Day 11: Dead rat and a cracker

Today was the last day of the trip - the journey home - arriving at Dead Rat and a Cracker (don't ask - more obscure teenage humor). Here's the trip... by the numbers:

• 3,379 miles
  
• 55 hours of driving
  
• 13 States (including those passed thru: Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, & Pennsylvania)
  
• 52 Bob Dylan songs
  
• 4 One Direction albums
  
• One too many Shinedown songs

• 0 roadkills (although there's an opposum in South Carolina who just narrowly escaped due to some expert maneuvering)

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 10: Lobster boy returns

Today was the last full day of the trip before heading home on Saturday. We spent the day relaxing on the beach along the Chesapeake Bay. The sun was shining and the water was cool. Unfortunately,Vinny did get a little sunburn and looked a little red. Fortunately, we got top dollar for our over-sized lobster.

After driving, walking, hiking, and enduring "your mom" jokes for 9 days, a beach day was the perfect way to unwind. 

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 9: Wild horses couldn't drag me away

Today's adventure included a jeep tour on the beaches of Corolla NC in search of wild horses that inhabit the islands along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Our guide Wiley was certainly an interesting character - he even commented that Tim Tebow has been given a raw deal and should be the starter for the Philadelphia Eagles... at least he knew his way around the dunes and beaches. Wiley's knowledge of the horses did not disappoint - within minutes of arriving on the beach, we spotted the first of many wild horses along the water's edge where they cool themselves.

Behind the dunes, many more horses could be found feeding and frolicking about. We also encountered two stallions fighting as one tried to encroach upon the other's mares. Wiley provided some local history about the horses as well as the barrier islands which he calls home. Our day ended with a wonderful Mexican dinner at El Azteca in Norfolk, VA. Despite three years of high school Spanish, Vinny was unable to pronounce most of the items on the menu. However, that didn't stop him from getting his meal on! Tomorrow, we stay in Norfolk and enjoy the beach along the Chesapeake Bay.

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 8: Stormin' the beaches... of Morris Island

After a stay in the lovely town of Beaufort, SC, we drove up the road a piece to Charleston, SC. We joined Captain Howie for a 3 hour tour to Morris Island - an uninhabited island near Fort Sumter. On the island, we walked the beaches for treasure, including several shark's teeth (some of which are pre-historic), sand dollars, and an actual brick from Fort Sumter.



We encountered a few odd things including tunicate, also known as sea pork because it resembles a pork chop. It's actualy a single-cell organism found in the sea. Local wildlife included some crabs, birds, and dolphins swimming along the shore line. Captain Howie and mate Alex provided lots of expertise regarding the local ecology as well as interesting historical tidbits about Charleston, Fort Sumter, and the Civil War. It was a hot day on the beach but our found treasures made the trip even more exciting.

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 7: Keeping it one hundred

Today we made the journey to Savannah, GA. From the time we left the hotel until we arrived, the day time temps hovered in the high 90s to over 100. In Savannah, we were greeted by the humidity and the gnats but that didn't stop us from catching some of the sites in the city before dinner. Even dinner was an adventurous outing as we tried gator for the first time... and no, it does not taste like chicken.

After dinner, we went on an evening ghost tour. We didn't see any ghosts but had a chance to catch even more of the city and get some history as well as spooky stories.

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 6: That's sleeping late?

We slept in a little later this morning... until 8:30 am, prompting Cecilia to remark, "Since when is 8:30 considered sleeping late?" Such is a road trip with teenagers.  Nevertheless, we continued our visit to the Great Smoky Mountains. We did some driving to see waterfalls viewable by the roadside and took in some of the vistas along the way. We parked at various trailheads within the park to hike to various waterfalls.

Our first hike led us to Laurel Falls.They were not very high but nice to see along with lovely views of the moutains along the trail. Next, we headed to Mingo Falls, located within the Cherokee Indian Reservation. Along the way we passed through villages where the Cherokee still live. After a steep climb, the Mingo Falls offered a wonderful view, being among the highest falls in the area. Located in an obscure portion of the park, our final hike took some getting to - but we made it to the Juney Whank loop, leading to the Juney Whank falls. Given the location, only a few other folks were on the trail and we had the falls to ourselves for a while. So while we never did get to see any bears, there was plenty to see and do in the Great Smoky Mountains.

The day long hiking concluded with our drive to Seneca, SC - home of the Clemson Tigers. We hoped to get some all-you-can-eat sushi for dinner but the wait was quite long - not much to do in Seneca on a Monday night we suppose. We headed off to a local diner which was "eh" at best, but appeased Sal's frugal wallet. We arrived at the hotel for plenty of time to swim and relax.

