb6SxYjK1BzKKkNefZN9v2HPCWw669BNOFnKW0GuZkxuv0lwD6BDL36fCxmjIzf3oEb0HWuHxVrr982vCi8e1nXGPZ/s1600/DSC06090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPN1UEoT9Ke1LTD_9BCOSn7aaXEhvNIfcEuNF1sJuHvXPUXsgE6jWb6SxYjK1BzKKkNefZN9v2HPCWw669BNOFnKW0GuZkxuv0lwD6BDL36fCxmjIzf3oEb0HWuHxVrr982vCi8e1nXGPZ/s400/DSC06090.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the bourne bridge, gateway to the cape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWjtVHKY-ECfCUhm2fX4C-xxeLkdG4254ZXn_c3s0iea7jPJH0PywdPfTb6Iqz0PgYkGTaTJdBrbfxXTACKjRKixDqHqC2K-Y-w2F2lHUELa-NzTENOWwheF1YNGmwrCcSEg3ViYoi50l/s1600/DSC06092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeWjtVHKY-ECfCUhm2fX4C-xxeLkdG4254ZXn_c3s0iea7jPJH0PywdPfTb6Iqz0PgYkGTaTJdBrbfxXTACKjRKixDqHqC2K-Y-w2F2lHUELa-NzTENOWwheF1YNGmwrCcSEg3ViYoi50l/s400/DSC06092.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fried clam sammie. delish!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aB1CDev5t4iLulQRfxbDhELa2bWLtqPM9ZyIxSTOOSCptfSH2tSGHnNqGt67UQ2F-0XgRq2jAvhkQqhNmH5df_llxNl3yXHXtJXafDJGbJwbMlV0sGf52U7qN6Lifs7y-QQmvy4QvCfe/s1600/DSC06095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aB1CDev5t4iLulQRfxbDhELa2bWLtqPM9ZyIxSTOOSCptfSH2tSGHnNqGt67UQ2F-0XgRq2jAvhkQqhNmH5df_llxNl3yXHXtJXafDJGbJwbMlV0sGf52U7qN6Lifs7y-QQmvy4QvCfe/s400/DSC06095.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magoo bringing the goods. <br />
betty ann's dairy freeze, buzzard's bay.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZju9FtL41D-z3vzeB8PWk74WQyL5SUDRrbxL3v7H01d5RvOH8Bh8FySU6WzxxlqYXrnItD8vwvlRYCaNOkdV3JC7_6h9D1rC7bg8vq9YV5O_s2C_DYwyuiDbX2JJ2y7r0L3W5wJW0Xn_/s1600/DSC06098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZju9FtL41D-z3vzeB8PWk74WQyL5SUDRrbxL3v7H01d5RvOH8Bh8FySU6WzxxlqYXrnItD8vwvlRYCaNOkdV3JC7_6h9D1rC7bg8vq9YV5O_s2C_DYwyuiDbX2JJ2y7r0L3W5wJW0Xn_/s400/DSC06098.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet summertime treats.</td></tr>
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next stop: western virginia, land of bluegrass and friday night jamborees. now we're talkin'.<br />
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xoxo.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-52053316065796398822010-09-12T11:00:00.000-07:002010-09-12T11:00:00.243-07:00AIRSTREAM ADVENTURE GOES MOBILE.perhaps it's the inner ad geek/art director/designer in me, but i can't resist a well-branded concept. our airstream adventure is no exception. i hardly needed an excuse to design some snazzy cards with our travel blog information on them, and when we wanted to spread the word even further to the masses, nothing but an outdoor decal for wally's windows would do. <div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbvnQ6UGTxW7-TismBpmuhwyUtGSwKgFgh-Wzb9BzXYsANEs0WoCGQptwv7XWeRciRrdUbJMzZ8W2_AorISynIaQNseggrlM4I8F6AzMhqp9iWYgWZQt4qLrKbwKqErn7FZ4VRCWSAYtj/s1600/AIR+ADV+biz+cards+lo+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbvnQ6UGTxW7-TismBpmuhwyUtGSwKgFgh-Wzb9BzXYsANEs0WoCGQptwv7XWeRciRrdUbJMzZ8W2_AorISynIaQNseggrlM4I8F6AzMhqp9iWYgWZQt4qLrKbwKqErn7FZ4VRCWSAYtj/s400/AIR+ADV+biz+cards+lo+res.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">metallic silver on kraft cover.</td></tr>
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</div><div>thanks to the fine folks at <a href="http://www.imagers.com/">imagers</a> in atlanta, we now have two sporty weather-resistant decals for the front and back windows. love, love, love! we've received a few honks and waves traveling down the road, and get such a kick out of the idea that our wee little blog can find its way to anyone that's interested enough to check us out.</div></div></div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7_UWyHXU72AxnDPT2lVZFgBux3Ly990YLWjLYX0_ssZxGWBQhNpGs_PFiRWz17SjFtB5GeWQcj3YlMzcRg5CduToK8_5U8Lj2LswI6AZuFshpuwl2AD5P6l2Os72BLQZHvwtrjWP89-9/s1600/AA+adventire+logo+on+airstream+lo+res.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7_UWyHXU72AxnDPT2lVZFgBux3Ly990YLWjLYX0_ssZxGWBQhNpGs_PFiRWz17SjFtB5GeWQcj3YlMzcRg5CduToK8_5U8Lj2LswI6AZuFshpuwl2AD5P6l2Os72BLQZHvwtrjWP89-9/s320/AA+adventire+logo+on+airstream+lo+res.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">shameless self-promotion? why yes! thanks for asking.</td></tr>
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</div>JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-15858995461715722612010-09-08T21:14:00.000-07:002010-09-08T21:25:40.879-07:00DEAR MAINE, WE LOVE YOU.we know. it's been far too long since the last post but if you had ANY idea how many images i had to sort through from our bar harbor jaunt you'd take pity. where to even start?<br />
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maine is one gorgeous, wild place. it's the kind of place that just oozes fresh air, nature, crisp evenings in front of a fire and blueberries just picked that morning. (it's also the kind of place where cell signals can be awfully lousy, but let's not dwell on the negative.) our first trip to bar harbor did not disappoint, even though we had some issues with the local KOA where we were staying.<br />
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let me start by saying that this campground, location wise, can't be beat. if you choose to stay on the oceanside part of the campground (and really, why wouldn't you?) you're in for a treat. gorgeous sunsets and ocean breezes are plentiful and the sites feel spacious.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosd6MSj-AmvgutJvtLwSq7EclPDoie3fDpr-eIXeXjZbhky3mA8f7TVM3en-2mc6uMUpLqexNa1kyBTpdYxy9tsDyGheTFpwesSLgb7w_CqAxb7Eq1tRn7iev_aOazn1VK8REsbS3V-Dx/s1600/bar+harbor+sunset+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosd6MSj-AmvgutJvtLwSq7EclPDoie3fDpr-eIXeXjZbhky3mA8f7TVM3en-2mc6uMUpLqexNa1kyBTpdYxy9tsDyGheTFpwesSLgb7w_CqAxb7Eq1tRn7iev_aOazn1VK8REsbS3V-Dx/s400/bar+harbor+sunset+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">seriously? seriously.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">afternoon delight.</td></tr>
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we had some major issues with the wifi and after getting into a pretty heated verbal stand-off with the manager (who stated that just because they <i>offer it</i> doesn't mean they guarantee it <i>will work</i>, to which i responded you might as well offer water to the thirsty but not guarantee it's drinkable) it seemed to resolve itself the next day. odd, yes? we knew better than to depend on a campground's wifi and always carry a verizon aircard to keep us connected, but even that was kind of useless in our location. poor richard spent a few work days in the next town over (and when i say next town over, i mean in his truck...in a mcdonald's parking lot...in the next town over) in order to have dependable internet/cell service. umm yeah. not great. but part of life on the road is learning to adapt and just make it work.<br />
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we dined at local lobster pounds, bought blueberries from roadside stands, went for bike rides on country roads and gawked over the beauty of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/acad/">acadia national park</a>...and speaking of acadia....OH, ACADIA! seriously one of the most striking, beautiful places we have ever seen. it's a dynamic place filled with cliffs, ocean and mountain and at almost every turn there was another amazing sight to behold. if you don't believe that national parks are vitally important to this country, i invite you to spend a day inside a place like this and i double dog dare you to not leave feeling refreshed, inspired and thankful that we live in a country that has so much natural beauty to offer, and that these lands are preserved for everyone to enjoy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4N8PUG2-dDQfuxq551iNtxQth2Jj5r-qHT0nZ915lwTEjiTy-SnztnH-kEKOSuACJByre-60gAx_PaiZ7cs5VZui-QgvvVY26Kh_ykQKaVOQ1bCPGPwpxPRgVrjcMHUK75kBHDPbRNPX/s1600/blueberries+cereal+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4N8PUG2-dDQfuxq551iNtxQth2Jj5r-qHT0nZ915lwTEjiTy-SnztnH-kEKOSuACJByre-60gAx_PaiZ7cs5VZui-QgvvVY26Kh_ykQKaVOQ1bCPGPwpxPRgVrjcMHUK75kBHDPbRNPX/s400/blueberries+cereal+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">blueberries make it better.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J3l1Ir69CcHpoADA-bqVc0Hx6qVoi1Vs5KTTf8sRQw_gBtJ0J2us7D9DuUxc5e03Y1i-I5y0PPVcpxjCZQG6UpnRhSXMAyemqjxgA2yySgpzEyGbg3UiUuH9oyqh0WHXPG-0AfhDhK6X/s1600/driving+to+cadillac+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2J3l1Ir69CcHpoADA-bqVc0Hx6qVoi1Vs5KTTf8sRQw_gBtJ0J2us7D9DuUxc5e03Y1i-I5y0PPVcpxjCZQG6UpnRhSXMAyemqjxgA2yySgpzEyGbg3UiUuH9oyqh0WHXPG-0AfhDhK6X/s400/driving+to+cadillac+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the road to the summit of cadillac mountain, <br />
