1 year, 10 months and 16 days from today - A May 2016 PTR FINAL UPDATE 5/6/16

[ddstratton]

Not a fun experience for sure to be stuck with no wheels!

My folks live just north of Nashville (Bowling Green) and go there a few times a week to eat and for a Bible study group. They have never mentioned Loretta Lynn's- I'll ask if they've ever done it as they're always looking for new places to try out.

No fun, with car problems. Loretta Lynn's is a bit west of Nashville - about 60 miles or so West of Nashville.

That Loveless Cafe looks fun!

Sorry you had to miss the Loretta Lynn tour during your last visit due to car problems. That definitely is worth a do-over. It sounds like fun!

The Loveless does look like fun! And it's definitely worth of a do-over to see Loretta Lynn's ranch/museums. I've loved her since I was a little kid.

I WANNA GO WITH YOU!!!!

You truly take the greatest trips. I LOVE reading everything you write.

Thank you! This is a big trip for us - being for our 25th anniversary. And I think I've managed to get something for everyone in this trip.

That is scary with the car problems. I would have been a nervous wreck.

I am glad you are going back and trying again.

We always stayed in LaQuinta's when we did Mark's business trips. They are nothing fancy, but they are clean and the price is usually right.

Car problems are not fun. But I am thankful that DH knows how to handle just about any car-related problem we may encounter. We've never happened to stay at a LaQuinta yet, but it looks perfectly serviceable for a couple of nights.

 

[pkondz]

Boy when you have car troubles, they always seem to come at the worst times, don't they?
Lucky you've got a mechanic handy!
I'm pretty good with cars, too.
When ours breaks down, I call AAA (actually, up here it's CAA) and when the truck pulls up, I point to it and say, "It's sick!"
Within a few days (and several dollars) it's fixed!

I've stayed at La Quinta before. It's very similar to Country Inns & Suites if you've ever stayed at one of those.
I remember it as being a very nice place to stay.
Of course, YMMV.

Is the Loveless cafe owned or named for Patty Loveless?

 

[momabbate]

Oh my what a fun trip. Even if you did take Disney out (I'm glad your not) it sounds like so much fun.
I caught up in a day from joining in 6 months ago. So way to much to comment on.
Can't wait to hear more.

 

[ddstratton]

Boy when you have car troubles, they always seem to come at the worst times, don't they?
Lucky you've got a mechanic handy!
I'm pretty good with cars, too.
When ours breaks down, I call AAA (actually, up here it's CAA) and when the truck pulls up, I point to it and say, "It's sick!"
Within a few days (and several dollars) it's fixed!

We don't often have car troubles, but when we do - I'm very glad that DH can handle it!

I've stayed at La Quinta before. It's very similar to Country Inns & Suites if you've ever stayed at one of those.
I remember it as being a very nice place to stay.
Of course, YMMV.

We've been to Country Inns & Suites before. I expect it will be just fine for the two nights we'll be there. All we'll be looking for is a clean and comfy bed!

Is the Loveless cafe owned or named for Patty Loveless?

Good question! Here's what I found in Wikipedia:

In 1951, Lon and Anne Loveless purchased the “Harpeth Valley Tea Room” on Highway 100 and renamed it the Loveless Motel and Cafe. They originally served only chicken at picnic tables on their front porch, but eventually converted rooms in the house to accommodate a bigger menu and a need for more dining space. They owned the motel and cafe for eight years before selling it to Cordell and Stella Maynard in 1959. In 1973, the Maynards sold the business to Charles and Donna McCabe. Their 12-year-old son George became a full business partner at Loveless in 1982. He expanded the services of the Loveless by creating Loveless Motel and Cafe's "Hams & Jams" mail-order business and catalog.

Motel operations ceased in 1985 and the 14 units were converted into rooms for mail orders, storage and a special dining room. In 2003, the Loveless Cafe was sold to a few committed Nashville natives. They closed the cafe in February 2004 for restorations. The five-month project included a new kitchen, new restrooms and additional seating. The two buildings containing the old motel rooms were converted to Hams & Jams Country Market and the Loveless Motel Shops. The renovation was awarded the Critic’s Choice for Best Resurrection of an Institution by the Nashville Scene later that year.

