Hike Hike Hike

Hike in Helen, Athens, Atlanta

I enjoyed relaxing in the morning then decided to take a beautiful 5mile hike to Raven Cliff Falls outside of Helen. It was a gorgeous sunny day and almost the entire hike was along a river. I got to see three beautiful waterfalls and one is considered to be the most unique in the Appalachian Mountains.

I then made my way along the back roads to Athens. I drove through Gainesville and briefly walked around Athens. Besides the nice campus of University of GA I wasn’t too impressed. College towns are great for bars and music, but for a town of 80,000 60,000 of which are students, I expected more. It was nice to see so many people walking or biking instead of driving.

I made my way into Atlanta and was blown away by the traffic. Seven lanes going one way! Luckily I made it to my friends with little traffic problems, it was all going north and I was headed south.

Tuesday the 22nd was National Margarita Day. To celebrate we walked down the gorgeous 26th street to a Mexican restaurant and had a yummy dinner. I love Mexican food!

I ended the night catching up with friends from Peace Corps and making a new friend in their roommate.

Germany

Cleveland and Helen Georgia

I sadly left my new home in Cary and headed South.

I think I am going to save cities for long weekends in the future. With that being said I passed on Charlotte.

I saw the coolest water tower in South Carolina. It was a big beautifully painted peach.

I drove through the “Historic” town of Cowpens but blinked so I missed the advertised shops and antique places.

The sign on the Baptist Church said: “Wives Love Your Husbands.” I think someone in that town cheated.

I saw gas for $2.89. TWO EIGHT NINE!

There was an old man driving a new car with the license plate IMPOPOP. Cute

I went to Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia where the Cabbage Patch Children are born. It was beautiful and a little creepy at the same time. You could witness a birth and meet with a nurse to discuss the care of your new baby before its release from the hospital.

I then walked around the very German town of Helen. It’s off season so not much is open but it’s a very cool unique place. All the buildings are German architecture. I love different types of architecture.

Raincheck

We had a yummy poached egg breakfast made by Mr. Jarmon and then headed to Brueggers to hang out with Sara’s friends. It’s so nice to be in the sun and with nice people.

We then went shopping at Harris Teeter aka Harry Tweeter. They were out of the buy one get one Colby Jack cheese so the deli man reminded Sara to get a raincheck. Yes, raincheck. This awesome store wrote out on a piece of paper that looked like a gift certificate an official raincheck for when they had more cheese. I could not get over this nor could I stop smiling. It restored my faith in companies, and made me smile.

Because it was Sunday we then watched a movie. I heard good things about The Town with Ben Affleck and people were right.

After the movie Jonathon took me on beautiful tour of Cary and I got to see HOLY COWS!

We all hung out for awhile and had an amazing home cooked meal. Yum. Thank you Jarmons!

Sarita in Cary

After a gorgeous walk to the grocery store we prepared a delicious breakfast and then I was on my way. It was beautiful day to drive route 85 in Virginia. I enjoyed the Carytown area of Richmond, saw the Byrd Theater, and then continued on to meet Sarita in Cary, NC.

Once in Cary I got to relax and catch up with Sara while meeting with her family and baby. I then got to meet the famous Andy in Holly Springs. The Jarmon’s treated me to a delicious dinner from Los Tres Mugueyes and we ended the night playing a game. Another awesome night with friends.

Back on the Road!

New Castle, DE and DC

I cannot make decisions when I have a cold. I may have written that before but cannot remember. Because of this I passed on a few stops in Delaware. I walked around the adorable historic town of New Castle and headed to DC.

Although not part of my plan and a little last minute Alicia most graciously hosted me in DC once again. We met at this little bar with a great happy hour called Bottom Line then headed to a friend’s house. I called it a night and got caught up on life with Alicia.

I would love to live in a historic town like New Castle, DE or Lexington, VA or Portsmouth, NH. Cobblestone and old houses make me happy.

You can find beautiful people and beautiful places anywhere.

The Plan

My car is safe from the snow and ready for the road!



After a lovely few nights in NYV it was time to return home to CT before another big storm hit. I love snow. I can see how people who have to work or don’t like the physical aspect of shoveling disagree, but for me, the snow is beautiful.

With all the shoveling down I decided to use my snow day to inform everyone what I will be doing for the next few months. I also like to have things written out neatly for my own benefit. I might as well share the information with you all and everyone wins!

I do not want to give everything away yet, or bore you with town names so I will keep it brief. Here is the rough plan:

Leave West Hartford and head to Delaware and Maryland where I will stop in Wilmington, Delaware City, Chevy Chase, and Port Tobacco. Fenwick Island will have to wait for a later trip when I head down the Coast once again to visit the Outer Banks.

Upon leaving Maryland I will head to Virginia to make three or four stops at historical battlegrounds and other landmarks in Richmond, Petersburg, and Hardy.

After a stop in North Carolina I’ll head to Atlanta. For the next week I’ll be jumping between Georgia, Alabama, Florida and back to Georgia. I know where I’m going but don’t want ruin the surprise.