Day 5: The Great Smoky Mountains

Today we finished our journey through Alabama after an uneventful and uninteresting stay in Florence, AL.  We crossed back into Tennessee and into Pigeon Forge, TN - just outside of the Great Smoky Mountains. Even though it was late in the day, we made it out to Clingman's Dome in the park. After a brief but steep walk up to the lookout tower, we took in some spectacular views of the mountain tops. The temperature in Pigeon Forge was 92 degrees... at the top of the mountain... 66 degrees! Not much in the way of wildlife... although we did see a wild turkey (and we're not talking about Vinny).

Tomorrow, we'll do some hiking along various waterfall trails in the Great Smoky Mountains. Cece and Vinny are hoping to see a bear... I'm sure the feeling is not mutual from the bear's point of view.








Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 4: Oui... Oui... Arkansas?

Today we headed from KY to Memphis, TN. We took a small side trip to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower... Paris, TN that is. At least Kelly can't say that her husband never took her to Paris. Having been on the road for quite some time, our first stop in Memphis was Marlowe's for some BBQ. We actually stopped at the Cozy Corner which was featured on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives but they relocated to a temporary spot across the road and shared space with a little cafe. It did not look good at all so we bailed and headed to Marlowe's (also featured on DDD)... and glad we did. It was located on Elvis Presley Blvd so the decor was all Elvis - everywhere! The BBQ was delish and did not disappoint. On the way out, we caught a quick but free glimpse of Graceland from the road! That's about as much Elvis as we cared to see.

The Memphis adventures continued with a walk along Beale Street as we waited for our riverboat departure. We didn't have enough time to catch the Civil Rights Museum so we walked along Beale for a bit and then headed to the landing for our cruise. The American Queen riverboat was in town and loading passengers for their journey to New Orleans. Our riverboat was much smaller but we had a pleasant ride on the river along with some local history (and most likely some folklore) provided by our tour guide. As we cruised the river, we officially crossed over into the Arkansas state line. So while not planned, we get to add Arkansas to the list of states visited/crossed on this trip. The skies grew dark over the river and the rains came. The day concluded with even more driving (400 miles in total) as we went slightly south into Mississippi and then west into Alabama. Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 3: I'm not gonna lie... that was a lot of One Direction music!

Today was a full day. We started off in the northeastern part of Kentucky with a ride to the Red River Gorge. We spent some time hiking and had some good photo ops along the trails. We crossed a natural stone bridge and then on a return trail below, had a chance to see the arched stone bridge from the bottom. We also hiked out to the Chimney Tops for a nearly 360-degree view of the gorge. All in all, despite the heat, it was a nice day for a hike.

Following the hike, we basically traversed the entire state of Kentucky, ending in the southwestern part of the state. The drive was so long that we had an opportunity to listen to more than 65 One Direction songs in a row. (The playlist police must have been handsomely bribed!) We arrived in Hopkinsville, KY where the Cherokee Trail of Tears crosses the town. We were fortunate to catch the Remember the Removal riders who stopped at the memorial site in Hopkinsville. Each year, a group of bicyclists of Cherokee descent ride the 1000 mile trail from Georgia to Oklahoma to commemorate the forced march and dsiplacement of the Cherokee people by the US government. It is a somber story but glad we had a chance to experience another aspect of our country's history.

The total mileage in 3 days is 1050 miles - about 1/3 of the estimated 3000 mile total. Tomorrow... we're off to Memphis, TN - maybe Justin Timberlake will be waiting to greet us there.

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 2: All I want is... mac and cheese

Those words were not made famous by Thomas Jefferson. More to come on that quote. Today's journey started with a tour of Monticello - the estate of Thomas Jefferson. It turns out TJ was a gadget guy and brought back some innovative ideas from his stay in France and Europe. Jefferson had a number of "inventions" (err... borrowed ideas) found throughout the estate, including double-paned windows, an automatic door, and a gravity & weight driven clock that kept the time of day as well as indicated the day itself. Saturday is in the basement - you  just have to trust us on that one. Along with buildings, there was an extensive span of crops which once included tobacco and wheat. Today, various vegetables are still grown, including the guinea bean or snake gourd - known to our family as cucuzza. The tours were educational and rather lively. Even Vinny and Cece seemed to enjoy it.

Following Monticello, we had a long drive ahead of us through Virginia and West Virginia and eventually to Kentucky. Along the way, we spotted a pink and green giraffe... probably the world's tallest one. The day ended with a drive thru Huntington, WV (home of said giraffe) as well as home to the Huntington Ale House which features an entire page on their menu devoted to mac and cheese dishes - an apparent homage to Kurt Cobain who was known to have said, "All I want is... mac and cheese." Our teen travellers honored Kurt by selecting the chicken parm mac & cheese. And like Kurt, there was nothing left.