the highest peak on the eastern seaboard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRYGyGDDNr4292Lv1bpki1htc4aYQPwc2ESgauKl-QA15b6F3bDKftr9TYbpD36oHwnPJrV7ViaN0URFbPbkhmBMdNrvKjtgugwOpd7y3RrPR2TW4vKc_MoKF0b07CpQ-o3BV5XkBA4Hc/s1600/richard+on+cadillac+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRYGyGDDNr4292Lv1bpki1htc4aYQPwc2ESgauKl-QA15b6F3bDKftr9TYbpD36oHwnPJrV7ViaN0URFbPbkhmBMdNrvKjtgugwOpd7y3RrPR2TW4vKc_MoKF0b07CpQ-o3BV5XkBA4Hc/s400/richard+on+cadillac+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magoo. happy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvxlBHVNQFNq8bIzHgANmCBLxXDFKCkmeWxFkX3f1mEVdC1FQVjjVWj7TfjCB6LfCcvA6_t2_WeOP5zQPRj6nz6AO4asTa5PM9_3sctGdKUgaH_NeyMgCeWf6f7RjijjssogreAcB3t8Z/s1600/cadillac+summit+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvxlBHVNQFNq8bIzHgANmCBLxXDFKCkmeWxFkX3f1mEVdC1FQVjjVWj7TfjCB6LfCcvA6_t2_WeOP5zQPRj6nz6AO4asTa5PM9_3sctGdKUgaH_NeyMgCeWf6f7RjijjssogreAcB3t8Z/s400/cadillac+summit+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ocean meets mountain.</td></tr>
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we stopped at the famous jordan pond house for popovers and strawberry jam, which is kind of a century-old tradition dating back to victorian days and a must-do when visiting acadia. after a day of walking and seeing the sights atop the summit of cadillac mountain those popovers were delish. so was the blueberry cobbler. gaaaaaaahh. we also made a breakfast stop at the ever popular jordan's restaurant (no relation to jordan pond house) and ordered what you're supposed to order: blueberry pancakes, of course. they were delicious as promised. i'm pretty sure i'm rockin' some good antioxidant levels because i sure did eat me some blueberries. so what if sometimes they accompanied ice cream and cobbler. don't judge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeC8jXoD8p0Pd2DvWE5kcQPlZb3Zun3D-zQVzu2gimlSujwLaUAbCaXgr0P1Hil36uEQnbzPuS9ZT6eTbQzJ2V9YVWjDxPCMLuFpJn38yuF_GGIuxpl5rrqXG_3XMnUAb6-mAhqJc5WU1T/s1600/blueberry+cobbler+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeC8jXoD8p0Pd2DvWE5kcQPlZb3Zun3D-zQVzu2gimlSujwLaUAbCaXgr0P1Hil36uEQnbzPuS9ZT6eTbQzJ2V9YVWjDxPCMLuFpJn38yuF_GGIuxpl5rrqXG_3XMnUAb6-mAhqJc5WU1T/s400/blueberry+cobbler+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">i'm a believer. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMBHVR31p0XcXQ_cCcwKUton4sgnnMlFzMBYfwJOQ6SJLz3LaYTLougvsb_InRXDlHnlXBrAh6V197YTFz1G3nSOYZclSLhV_ji33xFcnRcWXQMghn55DLZy7pj4BYI4tdLfNXnaqM3a2/s1600/jordan's+hot+cocoa+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMBHVR31p0XcXQ_cCcwKUton4sgnnMlFzMBYfwJOQ6SJLz3LaYTLougvsb_InRXDlHnlXBrAh6V197YTFz1G3nSOYZclSLhV_ji33xFcnRcWXQMghn55DLZy7pj4BYI4tdLfNXnaqM3a2/s400/jordan's+hot+cocoa+LO.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pretty dang good with pancakes. extra lap on the bike. </td></tr>
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fascinating fact about acadia and your history lesson for the day: at the turn of the century when all of the richy riches (rockefeller, henry ford & family and assorted oil and business tycoons) vacationed in their maine summer "cottages", much of the land that is now acadia was in development. philanthropist john d. rockefeller realized the importance of solace and retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city, and constructed an interior system of <a href="http://www.nps.gov/acad/historyculture/historiccarriageroads.htm">carriage roads</a> that were off-limits to the automobile, despite this newly invented luxury being a more efficient and high-class way of travel. throughout the park, these carriage roads still exist and are only open to horses, bikers and hikers. we suspect bears and moose use them too, although we didn't encounter any. regardless, a concept ahead of its time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSja30t2IxtpzmTuE2y_7xrPaLY2IHe8rSpsdZIDAHoUKMV32yaRzA6N55BUa6ydV7Tg6x4lqGZm28li3aMfHpIfRa8kSr2IO2pR_VwiXTK4EACm2-6wCrxzoXfYp8LuC1hHQDmEozlJj/s1600/acadia+bridge+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSja30t2IxtpzmTuE2y_7xrPaLY2IHe8rSpsdZIDAHoUKMV32yaRzA6N55BUa6ydV7Tg6x4lqGZm28li3aMfHpIfRa8kSr2IO2pR_VwiXTK4EACm2-6wCrxzoXfYp8LuC1hHQDmEozlJj/s400/acadia+bridge+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovely old bridges everywhere in acadia.</td></tr>
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there are so many pictures to share from this leg of our airstream adventure, so i'll quit tapping the keys and let a few more images speak for themselves. enjoy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iAc_bodFUZSqmhiLPA8qUxYQhEzJWyW5z04XEGsvudVz1CeMkNW1C_uPwp7Xa0Z_wVNuSVd8EgTFVAJV8l49XWLBW-gjvNrv186R8nJIfP47h5zGpeIFM5pXqGr-L7hTNqxRdLzopuaV/s1600/cadillac+summit+2+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8iAc_bodFUZSqmhiLPA8qUxYQhEzJWyW5z04XEGsvudVz1CeMkNW1C_uPwp7Xa0Z_wVNuSVd8EgTFVAJV8l49XWLBW-gjvNrv186R8nJIfP47h5zGpeIFM5pXqGr-L7hTNqxRdLzopuaV/s400/cadillac+summit+2+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">atop cadillac mountain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTeaY2TC-Psrg3cQ-knWGhYfgcFi7MZXXSLwegbEDavA_cPCt_F4a70cZbtAmD1noh61dsszmjhk3wl59vY64eDR3tVgKJn4L_FGMCsA7-Ww8f0e7jHKJrWgDl0vcGCkwXmdAs653WsGk/s1600/fresh+eggs+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlTeaY2TC-Psrg3cQ-knWGhYfgcFi7MZXXSLwegbEDavA_cPCt_F4a70cZbtAmD1noh61dsszmjhk3wl59vY64eDR3tVgKJn4L_FGMCsA7-Ww8f0e7jHKJrWgDl0vcGCkwXmdAs653WsGk/s400/fresh+eggs+LO.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">only in maine. and salmonella free!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ-Qac6JBpS-FI8EQTguRJKxLBLfuYpLTfXWzwfZw-KV5oZgrZ6D5MKp51KePaELHeBKGEBGuh93uqtQO9WB6TIVyhNUwoHks1MIbiz4h9uObF_6G2GBauWUOYtX-fyFQo-DcM2ZpsH5T/s1600/magoo+lobster+shack+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQ-Qac6JBpS-FI8EQTguRJKxLBLfuYpLTfXWzwfZw-KV5oZgrZ6D5MKp51KePaELHeBKGEBGuh93uqtQO9WB6TIVyhNUwoHks1MIbiz4h9uObF_6G2GBauWUOYtX-fyFQo-DcM2ZpsH5T/s400/magoo+lobster+shack+LO.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">if it comes from the sea, it's for me. dinner time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mt. desert island ginger...local brew.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another end to a gorgeous day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">country roads.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boy scout at play.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75MWTRzdUNWPJlZHxTJMg4kY0SL-HBnqRUeUPIYGLy3Oqj-huvFsm9TcTgTK1g6T2QObLrxoVCcmvfcHzEIppAFhKi8_MhqeBYDwGwQwz1Z6g4xRoO2Btwg09rDI0PzYVGTBarCuYF9sy/s1600/sunset+on+wally+LO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75MWTRzdUNWPJlZHxTJMg4kY0SL-HBnqRUeUPIYGLy3Oqj-huvFsm9TcTgTK1g6T2QObLrxoVCcmvfcHzEIppAFhKi8_MhqeBYDwGwQwz1Z6g4xRoO2Btwg09rDI0PzYVGTBarCuYF9sy/s400/sunset+on+wally+LO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">home sweet home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-26025473069299547102010-08-19T20:07:00.000-07:002010-08-19T20:07:48.186-07:00SACO/OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINEevenin'.<br />