Oh my what a fun trip. Even if you did take Disney out (I'm glad your not) it sounds like so much fun.
I caught up in a day from joining in 6 months ago. So way to much to comment on.
Can't wait to hear more.

Welcome back! I am looking forward to this trip -- so much! I think we'll all have a lot of fun.

 

[pkondz]

In 1951, Lon and Anne Loveless purchased the “Harpeth Valley Tea Room” on Highway 100 and renamed it the Loveless Motel and Cafe. They originally served only chicken at picnic tables on their front porch, but eventually converted rooms in the house to accommodate a bigger menu and a need for more dining space. They owned the motel and cafe for eight years before selling it to Cordell and Stella Maynard in 1959. In 1973, the Maynards sold the business to Charles and Donna McCabe. Their 12-year-old son George became a full business partner at Loveless in 1982. He expanded the services of the Loveless by creating Loveless Motel and Cafe's "Hams & Jams" mail-order business and catalog.

Motel operations ceased in 1985 and the 14 units were converted into rooms for mail orders, storage and a special dining room. In 2003, the Loveless Cafe was sold to a few committed Nashville natives. They closed the cafe in February 2004 for restorations. The five-month project included a new kitchen, new restrooms and additional seating. The two buildings containing the old motel rooms were converted to Hams & Jams Country Market and the Loveless Motel Shops. The renovation was awarded the Critic’s Choice for Best Resurrection of an Institution by the Nashville Scene later that year.

Well there ya go! Thanks!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oh my goodness, reading your recap of your 2007 trip and the car troubles made me wanna hide in a corner. You poor thing! It reminds me of the trip that we took to Disney in Mama's van and everything started pouring out of spots that it wasn't supposed to pour out of.

I am looking forward to hearing about your visit to Loretta Lynn's Ranch and Kitchen. I'm with you on not passing up the restaurant because of some bad reviews. You never know until you try it yourselves.

 

[ddstratton]

Oh my goodness, reading your recap of your 2007 trip and the car troubles made me wanna hide in a corner. You poor thing! It reminds me of the trip that we took to Disney in Mama's van and everything started pouring out of spots that it wasn't supposed to pour out of.

I am looking forward to hearing about your visit to Loretta Lynn's Ranch and Kitchen. I'm with you on not passing up the restaurant because of some bad reviews. You never know until you try it yourselves.

I think I remember reading about that! I hate car troubles in general, but on vacation??? Not allowed!!!!

I am looking forward to going to Loretta Lynn's Kitchen, even with the bad reviews - simply because it's something I've wanted to do for so long! At least I'm forwarned that it may not live up to high expectations...

 

[ddstratton]

May 2015 Pre Trip Report Announcement!

Announcing a break from our regularly-scheduled programming.

OK, I'’m going to fill out this long-standing Pre-Trip Report with a second Pre-Trip Report! We are taking a week-long trip to visit family in Ashville this May, as we often do. I’m gonna go ahead and do a little pre-trippie here, and will also give a Trip Report on this little trip here.

Oh, and it actually does relate to this current Pre-Trip Report! Because of this little trip we are taking in May 2015, something will change in our BIG 2016 trip. More on that later, though.

Our dates for this new trip --– leave May 21st, arrive home May 30th.

We will be travelling to Asheville, NC, to visit DH’s SIL, Niece, Great-Nephew and family friends.

Angie (niece) and DD

Kayden (great-nephew)

Gail (SIL) and Kayden

Jerry (family friend) with DD and his cute little doggie Meg

Our travelling party will consist of DH and I, DD and DH’s mom.

DH and I

DD

Sarah (DH’s mom) and DD

Our mode of transportation will be our 20-year-old mini-van. Yup. It’'s TWENTY years old. I'’ve only had it for about a year. It is in super-good condition, especially for a New York vehicle. Usually, they are rust-buckets because of the winters here. This vehicle, however, has really been taken care of well -– there is almost ZERO rust on this thing. It is in sound mechanical condition, and the interior is even in good shape. Yay! The only thing that needs to be fixed on it before our vacation is the air conditioning. There is a leak in it somewhere that DH needs to find and fix.

