You've probably deduced that we were out of town last week, as there hasn't been an entry posted in a while, and your assumption would be correct. We were on an epic road trip for the past 10 days, highlighted below on the following reel:
My brother and I grew up doing road trips. From Chicago to Wisconsin Dells, three times down to Florida, to an East Coast tour of Civil War battlefields, through Washington D. C. up towards Niagara Falls into Toronto, Canada. My family was like the one you saw on TV, with a packed station wagon or full-sized van barreling down the interstate, in the days when kids could roam about freely inside the car without seatbelt restrictions, stopping for gas or for the occasional blown tire/broken radiator.
Good times!!
Anyway, I wanted to relive those glory days, and inoculate a sense of adventure into the kids, who seemed to think that "vacations" were only meant to be done on cruise ships or on a flight out to Denver. And so I started mapping out an itinerary, canvassing friends along the way to see if they were in town to meet up, or even better yet, allow us to crash in their homes for the night. After successfully booking with some families and hotels for the 9 nights we would be away, we finalized a route that would take us roundtrip into 5 states with stops in 6 cities! Road Trip 2015 was about to commence!
But first some business to attend to. Originally we had thought of starting out our trip Saturday morning, June 20, but then we had a drama club meeting to attend, as it had been pushed back a day from the usual Friday night meeting due to the VBS program at Markham Woods. So we opted to leave Sunday morning, Father's Day June 21, instead. That would give us some extra time to pack and clean up before heading out.
Isa, Adalyn, and Maddy with Pierce at Sabbath School.
A smaller group for drama club, but it was still lots of fun!
Tangie and Susie helping out with the Kindergarteners.
Braelyn and the Whitaker girls reading and acting out their lines.
Day 1:
Sunday morning came and we were ready to roll out, leaving the house close to noon because we were continuing to clean up the house before our departure. It's always nice to come home to a clean house after a vacation. Stressful to get it all done before you leave but so worth it when you get back home. I mean, who wants to clean up after a vacation, especially when you're exhausted from the trip? Anyway, we packed up the van, dropped our guinea pig off to the Grodacks to watch while we were gone, and then we were on our way. It was a a blustery hot day as we started our trip north; our first stop that night was Savannah, GA. The outside temp gauge stayed constant in the triple digits, and I had a moment of panic when a warning light went off on the dashboard as I watched in complete shock as the air pressure numbers on each tire disappeared from the screen! I had had the tires checked, rotated and aligned before the trip, so I knew they were okay, but it was still unnerving not to see the pressure on the dashboard. Tangie kept cool, reminding me that 10 years ago our cars never had that feature available, and we still made it out okay. Keep it to my wife to keep calm under pressure.
We were able to borrow the Grodack's car topper, which helped us with our gear!
Ready to go!
Wait, what the?
We arrived in Savannah just after 5, checking in to the Andaz Savannah, a 4 star boutique hotel I had found on Hotwire for less than $100 a night. Considering the price and proximity it was to historic downtown and Riverstreet, it was a steal of a deal and I jumped at booking it several weeks prior. It's very modern with a touch of couture; large walled mirrors and ornate chandeliers and fixtures were prominent within the corridors and rooms. I decided to milk Father's Day (and Tangie's 40th birthday) for what it was worth at check in, and with the help of Braelyn and Kohlden's angelic faces by my side, convinced the receptionist to upgrade us to a luxury suite, for a fee of an additional $35. I checked the price on their site and saw that the suites started at $250 a night. Deal!
The girls happy about their hotel room.
Settling in, trying out the sofas and chaise lounge while Mommy inspects the bedroom.
The kids really wanted to sleep on the bed!
Bathroom with tub adjacent to the separate shower.
Even came with a kitchen and small eating area!
View from our room and balcony.
We went across the street and down the steps to historic River Street, cobblestones and all, lined up with quaint shops and restaurants, for dinner. We had found out that some Orlando friends of ours were spending the night in Savannah as well, en route to their vacation in Pennsylvania. Anyway we planned on hooking up with them for supper and such, walking around the shops and sampling the tasty treats the vendors were handing out to the tourists, trying to lure them inside to purchase their fare. It was nice hanging out with the Biris in another town, and we decided to plan another trip to Savannah sometime in the future, sans kids.
Walking the outdoor deck towards the pool, looking up to our room.
Old historic River Street, at the same level as old Savannah before it was burned by
Union soldiers when it was captured in the Civil War.
Sampling some butter pecan brittle.
Pretty old hotel, built in 1817.
Too many choices!
Group photo with the Biris after supper.
Back at the hotel after a nice walk around town.
Kids settling into bed.
Day 2:
We awoke fairly early, considering we were on vacation, due partly because we wanted to hit the pool before checking out, and partly because we were expected to be in North Carolina to meet friends for dinner at 6:30, with that evening's destination a five hour drive away. We ate a quick bite of leftover pastries we got from our local bakery the previous day before heading out on our trip, and then went for a nice quick dip in the outdoor pool, which was neat because it was on the second level and the kids could look down into the street and pedestrians below.
Enjoyed the very eclectic poolside furniture.
Still early enough for some shade on the pool.
Mommy enjoying her coffee while the kids play.
Tub large enough to fit all three!