Photos at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Day 1: Familiar territory

After some intense negotiation regarding the route to pursue, the 2015 Great American Road Trip was underway. We avoided the hustle and bustle of the east coast cities and traveled west thru Pennsylvania to Carlisle before heading south toward Charlottesville, VA. After a brief trek thru Maryland and West Virginia, we arrived in Virginia - the state where Cece was born.

We stopped in Winchester, VA - west of Leesburg where we used to live. The area is rich in civil war history, but more importantly, Winchester features the world's largest apple. After a few photo ops and bite to eat at the Snow White Grill, we made it to Charlottesville for a little swimming, bizarre teenage humor, and hopefully a good night's rest. Tomorrow we spend time at Jefferson's Monticello before the westward journey to Kentucky. See pics at https://goo.gl/photos/Vkyk3chJfQj5n2mU8

Road Trip Play List

We've estimated about 52 hours of drive time during our upcoming road trip. With four of us going, we get 13 hours of music each. Even though no one is following my strong recommendation for a playlist of American artists only, Sal is holding up his end and making sure the teenagers on the trip get a good dose of good music. Here's a list of featured artists on Sal's 2015 Great American Road Trip playlist: Addison Groove Project, Al Green, Alabama Shakes, Alicia Keys, America, Archie Bell & the Drells, Baby Huey, Barnes & Barnes, Beastie Boys, Bob Dylan, Bonerama, Bootsy Collins, Bruce Springsteen, Cake, Canned Heat, Cars, Charles Bradley, Chris Isaak, Chubb Rock, Commodores, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Darryl Hall & John Oates, Dazz Band, Devo, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Doobie Brothers, the Doors, Dr. John, Frank Sinatra, Galactic, Gap Band, Gladys Knight, Grandmaster Flash, Green Day, Guns 'n Roses, Highway Men, House of Pain, Indeep, Iron Butterfly, Isley Brothers, JJ Fad, Jackie Wilson, Jacksons, James Brown, James Taylor, Jimi Hendrix, John Lee Hooker, John Legend, Johnny Adams, Johnny Cash, Justin Timberlake, Kool & the Gang, Lauryn Hill, Lenny Kravitz, Leon Redbone, Lester Flatt, Lightnin' Slim, LL Cool J, Lou Rawls, Lyle Lovett, Marvin Gaye, Mayer Hawthorne, Meters, Michael Franti, Michael Jackson, Michael McDonald, Moe, Muddy Waters, Naughty by Nature, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Paul Simon, Pete Seeger, Phish, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Prince & the Revolution, Public Enemy, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Reel Big Fish, Richie Havens, Rick James, Roots, Run DMC, Ry Cooder, SOS Band, Simon & Garfunkel, Soul Live, Steve Miller Band, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Stevie Wonder, Sugar Hill Gang, Talking Heads, Time, TLC, Tracy Chapman, Van Halen, White Stripes, Willie Nelsom, Zapp & Rogers.

Route Planned for 2015 Road Trip

We have our basic route planned for the 2015 Great American Road Trip. This year's journey takes us thru the southeastern US  - stopping for history, music, hiking, ghost tours, island adventures, and beach relaxation. Here's a map of the planned route showing some of the major stops.

The more detailed route is 3000 miles stretching across 11 states. Plans for each day include:

• Day 1: From home, we head thru MD and VA for an overnight stay in VA.
• Day 2: We take a short drive to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello in Charlottesville, VA for our first historical stop.
• Day 3: After a long ride thru WV and into KY on the tail end of Day 2, hiking the Red River Gorge gives us a chance to stretch our legs and get outdoors. 
• Day 4: Music, BBQ, history (oh... and more BBQ) as we stop off in Memphis for eats, music, and a somber stop at the Civil Rights Museum/Lorraine Motel where MLK was killed. We'll lighten the mood with more Memphis BBQ and a riverboat ride on the mighty Mississippi.
• Day 5: Another long day of driving should get us to the Great Smoky National Park by late afternoon where we'll stretch with some hiking and catch the sunset over the mountains.
• Day 6: More hiking and outdoor fun in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
• Day 7: We arrive in Savannah, GA for walking tours of this historic Southern city. Night in Savannah calls for some hauntingly good fun on a ghost tour.
• Day 8: In Charleston, SC, we don our pirate hats for a boat adventure to an island for exploring, collecting shark's teeth, and finding treasure.
• Day 9: More outdoor fun on a beach jeep adventure in search of wild horses in Corolla, NC.
• Day 10: More sandy adventures on a full day of sun and fun on the VA beaches.
• Day 11: We leave the beach behind and head home through MD & DE back to Bensalem PA .