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well, after all of the "excitement" we experienced on our journey northbound to the wooly wilds of maine, we were more than ready for a little R&R. okay, maybe some blueberry pie, too. and a lobster roll. we're so cliche. (but seriously, isn't that why you come to maine? it sure ain't for the mosquitos.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23Zm8QJObBAQDN2aMqy7spGTD1__PPwaI7R-p0O3uNH0xnP8TKm7KnAZXtphMSlHXWE2-h-lP4Xv0ayMMPGYHsajf4WJLUC-BKmovB-D3Fzt2j5PyZEBgoCM8jMdj7MvBG4HiQydAxEny/s1600/cliff+overlook+lo+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23Zm8QJObBAQDN2aMqy7spGTD1__PPwaI7R-p0O3uNH0xnP8TKm7KnAZXtphMSlHXWE2-h-lP4Xv0ayMMPGYHsajf4WJLUC-BKmovB-D3Fzt2j5PyZEBgoCM8jMdj7MvBG4HiQydAxEny/s400/cliff+overlook+lo+res.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">that thar water is cold.</td></tr>
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we pulled into the <a href="http://www.koa.com/where/me/19132/">saco/old orchard beach KOA</a> just before dusk and were pleasantly surprised at the grounds. KOAs can really be hit and miss, but it seems that they've been putting some effort into cleaning up a bit and beefing up some amenities. that doesn't mean we'll always stay at them – after all, we're really not interested in the "choo-choo" that makes its way around the campground (seriously?) or the bouncy moon jump. but what KOAs do offer is some degree of knowing what you'll get, and that can be comforting when you've been driving a long time and are ready to just <i>get there</i>.<br />
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with that being said, our site was, well, not great. there were a number of narrow trees, making it impossible to pull out the awning, which is always a bummer. there were also a number of rocks and roots and the site was far from level. i'm not sure it was really suitable for anything larger than a pop-up trailer, but it was doable for just a few nights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpCtAoKNmaLreFcyOdPV2p22GwheDfrfYwFXE0-xlU8z3SDwY-V8A2qwOLUeW3zXZGrVDmw8D-rEjesCpELyqUWPQUL8u-VsmvcaZaNK2oOlthtNmf6lGg5bjWAI_YjPMRwcnTcc56mxk/s1600/campsite+saco+KOA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfpCtAoKNmaLreFcyOdPV2p22GwheDfrfYwFXE0-xlU8z3SDwY-V8A2qwOLUeW3zXZGrVDmw8D-rEjesCpELyqUWPQUL8u-VsmvcaZaNK2oOlthtNmf6lGg5bjWAI_YjPMRwcnTcc56mxk/s400/campsite+saco+KOA.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">see those roots? they're even more fun at night.</td></tr>
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the best treat we encountered was a short drive over to cape elizabeth where we discovered <a href="http://lobstershacktwolights.com/">the lobster shack on two lights road</a>. nothin' fancy, and that's how we like it. you order your seafood, wait to be called and dine al fresco at picnic tables next to rocky cliffs overlooking the sea (our choice, even though the seagulls are very well fed and very persistent) or inside. we got fancy and ordered a whoopie pie...and OH MY. those things are crazy. crazy decadent and crazy delicious!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GPDvJJaRxa3T4jE3md5d5M1JI41egFH2G5vYBFAVevMPoZ08VRKkS1of1O2bhzz9joANOVViMm-U06_amCGMkUK-UGOiLnGGRTs69EQczSTGSHgzjoevh0yuI-GsRe7MlWsJkVtkMqjk/s1600/lobster+picnics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GPDvJJaRxa3T4jE3md5d5M1JI41egFH2G5vYBFAVevMPoZ08VRKkS1of1O2bhzz9joANOVViMm-U06_amCGMkUK-UGOiLnGGRTs69EQczSTGSHgzjoevh0yuI-GsRe7MlWsJkVtkMqjk/s400/lobster+picnics.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the lobster shack at two lights road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yes, please.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">order up. nom nom nom nom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbxD4jI-zheyvQKf_dZg-0DQx-81vSjcwJhhdQnYHrLiDpi94VqF_juJGg0sKYsW9zYn6-7JL_DmcguKZE3SsyhRXFJy9JYJZYbCLOiRfbnmwHPnskuyW26DJQYhbeieVKYAz70U8bChL/s1600/seagull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbxD4jI-zheyvQKf_dZg-0DQx-81vSjcwJhhdQnYHrLiDpi94VqF_juJGg0sKYsW9zYn6-7JL_DmcguKZE3SsyhRXFJy9JYJZYbCLOiRfbnmwHPnskuyW26DJQYhbeieVKYAz70U8bChL/s400/seagull.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scoping us out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0I3OPD_nFo84styUWzTxaXn0Nr4x-b244PSMvGeVMdtQjKowyYItuj5ogkDBp5y947Gek7RdWlU6qcPufsPV5BWLhpVFOfxYYH0YwEjwYf9qJCJfX_Px2kN4ItcUTpJv3tT98EbJc0r06/s1600/whoopieeee+lo+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0I3OPD_nFo84styUWzTxaXn0Nr4x-b244PSMvGeVMdtQjKowyYItuj5ogkDBp5y947Gek7RdWlU6qcPufsPV5BWLhpVFOfxYYH0YwEjwYf9qJCJfX_Px2kN4ItcUTpJv3tT98EbJc0r06/s400/whoopieeee+lo+res.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magoo hated every bite.</td></tr>
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we also took a drive into old orchard beach just a few miles away and that place is like a throwback to old school 1960s beach towns, complete with a ferris wheel, old-timey amusements, lots of neon, funnel cakes and the usual tacky tourist traps. not sure i'd want to stay directly in the old orchard beach main district, but it was fun to cruise through the main drag. we spotted lots of frankie valli's gone bad.<br />
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we made the three hour drive into bar harbor on tuesday morning and are now at the bar harbor KOA. (we're quite possibly getting a little KOAed out, but more on this later.) we'll be here until sunday, so stay tuned for an update on our time here. more seafood eats, acadia national park and a few unexpected curveballs. always an adventure!<br />
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happy trails,<br />
jenJEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-16857885661301150282010-08-15T20:58:00.000-07:002010-08-15T21:17:16.925-07:00MAINE-BOUND...WITH A FEW BUMPS ALONG THE WAY.whew.<br />
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with another long day of traveling the interstates, we are grateful to have arrived safe and sound in old orchard beach, maine. what a day, folks.<br />
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one thing we have learned from other airstreamers is to "expect the unexpected", and i can't think of better or more true advice. pulling a 27' travel trailer can be nerve-wracking at times on its own accord, much less when you're in not-so-familiar territory. another word-to-the-wise: the GPS is <i>not</i> all-knowing. (can you guess where this tale is going?)<br />
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first thing's first: on our way to maine, we knew we'd have a quick stop along the way to break up the drive. we decided upon freehold, new jersey at the <a href="http://www.pineconenj.com/">pine cone resort</a>. pretty uneventful, which is exactly what you want for a quickie one night stop. the roads/sites were a mix and grass and dirt (mostly dirt from what we could tell, which makes for some serious mess if it rains) but the guy who checked us in was friendly. we didn't even unhitch as we knew we'd be leaving in the morning; makes for a quick and hassle-free getaway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP4WTpBq2lnwrKzUAdGbBssyhLy7NerazQVvYVfWdtFWRPL1ybTZpH1YZ6XVMQsDKn3d7quNuXxGm_2WzpGcE6_aaWeCcF7M56ObwyEcuCwXKaI_jr8ZREOeI4ulkEn8fjqJbOtw8CiL7/s1600/pine+cone+resort+NJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmP4WTpBq2lnwrKzUAdGbBssyhLy7NerazQVvYVfWdtFWRPL1ybTZpH1YZ6XVMQsDKn3d7quNuXxGm_2WzpGcE6_aaWeCcF7M56ObwyEcuCwXKaI_jr8ZREOeI4ulkEn8fjqJbOtw8CiL7/s400/pine+cone+resort+NJ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pine cone "resort", freehold, NJ. eh.</td></tr>
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the trip from new jersey to old orchard beach was, in theory, supposed to take about six hours. it involves passing through new york, connecticut, massachusetts, new hampshire and maine. (whew. good thing those new england states are small.) after passing through some pretty backed-up traffic in new york city (the bronx, to be specific...ahhh, the lovely bronx) via the george washington bridge, our GPS (we affectionately call her "mappy", her nickname might be changing) instructed us to veer towards albany, NY. okay. seems like a logical route. what we didn't know, errrr, is that particular westchester county highway isn't suitable for anything taller than your average toyota camry. ruh roh.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jFBg_QrEn-cIJxwx1rs66XWjJr035NSyKHlxlizPB1tWGM3Tdwtv6xRsrpEhTFZhly33BmEkO0UPPl3HwUBrD1j2gp1xj9vxTQbfGUVc9uz4jMCpoAo06y-nlw0Z4FS_6L47Qa6NIYve/s1600/GW+bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jFBg_QrEn-cIJxwx1rs66XWjJr035NSyKHlxlizPB1tWGM3Tdwtv6xRsrpEhTFZhly33BmEkO0UPPl3HwUBrD1j2gp1xj9vxTQbfGUVc9uz4jMCpoAo06y-nlw0Z4FS_6L47Qa6NIYve/s400/GW+bridge.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the george washington bridge, new york. aka: the gates of hell.<br />