Afterwards we showered, packed up and checked out, heading over a few blocks to a restaurant called B. Matthew's Eatery, at the Biris' recommendation for brunch. I found a parking spot and backed in, and was about to put the minivan into park when the parked vehicle behind me gave me a loud, obnoxious honk with her car horn. Not knowing what I did wrong, I went outside the car and was about to give her a piece of my mind when I suddenly realized it was the Biris! They had just finished eating their brunch and were heading out as well! We had a great laugh and wished each other safe travels, before we ducked inside the restaurant for some food, if not just for some reprieve from the ridiculous heat. I mean, you stand outside in the shade for 5 minutes and your clothes are soaked in your sweat! Needless to say, we enjoyed the Southern fare and regretted ordering as much as we did, considering that most Southern cooking is deep fried, however my order of a fried green tomato sandwich with sweet potato fries did not disappoint. A quick stop for a lavender mocha for the road from Collins Quarter, again at another friend's recommendation, and we were on our way.
Saying goodbye to the Biris before heading into the restaurant.
Found this cute old tiny door, from the 1790's!
The kids' menus were taped on the inside cover of children's books. Genius!
Recommended coffee shop. The lavendar mocha was like having tea and coffee combined!
I'm sure South Carolina is a beautiful state; Tangie and I experienced the quaint and charming city of Charleston when we were dating. We had actually thought about making Charleston one of the stops on our tour, but then decided against it right after that shooting occurred in the black church the week before. We didn't think it would a safe environment to bring the children with all the racial tension around. Anyway, we drove through SC as quickly as possible, because we wanted to get to our destination in time, and because the drive was not all that pretty. Just road and trees, and lots and lots of heat. Once again, the temp gauge hit triple digits and once again, my tire pressure indicator light turned on with each tire's numbers disappearing, much to my chagrin. But they had reappeared back on in Savannah so we blamed it on the heat or dirty sensors, or the fact that the service people might not have reset the sensors when they rotated the tires. Either way, my anxiety level was up a little bit higher than normal until we reached the North Carolina border, when the tire pressure gauge resumed after a stop at the rest area. We had made it a point to stop by each state's welcome center, to go to the bathroom and do our silly dance for the video of our trip that we wanted to make after we got back.
Once we crossed into North Carolina, it was as if we were in a whole different part of the US; the temperature immediately dropped 20 degrees, and our ears started to pop as we climbed higher and higher in elevation. Nothing like dropping into 3rd gear on the interstate as you whiz by heavily weighted down semi-trucks struggling up the slow incline of the Blue Ridge Mountains, only to be out paced by a Toyota Prius or Mini Cooper. At the NC border, we gave the kids a surprise present for the trip ~ a Google Android tablet each with some nice headphones to use with them! They were shocked and dumbfounded at first, and very giddy for the next hour while we continued on. We had purchased them from Amazon a few nights before we left but we wanted to wait a couple of days before handing them out, as they had been pretty good without them anyway.
Their smiles say it all.
We arrived in Hendersonville, a cute little town about half an hour south of Asheville, where we were to meet up with the Ericksons and our hosts for the night, the Selfs at a nice fire oven pizza place called West First Wood Fired Grill. We did have a bit of a wait for our large party, so we talked outside while the kids played around. It was great catching up with everyone, and the salmon with caramelized onion and balsamic pizza was a nice touch.
Walking up to meet our friends in Hendersonville.
The kids playing in the courtyard while
the moms (Sarah is pregnant, due in October)
and the dads talk and catch up with each other.
Finally seated, the food was fresh and wood fired pizzas amazing!
Speaking of amazing, salmon pizza. Who knew?
The kids with Lathan Erickson (3), who became fast friends with Kohl.
With our hosts at their beautiful home.
Large windows all the way up the vaulted ceilings.
Loved how the ceiling and angles were utilized in the design of the house and upper floor.
Madelyn was also on the balcony to escape the Selfs' beagle, Betty Lou.
Our room for the night.
Sarah left us a nice touch with sleep body mist and mint chocolates!
The girls opted to sleep in their sleeping bags;
Brae made herself comfortable with the kids' books in the cubby.
So Kohl had the inflatable mattress all to himself!
Saying goodnight to Mommy.
Day 3:
Our friends had to be at work the next morning, so we woke up as we heard their garage doors open and their cars drive away. They had left us to take our time in the morning, leaving us croissants on the counter to munch on while we packed up our gear. We were headed up to Bristol, VA by 1:30, as I had an appointment with my cardiologist and former high school classmate Joe Foley, and by appointment I mean tee time, on his home course at The Virginian. We wished we had more time to hang around Asheville to see the sights, including the Biltmore Estate, but we figured that we would come back up just the two of us so that we could take our time, plus we didn't think it was worth it to pay $50 apiece for a tour of the estate if the kids weren't interested and just wanted to leave like after 10 minutes or so. We did, though, stop at a local establishment called Biscuit Head, recommended by Sarah for breakfast, known for their amazing biscuits! I mean, eggs Benedict with salmon cream on a flaky biscuit topped with Hollandaise sauce? Come on!!
We allowed them to play on their tablets for a while if only to keep quiet and let their parents sleep in!
Family shot in front of the Selfs' home before heading out.
Two words put together equals yumminess.
Served in tin plates, how southern can you get??
Oh. My. Yum!
