BB King Lounge

Band spotlighted near us at the bar singing Hall & Oats' "Sarah Smile" a capppella

Matt at dinner the last night of vacation spent in Nashville, TN

Matt at dinner the last night of vacation spent in Nashville, TN

Night out in Nashville

Headed down West St. / Broadway towards live music and dinner. 19:43 on Oct 25, 2010

ATL

And we have hit Altanta,GA where I just was at 3 weeks ago, give or take.
Currently 22:52, 75° according to "Ol' Girl" my car, and the roadkill sighting count is at 44.

Advanced apologies for the possibly blurring attached picture. And if you were wondering, I was in the passenger seat, not driving, when taking this photo :)
It does not portray the Atlanta skyline as it should be justly applauded. Although not large quantities of tall and brightly illuminated buildings are not in abundance and the horizontal length of Atlanta is limited, it has a special an aesthetic grasp.

I do love the south. If they only had my definition of winters.

Return to trying Hoosierland

Today we started our trip from Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, FL back to Indianapolis, IN. We currently are in Georgia with about 4 more hours to go (midnight) before we make it to the pit for the night; we are staying with a friend from work and not too far from the Manhattan Associates global headquarters in Atlanta.

I broke a few days from blogging due to our visiting time with 2 of my very close friends from Marquette. I knew both separately and introduced them to another and today they are married with a 16 month old amazing daughter; she is a ray of sunshine.
Don't get me wrong, I love both of my friends and the melded 'person' they are as a married couple. But their little girl is something more than words can fully describe. They are family.
Attached is a blurry picture of the little lass trekking a blue top I gave her for her first birthday.

At this point you may be wondering what in the world is that other picture of?

If you had not noticed the picture previously or did not look after the above statement, look now.

Hints: It's not poison ivy nor oak, both matt and I are just short of being absolutely covered in these from neck to toe, it is very very itchy, it is not contagious.

We don't know either!

In short we camped on an inlet state park reservation just off the A1A.
We were warned on checkin that the bugs were bad today. We had bug spray, so that was not an issue.

Matt and I first were assigned a site with no tree or greenery and it was next to the main access road to take boats to/from water.
We picked out another gorgeous site and started setting up camp when we were swarmed by more mosquitoes then i have seen at one time; we put the bug spray on.
The bugs still Seder to to attacking and we felt our skin crawling with itch but could not see anything.
So we spent the entire evening and full night in the tent. This night was the only camping night we experienced in that it rained, although only a little.

We still were itchy and could hear bugs flew by our ears. It was very humid but we needed to cover up to stay away from the mosquitos.
We almost picked up camp and left to get a hotel in the middle of the night.

The next day we took off early and seemed to just be bitten up pretty good by the mosquitoes. We enjoyed the ride down the Florida coast, bopping town to town but just passing through towns for turn most part. It was simply an enjoyable day.

That morning our too bikes fell off the bike rack which was still attached to the car truck.
Semis were flashing their lights at us as we are cruising 80 MPH on the highway. Luckily matt hooked the bikes together and also to the rack itself, which was still attached. So we only dragged our new bikes. No one was hurt.

Matts bike uas some parts needing to be replaced. More on the status with photos of the bikes to come after they are taken home and diagnosed.
All I know is Matts expensive road bike took most, well possibly all the damage. And my $15.00 1 speed garage sale bike, with front metal basket, does not to have seemed to have very minor to no damage.

As we approached the Fort Lauderdale area we stopped for an anti-itch topcal medicine. Since we are two bottles+half a bottle of a similiar Alveno product+ a good portion of a bottle of calamine + antihistamine for a couple days + a lot of gentleness and TLC, we are on the mend.

We do not know the name of the bug that bit us but have concluded it to be sand fleas or some other flying black tiny bug that could fit between the mesh on the tent. We have been eatten alive and we both may be psychologically scarred from this experience.

We spent a day laying on blankets on the beach with our friends and also BBQd and relaxed in a park another day. Matt got the chance to take a bike out on some very technical off road biking trails.
He hurts a little in a few places but really enjoyed trying it out.

Tomorrow we have a 4-5 hour drive from North of Atlanta, GA to Nashville, TN where we hope to get some time logged at a live jazz or blues music evening lounge.

Time to sign off and reapply more topical.
I really wish I could make this stuff up.

