Hot tea????

After George, good "Elk" that he is, took us to the "Club" for a fine southern breakfast (you know it was southern because they looked at me like I was out of mind when I asked for a cup of hot tea - cold tea is what you get in the south) we headed west. Wait!, you're probably saying aren't we supposed to heading south? Well, since "the beast" (John really does need to decide on a name for it - none any of us have suggested so far have been to his liking) seems to be running fine, I suggested we take the slightly longer scenic route through Asheville & Knoxville before heading south.

This route is beautiful taking you over the eastern Continental Divide and through the Smokies. Again we knew we were in the south because the farmer's market in Asheville had fresh beans (not the type of green beans we get in the stores in the north, but string beans that you're supposed to cook to death with a piece of fat back), a BIG display of turnips, fresh okra from a crate that was already half empty (from sales - not because it came that way), and a token bunch of asparagus for the "half-backs" (folks from the north who moved/retired to Florida until it got too crowded, then they moved half way back to NC).

On to Knoxville. As we began to drive through snow (why don't we ever learn to ALWAYS check the weather where we're going?!) I begin to worry. We pass the Ultimate Beef Jerky Outlet featuring 200 kinds of jerky. To take my mind off the snow I begin to mentally list all the types of jerky I can (when I begin to wonder if it's legal to make raccoon jerky I decide I might be better off worrying about the snow). We pass the exit in Knoxville for Broadway Hall of Fame Drive. (Do you suppose there's a Broadway Hall of Fame down that road - they don't tell you that, or do they just like the name?)

Finally, we drive out of the snow heading south at last. Slowed a bit by the route through the mountains and the snow, I reluctantly let John drive by exit 60 (remember that exit) where the billboard said they sell the "softest socks in the world". Next time...

Chattanooga is next and we wave at the Choo Choo (we stopped last year - that visit was plenty to last for several years). We blink and almost miss Georgia (you catch the top western most corner, 8 miles of it, before you get to Alabama). Birmingham is next, home, of course, to "John's Plumbing - We repair what your husband fixed".

Tonight we're in Meridan, Mississippi and confess we aren't camping yet. Tomorrow. We're hoping for an early start so we can make it to the Habitat site by noon. Apparently there are parades in the two neighboring towns tomorrow afternoon (Mardi Gras is Tuesday), so we want to be there to enjoy them. The project is even giving everyone Tuesday off for Mardi Gras - should be fun. We have no idea what the internet connection possibilities will be so don't be surprised if we post or don't post - will keep you and us in suspense.