We arrived at the Foleys' residence and immediately Joe and I went for our round; his wife Margaret took Tangie and the kids, including their 3 year old daughter named Madelyn (but nickname spelled Maddie instead of our Maddy) to the pool to join their 6 year old son Dayton, who was already there doing swim lessons. Before we left, Margaret procured her babysitter to come later on, so that us parents could go out to dinner together on a double date. How awesome!
Looks like Tangie and I need to move to Virginia, because of what it's for!
Meeting the Foleys' Australian shepherd Connor. Maddy is still not quite so sure.
With Ms. Margaret enjoying icy treats at the clubhouse pool.
Joining in with the swimming class, they had lots of fun playing with the other children.
Kohl enjoyed riding with Margaret on their golf cart.
The golf game could best be described as enjoyable. We had a great time catching up and talking about where we were in life. Our golf game was another story, but it made it fun just to play a nice private course with no one to have to wait on in front, and no one to rush you from behind. It was warm but not overwhelmingly hot; had we been in SC or GA that would've been H-E-double hockey sticks. The course was absolutely stunning, manicured greens and even a swan in one of the natural ponds. The homes spread intermittently around the golf course were gargantuan, a lot of old money from the coal mines around the area. And I was told after the round that Peyton Manning was going to be there playing for a charity golf tournament the following Friday. Shoot! We were there a week too early!
The clubhouse and practice green at The Virginian.
First hole selfie with Joe. It was great hanging out with him.
Just a beautiful course.
The houses there weren't too shabby either!
I mean, look at this. A pond and a swan. Pristine!
We rushed back to the house after our round to meet the wives. Their babysitter Marni had just arrived; she was nice but a no nonsense kind of babysitter. She made the kids clean up their messes and such, before moving on to the next project. Tough love. We were impressed.
The Foleys took us to a quaint gourmet restaurant called Rain. Actually, we took them out, since they were hosting us for the night. The conversation and atmosphere was fun, as we all caught up together and enjoyed some amazing culinary fare, my ahi tuna being flown in from Hawaii that morning! A funny thing that happened after I paid the check, was the server coming back to confirm the total amount I had signed off on…apparently I didn't do the math right and gave him a $4 tip rather than the $24 I thought I had put down. Sheesh! I quickly rewrote the total amount and sent him on his way, hoping that I didn't totally offend the poor fellow. Looks like I need to work on my flash cards again.
Having supper with Marni on the backyard deck.
The parents enjoying their double date at Rain.
It tasted like it was only 12 hours out of the ocean!
Margaret's mother had gotten ill the night before and had been admitted into the hospital where Joe worked, so we made a quick stop over so that Margaret could see her for a few minutes, while Joe gave us an impromptu behind the scenes tour of the Cath Lab where he works! The funny thing was that he didn't have his badge on with him, and just walked through the double doors without punching in a security code or something. Wide open! No guards or anything, he brought us into both rooms and also showed us some of the cases he had been working on, from catheters to stents. Really neat to see how it all worked, he even let me get on the bed where the procedures get done. I mean, typical Tuesday night activity, right??
Heading over to Bristol Regional Medical Center with Joe.
Inside the Cath lab!
Showing us some of his cases.
Trying out the bed where the X-ray machine would show Joe where to put the catheter.
I thought this was a funny sign, especially since we were just inside taking a photos with one.
When Margaret was over they took us through the town of Bristol and gave us a little tour, including stopping on the side of the road so we could get our picture in front of the lit sign, dodging oncoming traffic at 10 PM! What wild and crazy parents we are!! We finished the evening with tea and more conversation before turning in for the night. It was great reconnecting with Joe and his family, as he and I really hadn't really kept too much in touch since graduating FLA 20 years ago, although both families had been exchanging Christmas cards with each other for the longest time. I'm so glad that we did.
Trying to get a good picture while not getting hit by that car!
How we found them in our room.
Day 4:
We got up and got ourselves packed up again, and ready for our daily commute. I could only imagine that this was how one of those land tours overseas would be: unpack, sleep, re-pack, drive, repeat. Margaret treated us to breakfast, making some very sweet and hearty french toast, before we all loaded up, said our thanks and goodbyes, and were on our way.
The two Madelyns in their pj's.
Braelyn really bonded with Connor. Now she really wants a dog.
Margaret reads a story to the kids while Tangie and I finish packing a loading up the van.
Parting shot of the moms and their kids.
The destination was Gatlinburg, TN, with our hotel for the night in Pigeon Forge, just 30 minutes north. But before heading there straight, we swung by a kids' museum in Johnson City, which was a part of the Association of Science Museums, and since we are members of the Orlando Science Center, were admitted free of charge. Gotta love perks! The kids had a lot of fun, and it gave them some time to get some energy out, before committing to another 2 hour drive in the van.
Mommy and Braelyn doing the news on TV.
We are farmers...
Braelyn and her many impressions. *rimshot*
The twins working the teller slot at the bank.
Another shot of them working the bank.
Our family shadow.
We had a quick lunch at Fazoli's (remember that restaurant?) and then it was off to Gatlinburg. Funny how we left the tourist capital of the world, only to end up in the tourist capital of the south! Gatlinburg is like I-Drive on steroids, but a little more condensed in size, so you can only imagine how crowded and busy it was. Plus with it being summer vacation, anybody and everybody was there. It was quite the spectacle.