Once I leave Florida I will have one more stop in Alabama before I head to Mississippi to enjoy small towns and the Gulf Coast on my way to Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

After Mardi Gras, a reunion with some Peace Corps friends, and exploring the area I’ll head to the large state of Texas. Who knows how long I will be in Texas, but once I leave I’ll head to New Mexico. From there Arizona, followed by Nevada, then on to California.

Once happily with my family in California I will map out and calculate the rest of the trip through Oregon, Washington, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan. Eventually making my way back to CT in late June or July therefore completing my trek of the United States! Si Dios Quiere.

Antarctica is a No Go.

After a month of waiting around to hear the news I finally made a call. After a 45 minute conversation with the HR department it was time to finally leave CT.

I love being home in CT with the family and especially friends, but there are still 16 more states to see. Also I have been very very lazy this month and that’s not okay. So… very shortly I will be leaving and the updates will continue!

Until then, here is what I have done for the past eight months: If you want details you can review the blog, or just shoot me an email.



PA
Scranton: Steamtown National Historic Site (trolley museum, down the road is a neat coal mine tour.

Philly: Murder trial in the CJS. Federal Attorneys office with a view of Independence Hall.

Beautiful Kelly Drive. Comcast Building with the coolest public entertainment wall. Reading Terminal, Lorenzo’s lunch, Johns Water Ice, 9th street Italian market, South Street, LOVE park, Ritten House Square, Main Street Manayuak Shabbat dinner, and of course chocolate cake.

Valley Forge, Hopewell Furnance Site, Lancaster, Bird-In-Hand Bakery, Shady Maple Smorgasbord.

Amish House and Farm, Hershey, Gettysburg.

Pittsburg, Falling Waters, New Philadelphia


Ohio
New Philadelphia
Cleveland for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Chillicothe for the Hopewell Mound Site, Sam.

Cincinnati= Findlay Market, Union Terminal, University of Cincinnati, International Friendship Park, Graters Ice-Cream, Freedom Center,


Indiana
Indianapolis – NCAA Hall of Champions, Indianapolis Speedway, Indiana National Sand Dune and Shoreline Park. Then to Willowbrook



Illinois
Fox Lake, Famous Freddy’s
Outdoor theater
Galina


Iowa
Dubuque: National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium. Dyersville: Field of Dreams, Winterset: John Wayne, Bridges of Madison County


Nebraska
Omaha: Old Market
Grand Island: E.L.Ray State Park, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie, Hastings for Kool Aide, The Great Platte River Road Archway in Kearney. Pony Express Museum, Carhenge.
Scottsbluff National Monument, Lake Minatare State Recreation Area and Lighthouse.


South Dakota
Small waterfall, wild horse park, Hot Springs, Wind Cave National Park, Wind Cave itself.

Route 16 and Needles highway, Mt. Rushmore, Keystone, Black Hills State Park, Deadwood, Route 14a canyon, Spearfish, drive to Devils Tower


Wyoming
Devils Tower, Medicine Circle, Crazy grade road, canyon/ wild horse national park, Cody.

Cody: Buffalo Bill Historical Center, U.S History in miniatures, Old West Town, Buffalo Bill Dam/

Yellowstone and Mt. Washburn, Tetons.

Tetons: Jenny Lake. Jackson Hole, night drive to Blackfoot Idaho


Idaho
Potato Museum, Atomic City, First Atomic Power Plant, random submarine, Craters of the Moon tour, caves, and ranger talk.

Passed a Oregon Trail Museum and Worlds Largest Fossil Bed Site, didn’t feel like stopping


Wyoming
Kemmerer: First JC Penny


Utah
An Acacia, Capitol Reef National Park
Arches National Park, Moab drive through


Colorado
Random dirt road, Aspen, *Vail, Englewood.

Red Rock State Park and amphitheater, Denver Botanical Gardens, downtown.

Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs Cliff Dwellings, The Broadmore Hotel.


Kansas
Geographic Center of the Continental United States, Biggest Ball of Twine, Salt Mine in Hutchinson, skipped Wichita


Oklahoma
Oklahoma City: Cowboy Hall of Fame and Museum, Brownstone area, Banjo Museum, Oklahoma City Memorial, Fort Gibson.

The fort, flee market, cool antique place, Cherokee Nation Museum, drive to Arkansas



Arkansas
Crater of Diamonds State Park, Town of Hot Springs.

Little Rock: High School home of the Nine, Heiffer Project Headquarters, Clinton Library, River Market District, drive to Memphis


Tennessee
Memphis: Pig on Beale Street, movies, Wal-Mart in the rain.

Dyers Restaurant, Graceland, Peabody Hotel, bars.

First 3-D movie, Peabody dinner

Trolley Ride, Loraine Hotel (where MLK got shot), Beale St.



Missouri
St. Louis: Tower Grove Farmers Market, Gin Tony on The Hill, Girls, KB breakfast, downtown St. Charles and brewery, Fulton and people, Cardinals Game.