p.s. uhh, nice dent, audi.</td></tr>
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for the record, i did feel like a few of the underpass bridges (while very quaint and made from stone) seemed a little....ohhh...what's the word?...LOW. when we somehow passed under a bridge with a clearance of 9'7", i am convinced it was a bonafide act of god himself. what chew talkin' 'bout willis – not more than 5 minutes later we spotted the dreaded flashing blue lights in the rearview mirror and ARE YOU KIDDING ME were being pulled over by one of new york's finest. huh? for what? i remain convinced of a few things. 1) we are lucky people 2) that lady cop was sent from above 3) we are lucky people. she informed us that we had no business being on that road and were lucky to have cleared the few bridges that we already had passed. she also informed us that there was a bridge ahead that we never would have cleared and it was non-negotiable to exit at the next ramp, from which we were to find our way to I-95. she proceeded to stop traffic to a slow crawl behind us, motorcade style, so we could pass under the middle of the bridge at its tallest point. not only were we idiots but we looked like important idiots. sweeeet. a few stressful wrong turns later, we made it to I-95, and let me tell you, i have never been so happy to see a boring, truck-driver laden piece of interstate. all hail I-95, glorious land of nothingness with no bridges.<br />
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it never seems in the cards for us to actually arrive at a campsite before nightfall, so after unhitching in the dark maine night on a site that seems OK at best, we are sending out a big, gracious high five to our road angels that are so obviously looking after us. thanks for making that policewoman pull us over and stop us from ripping the top of our beloved airstream off; that would be a real crappy way to start the first week of our airstream adventure.<br />
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the <a href="http://www.koa.com/where/me/19132/">KOA campground here at saco/old orchard beach</a>, ME looks pretty cute despite our less-than-stellar site. we'll scope out the details better in the light of day and be sure to report on just how many lobster rolls and blueberry pancakes we manage to scarf.<br />
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happy trails no matter where you roam,<br />
jenJEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-28936473608276477502010-08-10T12:33:00.000-07:002010-08-10T12:33:40.599-07:00DESTINATION: LAKE WYLIE, NORTH CAROLINAhello, friends. well, yippee...we made it to our first stop on the airstream adventure: lake wylie, NC. great place to visit for a few days with some old college friends and get our bearings after packing the house (and packing into our <i>new house</i> on wheels). we lucked out with our campground choice; you never know what you're going to find and we have been pleasantly surprised by the offerings here at mcdowell nature preserve. first of all, there is NO ONE here. okay, so there are a few other campers, but we can't believe this little shiny jewel of a park isn't totally packed. while the sites aren't totally spacious, they are nice and well equipped, and the location is fantastic. we'd happily stay here again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM79VeJUUiYvAb24WVXXRZNunM1ImVMtCbZKGvW80-lUX7UfnqlkPenWG_FHznH10A8j_KyVrfuV0WxqpNdnU6uGheu85dYUL4ioeLJjcCe5MOXicckvYn0Jp8GH3RAbLc8MIzlXPF8zs/s1600/site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM79VeJUUiYvAb24WVXXRZNunM1ImVMtCbZKGvW80-lUX7UfnqlkPenWG_FHznH10A8j_KyVrfuV0WxqpNdnU6uGheu85dYUL4ioeLJjcCe5MOXicckvYn0Jp8GH3RAbLc8MIzlXPF8zs/s400/site.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">home, sweet home.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqZa1kru6zFvmjd5t_wbsRoGunFTps5enRrufztT0XVDXlRemgXU30tEMeNRaYReZUSII58na9L317FhFaJMm676-LGnzDDdYgnl-ZWl3I6Fb2XM9fSUJM3fF2j4e2-mbSNB0_6xOuSdG/s1600/rug+and+chairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKqZa1kru6zFvmjd5t_wbsRoGunFTps5enRrufztT0XVDXlRemgXU30tEMeNRaYReZUSII58na9L317FhFaJMm676-LGnzDDdYgnl-ZWl3I6Fb2XM9fSUJM3fF2j4e2-mbSNB0_6xOuSdG/s400/rug+and+chairs.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">loving our outdoor rug, from world market.</td></tr>
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we'll admit that things didn't start out so smoothly. in our haste to get moved out of our house over the weekend, (oh, the misery) the campground reservation got "misplaced", which had some pretty crucial information on it (like, ohhhh, i don't know...the keycode for the main gate?) but luckily the gates were still unlocked upon our arrival and a precious woman named "queenie" escorted us right to our site. (by the way, can i say how much i love her name? queenie! so southern.) richard spent the next two hours in the hot, muggy, mosquito filled evening attempting to get service via our dish network satellite. in the dark. good times had by all. we expected a little learning curve being that it was our first time setting it up, but didn't expect to be cursing at that damned metal dish until 10 PM. as miss scarlet o'hara herself said, "tomorrow is another day", and we took that advice and called it a night. luckily we were able to get everything up and working without incident the following day.<br />
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one of the perks of traveling the US are the friends we get to see along the way. we enjoyed a wonderful evening with some of my old winthrop chi omega girls and it was a total hen party. cackle cackle cackle. what can i say, my husband is a good sport and put up with our girly girly-ness for as long as one could expect from any decent man. good friends, good food and a night under the stars. pretty great start to the week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTwZzJTFumBm4jb0Mnq-mW4zG8CKJC87FI_pqJb04pz3HgYHfcTAG_oi49X5pOCO5K-qwoTWtNkvvtmrzKm9FN6nPSBkJw_HYoqhW6egk3VTzZkBissNYRskTHOMDdm-mKBiNLpZpn_JC/s1600/sweet+daddy+hot+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNTwZzJTFumBm4jb0Mnq-mW4zG8CKJC87FI_pqJb04pz3HgYHfcTAG_oi49X5pOCO5K-qwoTWtNkvvtmrzKm9FN6nPSBkJw_HYoqhW6egk3VTzZkBissNYRskTHOMDdm-mKBiNLpZpn_JC/s400/sweet+daddy+hot+dog.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the grillmaster reaps his rewards.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">su + regina</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">groot + carie</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">if you think miss pickles sits on the filthy ground, you would be mistaken.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lovin' our sweet little airstream lights.</td></tr>
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next stop: northbound towards richmond, virginia. see y'all on down the road.<br />
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-jenJEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-867780651905611512010-08-08T14:30:00.000-07:002010-08-09T21:00:37.714-07:00ANNNNNND, WE'RE OFF!{insert gunshot sound effect here}<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J7WiNmsu8cERa4awYfVSXJB9Hn86Ad_iP5qIMY3QiVy5DuUnvwFDUt_U52qfiMsFhhFP9gvsDlBEYIHdSJl5eackEMNqEpetg7CByatoWc-ybD9wSMt8UGgJqexRxNjtDRTUA71X93WE/s1600/Picture+24.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-J7WiNmsu8cERa4awYfVSXJB9Hn86Ad_iP5qIMY3QiVy5DuUnvwFDUt_U52qfiMsFhhFP9gvsDlBEYIHdSJl5eackEMNqEpetg7CByatoWc-ybD9wSMt8UGgJqexRxNjtDRTUA71X93WE/s400/Picture+24.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">so these are horses, and we're not jockeys, but you get the idea.</td></tr>
