Chattanooga & Lookout Mountain

Katie and I took a scary ride up Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga on the incline, a 72% grade up the mountain. It really feels like you are going straight up the mountain. The view was wonderful on top of the mountain.

After riding the train down the mountain we found another local BBQ joint, this one called Sweeney's. Good food, again. Not sure we can do this much longer.

"World's Fastest Half Mile"

We stopped in Bristol, VA for the night, but we were so exhausted we
didn't get out on the town. We crashed at the hotel and woke up the
next morning for the next leg of our trip to Huntsville, AL.

On the way we stopped a few miles down the road and looked around the
Bristol Motor Speedway. It was impressive. 165,000 people in those
seats during a race. I really think I need to see a NASCAR race at BMS
before I die. Not sure I would like sitting with all the fans, but
maybe I can arrange a luxury skybox suite.

Due South BBQ and Rainstorms

Our first stop on the BBQ Journey across the U.S. was at the Due South
BBQ in Christiansburg, VA. We decided to stop there after missing the
exit for Roanoke. For some reason I thought Roanoke was on the
highway, but it wasn't. Next thing I know we are about 10 miles south
of the exit we should have taken. Considering our desire to stay on
schedule, we decided to find the next place to pull over and get some
lunch. Christiansburg it was and the Due South BBQ was about a mile
west of the highway.

We walked in and saw a menu with maters and taters, as well as the
expected pork, beef, and chicken. After getting some clarification on
the maters and taters, I ordered a pork sandwich and Katie ordered the
beef brisket sandwich. Great stuff, but I think we ate too much. Katie
enjoyed the pig painted on the mirror in the bathroom and the lady
working the counter was quite nice.

As we left another freak rainstorm began and we pulled off the highway
to wait it out. This was the second time that day we ended up on the
side of the road. We couldn't see anything and the windshield wipers
were useless.

What is a Shoe Box Full of Cash?

When the attorney asked Katie and me how we wanted the funds from the
house sale to be received I suggested the above, as a joke.

The attorney went on and on about how that was a bad idea. The need to
hire an armed guard, the additional fees, and the difficulties of
having to secure the shoe box. Once I told her I was joking, we signed
the final papers and left the office.

We are officially homeless and unemployed. Doesn't feel that bad,
though.

Next stop: Bristol, VA (The Birthplace of Country Music)

Prolonged Goodbye to the Beltway

So the last mile on the Beltway we were stuck in traffic. Should have
planned on it.

Cleaning out the house

I went to the county household hazardous waste facility at the dump this morning. I had to go there to drop off 18 cans of paint that have been in our house for the past four years. When we moved in, there were two shelves full of old paint cans. I did not want to leave them to the new residents so I took them to the facility and tossed them. Not sure what they do with them, but there were a lot of people doing the same thing.

One more thing off the checklist.

Party Success

The rain came and went and so did our friends. The party was great though we had to trim down the activities. Actually, there was no fishing, no tennis, and no kayak races. Our neighbors kids brought over their Wii and Guitar Hero, so there was some entertainment in the basement.
The evening was mostly about eating and conversation. Katie made some wonderful salads and the burgers and hot dogs were great. We need to do that again.

What Luck!

Two hours before the start of our going away BBQ and this is the Doppler picture. Our house is right in the middle of this mess.

Hopefully it moves out quickly.

Passing Time

Yesterday Katie and I went for a walk in the park near our house. The weather was much nicer than the past few days so we actually enjoyed walking around and looking at various things. The county employs naturists that work in the visitor's center of the park and one can ask them questions or just chat with them about the wildlife or fauna in the park.

 

My favorite thing to do is to come back from the park and ask them what animal was making this noise or that noise. I do my best impression of the noise and they usually follow it up with, "well if it sounded like this (insert random animal noise), then it  was probably a (insert name of animal associated with random animal noise just made)." 

 

Just to get a laugh you switch up the noise you heard and then you have two or three naturists making noises back to you to see if that was it. Can be pretty funny.

 

Katie is experimenting with her new camera so she took a photo of me at the park.

 

I miss my wife