Arches, Twisters, & Homemade Brew

Havent been able to dock the boat for awhile but I am finally able to now. We settled in to Utah- Arches National Park, where it is 101 degrees right now at 6:00pm, we opted for a cabin with ac!

So much distance covered and adventures had however I am so tired and too hot to share everything so here go some highlights!!

We left Tennessee- my favorite state thus far- who knew- and drove into arkansas to see the Trail of Tears, then into Missouri to see the gateway to the west but more importantly to tour the Ann. Bush factory! yay beer!





We camped along the Missouri river in the most wicked lightening storm!!! Yes, once again I was scared, and yes once again it turned out to be for no reason. Like armadillos, tornatos and I have never met so I stayed up all night waiting for one to suck me up, it didnt, and here I am.

>

We headed into Kansas, destination Beaver- a small town of less then 30 peeps- to stay a night with my uncle Lenny who has his own kick ass brewery!



With a list of recommendations on what to eat and how many growlers to bring home we went in with a list. Linda, his wife, and Lenny work the brewery and call it Mo's place. It was rad, first because they didnt charge us for anything so Amy and I had like 8 beer each, chicken strips, hickory smoked burgers, corn nuggets (these are heaven), potato cheese poppers, baked potato, and to top it off heavenly ice cream sandwiches; it was also so great to see my uncle so happy. His life looks complete, simple and relaxed and it was nice having the opportunity to see him.


Me, Lenny, Linda, and Amy



We left the next day and headed into Colorado- beauty beauty!!! I have yet to upload the pics but thanks to Alex's recommendation we stopped in Denver to go to Casa Bonita, seen the South Park episode?
It was crazy!!!!! Its not just dinner, it is the huge vast indoor amusement mecca--this can only be explained through pictures!

Anyway I am going to swim now. I am on the last legs of this miraculous journey and it has been such an amazing experience. I hope everyone has the opportunity to do this someday- and me maybe twice!

America is so beautiful. And I am so sweaty. Tomorrow is the Durango Train and then on to Grand Canyon to finish off the last couple of days...:(

-rebs

Jack Daniels meets Elvis

We did it, on my list of top destinations, ladies and gentlemen I give you Jack Daniels. This tour was like watching how the bible was written, it was an entire walk through and lesson about how good whiskey is made and the tour allows you to sniff every step. The most nauseating step was one, the ingredients lay in huge vats then heated to perfection, but holy mole was the smell strong, so strong a day later I still have Jack Daniels stuck somewhere between my throat and nose- like bad drugs! We got gifts for everyone, dont worry... Also did you know this tour takes place in a dry county- yup no samples! So no sales other then the kick ass gifts we bought, however if we opened and drank them there we would be jailed- YAY BOOTLEGGIN!!



After that we rolled into Memphis, checked into a shitty motel along the mississippi, which is crazy full, and hit Beale Street, home of the blues. We were a bit disappointed with how touristy it was but the music and atmosphere were good, I put amy to bed for the second time!



In the morning we went to GRACELAND! Amy took the proper steps to ensure she embodied the look of a crazy fan and we went inside the mansion of Elvis- I cannot even explain it so I wont, just wait for pictures. It looked like a cross between an old colonial style home and the Madonna Inn.



We then went to the assassination site of Dr. King. Sad. Dont have much to say on this topic that I havent already said in prior entries; I am honored to have been there.



Tennessee is by far the most racist state we have been in, this state is more what I thought the "South" would be like. A few days ago when Amy and I were in Pigeon Forge, TN I was drinking water in a parking lot while she shopped and I had the pleasure of overhearing a conversation between two couples about how Barak Osama will never become president and how we -america- have so many weapons stockpiled that it will ensure no nigger ever becomes president. They laughed and I stood there full of so much shock, then anger, then sadness. I said nothing because nothing came to mind that would change what had been said. For anyone, my uncle and aunt included, who say that racism is dead and Blacks should just get over it and move on, I am asking you to spread your wings and fly. This country is only slightly better since its recent history with civil rights. It makes me so angry and so sad that all I can do is try not to scream the same profanities at them they see in others. Uneducated, unworldy, and shame on their parents for raising them with these values.

fireflies

Never was a horse like the Tennessee Mare

Blew into the smoky mountains in Tennessee yesterday. Breathtaking. Listened to John Denver for the ride along the Blue Ridge Mountains, also known as the Appalachian Trial. The quiet and full force foliage road lead us into Smoky Mountain National Park in Tennessee. This state is breathtaking. I now know what he means when he sings 'almost heaven, west virginia, blue ridge mountains, shining blue rivers'.