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yipppeeeee! today is the day! SAY WHAAA? we cannot even believe we are finally on the road for full-time airstream livin'. a total dream come true for us that once seemed like the impossible, and we are little kids on the first day of school with new school supplies. yep, we're the ones running with scissors.<br />
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we're pretty laid back folks and don't want to "over-plan" our itinerary, but planning a few stops ahead seems like a good idea. not only do the good campgrounds fill up in the summertime, but it gives us time to scout out all of the "must-dos" when we do arrive on the scene.<br />
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our first city on the airstream adventure is charlotte/fort mill, NC. why here, you ask? because we're taking off on a sunday, we wanted a relatively easy drive (translation: no more than 4-5 hours) and plenty of time to prepare for a few days of work in one place. it's also quite close to where i went to college at winthrop university in rock hill, SC, and it's always fun to visit your old college alma mater. i have a good many sorority sisters from back in the day who still live in the area so it's the perfect little pit stop before we head further north. we'll be staying at the <a href="http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/ParkandRec/InsideTheDepartment/Divisions/StewardshipServices/NaturePreserves/Pages/McDowell.aspx">mcdowell nature preserve + campground</a>, and we're pretty excited to see what this little gem has to offer. it's been rated one of the best parks in charlotte and is surrounded by an 1000+ acre nature preserve. we'll give you the skinny on this campground once we arrive and have a look around.<br />
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after charlotte, we'll be headed to richmond, VA. ahhh yes, land of virginia ham! {ummmmmmm hammmmmm...}<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM3Sin3oPjLScwVIdrz5fQuzzfU298p1Qe7ekJNMr933KsOH8I3EAa8D8WveSR16cSPy4Cu24ePfMw8-HuRG-BjjTKEnvT24VdNN-MLlydASatBcepM9JUzd7OZZhnoFTXl8TvUKNzKeA/s1600/Picture+23.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcM3Sin3oPjLScwVIdrz5fQuzzfU298p1Qe7ekJNMr933KsOH8I3EAa8D8WveSR16cSPy4Cu24ePfMw8-HuRG-BjjTKEnvT24VdNN-MLlydASatBcepM9JUzd7OZZhnoFTXl8TvUKNzKeA/s400/Picture+23.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">don't even tell me you don't like ham.</td></tr>
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not only is richmond a former residence of mine and handsome hubs, but it's conveniently about 4-5 hours down the road from charlotte – are you seeing a pattern here? we'll only be stopping for a few nights, but it's just enough time to hit some of our favorite old haunts {hello, thai diner} and visit our favorite city park, <a href="http://www.google.com/images?client=safari&rls=en&q=libby%20hill%20park&oe=UTF-8&um=1&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1355&bih=849">libby hill</a>, located in our old church hill neighborhood. we'll be camping for about three nights at <a href="http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/poc.shtml">pocahontas state park</a>. lemme tell ya, the VA park system knows their stuff. we've stayed at pocahontas many times and it's a beauty. nice, big, level sites. clean. good roads. good location. we're looking forward to spending a few days enjoying such a great state park.<br />
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more to come on our first few days of legit full-timin'. shooot.<br />
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happy travels,<br />
jenJEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-82695546838736706242010-07-30T23:20:00.000-07:002010-07-30T23:20:02.731-07:00BON VOYAGE!we had the true pleasure of gathering our family and friends for a little "bon voyage" party last weekend in honor of our (seven days and counting!) impending departure from the wilds of suburbia. if there's one thing i love and truly relish, it's planning all the fun details for a great party. i adore the unexpected details that being a smile, and i knew i'd want to craft some special little goodies to share with guests for our little get together. it was the perfect evening and we are so glad to have spent some time with some of our favorite folks in the whole wide world before we hit the streets.<br />
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thought you all might enjoy a few pics, and by all means, steal these ideas for your next airstream party! they're all pretty DIY and don't cost much at all.<br />
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almost on the road...yippeeeee!!!,<br />
jenJEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-7460683179774183312010-07-01T02:26:00.000-07:002010-07-01T02:26:15.091-07:00CRUISIN'.hi gang. jen here.<br />
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i've always been a fan of beach cruisers. sure, they don't have those extra gears to get you over that thar hill, but DANG they are so stylish and fabulously retro. and i am a bonafide sucker for retro. not to mention comfortable. i mean, can any woman (or man, for that matter) really say one of those tiny 10-speed seats is a pleasure to sit on? those things literally disappear, right? there simply just isn't enough cushin' on those seats for pushin' up the hills.<br />
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hubs and i were in wally world the other day getting a few airstreamin' supplies and lo and behold i spotted a cruiser/5 speed combo called a hybrid. this might not be news to you folks, but to me, that's like chocolate and peanut butter – a match made in bicycle heaven. the functionality of a bike with gears and the fashion of a cruiser. MUST HAVE:<br />
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we're planning on taking bikes with us on the road to meander around the campgrounds and encourage ourselves to fit in some exercise, too. i've found one model in particular that looks pretty promising. it's made by huffy (i know...huffy...makes you think of your pink bike with pom poms from 6th grade, right?) but it's stinking adorable and classic. and the price is awesome – under $125. of course, i'll have to transfer my bell (ting ting) and basket from my old bike to complete the ensemble.<br />
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hooray for cruisers. hooray for putting things in your basket. and hooray for the little silver bell.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-75369628598656332362010-05-21T07:26:00.000-07:002010-05-21T09:34:14.047-07:00IT'S OFFICIAL!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV7vVExddCqPjhIhZtXJ2tCEmrko0nCU9xf-9w9aQ25oqpIf8dqV7IJ-PAkkLHnQT8gLLysMO2kg-BaA43DQer_pMKUtaOQ6x7A3iq9AFfvNY8ijUL4oUmyKwQMYSUvYJa9dQ6OgItYMc/s1600/wally+tundy+lanier.jpg"><br /><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfV7vVExddCqPjhIhZtXJ2tCEmrko0nCU9xf-9w9aQ25oqpIf8dqV7IJ-PAkkLHnQT8gLLysMO2kg-BaA43DQer_pMKUtaOQ6x7A3iq9AFfvNY8ijUL4oUmyKwQMYSUvYJa9dQ6OgItYMc/s400/wally+tundy+lanier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473758946203282770" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><div><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);">“...I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson</span></span></span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; overflow: hidden;font-size:13px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153);"></span></span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">well, folks, (insert mary tyler moore music) we're gonna dooooo it! we're puttin' our money where our mouth is and gearing up for the granddaddy of all road trips. after much thought and deliberation and serious logistics wrangling, we've decided to put everything we own in a storage facility and become full-time airstreamers and travel the U.S. until...well, we get sick of it. say what?!