After grabbing camping/hiking food and forgetting the whiskey and having to go all the way back up the mountain...we arrive at a trailhead near the base of Sam's Knob near Brevard, NC. We wander around with our packs looking for a good place to set up camp. I can already tell how out of shape I am. As you walk up the trail there is a pine forest and through the forest there is a trail that opens up so you are able to view the mountain ranges. There is a fire pit right near the opening and a trail that continues through the prairie up to the base of Sam's Knob. We end up setting our tents up in the forest area and wander a bit. We collect wood for a fire and dive into some whiskey and possibly some other natural...
We build a fire which is located in an amazing spot making the forest and mountain ranges perfectly visible. Night time rolls in and we are listening to music and chatting while I feed the fire. We haven't seen Ross in a while and when were all together it's perfect. We all end up going on a nighttime hike which really wasn't a hike but actually us following Ross as we bushwhack through what in daylight we realized was a bunch of flowers. While we are wandering around and bullshitting, Ross comes up with the idea that while we are on this trip I should be taking pictures of all the places Chris urinates. His frequent urination is borderline a problem. As we are walking back to our fire singing random songs Chris mentions singing like Arethra Franklin. Chris then pulls over to urinate... naturally and his new road trip name becomes Urethra Franklin. As the night progresses we absorb some wild experiences. We lost track of time, thinking it was about 4am so we turn on my phone to check. It is only midnight...let the second round begin. At one point Ross and Chris decide they want to hike again...as they are leaving me by the fire we hear a pack of coyotes howling in the distance. I immediately call them back...later found out they apparently don't harm humans. Hmmm...
I eventually head back to my tent. Ross ends up reading Game of Thrones as we fall asleep.
Tuesday, 09.17.2013
We wake up by 11am. Pack up and start the hike up Sam's Knob. The hike is only 3 miles but a complete incline/decline hike. I wish I had more pictures on my phone but it died the night before. At the top of the mountain, the view is beautiful. I brought my Mom and John's (my stepdads) ashes with me on the hike...spread some at the top. I plan to eventually have them spread in different beautiful places along my travels throughout my life.
We get back to the car and start our journey back. Before we get back to Ross's we stop at a local southern hick's shop. I won't write his real name because of what I will say next. This guy has been making moonshine and selling it, as you know moonshine is illegal. He was in court earlier that day for it. It was quite an experience. The property has a horse shoe pit in the back within a pretty awesome hang out spot. The guys that work there carve wood into basically anything you can think of. Very talented southern men. There is also a trout pond where people can stop by and fish. They spoke of rattle snakes they caught on the property and unique rocks and even gold that they have found in their streams. An interesting life style that I was not aware of.
We get back to the house; shower, do laundry and Ross makes homemade pizzas. A vegetable, buffalo chicken and a basil/prosciutto/vodka sauce one- trying to replicate the one I ate in Nashville. Delicious. We watch the movie 50/50 and fall asleep.
Wednesday, 09.18.2013
Chris and I pack up and chat for a bit before we head out. Ross is wishing he could join us. Part of me wishes I traded my car in for a van so I could add people to the trip along the way. We get to Birmingham, Alabama at 5pm.
While in Nashville we stumbled upon Taylor from The Joiners who connected us with a local artist. We meet up with her at her gallery and it is amazing. Her name is Veronique Vanblaere and her gallery is called Naked Art. She is an awesome artist as well as an amazing person. We wander around Birmingham for awhile until her shop is closed.
We meet Vero back at her house. Seeing the house of an artist like Vero was mind blowing. Along with being an artist she also has an obsession with bicycles and collects many different pieces of art. Her house is a gallery in itself. Everything from the foyer to the furniture and even down to the cork cabinet knobs scream creativity.
Vero also organizes different groups in the area for various events each week. That night was a Birmingham Tastebuddies event that we were so generously invited to. We ate dinner with 12 locals at a Greek restaurant. Delicious. Met some amazing people and had great conversations. Birmingham was quickly becoming a very interesting pit stop. After dinner we went with Vero to another local artist's loft. These lofts are rent regulated; the artists pay rent based upon their current income. Very cool. We find ourselves sitting at a table helping paint letters that will soon be a mural located in a brewery in the city. I drank some wine and had some more awesome conversation. These local artists are doing some amazing things for their community.
We get back to Vero's house, drink old champagne, try Belguim chocolate made with thyme and continue chatting. She really is an amazing woman. Such a great unexpected host. We finish up and head to bed. New Orleans tomorrow...excited from what random people have been telling me.
Thursday, 09.19.2013
Woke up at 8am to start the day. Vero had already completed her daily morning run and was almost ready to head to Taylor's restaurant. Taylor, the guy we met in Nashvile is opening a restaurant downtown called Tau Poco which will serve food based off local food truck recipes. Taylor met Vero 3 weeks ago when she started the signage and interior paint work for the restaurant. It amazes me how people randomly get connected and immediately have just that...a connection.
Chris and I wander around a bit. Stop by a local park, grab coffee and get a text from Vero to stop by the restaurant. We get there and end up chatting for a bit sharing some stories and getting to know our new friends. Both are terrific people. Taylor shows me a bunch of abandoned buildings right outside that would absolutely make great adaptive reuse projects. One of them which would definitely fulfill my hostel dream. :) We end up at a store called What's on 2nd. It's one of those collectible stores that has antiques and tons of old postcards and trinkets. I find some cool postcards and a gift for my youngest sister's birthday whose name is also Taylor. We stop back to say goodbye and we are on our way. Vero and Taylor are both the kind of people that are extremely generous and always wanting to help whenever and wherever they can. A quality I'd like to consider in myself or at least strive to hold. In less than 24 hours we experienced yet again the amazing feeling that this type of traveling can bring. With that I mean...what I have come to learn, in traveling with just a simple base plan and openmindness is reassurance on how life should be and how amazing people really can be. I haven't even traveled that much but in those travels what I have experienced and learned is what matters most. And I will continue to travel as much as life allows. Never settle.
6:20pm
Still driving to New Orleans. We ended up in terrible traffic. Our host will be around tonight but then is going away for the weekend and has so generously offered to give us the keys until our departure. Excited!
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