We decided to go to the Ober Gatlinburg amusement park, since it had the legendary Alpine Slide run that I remember doing as a kid. I had told the children about it, and had talked it up a bit, so they were ready to try it out. I didn't realize all the other things that they had in the park as well: mini golf, swing carousel, numerous water slides, chair lifts, etc. etc. The price just for the alpine slide alone was $7 for one ride down, and we knew that the kids would want to do it more than just once; the combo price for almost everything included was $19/person, so we went ahead and got that for the family. It was definitely worth it, as we packed in as much as we could the 4 hours we were there until it closed at 9. We ended up riding down the Alpine Slide 4 times!
Riding the gondola up to the attractions.
Riding the chairlifts to get up to the Alpine Slide.
Run #1 with Kohl.
Back up on the chairlifts for another Alpine Slide run.
Run #2 with Maddy.
Brae didn't mind riding by herself.
Which she did on one of the water slides,
and ended up getting soaked!
Riding the chairlift all the way up to the top of the mountain.
It was super high. Kohl was a little embarrassed of me.
Gorgeous view of the Smokies.
Riding the carousel swing.
Run #3: Maddy with Mommy!
And back to the Alpine slide again! Our last run for the day.
Once the attraction closed we rode the gondola back down to the town and looked around for a place to eat, settling for a local sports eatery, but by the time we got our food the kids were so tired and sleepy that they were falling asleep on the table. So we immediately got to go boxes and I walked back to retrieve the van and went back to pick the family up. The drive to Pigeon Forge was short and somehow the kids stayed awake until we got to our hotel, which was a Springhill Suites we booked through Tangie's reward points. We unpacked and the kids changed into their pajamas, and promptly fell asleep.
View of Gatlinburg at night, coming down in the gondola.
He couldn't bear to not have his picture taken with them! *rimshot*
Out like a light.
Maddy was lucky enough to have the third bed all to herself!
Day 5:
We wanted to spend a little more time to check out the attractions in the morning, this time in Pigeon Forge. Just as commercialized as Gatlinburg, if not more. The attractions were spread out over a larger area but it still seemed dense, and almost reminded me of Reno, Nevada, although I have never been to Reno. Mini golf courses and go cart race tracks galore, on both sides of the street for an area of 2 miles. And all the stores targeting tourists, it was like International Drive meets the outlet mall meets cowboy boots. And don't get me started on the traffic. I was just grateful we weren't there on the weekend!
We did hit the pool at the hotel before heading out for the day. They had this water slide that Brae and Kohl enjoyed; Madelyn got water up her nose on her first attempt (and this was after encouraging her to go on it for about 30 minutes) so she was done. The water was pretty chilly too, but I guess we were in the mountains, so I guess I should have expected it. Even the indoor pool was just as cold. Anyway, after an hour we headed back in to shower and pack up, checking out by 11 and head over to do some of the attractions before heading down to Chattanooga later in the afternoon.
Our stay came with a continental breakfast!
A bunch of Christmas characters!
Really?
They even had snow to play with!
Mommy making her selections.
Cutest elf ever!
Tangie saw a huge Christmas store across from the hotel and she wanted to get some ornaments/souvenirs of this trip, so that was stop #1. We were grateful for the air conditioning inside, but even more, it was funny to see how many things Disney and Frozen and Elsa things they had there. And to think we were 500 miles away from Orlando! Afterwards we went gem mining, a favorite activity of Braelyn's, with her affinity to gems and shiny rocks. We opted to get the cheapest bucket there, at $15; there were buckets of upwards to $125 just for sifting sand around! Crazy! We spent some time identifying the gems found in their bucket, and some more time going around their gift shop. Brae was insistent on getting a souvenir from every state we visited, which posed a problem since we had already been to SC, NC, and VA without getting one. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime! We did swing by a big gaudy souvenir shop, reminiscent of those on I-Drive with the 5 t-shirts for $10 neon sign plastered in the front, and Braelyn came away with a nice green stone necklace for $2. We've been trying to teach her how to make her money go farther, rather than just spending it all on one item that she'll most likely bet bored with after 10 minutes and lose or break, and then end up in the trash. Believe me, it happens a lot.
Couldn't have missed this gem mine even if we tried!
$15 bucket of 5 minutes worth of entertainment!
Getting their gems analyzed and identified by an assayer.
Braelyn found this geode and wanted to buy it.
I don't think we have enough room in the van for it!
We started making our way down towards Chattanooga, but Tangie saw this deal on a cave tour, and thought we could go. Seeing as how it would be a guided tour with lights along the way, we thought it would be fun for the kids to see how amazing the inside of a cave was, plus the temperature inside the cave was a constant 58º, and would be a nice reprieve from the intense Tennessee heat. I kept reminding myself that the soldiers in the Civil War had to deal with the same heat, plus wear their full dress cotton uniforms and lug around a rifle plus ammunition! That quickly put me in my place, and I felt fortunate to be able to wear shorts, a tee shirt, and flip flops. Anyway, we arrived at the Forbidden Caverns (the Cherokee Indians said the cave's darkness resembled Hell, therefore forbidden to go in) in Sevierville, just north of Pigeon Forge.