</span></span></span></h3></span></i></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">we're planning on an early august 2010 departure, so there is much to do between now and then. pack every stitch of our house, sell my car (bye bye little blue passat wagon!) and make sure we are equipped from a business perspective for life on the road. being that we both are in the very fortunate position to have jobs where we can work from home, we figured that home could just as easily be a silver twinkie, no? that means some pretty serious techie stuff, but after a few trial runs in savannah and charleston, i think we've sorted that end out and we're both able to do our jobs (quite well, i might add) from the road. we've even upgraded our truck (affectionately dubbed "tundy too", since we traded in the '08 tundra for a swanky, more comfortable '10 tundra).</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">i can't tell you how personally exciting this is for us. but you might wonder exactly </span></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">why</span></span></span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"> we are doing this. living in approximately 200 square feet with your spouse and (often times a lil' gassy) dog means a few things for sure: you had better get along really well, have a top-notch sense of humor and not get hung up on little idiosyncrasies that living in a trailer can present. as cushy and creature-comforty as the airstream is, it's still a small space and let me assure you, every nook and cranny counts. but all of these little things pale in comparison to the idea of seeing this country via the winding back roads, the small towns and the big cities, too. weekends will be filled with route 66 oddities, fall festivals in towns we've never heard of, quirky local attractions, and the natural beauty of state and federal parks and delightful people whom we'll meet along the way. when you are pulling your home behind you on wheels, it's a new front and back yard every week. i love that.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">aside from the incredibly compelling adventure-of-a-lifetime bit, there are also some significant savings to be had from paring down for a while and living a little simpler. sure, you have park fees, but you also have no rent/mortgage and no utilities. my car payment and insurance goes away, too. so we figured, why not save some decent cash, and when we're tired of living like gypsies, we'll have a nice little down payment for a house upon return.</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">we do hope you'll follow our adventures in the wild blue yonder through this blog and also via twitter (</span></span></span><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://twitter.com/airstreamADV"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">@airstreamADV</span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">). we'd also love to hear some "must sees" from all of you – feel free to share the places out there that can't be missed, whether that be a legendary diner, a museum or a roadside produce stand. </span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">see you down the road, friends!</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">xoxo,</span></span></div><div style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">jen & richard</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div></div></div>JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-5391764791216425862010-02-14T21:40:00.000-08:002010-02-14T22:11:03.152-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew_WMYD9nNDN96CuUkkXTB0IafP_iWQFEeUgA-MLQ02cY2uDMpyeoIDT9sQiZ8Bh1azb150xi2cCBf8mDT8orFfDU_L3izP3Xh-yh1H4137L82gTvI5sj5D8yNuOYlxePVv20yRfX97Il/s1600-h/Queen+Doggie.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjew_WMYD9nNDN96CuUkkXTB0IafP_iWQFEeUgA-MLQ02cY2uDMpyeoIDT9sQiZ8Bh1azb150xi2cCBf8mDT8orFfDU_L3izP3Xh-yh1H4137L82gTvI5sj5D8yNuOYlxePVv20yRfX97Il/s320/Queen+Doggie.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438347334354047874" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C4MZJUdvK9Tb2UsulRa1A3_CvIETZOByHpQAhgOQ74QLR_VkcNyoluxFsDy4xKwwwTaLAGeGnimvPTz5c9RLVXAniUn18NZn-FjN_DzVPsAefNo0X8eJ3VqaJM2RS00ovnPYtCJ0gJvi/s1600-h/local+color.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"></span></a><span><span>We're baaaack! That's right...round two at Skidaway State park in Savannah, GA. We just couldn't stay away.</span></span><div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C4MZJUdvK9Tb2UsulRa1A3_CvIETZOByHpQAhgOQ74QLR_VkcNyoluxFsDy4xKwwwTaLAGeGnimvPTz5c9RLVXAniUn18NZn-FjN_DzVPsAefNo0X8eJ3VqaJM2RS00ovnPYtCJ0gJvi/s1600-h/local+color.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; "></span></span></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3C4MZJUdvK9Tb2UsulRa1A3_CvIETZOByHpQAhgOQ74QLR_VkcNyoluxFsDy4xKwwwTaLAGeGnimvPTz5c9RLVXAniUn18NZn-FjN_DzVPsAefNo0X8eJ3VqaJM2RS00ovnPYtCJ0gJvi/s1600-h/local+color.jpg"></a>We love this park! This time around, we're looking around a bit more due to a little longer stay, and we have lots of goodies to report. </div><div><br /></div><div>Occasionally, we wander into the most interesting circumstances (like the time a classic car show popped up around us in a Wal-Mart parking lot). This time, it's Mardis Gras on Tybee Island. We were magically transported to a psuedo-Mardis Gras parade, complete with beads, costumes, a Yorkie in a "royal carriage" (don't ask) and even a Dixieland band. Quite enjoyable.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpm19VYmnh0v861L8YYf3yZDHtK8Mrur-wCdLDEtrHV19hIPASWZByQXNo9yotip3nEQxuWLH7oUlxqIjQJwDcNhNKjpuXOHAkyyBp24peqszI6uGiT-iJiO7QI6VH03ktwrdDMLUCJlE8/s1600-h/Queen+Doggie.jpg"><br /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fJPckecvTicFtV-Fmx3r04HvcAlOTu_-HjttSnv5vs-13tPAygrMMwtnaLuOrj5FVD-r1BCN8u8gXWe6K11P_WOu5gfcA8JxkGpipfRweKdAzGYQPijWP_hpxQnp05VftDcE5E3140xs/s1600-h/Crab+Shack.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fJPckecvTicFtV-Fmx3r04HvcAlOTu_-HjttSnv5vs-13tPAygrMMwtnaLuOrj5FVD-r1BCN8u8gXWe6K11P_WOu5gfcA8JxkGpipfRweKdAzGYQPijWP_hpxQnp05VftDcE5E3140xs/s320/Crab+Shack.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438342952639140930" /></a><br /><br />As for good eats, The Crab Shack on Tybee Island is, by far, the best seafood place around. Previously, we dined at Desposito's, and that had some good points. However, The Crab Shack had better tasting seafood, and better local flavor. They have their own gator ponds out front, and they sell gator snacks to feed them. The temp was way too cold for these poor critters to do much but stay still and keep their body temps up (they are cold blooded, after all) so they weren't too frisky.<br /><br />We had the good fortune to run into "Aluminum Bliss", fellow Airstreamers and young couple on the move. It's always exciting pulling into a campground and finding another Airstream, but even moreso when we can actually chat with the fellow-minded travelers. Luckily they had their web page address displayed on the back window. Of course, we had to go to the web page to find out who it was. Pleased to meet you guys, Lani and Chris. Happy travels.<br /><br />In event of a rainy Georgia night, Red Box video rentals is an idea whose time has come. Select a video, insert credit card, get movie. And rental fees of $1 a night! There's a Red Box at the Kroger just 5 minutes away, so check it out if you need a movie for the night.<br /><br />Bonaventure Cemetery is gorgeous, peaceful and huge. An ideal spot for a bike ride or an afternoon picnic, if you don't mind the whole surrounded-by-the-dead thing. We didn't have enough time to see it all. Well, actually, we almost did have enough time as THEY LOCKED THE EXITS AT 5 PM SHARP! So yeah, a scary moment for us and 4 other cars that were locked in. However, someone made a call and the groundskeeper came back to release us. Imagine spending the night locked up in there. Eeeeek.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYcitBe9GbU9B2TCzPp_jvqZHitHYk1ctbF85pq8DdozrOC5OOSDohdZpGam1PiC_jwgJ9o-XaKtekvyVUUE5Ma6BNkfL47M3dE1pRJKMs5nBHXdwXra7l-7eTi6nZPcMf4oGoFnHudgV/s1600-h/leopolds.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 245px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYcitBe9GbU9B2TCzPp_jvqZHitHYk1ctbF85pq8DdozrOC5OOSDohdZpGam1PiC_jwgJ9o-XaKtekvyVUUE5Ma6BNkfL47M3dE1pRJKMs5nBHXdwXra7l-7eTi6nZPcMf4oGoFnHudgV/s320/leopolds.