Amy and I are calling the small rustic town of Pigeon Forge our home for the next couple of days. With thunder storms always present we are staying in a small cabin along the river, known also as Pigeon River,



awesome huh? It is also home to the Dukes of Hazard. We are going to visit Cooter's later, the bar- now museum- in which the tv show was filmed. Going to look for that special one piece for Lance! Also I thought it important to point out as we get closer to the original KFC and KFC museum, buffets are a constant. Buffet at KFC anyone??? :)



Last night I was able to become the most intimate with fireflies. I put seven of them in a jar and used them for the lantern that guided me down the KOA road to play Ms Pacman, cool of coolness. I also let some lose in our cabin to enjoy at night. These insects are everywhere here and so friendly they just land on you and almost sit down fireside and enjoy a beer!
The above video is me playing with fireflies!!

Amy is on a hike through the smoky mountains now as I opted to sleep in late- good choice. Later we are going to hit the bars of PIgeon Forge, it is said by my motorcycle neighbor they have moonshine here, though no alcohol sales on sunday- how is that a division of church and state!!! This is the first time amy and i have been separated on this trip, I feel alone!! It could be because I am the middle of Tennessee without a car, no way to access moonshine unless I hitchhike, or it could be because I miss my sister- I opt for the last one.

Moonshine awaits!
-Rebs

Days 12 & 13- Behold the Atlantic

We made it. We crossed through the Carolina's. Craziness. These two states embody more of what I thought the South would be like, confederate flags and plantation homes and when walking through the supermarket-also called Piggly Wiggly- some older man looked at me and said 'nice hair, fuckin retard'. Oh the South! Other then that it's all been good, peeps have been quite nice.

Average home looks like this one.....



We also passed this truck stop..anyone want to take a shower here? :)



We awoke this morning after I spent the night among fire flies and went to the Blackbeard exhibit at the North Carolina nautical museum, yes I had a moment. They have various items on display from where his ship 'Queen Anne's Revenge' hit a barge off the Orokoke Islands in the 1720's. The actual bell and cannons (still loaded with cannon balls) were all displayed with minimal security. Amy warned me before we walked in. So I just stood there and starred. Ah homesick. If you notice me in the reflection of the plexi glass in this picture you can probably see me crying. I am the nerdiest pirate ever! But I steal better than most of em!



We drove onward in freakish heavy heavy thunder and lightening weather, amy had to drive since I made myself ill. It was so bad and I couldnt see the road that my hands starting shaking. Amy is the ne jesus christ. I write this to you now on the boarder of N Carolina and Tennessee. I am heading West toward home.

Onward adventure awaits!

PS check out palmetto bugs on wicki- they are all over our campground. Oh yeah I also found out I may have some bug issues, its just that wont you dont know can convince you it can hurt you. They are huge black flying cockroaches. Yup, I am typing this from inside the cabin...Where is my hammer and flashlight, I need to go smoke now.

Day 10 & 11- Driving through the South!

Mississippi, not much here, just drove through!! It's not what I pictured, very lush and green; not at all like the 'if you want to live in a trailer park and marry your sister' that I had in mind. :(



Further down the road we stumbled upon Alabama. Two thumbs up. We found a backwoods-literally-campground and settled in for the night- adios humidity! The weather was so nice, swarms of fireflies and it felt a lot like Northern CA, without the redwoods. I slept like a log in the tent, over ten hours, and awoke to the sounds of owls at 5am then more birds at 6:30 am, nice! I made us dinner on our make shift stove- dad you would have been proud- and even percolated coffee in the am with propane, nicely.






I loved these frogs, they were everywhere and no larger than your pinky nail, this was told me his name was Gunther.


Freedom walk from Selma to Montgomery.
We woke up and first stopped in Birmingham, Al to see the civil rights park and the monuments that stand for the children killed in the bomb blast by the KKK. So sad.



Once in Georgia we stopped to see the birth and death place of Martin Luther King Jr. So powerful. The museum stands across the street from the Ebinezer Church he preached in. The museum had some very powerful and sad reminders of who makes up this country. I felt so awkward, the museum mostly filled with Blacks and it being located in very small and poor Black town, it was just a reminder again of how much I hate my race. Good thing I tell people I'm Mexican!



From here it gets crazy- amy will type her story....



I'm happy to finally make a guest appearance on this blog. From the somber remembering at the MLK monument to the tacky attractions that is road side america. I would like to say this one fulfilled a life long dream of mine, but really I only learned of it a few months ago. Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, GA. A 75 mile detour north to the birthplace of cabbage patch kids. This is really where Xavier Roberts was from, and is now a creepy and odd type of museum. I was taken back immediately to Hobby City days of my youth, when I would take all 8 of my cabbage patch kids in for their annual check ups. I sorely wished I had one with me today. You walk in and find babies ("doll is a four letter word") in incubators, in cribs, peering out at you as if from behind bars. Scores of babies look up, arms outstretched, and the numerous signs let you know they are all available for adoption. Surely my social work roots started with adopting cabbies. As we walked around, an announcement came on the loud speaker that a baby was about to be born if we wanted to witness. The 6 other visitors and we gathered around where the nurse in full scrubs and with the utmost sincerity told us the mother cabbage was 9 leaves dilated. The bunny bees sprinkle their magic dust, and the crystals light up to let you know a baby is about to be born. The nurse does a sonogram to reveal the sex (I kid you not) and pulls it out of the cabbage with a smack on the backside. Thank god it wasn't a breach, she says. We got it all on tape, and I smiled, giddy as a kid. Becca laughed and made fun of me the whole time, just like when we were kids. The gift shop had more stuff than you ever wanted, including spoons! A definite great add to my collection.



