Archive through November 03, 2003
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TV ClubHouse: archive: Road Trips (ARCHIVE): Archive through November 03, 2003

Lancecrossfire

Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 02:18 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Reiki, thanks so much for sharing about your trip. The photos you take are excellent!! I hope the time you had was matched by how great the photos look!

Reiki

Tuesday, October 21, 2003 - 03:24 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Lance for all my moaning about how cold it was and how far into the boonies we had to go for this wedding I really did have a good time :) One of the reasons I moved back to New York was to experience the change of seasons, especially fall. I love to see the trees changing color. It was also nice to spend time with my sister and brother-in-law as well as a few of my cousins and their spouses/significant others.

I was glad to get home and read all about the Southern California meet-up and seeing all those pictures. I feel like I was right there with you all and I wished I was. Thank you all for sharing it with us!

Tntitanfan

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 07:37 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Wednesday, September 17
Since Isabel was closing in on the Atlantic coast, I called Myrtle Beach to see if it was "open." We didn't want to arrive and find everything on the beach boarded up. After being assured that all that was expected there from the landfall was rain, we headed back to the ocean.

We settled into a nice beachfront room at what turned out to be the lowest motel rate of the trip! The weather was lovely, and we were able to get in some beach mileage.

I called Knightpatti to make dinner plans for Friday night, and she directed us to the flea market where we could spend the next day when rain was expected - courtesy of Isabel.

Thursday, September 18
The rain came in right on schedule, so we headed out to do some shopping. The flea market offered lots of good bargains so we stocked up on gift t-shirts there. Then we drove up to Broadway on the Beach - which isn't on or even NEAR the beach - to check out cat and Christmas shops. The Christmas shop was named Saint Nick-Nack - now how cute was that?

Most of the big buffet places were closed as the "season" was over, but we finally found a nice place to eat. The rain had passed, and the sky was clear enough to provide a glorious sunset as we walked on the beach and gathered shells - as did a legion of other people.

Friday, September 19
This was a lazy day of sun and sand and strolling. I was thrilled to be able to top it off by meeting Knightpatti at her place of business for our dinner engagement. She is so nice and very interesting to talk with! Everyone who is in that part of the world - or even close - should certainly take the opportunity to meet her!! She has a whole WALL of axes, so you don't need to take your own!!

We had dinner at a new restaurant called the Bonefish Grille. Very good food and even better conversation! What a nice gal!!

Squaredsc

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 07:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
saint nick-nack, i love that.

Lucy

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 09:14 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tnt, I'm loving your travel journal!! Always wanted to go to Myrtle Beach.

Reiki-Beautiful pictures from your trip (as always). Glad you had a good time, even with your winter coat on.

Abbynormal

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 01:47 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Just got back from a trip to Gatlinburg, TN. It was so beautiful up there, with all the fall foliage. What I wanted to share here is our little side trip into hell.

I thought horse back riding would be fun. Neither my son or DH had ever ridden and I thought it would make a great memory. Well it most certainly did! We signed up for a leisurely ride through 3 miles of trails. Yeah, right! We went up and down a continuous mountain path about 2 feet wide. The horse my DH was on acted like an ass the whole time. About 100 feet from the barn my DH was thrown from his horse. He landed on his face! He was bleeding like a stuck pig and we spent 4 hours at the ER that night getting his wrist looked at. He has a severe sprain that he is still in pain from.

DH is a warrior (in his own mind) and wants to continue with the vacation. So the next day we decide to do some mild hiking. There was one particular falls that he wanted to see and it was only 1.3 miles each way. We had already done 2 miles on flat land. So we hike our out of shape butts up there past a rattlesnake and signs saying "Danger, deaths have occured here!" We are at the falls (btw, I could have peed a bigger stream) no more than 5 minutes and my DH falls and busted his elbow open, on the same arm with the sprain. I almost had a heart attack right then and there as where he fell was about 2 feet from going over the edge of the cliff. I seriously couldn't get down that mountain fast enough. I must admit that when it was all over I laughed my butt off, my stomach muscles are so sore! The look on his face when he fell was something like can you even believe this shi*??

On the drive home (I drove of course) I looked over and he was burning the strings off of his ace bandage. I told him to stop immediately before he set his arm on fire and got 3rd degree burns. He actually minded me! LOL

We really did have a good time and it was so breath taking up there on that trail. We are so thankful that he was not hurt worse on the horse. I kept having flashes of Christopher Reeves. Although I am so sorry he was hurt, we are even more thankful that it was not our son that was thrown, I would never forgive myself for putting him in that situation.

Gatlinburg is a beautiful place in October but way too crowded. I was really glad to be home.