The caverns were spectacular; they reminded me of when I would go spelunking with my Biology classmates from Southern on Sabbath afternoons. I'll admit there were times I wanted to leave the tour group behind and just go exploring, but then the pleas of "Daddy! Hold my hand! Don't let me go!" brought me back to reality. There were moments in the very beginning of the tour when the twins kept begging us to carry them, as they were intimidated at the shadows cast by the stalactites and stalagmites, and especially when the tour guide would turn off the lights to emphasize how dark it truly gets inside the cavern. But we pressed on, enjoying the cramped walkways, ducking overhanging ledges and maneuvering around the small pools of water that had collected from the rains aboveground. There were times we were 300 feet underground, the ceiling above us opening up to reveal it's size, like a cathedral at times. Pretty spectacular!
We brought in some long sleeves for the chilly temperature inside. They came in handy!
Map of the cave system.
Bright lights make us look Chinese! Maddy still suspicious of what's lurking in the shadows.
Discarded metal rings from barrels when the moonshiners made their poison in the caves during Prohibition.
Walking beside an underground river.
The water was clear, pristine, and freezing cold!
Walking down some steps, deeper into the cavern.
Lasting shot, the colored lighting illuminating stalagmites reflecting on the underground lake.
We left for Chattanooga around 3:30 in the afternoon, hitting rush hour traffic in Knoxville and continued making our way down I-75. We were to spend the evening in Adam and Annette Heck's home, dear friends of ours from our pre-married days in Apopka. They had moved up to Collegedale 5 years ago and both work as professors for Southern Adventist University. We hadn't seen them in a while and we had never been to their home, so they were very excited to have us. We exited the interstate at 7:04, texting them that we were close. The following day we found out that at 7:09 there was a terrible accident involving 9 vehicles, including 6 fatalities, when a semi-truck plowed into cars that were stopped because of highway construction. It happened at the same exit we got off, although it was on the northbound lanes and we were driving southbound. But still. 5 minutes after we got off the highway, and we were still in the vicinity stuck at a red light when it happened. Gives me chills.
We arrived at the Hecks' and were treated to a wonderful spread of pasta, garlic bread, and veggies for supper. Annette is a consummate cook and makes some amazing food. We enjoyed talking and catching up with each other after dinner; the kids getting acclimated to their two very nice but very energetic Australian Shepherds Ozzie and Bella. They had a fenced in area for their son Sammy and his toys in the middle of the living room, and that's where the twins sought shelter every time the dogs were brought inside the house. But it wouldn't take long for them to warm up to the dogs, and soon they were going up to them and petting them on their backs, until the dogs decided they wanted to lick them, and it was back in the playpen for the twins!
In front of an old watershed we saw on the way back from the caverns.
Reunited and it feels so good! My brother from another mother.
Checking out the cicadas making noise from their trees in the backyard,
Madelyn hanging on for dear life to avoid the dogs.
Twins in their safety pen.
They loved playing with Sammy's baby toys. Antiques!
Day 6:
Adam had graciously booked a tee time for us early Friday morning, so we were up and out before Tangie and the kids got up. It was a nice course, but very tough, with a lot of elevation in play and tall trees protecting both sides of the fairway made it very challenging, very typical of a mountain course. We both enjoyed playing together, reminiscing of the days when we would play golf together once, maybe two times a week, before we married and had kids. The "good ole' days". It was a steam bath though, super hot and humid, and we were drenched to the core. But we were playing golf, so we didn't care.
Like old times. About to tee off.
Beautiful vistas from the top, rolling fairways down to the bottom green.
It was a great morning, even better when your shots go straight down the pipe!
Meanwhile, Annette took Tangie and the kids to the Children's Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga for the morning. They are members there so we were able to get in for free. The kids had a blast exploring and doing all the different exhibits; it looked so much more fun than our museum here in Orlando. But then again, doesn't the grass always seem greener on the other side? They played well after lunch, but then Tangie started to not feel well, she had a headache from no coffee that morning, so they made their way back to the house.
Kohlden enjoyed building tracks for the ball.
Chattanooga choo-choo train craft.
The girls playing harps.
Madelyn on stage. Diva!!
Pretty comfortable at the workshop.
Using safety goggles, just like Daddy taught him!
We took naps for the afternoon, as thunderstorms rolled in and gave a nice, cleansing rain for a couple hours. That helped Tangie, as she felt a lot better after her nap. The kids slept well too, and gave them some energy for the evening. For supper we took the Hecks out to Mexican, at a restaurant called Poblano's in downtown Chattanooga, and then afterwards they treated us to dessert at a nearby ice cream shop called Clumpies. Seriously, how you would call your ice cream business by that name is beyond me, but it sure was good. And not clumpy at all! *rimshot*
Our table at Poblano's.
Fresh tostadas!!
I'm fascinated by how this came to be named.
Super cute inside, like an industrial yet modern style diner.
And the ice cream wasn't bad either!
On the way back to their house we swung by the Nudds, friends of ours again from Southern and Orlando, who own an amazing photography business. They lived in the subdivision next to the Hecks so it was perfect to drop in and see them. Garrett is white while Joy is Filipino, so their kids (all girls) look and resemble ours; we told Braelyn that they could pass as their cousins because they have the same complexion and ethnic make-up, except the opposite to Mommy and Daddy. The kids had never met, but you couldn't really tell as they started playing and doing arts and crafts together, while the parents talked and laughed and caught up until we realized it was past 11 o'clock and that we needed to get the kids back home to bed. We didn't plan on staying as long as we did but you kind of lose time when you're in such good company. Good friends, no matter how long you've been apart, always seem to have that affect, and the Nudds were no exception. We miss seeing those guys.
