happy wanderer
Mouseketeer
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2017
Woot! Am so happy to see the beginning of this report...we are planning a road trip to Great Smoky Mountain NPS this spring.
Oh my god, that is just about the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Second only to my wife saying "that's a good idea, let's steal it."We cram ourselves into one minivan and drive around the country, in an epic quest to visit all 50 states. Because we are idiots.
OK, well, then you can't get upset if I forget who is who. (First Base!)I’ve decided to skip all the usual introductory nonsense this time around because, as I mentioned, I’ve done it 10 times now and I’m running out of creative ways to introduce me and my family.
Well, they can't all contain Lambeau Field or head-sized cinnamon rollsWe were visiting several points of interest along the way, but this trip just didn’t have that one show-stopper destination in the same way that
To MAY to, To MAH to.the Grand Canyon or Hawaiian Islands would be.
Ours too! And if my memory is correct, we drove the full 105 miles just a few weeks after you did.We left I-66 at the town of Front Royal and drove to the northern entrance of Shenandoah National Park. This was one of the very first national parks we’d visited as a family, having driven the majority of its 105 miles back in 2010.
On our way back from South Carolina this summer, we decided to take the scenic route and add about 4 hours to our drive and take a good portion of the BRP. Well worth it!The road actually connects with the Blue Ridge Parkway at the south end of the park. The Blue Ridge travels another 450 miles to Great Smoky Mountains National Park and gets its name from the bluish haze that seems to settle over the mountains most of the day.
That tall one - with the sunglasses - I don't recall her name since there was no introductions, but she's my favorite. I bet she puts cheese on her PB & J.
To spice it up, you can use circular saw blades rather than Frisbees.We also got to play Frisbee golf, which is exactly as exciting as you think it is.
Mrs. Know-it-all likes big boom!Also, remind me never to get on my wife’s bad side, as she turned out to be a crack shot with a .357 Magnum.
Oh my god, that is just about the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Second only to my wife saying "that's a good idea, let's steal it."
Who knew the Frozen Monkey still DIS'ed...
Woohoo! A new Oblivious family TR! I'm in! Sounds like you're off to a great start!
Second!
Haven’t read a thing, though.
So not sure if it counts.
I am so here! Love the smell of a new thread!!!
Yeah! Looking forward to this trip report!
I saw a peanut butter & jelly sandwich for $4.39 at the camp store in Yosemite this summer. Yep, one pre-made sandwich! I thought of you guys!
Joining in! Interested to see what you thought of Atlanta.
I'm in
Joining in
Yeah, it stinks. I was hoping to meet up with Mark and the family, but ended up finding that particular TR about a month too late. Turns out they were just down the street from us too.
About time this started you slacker. Looking forward to you hitting Orlando with Drew.
To paraphrase a old west story:
"Mrs. Knowitall shot her husband in Reno once just to watch him die."
Can't wait to read more...
Love your reports! And the links, I have actually used a few to plan our own trips.
Thanks!
Kate
Peek a boo!
I've mainly been lurking lately, but I'm here!
We already established it did.
Here! Will try to reply when I can, but it might be mostly lurking. This being an adult thing takes up a lot of time...
Ya know...I'm following along because I enjoy your TRs, but this one is going to be tough. I'm going to see where you were 10 minutes away and I didn't know until it was too late.
Sounds like fun. Do y’all participate in the Junior Ranger program when you stop at national parks?
Still haven't had a chance to read... (I will! I promise!)
But wanted to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, Mark!
Well that's odd. I thought for sure I had posted here to say that I was posting so I'd get updates. But apparently I didn't. So... Hi! I'm posting so I'll get the updates. In case that wasn't already perfectly clear. Because now I'm repeating myself just for the sake of repeating myself and being redundant.
*edited to add* Oh, and I suppose I really should say Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas today!
Woot! Am so happy to see the beginning of this report...we are planning a road trip to Great Smoky Mountain NPS this spring.
Oh my god, that is just about the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Second only to my wife saying "that's a good idea, let's steal it."
OK, well, then you can't get upset if I forget who is who. (First Base!)
Well, they can't all contain Lambeau Field or head-sized cinnamon rolls
To MAY to, To MAH to.
Ours too! And if my memory is correct, we drove the full 105 miles just a few weeks after you did.
On our way back from South Carolina this summer, we decided to take the scenic route and add about 4 hours to our drive and take a good portion of the BRP. Well worth it!
That tall one - with the sunglasses - I don't recall her name since there was no introductions, but she's my favorite. I bet she puts cheese on her PB & J.
To spice it up, you can use circular saw blades rather than Frisbees.
Mrs. Know-it-all likes big boom!
Who knew the Frozen Monkey still DIS'ed...
Crazy, I know. Dipping my toes back into the DIS water. Might even pop back into the DDC one of these days. (Once I finish getting caught up over there!)
CJ! Just for that, I'm not going to take it easy on you when we get to Miami.
Hi. I’m Mark.
We cram ourselves into one minivan and drive around the country,
Because we are idiots.