Knightpatti

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 06:07 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Great story, Abby! Glad you arrived home safely! Did you get any pictures? How about one of the warrior?

Lucy

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 06:23 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Oh Abby, Nothing like a memorable vacation for all the wrong reasons!! Glad things worked out ok and his injuries weren't more serious. Pictures!!Pictures!!

Lancecrossfire

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 06:58 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Titanfan--thanks much for sharing more of your trip!! Great writing to describe the things you experienced! You've gotten to see a lot of places--that is great you've done that for yourself.

Abby, a great story for a vacation, and yes, it's a good thing it wasn't your son. Sometimes the battle scars are best remembered when they happen on vacation--espeacilly when they are not so serious you can't laugh about it years later.

Seamonkey

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 09:08 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Abby, that is a great story, for sure.. sigh.. men playing with lighters!!

(actually my hairdresser, not a man, was once playing with a lighter while chatting on the phone.. there was a nearby macrame hanger and, well, the whole house burned down!!

I'm glad I don't smoke or play with lighters.

That is a gorgeous area, for sure.

I drove thru from Asheville to Knoxville in one day.. time too short, but surely enjoyed Asheville.. back roads with soft smokey views, Chimney Rock on a weekday with soft sun, hammered dulcimer music (live), great shopping, and, in Knoxville, a good friend with a family and horses, dogs an cats...

Seamonkey

Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 09:12 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
I'm looking forward to travel (now that my knee will presumably hold my weight).. want to go to Orcas Island in the San Juans near Seattle (friends from two different online groups and, hey there MUST be some TVCHers in that area.. ) sometime in May.

Hope to get to Maui, for my first trip to that state.

Manhattan Beach TVCH meet in December for sure, that's local.

New England TVCH meet.. I have friends in Boston outside of TVCH and relatives in Brunswick, Maine.

Las VEgas TVCH meet is likely, have friends in another group there too.

Chicago? Could be,

Yikes!

Tntitanfan

Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 09:48 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Saturday, September 20
It is always such a pleasure to "happen upon" a local event to enjoy. This time we really lucked out as the route of the Middle Atlantic States Shriners' parade passed directly in front of our motel. It was particularly handy that we could duck back into our room for snacks, Cokes, and bathroom breaks as the parade lasted about three hours and twenty minutes!!

Talk about guys and their toys! I have never even imagined so many mini-cars, go-carts, lawn mowers, dune buggies, motorcycles, and mini-semi rigs! There were at least a dozen bands, some marching and some on trucks. Quite a show! There was a Shriners Burn Center Hospital on the Emory campus when I was thre so I have long been aware of the great work they do for kids with medical problems.

We ran back out to the flea market for a few more t-shirts, and I got to meet Knightpatti's daughter, Christine. She has applied for Survivor, so maybe she will make it on there!!

Dinner was at an excellent Mexican restaurant, El Cerro.

Sunday, September 21
Since Isabel had ravaged the Outer Banks on the 18th, we aborted our plans to visit there and headed inland to explore that part of North Carolina. Our first destination was Charlotte which we reached via back roads and lovely scenery.

Harold - the young man from Monck's Corner, SC, who lived in our apartment for three years - now lives and practices law in Charlotte, so we planned to include dinner with him and his new wife in our visit.

Monday, September 22
Yet another breakfast first - hard boiled eggs on the breakfast buffet! Actually I had a friend who gave her four kids hard boiled eggs for breakfast every morning. She said it cut down on breakfast prep time, and eggs were eggs!!

Although the sky was looking a bit threatening, we set off for downtown and the Visitor's Center. There we picked up walking tour maps for both the downtown walking tour and the Historic Fourth Ward which is comprised of wonderful Victorian homes. A combination of the two took us a couple of hours and gave us a real feel for the city.

Back in the car and up the interstate to Knappolis - City of Looms - where Cannon operated its mill for decades. The mill has closed, but there were a number of interesting factory outlet stores to visit.

Harold and Mindy picked us up for dinner, and what a fun evening it was! He is just as dear as ever, and she is PERFECT for him. She is a lawyer as well and involved in tax law. Harold - who loves to talk - is a litigator, of course!

Pamy

Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 09:56 am EditMoveDeleteIP
TNT..I love your stories, thanks for sharing!!!
I really enjoyed meeting you and hope you will go to Vegas next yr!

Tntitanfan

Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 07:42 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tuesday, September 23
After a quick trip up the interstate and settling into our motel, we set off for Old Salem,a living-history restoration of the Moravian church town of Salem founded in 1766. More than 100 building erected 1766-1850 have been reconstructed on their original sites. Family gardens and orchards have been replanted, and several of the buildings remain as private residences.