Return to trying Hoosierland

Today we started our trip from Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, FL back to Indianapolis, IN. We currently are in Georgia with about 4 more hours to go (midnight) before we make it to the pit for the night; we are staying with a friend from work and not too far from the Manhattan Associates global headquarters in Atlanta.

I broke a few days from blogging due to our visiting time with 2 of my very close friends from Marquette. I knew both separately and introduced them to another and today they are married with a 16 month old amazing daughter; she is a ray of sunshine.
Don't get me wrong, I love both of my friends and the melded 'person' they are as a married couple. But their little girl is something more than words can fully describe. They are family.
Attached is a blurry picture of the little lass trekking a blue top I gave her for her first birthday.

At this point you may be wondering what in the world is that other picture of?

If you had not noticed the picture previously or did not look after the above statement, look now.

Hints: It's not poison ivy nor oak, both matt and I are just short of being absolutely covered in these from neck to toe, it is very very itchy, it is not contagious.

We don't know either!

In short we camped on an inlet state park reservation just off the A1A.
We were warned on checkin that the bugs were bad today. We had bug spray, so that was not an issue.

Matt and I first were assigned a site with no tree or greenery and it was next to the main access road to take boats to/from water.
We picked out another gorgeous site and started setting up camp when we were swarmed by more mosquitoes then i have seen at one time; we put the bug spray on.
The bugs still Seder to to attacking and we felt our skin crawling with itch but could not see anything.
So we spent the entire evening and full night in the tent. This night was the only camping night we experienced in that it rained, although only a little.

We still were itchy and could hear bugs flew by our ears. It was very humid but we needed to cover up to stay away from the mosquitos.
We almost picked up camp and left to get a hotel in the middle of the night.

The next day we took off early and seemed to just be bitten up pretty good by the mosquitoes. We enjoyed the ride down the Florida coast, bopping town to town but just passing through towns for turn most part. It was simply an enjoyable day.

That morning our too bikes fell off the bike rack which was still attached to the car truck.
Semis were flashing their lights at us as we are cruising 80 MPH on the highway. Luckily matt hooked the bikes together and also to the rack itself, which was still attached. So we only dragged our new bikes. No one was hurt.

Matts bike uas some parts needing to be replaced. More on the status with photos of the bikes to come after they are taken home and diagnosed.
All I know is Matts expensive road bike took most, well possibly all the damage. And my $15.00 1 speed garage sale bike, with front metal basket, does not to have seemed to have very minor to no damage.

As we approached the Fort Lauderdale area we stopped for an anti-itch topcal medicine. Since we are two bottles+half a bottle of a similiar Alveno product+ a good portion of a bottle of calamine + antihistamine for a couple days + a lot of gentleness and TLC, we are on the mend.

We do not know the name of the bug that bit us but have concluded it to be sand fleas or some other flying black tiny bug that could fit between the mesh on the tent. We have been eatten alive and we both may be psychologically scarred from this experience.

We spent a day laying on blankets on the beach with our friends and also BBQd and relaxed in a park another day. Matt got the chance to take a bike out on some very technical off road biking trails.
He hurts a little in a few places but really enjoyed trying it out.

Tomorrow we have a 4-5 hour drive from North of Atlanta, GA to Nashville, TN where we hope to get some time logged at a live jazz or blues music evening lounge.

Time to sign off and reapply more topical.
I really wish I could make this stuff up.

A mighty fine Thursday

After being attached by the biggest swam of mosquitoes and little chigger-like black bugs last night, we stopped at a CVS to get some topic for the itching. Now today or tomorrow we will not only be the whitest persons there but also will look like we've just emerged from the wild.
I suppose an inlit camp ground wasn't the best idea this time of year.
As we continue south to Fort Lauderdale on the A1A and route 1, we continue to see some relaxing sights as pictured here.

Road kill sighing count at 39.
1 total shower each.
0 rainy days. This will jinx me.
512 bug bites.

Hope to be at Cisco & Katiera's house soon...
Picture is of around north west palm beach.

Oct 21, 2010 @11:50am

Oct 20, 2010 @ 11:30

Oct 20, 2010 @ 11:30

We've had a change in plans as there are no waves to surf so no surfing in Cocoa Beach. Instead we did a good amount of driving to make up time. After staying in 'Red Carpet Motel' were I'm pretty sure we have been the most normal customers this place has seen in a while.
So we shower this morning, the 20th for the first time since the afternoon of the 16th.

The current road kill sighting count is at 32.

We are driving Floridia's Altantic Coast today, taking the scenic A1A South ... to some final place to camp near or in the beach.