I also try to include links to the websites of the various places we visit in case you ever get the crazy idea of trying to see some of these things yourself.
Please join the adventure and leave plenty of smart-alecky comments along the way!
Or, find something more interesting to read. Like this, for instance.
But I’ll tell you this—it is not meant to be a figurative statement.
our home in Delaware (we’re #1!)
In the summer of 2017, we started on a drive from our home in Delaware (we’re #1!) to Florida, via Oklahoma.
the family has told me I’m not allowed to cross off Alaska as my 50th until they catch up.
Sharp-eyed readers will note that we have been to Florida before. Why include that as part of the itinerary, especially when we had to go as far west as Oklahoma?
As I’ve noted in the past, it’s always fun to watch the rental car agent do a double take when he/she checks in your car as you return it.
Whereas there’s a certain destination in central Florida that does have that same appeal.
And no, it’s not the Green Meadows Petting Farm, as wonderful as that may be.
trying to time the trip so we’d reach the Washington D.C. Beltway well after the morning rush hour had cleared.
Beltway is similar to running with the bulls in Pamplona, although the bulls usually move at much higher speeds than D.C. traffic.
Skyline Drive makes for a gorgeous outing.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park and gets its name from the bluish haze that seems to settle over the mountains most of the day.
We stopped at an overlook for our traditional road trip lunch of peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.
forcing everyone to order water at sit-down meals,
and conveniently forgetting a kid or two when making hotel reservations so we only have to book one room.
On the upside, we have had PB&J sandwiches in some of the most beautiful places in the world.
That plus $12 will get you a small burnt coffee at Starbucks.
You never realize how big Virginia really is until you have to drive all the way across it, east to west.
We also got to play Frisbee golf, which is exactly as exciting as you think it is.
He’s an enthusiast, and has built several working replica historic pistols and rifles from scratch.
All I’ll say is this—I do not own a gun. I have never felt the need to do so.
We also had a great time firing at targets at the range. These two statements don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Also, remind me never to get on my wife’s bad side, as she turned out to be a crack shot with a .357 Magnum. Do I feel lucky? After she put three straight shots in the first ring, no…I don’t.
We pulled into a joint just north of the city called Luella’s Bar-B-Que.
This place was our first hint that whatever this trip would lack in scenery, it would make up for in food.
Besides that, they even provided hula hoops for your entertainment while you waited to be seated.
We loaded up on plates of pulled pork, beef brisket, pulled chicken, mac-and-cheese, hush puppies, and a dish called “cheese ‘n comfort fries”. How does it look?
I'm so with you on the adult thing. It's so overrated.
Well that works. restaurant idea no.1.We pulled into a joint just north of the city called Luella’s Bar-B-Que.
We were ultimately heading to my uncle’s house in Abingdon, VA, way down in the southwestern tip of the state.
Been there; done all those.we employ in order to try and afford to be able to take 6 people around the country. Other measures include staying at hotels with free breakfasts, forcing everyone to order water at sit-down meals, and conveniently forgetting a kid or two when making hotel reservations so we only have to book one room.
That plus $12 will get you a small burnt coffee at Starbucks.
We also got to play Frisbee golf, which is exactly as exciting as you think it is.
The next day, we took turns watching Drew at the house while my uncle took us in shifts over to the gun range. He’s an enthusiast, and has built several working replica historic pistols and rifles from scratch. Given how divisive gun issues are in our country today, I’m not going to spend much time in detail or showing photos because I don’t want to start debates. All I’ll say is this—I do not own a gun. I have never felt the need to do so. We also had a great time firing at targets at the range. These two statements don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Also, remind me never to get on my wife’s bad side, as she turned out to be a crack shot with a .357 Magnum. Do I feel lucky? After she put three straight shots in the first ring, no…I don’t.
We pulled into a joint just north of the city called Luella’s Bar-B-Que.
How does it look?
I think the author stretched a bit for that one.
I'm going to side with the author on this one and add that a lot of other sources also add that women are simply more patient than men.I think the author stretched a bit for that one.
Her one source said: “Women have a lower center of gravity and I think (emphasis mine) that gives them a distinct advantage in shooting from the standing position. I think they have better balance.”
She may be right. She may be completely wrong, too.
Hmmmm... I think that's more of an individual thing than a gender thing.I'm going to side with the author on this one and add that a lot of other sources also add that women are simply more patient than men.
Fact.
(Yes, I"m about to be flamed here.)
Yes, a grand generalization I admit, so we can shelve this until April. It’ll be 3 ladies to one guy so we’ll see where the chips fall.Hmmmm... I think that's more of an individual thing than a gender thing.
Ask me about myself and my wife, sometime.
Yes, a grand generalization I admit, so we can shelve this until April. It’ll be 3 ladies to one guy so we’ll see where the chips fall.
Yes, a grand generalization I admit, so we can shelve this until April. It’ll be 3 ladies to one guy so we’ll see where the chips fall.
Oh..... craaaaaap.
I am in for a world of hurt, aren't I?