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438343983231397890" /></a><br /><br />We never tire of the downtown area of Savannah, filled with elegant and stately squares and moss-covered Live Oaks. Spent a few hours walking around town and stopped for malts at Leopold's Ice Cream, near SCAD (Savannah College of Art & Design).<br /><br />On to a few recos for happy camping: if you want quick, portable, propane based heat, look no further than Mr. Heater Buddy. I have always wanted one, but thought the consumption of propane would be too expensive. Well, they went on sale, (a good excuse to buy anything, right?) and I had a gift certificate, so I bought one. Best purchase ever! A single one pound tank will last for a few hours, and keeps from running the furnace as much, so we're not blowing through our larger tanks and it's not using nearly as much propane as I thought it would. So if you are on the fence about buying one, go for it, you won't be disappointed.<br /><br />As always, sad to be heading out tomorrow, but thankful for a great long weekend in this charming Southern gem of a city.<br /><br />See you on down the road!<br /></div></div>JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-7657825583978794182010-01-03T10:23:00.000-08:002010-01-12T15:01:19.539-08:00Review:Skidaway Island State ParkIf you anything about our adventures by now, you know we start out late, as usual. We left Thursday at approximately 10 PM, about ohhhhhh, 5 hours behind our ideal get-outta-dodge time. No big deal. About an hour into the drive, we started hitting a lot of thick, pea soup-ish fog. Not a fun happenstance! Really had to slooooow down from the posted speed limit to something that is more conducive to safe travel, around 45 mph. Slow going. Alas, we pulled into a Cracker Barrel at about 1:30 AM for a supposed "quick nap" before continuing on. <br /><br />Needless to say, we awoke at 11 AM for breakfast. 11 AM!!! OK, so we're not morning people.<br /><br />After a good breakfast at the CB, (what's not to love about CB?) we made our way to Skidaway. I-16 is a pretty uneventful (read: boring) drive to the park. And, well, here we are, sitting at <a href="http://gastateparks.org/Skidaway">Skidaway Island State Park</a>. <br /><br />Georgia's got it right for camping. Huge beautiful sites, all pull through. Skidaway looks like something from Jurassic Park. Wild looking trees and a pre-historic looking landscape sure do make for some interesting sites. And although the park doesn't have sewer (boo!) we do have water, electricity, and cable of all things! Niiiice.<br /><br />There are, however, just a couple of negatives with the park: <br /><br />Due to the massive amounts of rain we've been getting, mud abounds in the sites. So the pads for the campers aren't pea gravel or concrete and are a bit mushy. However, after some time to dry out, all is fine. We actually chose a site that was pretty dry compared to some neighboring sites and we were thankful for it. For a non-paved site (which all the sites are) it's amazingly level. No need to level left to right, even though we're on the ground without ashpalt. Bonus.<br /><br />The streets are mostly OK; some are a bit winding depending on which loop you choose. We were in the Campground 1 and it was fine. A couple of sharp corners in the park in other loops, and as always, you just have to take your time when you're towing 27 feet of aluminum goodness. The streets are also all single lane, and none of them are one-ways! Ummm. This means someone would need to pull over to allow oncoming traffic to pass. Would hate to see 2 big rigs attempt this. Showdown!<br /><br />Aside from these small issues, man, what a great park! Huge sites, and a stone's throw from Savannah. <br /><br />We did get some time to get into town to take a look see and get some exploration in. One thing we need to mention is <a href="http://despositosseafood.com/">Desposito Seafood</a> in Thunderbolt, GA. (I'm not kidding about the name. Thunderbolt. And no, it's not in Hazard County.) I had the low country boil (half pound of shrimp, potatoes, corn, sausage) and Jen had 1 lb. of boiled shrimp. Simple and delicious. (We had to get a pound of Snow Crab legs as well.) The restaurant is a bit pricey, and the wait was a little ridiculous, but all in all, it was worth it and was a perfect dive of a seafood shanty. Nothin' fancy.<br /><br />Savannah's a good driving around kinda town. We took a look around at many of the town squares; they have a bunch of them and one is as beautiful as the next. <br /><br />So....where to next? No idea. Would love to spend a full week at Skidaway since our time was so limited. We were impressed. One thing's for certain, it won't be long before we're on the road again.<br /><br />P.S. Yes, it is possible to entertain in a travel trailer! We had an old friend of mine over for dinner and conversation. He got to show off his new truck with a fresh coat of mud from going 4 wheeling, and we showed off Wally. Nice seeing you again, Mark!JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-59316177433070406302009-10-11T08:56:00.000-07:002009-10-14T12:40:39.877-07:00We're back, and wishing we weren't.Hey all, we're back from our Florida Keys vacation. Saw and did a lot of cool things. <br /><br />Here's some things to keep in mind on your Keys vacation:<br /><br />1) Go to Sloppy Joe's. Yes, this is a name of a place, the source of 'the' Sloppy Joe. I had one, and it was the best I've ever had! This was one of Ernest Hemmingways haunts before he moved to Cuba. Plenty of pictures of him on the walls, and stories. Thinking that 'The Old Man and the Sea' was penned there.<br /><br />2) Rent scooters. A lot less headaches, and parking is free (car parking is .25 for 10 minutes).<br /><br />3) Take a sunset cruise. A very relaxing way to end a day.<br /><br />4) Schooner Wharf. Have a drink, a cigar and enjoy the view. Throw crackers to the waiting tarpin.<br /><br />5) Mallory Square at sunset. Didn't get a chance to see The Flying Cats, but saw some other impressive performers (and some not so impressive).<br /><br />6) NEVER EVER SPEED! There is a ton of police presence, and there is only 1 road in and out. They'll git ya! Speed limits change a lot from 55 to 45 to 35 back up to 45. So be careful!<br /><br />Just starting to peel now from the huge amount of sun we took in on this adventure. Ouch.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-17949854732367534112009-10-04T08:49:00.000-07:002009-10-04T09:21:55.154-07:00Day 3: Scooter go vroom vroom!Just another beautiful day in the Keys. We learned our lesson in trying to walk around town to see the sites, just too blazing hot! We gave up and rented scooters, and what a difference! We tooled around town, until Jen had to stop in the pits for a last minute flip-flop repair (sadly, it wasn't repairable, had to get new ones). She almost wiped out in a parking lot, into a brandy-new Lincoln Town Car.<br /><br />After the flip-flop exchange was made, we zipped around for hours. This was Jen's first time on a scooter, (she's quite the evil knievel) and she had a blast (as did I). Made parking much easier, and more cost effective as parking a scooter is always free, and a car is .25 for 10 minutes. Yowsas.<br /><br />Stopped by <a href="http://www.schoonerwharf.com/">Schooner Warf</a> for some refreshment. (Cold Coke for me, another Pina Colada for Jen. Hmm, is this beginning to be a problem?! "Pina Colada Intervention" here we come.) If you like cigars, you can get one there. Hand rolled, made fresh. Haven't tried one yet, thinking about getting a box, though.<br /><br />We took a sunset cruise on the <a href="http://www.schoonerjollyrover.com/">Jolly Rover 2</a>. A very relaxing way to end the day. It's an authentic four square sail schooner! Nothing like getting power from sails. Arrrr matey.<br /><br />When we arrived back in port, we had to stop by <a href="http://www.conchrepublicseafood.com/">The Conch Republic Seafood Company</a>. Wow, had a great dinner. I had the Seafood Wellington, and Jen had the Sea Scallops. And another fruity frozen drink. The truly upsetting thing for us is that we haven't had the Key Lime Pie yet. Must rectify that today!