Costumed interpreters throughout the town demonstrate historic trades and domestic activities. One of the great benefits of traveling off-season was that most of these demonstrations were done just for the two of us so we could ask lots and lots of questions. The interpreters were very interesting and knowledgable about both their crafts and the general history of the town.

Wednesday, September 24
Upon arrival at Hickory we were not able to check into the motel until later in the day. We took off for the Furniture Mart with high hopes of finding new den furniture. FOUR mall levels later we hadn't seen anything we liked as well as what we had seen here. Nevertheless we moved on the the next largest furniture mall. Same story there! We were very glad that we had taken the time to shop in Nashville so that we had an idea what was available closer to home.

We had planned on two days in Hickory, but decided that the one was enough to make us sure that we weren't going to be buying there. As we weren't expected in Maryville until Friday - althought we would certainly have been made very welcome - we decided to see what else Ashville had to offer besides the Biltmore Estate which we visited several years ago.

Thursday, September 25
Once in Asheville we made the 11:00 Trolley Tour by the skin of our teeth. We had a very good guide and learned a lot about the city.

Asheville began life as a health resort, and with the arrival of the railroad in 1880, its popularity with the rich and famous soared. Construction on Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate began in 1889. What is now Biltmore Villlage with shopping and restaurants was once the housing for the workers building the house and gardens. For people not able to make the guest list there the very elegant Grove Park Inn was built.

Downtown we enjoyed seeing three Art Deco buildings by NC native Douglas Ellington, the Grove Arcade - a Gothic-style indoor shopping mall from 1929 - Pack Square which houses a number of art galleries, and the Thomas Wolfe home.

In addition to Wolfe, Asheville claims association with two other famous people. F. Scott Fitzgerald was often there while Zelda was being treated at a local psychiatric hospital, and William Sydney Porter (O'Henry) married an Asheville woman and is buried there.

Egbok

Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 09:36 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Tnt, when I grow up, I want to travel just like you! I am enjoying your travelogues!!

Resortgirl

Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 12:46 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, we are off to Disney!! Actually we won't be going there, but rather to Orlando for some rest a relaxation.... on scary rides at Universal. I'll miss you all! We will be back late Saturday the 8th, and I'll fill ya in on all the shennanigans!!

Heyltslori

Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 12:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Have a wonderful, safe, and fun vacation RG!! We'll miss you!

Twinkie

Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 01:53 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
RG, give my regards to my hometown! I miss Orlando sooooo much!

Resortgirl

Thursday, October 30, 2003 - 02:03 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Thanks Lori! And Twinkie... I love the place too...makes me feel like a kid again...

Egbok

Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 08:13 am EditMoveDeleteIP
I went on a mini roadtrip last Thursday night and carved a pumpkin. <Okay, you got me...I didn't know where to post my pumpkin picture, so I came to this thread...LOL!>

jpeg folder

Twinkie

Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 08:17 am EditMoveDeleteIP
OHHHH, those are great, Eggie!!!

Reader234

Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 08:18 am EditMoveDeleteIP
aww so boootiful egmom!! and congrats at stopping at one merlot!! :)

Egbok

Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 08:26 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Awww..yes Reader..LOL! If I would have had that second glass of merlot, my pumpkin would have turned out a little differently..LOL!

Well Twinks, can you pick out my pumpkin?

Schoolmarm

Saturday, November 01, 2003 - 04:57 pm EditMoveDeleteIP
Louisville....Nov. 12TH Anyone for a meeting? I have the afternoon and evening before my conference starts!

Whoami

Monday, November 03, 2003 - 01:29 am EditMoveDeleteIP
Well, these are really late in coming, but I just now got all my pics back from the various cameras I had....

These are from my trip to San Diego in early August. We went there for my sister's wedding.


Here is our excursion to Sea World. This is at the dolphin petting pool, and the dolphin swims by....teasing us a bit....

swim by


And finally, he comes up to get a pat....

pet dolphin

My mom fed her left over sandwhich to some baby ducks. Not long after this photo was taken, we looked up and had a huge crown of people dutifully surrounding us in a semi-circle. Mom and the duck family put on quite a show. Maybe we should have charged admission!

Mom and ducks


Here we are at my sister's veterinary clinic in El Cajon (Rancho San Diego Animal Hospital)

Here is a shot of Mom holding one of the clinic mascots...Pink Bird.

mom and pink bird

And of course, I had to get in on the action too....

me and Pink Bird

And finally, the reason we were there....my sister and my new brother in law! Notice the fireplace they're sitting on. He build that thing himself with chunks of petrified wood!

sis and bil

Check the link I provided to Sis's clinic, and you'll see Sis and Pink Bird on the front page!