Joy grabbed a stuff animal for the picture and we all followed suit.
These guys are hams!
We could've spent hours just talking and talking.
Maddy and Campbell reading books together.
All the kids in the kitchen drawing and making some art.
They look like they all could belong in the same family!!
Day 7:
Sabbath morning started with some tragedy. I had just woken up when I received a text from Corey regarding Cheddar. Apparently overnight some animal - they thought a cat or raccoon - had taken the top part of the pet cage off, and with it, Cheddar. They went to check up on him in the morning and found the cage dismantled, with Cheddar no where to be seen. They started searching the backyard, until Calleigh spotted him, or what was left of him, on the top level of their swing set. Poor Cheddar had been murdered!
So now I was faced with the daunting task of breaking the bad news to the kids. I was worried of how Braelyn would take it. I had a dilemma: I was going back and forth, trying to decide if I should tell them right then, or wait until after the trip, but I felt I would have that cloud hanging over me for the rest of the trip, so I decided to just tell them. I called them over to our room and had them sit on the bed, and told them that I had some bad news, and that something bad had happened to Cheddar, and that he was no longer alive. Brae's first reaction was, "So we can get a dog?" but I think she was trying to be funny so that she wouldn't show her sadness. But then her tears started to fall, as I explained to them what had happened and that it was okay to feel sad, and that we would always remember him as our first guinea pig, and that we would get another pet when we got home. That helped ease things up a little. It helped that the Hecks had their 2 dogs, as Braelyn went straight for them afterwards as we got ready for the day.
Scene of the crime.
We had a hearty, and I mean hearty breakfast of homemade French toast, breakfast patties, and fresh fruit that Annette had put together. I guess I should say brunch, because it was around 10 that we started eating! And the funny thing was that she was also in the process of cooking lunch which was scheduled to be at 1, because they put Sammy down for naps by 2:30. 2nd Service at Collegedale Church wasn't until 11:15, and it was their VBS Everest church service so we thought the kids would enjoy that and know all the songs, them having just completed their VBS the week prior. Plus Tangie had never been inside the church, and wanted to see how it compared to the big church she attended at Union College in Lincoln, NE. I was excited to show her the large pipe organ they have up front, as well as to see the church I played in multiple times with the symphony orchestra when I was there at Southern. We also saw some old friends and classmates before we left, including our former youth pastor from our Deeper days at Forest Lake Church, who is now the chaplain at the university.
Watching the kids up front sing the Everest VBS songs.
It was special to bring your own children to the place you went to college in.
This is the chaplain. Nice.
Lunch was ridiculous. An authentic Puerto Rican meal of rice and beans, with platanos maduros (or sweet fried plantains) and some veggies. It was really amazing and delicious, Adam and Annette were truly gracious hosts for creating such a spread like that. We spent the afternoon just lounging around their house together, playing fetch with their dogs in the backyard, and catching a short snooze while the afternoon rains fell. It was around 5 that we packed up to leave for our next stop which was a 30 minute drive north to Ooltewah, where we would be staying at the McClarty residence for the next 2 nights. But not before a short drive to Chattanooga for an afternoon coffee and some sightseeing.
With the Hecks on their front porch as we said goodbye.
It was great seeing this guy again, very grateful we've kept up our friendship through the years.
Rembrandt's, a coffee house I used to frequent back in the day.
The twins pointing to which pastries they wanted.
On the overlook, atop the Tennessee River.
We arrived at the McClarty's around 7, in time for supper made by Susie. I was in the symphony with Jack and every time they come to Florida we have them stay at our home so they wanted to reciprocate and host us while we were there. I had visited their house before, but Tangie and the kids had never been, nor had we all stayed overnight, so this would be a first for all of us. He had invited another family to join with supper as well, another former classmate and member of the symphony, so we had a great time catching up, while our children all played together until dusk.
Maddy photo bombs Boston and Kohl. Why he has the hockey mask on is a mystery.
We enjoyed the patio, bonfire, and company that evening.
Unbeknownst to us, was that the Hickam family was in town from Orlando, and was staying with the McClarty's as well! Richard is the minister of music at Florida Hospital Church, and he was in the symphony with Jack and I. They were in town because he was conducting the East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra (ETSO) during Collegedale's Independence Day celebration. His two daughters attend Orlando Jr. Academy, and so they were friends with Braelyn. She was so excited when she found out, and insisted that all the girls (Madelyn insisted that she included herself in that group) would sleep together and have a slumber party. What fun! And Kohl was sleeping in Boston's room, so he didn't feel left out at all.
Later that evening Jack got 2 more visitors in his cousin Wes and his wife, who had just arrived from Chicago to attend a funeral; Jack's uncle had passed the day before and the service was on Sunday. There were no hotel rooms available in Ooltewah so Jack had them over at his house. There were 11 extra people staying at the house, besides the 4 original family members, and we all had our own rooms and beds to sleep in, you could never tell there were that many people there, plus two dogs! It's not a huge house, but the layout and design was such that it really could accommodate so many people and still have space. It became one huge sleepover.
Day 8:
As Jack had to be at the funeral at 1 in the afternoon, he took Wes and I for 11 holes on their private course in the morning, but not before partaking in this amazing breakfast buffet Susie had prepared that morning of biscuits and gravy, grits, stripples, and fruit. I mean, it was like staying at an inn or bed and breakfast, the hospitality was amazing! And to think she was up feeding their 1 year old daughter Siena in the middle of the night and still got up early enough to make it all before our tee time at 8:45. Pretty impressive!
