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

[ddstratton]

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.

She is so very thrilled. It's something she'll love, and it's not very difficult for us to make happen.

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.

She is thrilled! She actually started talking to him on the Snowman's Run Facebook page, before she found out we were going. She is a huge Jerry Reed fan - totally obsessed. She was following the Snowman's Run, just because it had to do with Jerry Reed. This guy actually asked our permission to send her a couple of Jerry Reed souvenirs he had. He sent her a decal, a CD and a couple of match-boxes from one of his albums.

Once I found out the actual dates of this run, and the location, and decided we could go, I told him via Facebook, and he offered to get her a ride in the rig.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oh my word Darla! I can only imagine Elizabeth's reaction to the big surprise! I bet that she was over the moon happy and I can't blame her one bit. That's one heck of a surprise.

 

[ddstratton]

Oh my word Darla! I can only imagine Elizabeth's reaction to the big surprise! I bet that she was over the moon happy and I can't blame her one bit. That's one heck of a surprise.

It was quite a surprise for her! I am just happy that I hadn't made any firm plans for vacation the week before yet! We had just started talking about taking a vacation and were playing with dates, when we found out the dates and location for this. She had been talking about it for a while, but I hadn't realized where/when and how close to our NC family it was.

 

[pkondz]

Stil following along...
Getting to ride... in the rig?????
HOLY COW! She is going to flip. out.
I mean more than she already has.

 

[ddstratton]

Stil following along...
Getting to ride... in the rig?????
HOLY COW! She is going to flip. out.
I mean more than she already has.

Yup. She's already got to sit in one of the actual Trans Ams, at the Stars Cars museum in Gatlinburg. That just about made the entire vacation for her that time. I can only imagine what her reaction will be with this. Doesn't matter that the rig is a replica, to her. She is really looking forward to it, a it is a gathering of people who love the movie, and by extension - her idol, Jerry Reed. Should be quite an experience.

 

[MEK]

Looks like I have gotten myself pretty far behind again.

Yay for the trip Asheville NC. I was there once with my parents ages ago. I absolutely loved the Biltmore and would love to return. I did not know that Atlanta is only 3 hours from Asheville.

I am sure you are going to have a blast with your relatives.

How wonderful that you have arranged for your daughter to ride in the Big Rig. That is really awesome. She must be super excited!

 

[Steppesister]

Such a FUN thing you're planning for your DD! She will really appreciate you doing that and must be SO excited! YAY for making memories!

 

[momabbate]

Great reason to change your dates. She is one lucky girl. I love that you have so many trips to write about. Makes me want to put more time in planning trips.

 

[ddstratton]

Looks like I have gotten myself pretty far behind again.

Yay for the trip Asheville NC. I was there once with my parents ages ago. I absolutely loved the Biltmore and would love to return. I did not know that Atlanta is only 3 hours from Asheville.

I am sure you are going to have a blast with your relatives.

How wonderful that you have arranged for your daughter to ride in the Big Rig. That is really awesome. She must be super excited!

One thing with a Pre-Trip report starting so far out -- you've got lots of time to catch up if you get behind!!

We love the Asheville area. It is just beautiful. We go down to visit at least once a year, taking DH's mom with us to visit family. According to my map program, it should only take about three hours (a wee bit more) to get from Asheville to Atlanta. We'll find out!

DD is still super-excited about this trip now. She loves going to Asheville to visit with the family, but this is something on an entirely different level.

Such a FUN thing you're planning for your DD! She will really appreciate you doing that and must be SO excited! YAY for making memories!

She is very excited. I think we'll all have fun, but she is just over-the-moon thrilled.

Great reason to change your dates. She is one lucky girl. I love that you have so many trips to write about. Makes me want to put more time in planning trips.

Yeah, I think it's a good reason to change our dates. This is something she'll always remember, I'm sure.

I love planning a trip. Even just a quick trip to visit family. We've made the trip to Asheville before to spend just one night!

 

[ddstratton]

May 2015 - Days 3 thru 5 Plans - Reboot!

OK. Minor changes to these plans. Already. I know -– who’'s surprised, right??? We are not going to be checking in to the cabin/house in Asheville on Friday. DH and I will grab a hotel room for that one night. We are still staying in the cabin/house, just a bit later.

We will head to Atlanta on Saturday instead of Sunday. The guy who drives the rig will be in Atlanta on Saturday, and has offered to give DD a private look at the rig! She'’ll get to see it and get in it and take pictures without a crowd around! Woo Hoo!!!

We'’ll spend Saturday and Sunday night in a Holiday Inn in LaGrange, GA –- a bit south of Atlanta. This hotel has a group rate going for the Snowman'’s Run participants, so it'’s a bit cheaper for us than just reserving it ourselves. This hotel has in indoor pool, in case we decide we need to cool off a bit.

Sunday will still be a day of the Snowman’'s Run activities. There is a tour of several different movie locations and the car show/kick-off event.

Monday, we will still stick around until they all leave on the Run. Then we will head back to Asheville. This is when DH and I will check into the house/cabin we'’ve rented. And it's official -– we HAVE rented it. I put the deposit down today!! YAY!!

 

[princessbelle2015]

I am joining in late. I look forward to your trip this may and also disney the next year. I am excited for your DD. I am sure she will have great time.

 

[mickeystoontown]

No, I'm not surprised that you've changed things around a bit. Sounds like a good trip planner in my opinion. It's so neat that Elizabeth is going to get to do and see something that she's always dreamed about. You are super Mama!

 

[KatMark]

Plans change? I never heard of such a thing. But that is awesome DD is getting a private tour.

 

[ddstratton]

I am joining in late. I look forward to your trip this may and also disney the next year. I am excited for your DD. I am sure she will have great time.

No such thing as late around here! Glad to have you join us!

No, I'm not surprised that you've changed things around a bit. Sounds like a good trip planner in my opinion. It's so neat that Elizabeth is going to get to do and see something that she's always dreamed about. You are super Mama!

Lotsa changes around here. That's one thing I can practically guarantee!

Plans change? I never heard of such a thing. But that is awesome DD is getting a private tour.

DD is super-thrilled about being able to see the truck at all, and being able to see it without a crowd around -- she's awe-struck.

 

[Steppesister]

Deposits down are always a GREAT thing!! YAY for plans moving forward!

 

[ddstratton]

Here's a non-trip-related life update, and a little self-promotion for DD. She has officially published her first book!! Yup, at 15 years old, she is a published author. She spent about a year writing this book, and we went through CreateSpace and Amazon to publish her book. It's available on Amazon and Kindle, and she is so very excited! It's called "The Tales of a Gear-Jammin' Brother" and is about a truck-driver.

 

[princessbelle2015]

That's great that DD wrote and published a book. I will go on amazon today and order the book.

 

[RunnerMommyof4]

Joining in as we have just started our pre-trip report for what feels like forever away...

 

[pkondz]

15.... And an author....
Impressed!

 

[Steppesister]

WOW! Very cool to be an author! Way to go!