<br /><br />Plans for today: snorkeling followed by a sunset catamaran back into town. I introduced Jen to this a few years back, and she is hooked. Looking forward to getting up close to the fish of the area, and maybe finding the missing part of the pirate ship <a href="http://www.newworldtreasures.com/atochastory.htm">Atocha</a> with the half billion worth of gold with it. If we do, in fact, find the missing spanish gold, you will likely not hear from us again as we'll resort to a life of debauchery, jetsetting and full time Airstreamin'. Just sayin'.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-32223300048735173852009-10-02T19:37:00.000-07:002009-10-02T20:34:27.011-07:00Day 2: What our trips should always be like<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgngiTh2wqairuogggDcOezF5eLSO0D7LYJlwp8BMEpjYr7LrHjvPvbGBwLypx4oYW1jouE7gfyrOkdKD6DU35MWhHHutZFYuwzFK1bss_nT6YW2I7KDCbD018AdszHE-K6A8M3gs0fo6/s1600-h/7631_144991258386_613583386_2713517_2242006_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388210936161325394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgngiTh2wqairuogggDcOezF5eLSO0D7LYJlwp8BMEpjYr7LrHjvPvbGBwLypx4oYW1jouE7gfyrOkdKD6DU35MWhHHutZFYuwzFK1bss_nT6YW2I7KDCbD018AdszHE-K6A8M3gs0fo6/s320/7631_144991258386_613583386_2713517_2242006_n.jpg" /></a><br />We got into our site late last night (as usual) at <a href="http://www.bluewaterkey.com/">Blue Water Key RV Resort</a> and were astounded at it,even in the darkness.<br /><br />What we are about to tell you about is the best kept secret RV campground in the world, if not the universe. It has the usual ammenities (water, electric, sewer, cable, Wifi). But there are a few things it has that need mentioning.<br /><br />The size of each site is HUGE. The site we are on is 35' wide by 80' deep. That's a chunk of real estate. The pad isn't that entire size though. You see, on the water bound side (oh yeah, did I mention that we have an easterly view of the Atlantic?) there is a tiki hut. You heard right, a genuine tiki hut. Well, more like a cabana. This "hut" has a wetbar. Two ceiling fans to keep things cool. Lights. Comfy chairs. Floating dock. The water! The moon! The view! The view! The view! Have we sold you yet? Actually, don't come here. It's terrible. (If you don't come then we won't have to fight you for a reservation again next year. Muuaahhh haaaa haaa haaaa.)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFJm2R4GDgftf3DtkARnLGgsjtsVf08sq8WubEYSl4nGYkDXqU9kqm2BOJA5cVhtdFXpS_kmFSinc-xHXo_PEi97BSKDrVkOOmWcqNAfjJeERnliEPz359NmUFlYXgQ5GochFbsAqP23s/s1600-h/7631_144992403386_613583386_2713521_4795348_n.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388211310535236498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFJm2R4GDgftf3DtkARnLGgsjtsVf08sq8WubEYSl4nGYkDXqU9kqm2BOJA5cVhtdFXpS_kmFSinc-xHXo_PEi97BSKDrVkOOmWcqNAfjJeERnliEPz359NmUFlYXgQ5GochFbsAqP23s/s320/7631_144992403386_613583386_2713521_4795348_n.jpg" /></a><br />More tomorrow as we explore both this campground and the local attractions.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-61228256275270644662009-09-30T22:03:00.000-07:002009-09-30T22:14:08.585-07:00Valdosta, GA is almost in Florida! (But not quite.)DAY ONE:<br /><br />True to form, we left home base 2 hours later than we had hoped. That's OK, we're on vacation...finally. Nevermind the fact that we had ambitiously planned to get as far as Orlando...riiiiight. We've hunkered down in a Cracker Barrel parking lot for the night, eager for the morning to come. We'll get a decent breakfast (thanks Mummie) and then head further south on "lovely" (and endless) I-75. Looking forward to getting past the Florida expressway and seeing the sights, as well as our campground in Shangri-La. Stay tuned! Time for Zzzzz's.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-31835609723909772792009-08-27T06:36:00.000-07:002009-08-27T08:04:54.154-07:00Boiled Peanuts!<object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6292482&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6292482&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6292482">Boiled Peanuts!</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user461024">Richard Mageau</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /><br />So simple, yet so ridiculously delicious! I like to call it the caviar of the South. (That's right, you heard that one here.) Growing up, my family used to go to Destin, FL every year (before it became overrun with mini-putts and t-shirt shops) for summer vacation. Like clockwork, we'd stop at a roadside produce shack somewhere in Alabama or northern Florida and pick up a hot, steaming bag of boiled peanuts. And I do mean STEAMING. They would be so hot you could barely touch the shells but were compelled to anyway because of the promise of salty, mushy peanuty goodness inside. The juice would run everywhere and it was a total mess but we didn't care. The salt would make your fingers prune and dry up like you'd been sitting in the bathtub for an hour.<br /><br />We're not sure the exact way that boiled peanuts are made, aside from, well, boiling water. Oil? Definitely salt. And how long do you boil them? We suspect a long time. What we do know is that it is by far, the best snack food ever. Pairs quite nicely with a Moonpie and an RC Cola.JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9157113105212811480.post-74013234204838898122009-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:002009-08-03T21:43:37.659-07:00RI Here we come!So yet another adventure awaits us. A surprise 80th birthday party for my mother, and a chance to get back in touch with people we've left behind up in Yankee territory (affectionately coined, of course.) But first, the trip planning!<br /><p align="center"><br /><iframe height="350" marginheight="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108481789608864141798.00046fb5ef084dd316e4c&ll=38.891033,-76.948242&spn=11.963878,18.676758&z=5&output=embed" frameborder="0" width="425" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no"></iframe><br /><small>View <a style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; COLOR: #0000ff" href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=108481789608864141798.00046fb5ef084dd316e4c&ll=38.891033,-76.948242&spn=11.963878,18.676758&z=5&source=embed">Trip to RI!</a> in a larger map</small><br /></p><br />We'll be ambling north up to North Carolina Tuesday night, after we're done with work. Makes for a long day but there are some advantages to driving at night. We'll be heading for a Cracker Barrel for the night. Next morning, we start our trip to New Jersey. We'll be again staying at another Cracker Barrel.<br /><br />So you may be asking yourself, why Cracker Barrel? Well, they are very RV friendly. Just let them know you'll be staying overnight. They will let you do it, as long as it doesn't go against local ordinance. So a call would be a good thing to do before you try it. Also, it doesn't hurt to get a good breakfast before you start your driving day! Be warned...we have been startled in the middle of the night by trash dumpster people. THAT is a fun noise at 3 a.m. outside the Airstream window.<br /><br />OK, after breakfast Thursday, off to <a href="http://www.colonialairstream.com/">Colonial Airstream </a>to get some work done. I'm hoping it won't take more than a couple of hours. Then, to <a href="http://normandyfarms.com/">Normandy Farms </a>in Foxboro, MA.<br /><br />We've been hearing a lot of great things about Normandy Farms. Great location, nice pools (note the plural, there 4 onsite, including 1 indoor heated),and a recreation lodge (indoor pool, double jacuzzi, sauna, arcade, and an adults only loft. Wait. Adults only? Is that weird? Like, an RV swingers club? Eeek. Let's hope not.) Hopefully we'll have some free time to enjoy all the amenities.<br /><br />24 hours, and we'll be on the road! Woot!<br /><br />See you on the road!JEN + RICHARDhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00273871239192980015noreply@blogger.com0