What a sight to wake up to!
The boys with their toys and their pj's having breakfast.
The golf course was amazing, and I finally found my stroke, playing a nice solid game. Too bad we couldn't fit in all 18 because I think I would've had one of my lowest rounds ever, and that's saying a lot because I hadn't really been consistently playing for a few years now. The course was in pristine condition and the greens were true; I really had a good putting day. Meanwhile, Susie took Tangie and the kids to the community pool, where Jack and I joined them after our round was over. We had a quick lunch of sandwiches before heading out to Chattanooga to go sightseeing while the McClarty's attended the funeral.
Jack treated me to the round, that was so nice!
Teeing off over some water.
Just a perfect morning all around.
The kids enjoying the pool.
We loved their very spacious patio!
We wanted to check out the sights, and by sights, I mean views, of the city from a higher vantage point, so we drove down to Chattanooga and went up to Lookout Mountain, where they have tourist attractions like Rock City, Point Park, and Ruby Falls. We decided to go to Rock City and explore; Tangie and I had been there ten years ago and thought it was neat. We balked at the entrance fee of $35 per person and climbed back into the van. Wow, that much just to hike the edge of a mountain? A bit steep, no pun intended. Anyway, we decided to to go to Point Park, a national park with the same views, but for only a $5 per adult entry fee. That was pretty manageable. We certainly thought that was worth the views and the hour we spent looking at the cannons and monuments, topped off with Braelyn finishing up a questionnaire and being sworn in as a Jr. Park Ranger, complete with badge.
Cutest Union and Confederate soldiers! Youngest too.
Yep, that's a swell view. I love how he's holding his hands like that while surveying the city below.
This is how curiosity killed the cat.
Riding a piece of history.
Doing their best Samson impression!
On the other side of the mountain, looking at Georgia and Alabama.
Now raise your right hand, and repeat after me...
We were to meet the McClarty's for supper at a restaurant in downtown Chattanooga, so we made our way down the mountain, but still had some time left on our hands, so we ventured down into the new area of Coolidge Park, which was built by the city for it's residents and children, to have an area to congregate, relax and play. This was not here 15 years ago and is a great addition, luring many great eateries and businesses to cater to the many families that go there. The kids rode the indoor carousel and played a bit in their splash pad before we met the McClarty's at this very eclectic Mexican restaurant called Taco Mamacita's, where you can get many different kinds of tacos a la carte and fresh, it was like getting it from a food truck, except that you were sitting down. The fish taco and Korean BBQ taco was what I had to try and they were both so good, I couldn't choose the better between the two. We topped off with some artisan gelato at a nearby place called Milk 'n Honey.
Afterwards Jack had rehearsal with ETSO back at the university for the 4th of July concert so I thought it would be nice to have the kids hear a couple of the songs and see the instruments. It was nostalgic walking through the halls of the music building; I went back to the days of rushing in from class to rehearsal and looking up at our conductor, the late Dr. Orlo Gilbert, before hitting the "A" on my oboe so that the rest of the musicians could tune their instruments to me. It was great bringing the kids there. On our way back to the McClarty's we swung by a playground called Imagination Station so that they could release some energy out before bedtime, which was late because Susie put on a movie for the kids when we got back to their place. But it also gave time for the adults to sit around, chat, and reminisce about the fun and hilarious times we had when we were much, much younger.
Watching Richard conduct the symphony from the side door. Memories!
Token photo with the university sign.
Ready to hit up Imagination Station.
Did I mention how much they loved the tire swing?
Day 9:
We got up and packed our gear that morning to head down to Atlanta, which was our stop for the night. I awoke not feeling too well and a bit nauseous, having to take a couple of trips to the porcelain god in the morning, so I refrained from eating any breakfast that was waiting for us downstairs. The feeling would finally pass in the afternoon, but it made for a very slow and uncomfortable first part of the day. Anyway, Susie and her kids accompanied us back to downtown Chattanooga, and got us inside the Tennessee Aquarium, where they are members. We explored the Saltwater exhibit, which is the newest part of the Aquarium that we hadn't seen before, again, probably 10 years ago or so. The kids enjoyed seeing the penguins, popping their heads up inside the lobster tank, and handling butterflies on their fingers. We had lunch with them (or I should say the rest of my family minus me) at the Mellow Mushroom and then afterwards Susie took us to this cute dessert shop called The Hot Chocolatier, to get some coffees for the road. We hugged and said our thanks and goodbyes to our friends, and started to venture south towards Atlanta. We really had an amazing time with some great people in Chattanooga.
Group shot with McClarty's (minus Jack) and Hickams before heading out.
Playing on the stepping stones outside the Aquarium before heading in.
Checking out the touch pool, where you could pet fish and stingrays.
The boys excited to be inside the lobster tank!
She got a butterfly to land on her hand!
At the Mellow Mushroom.
Mommy sitting on Braelyn sitting on Madelyn!
Hmmm….decisions, decisions….
Watching them make some chocolate rice krispies popsicles!
Hugs and goodbyes to Boston.
