mikey from DC

i didn't proof read this, oh well:

so far, the trip has been go go go. which is just how we like 'em. i don't think we've been to bed before 1am. (last night was 2am and we don't anticipate an early bedtime tonight). currently we are on our way into DC to eat some dinner and check out the monuments and memorials lit up at night. both lane and i are holding are bladders and have to pee.

a quick summary from my point of view:

the first part of the trip we were always waiting on lane. jordan, julia, and i were joking about it and hoping it wouldn't become a trip problem (we didn't want to have to take action! =)). it started at his house. we got there on time and he wasn't quite ready to go. then he made himself look conspicious at airport security. so, naturally, they had to search his check-in bag. immediately thereafter, he realized he had left his boarding pass back down the escalator where they had searched him. so, he had to haul 'a' back down and retrieve it from the security dude (after showing some id). later in knoxville, we had to wait from lane as he had to have his carry-on specially set aside since it didn't fit. seems like there were a few other times but he's since improved his ways and he's been solid!

hmm...it seems like all of my blog had been about teasing lane. it continues...

lane had a few driving mishaps and other spatial awareness problems. he drove off the road a few times, had a curb check, and managed to lay himself out by smacking his head on a low door frame exiting a cabin at cades cove. ouch!


random note for darin. to brag...i've hiked on the appalachian trail!!!

quote of the trip: "jesus just wants you to have a good time in the sticks." - lane

grizzes of the trip so far:

1) flounder finding our koa the first night. first night flounderage seems inevitable on our trips. we drove back and forth looking it. at one point we stopped in front of a store hoping to snag some free wireless internet. we succeeded in that. pulled up the koa website, put the address in our navigation program, flounded some more, finally pulled back into the same spot where we had snagged the wireless internet...and realized it was the very koa we had been looking for.

2)lane almost leave boarding pass at security check point (previously discussed).

3) jordan almost gets his beard caught in some rhodedendron bushes on the hike to laurel falls due to the fact that he's not wedge shaped like unto the black bear - not really.

4) exploding diet coke with lime in the back of the mini van.

5) driving like bats outta hell to get to mount mitchell (NC highpoint), getting there right before dark, and having the trail be closed. (can't count it!!) (the good thing was...we didn't run outta gas on the way outta there...we were a bit concerned for a while).


random stuff we done/seen:

1)hicks on trails (one talked about getting free cable with his tv at the tennessee high point)

2)laurel falls, chimney tops, clingmans dome, mount mitchell, lewis falls, dark hollow falls, blue ridge park way, skyline drive, assless chaps, etc

3)jordan and i heard a crazy cat noise while sleeping the first night. sounded like a bobcat attacking a poodle. we stil don't know what it really was.

4)sundrop soda, cheerwine cherry.

5)a goofy slow talking ranger


good things:

1)drive thru gal hooks lane up with a 2nd (and hot) batch of fries after she declared the first batch "nasty".

2) no tickets/wrecks *knock, knock, knock*


cool wildlife seen: 2 black bears and 2 coyotes.