This picture was taken just north of Dayton Beach where we have stopped for a stretch on the beach and some photographic opportunities.

Tomorrow onward to Casa de la Rivera in Fort Lauderdale

Thank you Blue Ridge Highway

Thank you Blue Ridge Highway. We estimate to have driven and done some hiking through half or a little less then half of the entire parkway. Mostly drove south through mid-middle of Virginia. The sights were stunning with the rainbow of trees across the hills.

Just on nearby state road ways there as a lot of construction. I could see a tourism market in as a work in progress. Not just updates roads, but better offerings at servces and all for the pull of hunting, camping, and all around natural country beauty. If that is your cup of trying tea.

The hikes that we did do today were not too bad at all, and of course we wished to have hiking time. While hiking I follow Matt and find myself on top of rocks half out into The Niagara Dam in WV. The man with no fear when it comes to hiking and a good portion of climbing things.

I should know better by now.

We are well on the way to VA and NC boarder to camp and call an early night. High hopes to drive up some of the very near peak, which happens to be the highest in VA. High hopes :)

We do need to be around Savannah sometime tomorrow evening for the evening.
Wednesday holds an 11:00am surf appointment at Ron Jons in Cocoa Beach, FL.

Blue ridge parkway Virginia south of roanoke. Oct 18 @ 2:24

Blue ridge parkway Virginia south of roanoke. Oct 18 @ 2:24. We are able to drive the car out of gear for multiple minutes coming down the mountain.

Matt at an overview look near mile marker 95 on Blue Ridge Parkway, VA

Matt at an overview look near mile marker 95 on Blue Ridge Parkway, VA

Monday, October 18, 2010 @ 11:30 am

Leaving WV, entering .....

Leaving WV, entering VA through the outskirts of the George Washington National Park.

Minor miscommunication on where to pick up the Blue Ridge Parkway, so will be back tracking south on I-81, sadly on cement highways and away from a dollar store change in each town with a single church if any at all.
Oh yeah, the hills and mountains are full with yellows, browns, greens and dusted with a painter's dash of burgundy, scarlet red, and pale purples.

October 17, 2010 @ 15:08
Road kill sightings at 10

Camp site sign while leaving WV and headed to north entrance of Blue Ridge Parkway, VA

The second camp ground we tried had a beautiful place to put up camp for a short nap. After arriving and setting up the basics we made it to sleep by just before 2am. This is the state road camp site sign of where we stayed. This picture was taken leaving WV and headed to north entrance of Blue Ridge Parkway, VA

The second picture is our mountain road view in WV.
October 17th, 2010 @ 12:34pm

Indy to Blue Ridge Parkway, VA to Savannah, GA to Cocoa Beach, FL to...

.....to Fort Lauderdale, FL, to Nashville, IN to end up back home in Indianapolis. All in 11 days.
Matt and I have the tent, sleeping bags, ingredients for smores, lanterns, and a cooler all packed up in my VW Jetta sedan. We couldn't fit another person in here with us.
I drove the first 3-4 hours east across Indiana and then go through the middle of Ohio, down to West Virginia were we are currently driving about 100 miles front out camping destination. Matt just pointed out the exit we just lasted because it is simply called Big Otter, exit 13 off of state road 79. We are headed for finding some ground to sleep out just on the outter rims of George Washington National Park.
We now have just past an exit called 'Oil Creek'
Enough said.
As you can tell from the subject of thie post, this is going yo he a great and very eclectically interesting vacation.
Why? Well random is best.

Indy to Blue Ridge Parkway, VA to Savannah, GA to Cocoa Beach, FL to...

.....to Fort Lauderdale, FL, to Nashville, IN to end up back home in Indianapolis. All in 11 days.
Matt and I have the tent, sleeping bags, ingredients for smores, lanterns, and a cooler all packed up in my VW Jetta sedan. We couldn't fit another person in here with us.
I drove the first 3-4 hours east across Indiana and then go through the middle of Ohio, down to West Virginia were we are currently driving about 100 miles front out camping destination. Matt just pointed out the exit we just lasted because it is simply called Big Otter, exit 13 off of state road 79. We are headed for finding some ground to sleep out just on the outter rims of George Washington National Park.
We now have just past an exit called 'Oil Creek'
Enough said.
As you can tell from the subject of thie post, this is going yo he a great and very eclectically interesting vacation.
Why? Well random is best.