I had originally planned this trip for the week before, as that would coincide with our 24th Anniversary. However, something came up that made it almost NECESSARY for me to shift the dates of our trip by one week. It’'s something PRETTY MAJOR for DD, and it'’ll come up fairly soon in this little Pre-Trippy.

How'’s that for a tease?

 

[mickeystoontown]

Something major? Something major? You leave us with a teaser like that? Just kidding! Looking forward to hearing more about the "major".

 

[ddstratton]

Something major? Something major? You leave us with a teaser like that? Just kidding! Looking forward to hearing more about the "major".

Yup, I'm mean like that. It really is something major to DD. Not so much for me, but DD is over-the-moon ecstatic about this.

 

[ddstratton]

May 2015 - Day 1 Plans

We'’ll be leaving on a Thursday morning. Not too early, this time around. Mid-morning probably. We'’re going to make a few stops that are traditional for us, and a few that will be brand new.

We’'ve made the trip from Upstate NY to western North Carolina --– and other points South --– many times. I honestly don'’t even know how many times. Often enough that we are very familiar with the route down through Pennsylvania.

The first stop on our trip will be a traditional one. We'’ll be stopping in Williamsport, PA, at McDonald’'s.

We'’ll grab some lunch here, then travel on down the road. However, we won'’t be going very far before our next stop. This next stop is a brand new one for us. We’'ve driven past this place many times, and have talked about stopping, but never have.

Reptile Land.

Yup, a little zoo full of reptiles. We’'ve never been here, and it actually gets pretty good reviews on TripAdvisor. We'’ll make the stop just to look around, since we have never been.

The next stop on this first day will also be a new one for us, and is very near Reptile Land. Just a little ways down the road is the Purity Candy Company. It'’s a local company that'’s been in business since 1907, making hand-made chocolates and other candies. The “factory” is right there, and you can watch them making candy sometimes. This won’t be a long stop, but should be a fun -– and tasty –- one.

After seeing, and probably purchasing, some tasty treats, we'’ll hit the road again. From here on out, we'’ll stay pretty traditional today. We'’ll be stopping for the night in Hagerstown, MD. We'’ll be staying at a Rodeway Inn. This hotel is actually physically connected to another –-- the Clarion. They share an indoor pool. This place gets so-so reviews on TripAdvisor, but I figure that it'’s good enough for one night and the price is right!

The nice big building here is the Clarion.

If you look to the right side, you'’ll see the itty-bitty little Rodeway Inn, tagging along.

Once we get checked in, we'’ll head out for some supper. Most likely, we’'ll hit another semi-traditional place for us --– Ryan'’s. We all like a good buffet, and have never been disappointed at this Ryan'’s.

After supper, we'’ll just head back to the hotel. We may take advantage of the lovely looking pool, or may just veg out in our rooms and soak up some free wi-fi.

 

[Steppesister]

Looks like you have a very lovely little trip all planned out! I think as much or more of the fun is in the anticipation and planning.

 

[KatMark]

Yay another trip to read about.

And a teaser right off.

First day plans sound great. Well, all except the snake part.

 

[ddstratton]

Looks like you have a very lovely little trip all planned out! I think as much or more of the fun is in the anticipation and planning.

Thanks! I LOVE planning a trip. That's why I've got two going at once!!

Yay another trip to read about.

And a teaser right off.

First day plans sound great. Well, all except the snake part.

I'm not entirely thrilled with the snake part, but as long as there is a nice thick glass between me and the snake, I can deal with it.

 

[ddstratton]

May 2015 - Day 2 Plans

Today is a pretty traditional day. Mostly just driving. We are going to skip any free breakfast offered by the hotel, in order to do one of our traditional favorites –-- IHOP. We stop here on almost every trip South.

After breakfast, it’'s just more driving South on I-81. I don’'t know how many times we’ve done this….

Lunch will be a new one for us, though. We'’ll likely be stopping at a Chick-Fil-A. We don’'t have these where we live, so it’s kinda fun for us.