Illinois
Red Bud! Chester IL for Popeye tour, Metropolis for Superman, drive.


Indiana
Jasper to stay.
Boyhood Home of Lincoln, Santa Claus museum and shops, Candy Castle, Marengo Caves, Corydon (the state’s first capital), Overlook Restaurant, drive to Campbellsburg


Kentucky
La Grange, Beef O’Badys, Molly’s Farm, Smith-Berry Winery, Cedar Lakes home opening ceremony, drive to Micki’s on Old Frankfurt Pike.

Versailles, Lexington: Horse parade, Woodford Reserve Bourbon Distillery, Meteor shower.

Wallace Station, The Glitz, Midway, Ashland Park and the Henry Clay Estates
My Old Kentucky Home, Bourbon Trail (Haven Hill, Makers Mark, Four Roses, Wild Turkey), lunch at Heavens to Betsy in Lawrenceburg.

Jim Beam, Louisville, Bardstown Dr, Cefiore.

Bowling Green: Corvette Museum and Assembly Line.


Tennessee
Nashville: Café Coco for dinner.

Vanderbilt University, Country Music Hall of Fame, Frist Center for the Visual Arts (Chihuly’s glass pieces, Tokihiro Sato’s unique light ball photos, and Couture through the ages), Mamcita, 3rd and Lindsley.

Knoxville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Smoky Mountains.


North Carolina
Ashville: The Biltmore.

Blue Ridge Parkway.


Virginia
Cave Mountain Lake in the Jefferson National Forest, Natural Bridge, Wax Museum, Lexington: waffle house, Stonewall Jacksons House, Virginia Military Academy, Washington and Lee, Victorian Homes, Antebellum Homes, Richmond.

Shirley Plantation on Route 5, Norfolk, Newport News.

Norfolk airport, botanical garden, Chesapeake Bridge Tunnel, Assateague Island National Seashore, night drive to MD.


Maryland
Town of St, Michaels, Easton: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, Annapolis, Baltimore, Philly


New Jersey
Atlantic City and Air Show, Historic Towne of Smithville, Historic Whitesbog Village, Northlandz, home.


Rhode Island
Newport, Polo Game, restaurants


CT
Woodstock, Roseland Cottage, Harriet Beacher Stowe… Trash Musuem, another house, Mortons


Massachusetts
Massachusetts Maritime Academy, cape Cod Potato Chip Company, Woods Hole, NOAA aquarium, Nobska Lighthouse, Buzzards Bay.

Martha’s Vineyard


West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs for Greenbrier Resort, Beckley for the Coal Mine Exhibition, Riverman Class IV Campus.

Upper and Middle Gauley


New Hampshire
Hampton Beach State Park, 1A to Portsmouth, Lee, Portsmouth: shops and Ri Ra.


Maine
Kittery: Fort McClary State Park, South Berwick: The Hamilton House, Old Orchard Beach, Portland.

Portland: Old Port, Falmouth, DeLorme Globe and maps, Freeport, Americas Quaintest town: Wiscassett: Castle Tucker, Nickwells-Sortwell, Augusta.

Monhegan Island, Boothbay Harbor, Pemaquad Point Lighthouse, Damriscotta, Rockland.

MT. Batte in Camden Hills State Park, Acadia, Bar Harbour.

Bar Harbor Lighthouse, Seal Cove.


New Hampshire
State Park waterfall, cave, drive to Balsams Resort, drive to Mount Washington.

Mount Washington Auto Road, White Mountain Forest, Glen Boulder Hike, Glen Falls, APT Center in Pinkham Notch, Small town of Lincoln.


Vermont
Shelburne Farms and Vanderbilt/Webb Estate, Shelburne Museum, Magic Hat Brewery, Burlington drive through.

Crowne Point Ferry


New York
Town of Jay.

White Face Mountain for snow, Lake Placid, Natural History Museum of the Adirondacks in Tupper Lake.

Route 9 to Albany.

Thacher State Park, Cooperstown: Baseball Hall of Fame, Mt. Tremper in the Catskills for the World’s Largest Kaleidoscope, New Paltz: Huguenot Street Stone Houses.

Hyde Park: Vanderbilt House and CIA, Rhinebeck

The Plaza, Rockettes, Bryant Park


Massachusetts
Waltham, Boston.


Illinois
Chicago, horse back ride


Kentucky
Mammoth Cave Wild Tour, Lexington, Old Frankfort Parkway, Frankfurt Historical District and Diary of Anne Frank Play, Dollar Movies, and Airport Luck.


Florida
Coral Castle, BBQ place, Key West, Hemmingway House.

U.S Southern Tip, Coral Gables: Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Houston’s, Ocean Drive and South Beach.

JR’s Deli, A1A to Ft. Lauderdale, Morikami, Plantation.

Beach, Downtown Delray, The Breakers, City Place, Margi’s.


South Carolina
Myrtle Beach


P.S. I like snow!