So now we're in Augusta, GA, a random truck stop motel for the night. We are at the Scottish Inn, where if its not scottish, its CRAP!! Guess this motel is not scottish.

Amy adds....

dont walk so hard..

'Walking through New Orleans'-Day 8 & 9

Night one here was crazy a few pics. Enjoyed watching amy make an ass out of herself and was so happy she too fell in love with this city.





Mint Julip for Chulip!

Day 3 in new orleans-We are here and I will be sad to leave tomorrow but also look forward to seeing new things again. It has been nice being out of the car for 3 days and sleeping in!! Awoke this morning to pigees on the balcony and headed down to get beignetes for breakfast then out to the swamps to take a boat tour!!! Spooky!!





It was hot as hell, humid as fuck, and the gators were out in full force. Before boarding the tour boat I got my arm and leg bitten off, turns out gators like sweating women with a lot of fat, not too much muscle here!!





Our tour guide was funny and very smart, steps above Ger when he worked the jungle cruise. We saw spiders, turtles, gators, egrets, snapping turtles, garp, and for the grandest of al held a baby alligator!!! They are so soft and smooth, not at all like I imagined, also very cold.







I also added a photo of an alligator who had swallowed an entire human, the picture is so awesome, and they show it to you before you buy tickets and tell you to keep all body parts in the boat; too bad no flashing of me fanny!



After the tour we visited cemeterys



and also drove through the 9th ward where the levy "busted". It was so sad, like a ghost town. Only 1 out of every 10 homes was occupied, they are all still boarded up, run down, and those who remain live in shanties. Graffiti could be seen on homes indicating which were to be destroyed and also slogans of 'thanks for not helping us' and 'you forgot about us again' decorated walls. I felt bad taking pics, though we did get some video of where the levy actually broke open, I cannot believe more people didnt die..

Last night, we are going to do it right!!! Got lots of cool things for all you guys so far..

I am going to get some booze,
Bec

Day 7- Get your New Orleans here!

I sit beside Amy's deathbed to recap our arrival into new orleans. I feel it important to point out I am listening to her vomit and serving her mineral water and pepto because she is hung over while I enjoyed a breakfast and walk about through the quarter; and you guys thought I would drink too much!! haha.



We crossed the Texas boarder and straight into Baton Rouge, swamp lands galore.



I noticed a sign for whiskey bay and automatically remembered why I love new orleans so,



After fighting to stay in the car we arrived in the French Quarter, with pigeons to greet me on the balcony. Too cute.



We checked in and headed to the pool to wash off the layers of insect repellant and sunblock, I wouldn't want to swim with us but figured people were drunk so who would know I was using the pool as my giant bathtub. Get your sponge bath here!



We sat up on the balcony and drank for about two hours, watching the sunset over the mary poppins and peter pan rooftops then headed down to the streets where I got my first mint julip, delicious. Chopped up mint leaves with Tennessee bourbon and orange peels, nice buzz!





We pretty much hit bars and chatted with people, man do people like to drink here. We ended the night at Jean Lafyettes, the oldest bar in New Orleans, from 1734.



How I kept my cool is beyond me, besides scraping off wood from the tables and walls to add to my collection of nostalgia I was pretty good. No tits, no ass, no drugs, and woke up this morning with a pure recollection of the nights activities, odd huh? Amy said she will take care of me tonight and I may take her up on this as I want to go to the absinthe bar later!

On a side note, yet probably most important is the Hurricane Katrina aftermath. The French Quarter is how I remember it, not too much damage. The woman who checked me in to the hotel was named Jerry and she lost everything during the hurricane, an older black woman. She gave me directions to the 9th ward, where much of the damage occurred. I asked her if it would be disrespectful to drive out and take pictures, she told me they offer tours. Sad huh? She also firmly believes the levy was purposely destroyed by the government in order to prevent flooding downstream, the nicer part of the city. She said it happened before in 1927, destroying many native american homes. I felt so bad for her, losing everything then coming to work in a section of the city that was saved because it had 'more value'. There is an awful lot of folks in poverty here, lots of anger, and in todays paper there was an article about none of the 15 parks in the poor neighborhoods used to house trailers during the event have yet to re-opened, they all lay chained up and vacant; none of the kids have a public pool to swim in. There is a disappointment with FEMA and the officials. Anyhow, I do what I can and feel that the more I know so many of the places I once loved bring sadness, like disneyland and winchester house.

It's like they say, ignorance is bliss.

Going out to walk the streets now with my camera. Amy is still in bed! Yes, I am going to drink another mint julip, hopefully we will make the steam boat cruise in two hours.

-Bec