After lunch, we'’ll travel South some more. And some more. And keep traveling until we get to Asheville!

DD and MIL will be staying with the family we’re visiting.

Duane and I are renting a small house through VRBO. It’'s only ten minutes from the family’s place, and will give us some space. Free wi-fi included, too. Gotta love that.

If we go with tradition, we'’ll all go out to dinner together on this night. That, or we'’ll go grab some Little Caesar’'s pizza --– another thing we don'’t have near us at home. Other than that, we'’ll just spend the evening visiting and catching up.

The "major thing" for DD is coming up in the next update. I won't keep you in suspense for too long.

 

[Steppesister]

Lots of fun planning coming together. Keep up the good work!

 

[ddstratton]

Lots of fun planning coming together. Keep up the good work!

Thanks -- the planning is coming together nicely. I'll have another update shortly. The one with the "major thing" for DD.

 

[ddstratton]

May 2015 - Days 3 thru 5 Plans

Day 3 is a Saturday, and we have no plans. We'’ll just visit with the family, most likely. However, when DH and I leave for the night, DD will be coming along with us. She needs to be with us so that we can leave fairly early the next morning, for the reason we changed our trip dates.

Day 4 is a Sunday. We'll get up and around and have some breakfast. Then we are heading to Atlanta, GA. Well, just south of Atlanta.

You see, DD is OBSESSED with Jerry Reed. Singer, songwriter, actor. Who passed away in 2008.

One thing he is famous for is his role as Cledus Snow --– or The Snowman -- in the “Smokey And The Bandit” movies.

There is a thing called “The Snowman'’s Run.” This is a group of movie fans that get together every year and raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project --– which is something that Jerry Reed supported.

They have replicas of the vehicles – including the beautiful truck/trailer that Jerry Reed'’s character drove in the movie.

Well, this year'’s Snowman'’s Run starts in Atlanta, GA, as it did in the original movie. They went from Atlanta to Texarkana and back, to pick up a load of beer on a bet. This year'’s run is also from Atlanta to Texarkana and back, but takes the long way around -– going through several states, including down to Florida - before heading back to Atlanta.

There is no way we could possibly follow the entire run, as it lasts for a week. However, it does start in Atlanta. Which is only 3 hours from Asheville, where we'’ll be. Yup, we’'re taking the kid to the kickoff of Snowman’'s Run 2015. It'’s a two-day event. On the first day, they have some tours of movie locations in the Atlanta area. Much of the movies were filmed in the area. I believe there is also a car show of the many Trans Ams, police cars, etc., from the movie that will be making the Run this year.

And “The Rig.” The beautifully painted rig that is a replica of the one driven in the movie. It will be there. And so will DD. She will get to see it up-close and personal. When I told her that this was going to happen, she was literally speechless. Her face flushed red and she was speechless. She was so very thrilled at the thought of getting to see this rig in person.

And then I started chatting on Facebook with the person who will be DRIVING the rig. Yup. DD is going to get to RIDE IN THE RIG!!! When I told her that… Oh my. I don'’t think she'’s stopped grinning yet. During the Sunday activities, we are to meet up with the driver of the rig, and he will give DD a ride in the rig. She is going to be on Cloud 9!!

We'’ll be spending the night near the festivities, at a Quality Inn. There'’s an outdoor pool, but I don'’t know if we'’ll use it or not. It really depends on the activity schedule for the day. I'’m not sure yet what is happening at what time, so I don'’t have a firm plan. Just that we'’re going.

Day 5 is Monday, Memorial Day. This is the day that the Snowman'’s Run leaves Atlanta to head out on their “run”. I’'m not sure of what activities may happen today, or what times. All I know is that we'’ll stick around until the procession takes off from Atlanta. After that, we'’ll head back to Asheville to continue our regularly scheduled family visit. Whether DD’'s head ever comes out of the clouds after this, we may never know…

 

[KatMark]

I imagine your daughter is over moon with this awesome thing you are doing for her. It truly sounds as if she will have a blast.

 

[GeminiAngel]

WOW! Elisabeth has just got to be so excited!!! How in the world did you meet the driver of the rig? What an incredible opportunity.