We drove the hour and a half down to Atlanta; we had booked a hotel through Hotwire and found this great deal on a Westin a few miles north of downtown. It was the Westin Perimeter North, and again, we were graciously upgraded from a standard double room to a Jr. Suite! It pays to be kind and nice to receptionists! (But it doesn't hurt to ask either!) The hotel was very nice and modern, but sparse in terms of any type of resort amenities as it was more of an executive hotel nestled in the business district. But still, a Westin for less than $80 was a steal so it was totally fine.
We had a low key evening, hitting the pool for an hour before venturing out a couple of miles to hit up a a sushi restaurant for supper. We returned back to the hotel room and relaxed, a dancing contest was on TV and the kids played on their tablets. I think I even took a little snooze, before we all changed and got ready for bed.
Checking out the view from our room.
We were the only ones at the pool.
Trying to catch the last rays of sun.
Nice to have the pool all to ourselves!
First time having any Asian cuisine on our trip!
Working on her tablet. So cute!
Day 10:
We wanted to do at least one thing in Atlanta before our long drive back home. It was between the World of Coca-Cola or Stone Mountain. Tangie and I had done the Coke tour before, and thought it was neat to try different flavored sodas from all over world, but Stone Mountain had many more activities for kids and families, plus the overall price was somewhat comparable between the two attractions, so we decided to go to the one that had the least tendency to give us diabetes.
We had gone to Stone Mountain before, before children, and remembered the view from atop. So we made sure to get tickets that would include a trip up via gondola. We had never been to the village, and it had a bunch of fun activities including a large ropes course, a net course with water feature, indoor ball barn, train ride, and numerous restaurants. We all had a lot of fun, especially on the ropes course, until one of the workers came up and reprimanded me, telling me to stop video taping and put my phone away before they confiscate it, lest it fall on the people below. I acquiesced.
They all wanted to sleep in, they were so tired.
At the Stone Mountain Village.
Mommy and Maddy doing a section of the course, while Kohl and Brae wait for them ahead.
She did really well!
After lunch we took the gondola up to the top and enjoyed the views; it was pretty smoggy so we could barely make out downtown Atlanta, but it was still neat to walk around the surface of the mountain, it felt like being in another planet or something. We told the kids that the last time we were there, that we hiked down the mountain, and they thought it was a grand idea. We thought maybe Mommy and Brae would go and hike, while the twins and I took the gondola back down, but Maddy and Kohl wanted to walk down too, so we all did…hike the marked path down the side of the mountain…all two miles of it! It was muggy and hot, so we were thankful for the shade provided by the canopy. The kids had fun scrambling down the boulders, and we took a few breaks to catch our breath, but they were troopers and did it with minimal complaints! So proud of them!
At the carving on the face of the mountain.
Stepping stones at the top!
Trying to show Braelyn where downtown Atlanta is.
On the start of our hike down. Follow the marked path!
Thank goodness we wore the right kind of shoes!
Maddy taking a breather. 1 more mile to go!
Found a good climbing tree.
Almost there! Kohl spotted 2 deer that crossed the path after we walked by.
We made it!! From all the way up there!!
We finally left Stone Mountain at 5 in the afternoon. That meant rush hour, so Tangie quickly rerouted us to get back on the Interstate below the city, away from all the traffic. Otherwise it would've been bad news bears for the drive home; I was already anticipating a late arrival back home, and starting at 5 meant we would be home way after midnight, with all the gas/potty/food stops we would have along the way. So we put on a movie for the kids, and let them play on their tablets, as we made the long drive back home, stopping at Tifton, GA for some supper on the go, and finally arriving back home safely in Ocoee at 1:30 AM.
Upon arrival home.
Randoms:
Ok, so how would I get this back to my place if I bought it?
A truck pulling a backwards truck pulling a smaller truck.
This better be some amazing coffee…baaaa!!
Oh Daddy…not ANOTHER picture!
I wonder what this is for...
We thought Deeda would enjoy this tour.
Note to self: Never park overnight in front of a Quizno's.
Quotes:
Tangie was showing me an ad for a new Range Rover in one of her magazines:
Mommy: "Should we get Daddy a new car for Father's Day? This is
Daddy's favorite car. Do you guys like this car?
Maddy: "I like the minivan. [pause] I don't like to buy things."
Mommy: "That will go a long ways for you in life."
Maddy: "Because you can't fit a car in a bag! It would be too heavy to
carry!"
Having breakfast in Savannah:
Me: "Brae, are you enjoying vacation? Do you like family vacations?"
Brae: "Sort of."
Me: "What don't you like about it?"
Brae: "Hanging out with the twins…because they're annoying."
Oye. And it was only Day 2!
Just crossed the North Carolina border:
Maddy: "Mommy, when can we go hunting?"
Mommy: "Hunting?? What are we hunting for?"
Madelyn: "Money!"
Braelyn checking out her new tablet:
Brae: "I want to go on Facebook."
Parents: [in unison] "No! You don't get Facebook."
Me: "Not until you're 16."
Brae: "Oh come on!"
Me: "No come on!"
Brae: "How about Twitter?"
Seriously?
In Atlanta, early in the morning trying to decide what we were going to do:
Mommy: "Well we need to wait until Braelyn wakes up and then we
can take a vote."
Kohlden: "A boat? Where?"
What an amazing adventure this was. We survived 10 straight days with each other, driving together for over 24 cumulative hours inside our minivan. We enjoyed seeing some new places, doing some fun activities, and meeting up with great friends. We hope to do this again in the future.
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