P.O.T.C. On Stranger Rides! The Missing Chapter,,Final Thoughts,, Preview Thoughts.

[ddstratton]

NOT a fun start to your trip!!!! I'm hoping it gets better from here...

 

[nebo]

Watch out, here come Smidgy and Nebo.


Bad Santa Fe, Bad Santa Fe. You get act up one more time and you're never going to Disney World again.
I cuouldn't yell at her, she's been great 11 times before.

Were you hoping if you stared at it long enough, it would fill back up. Just like watching a movie over and over. You know how it ends, but always hope for a different ending.

Yeah, something like that.

I thought for sure we would have our first Nebo accident here.

Thump, it came close, I was reaching for it!



How nice of the Knight's to let you have the King's bed.

And the keys to the chastity belt, too!
(did I just say that out loud?)



I'll finish breaking this down later. Time to leave work.

I enjoy a good breakdown.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

I have to wonder what part she found so amusing.

Loving this trip report so far.
This is the first trip report I have followed real time. I've read all the other Nebo trip reports but it was after they where finished or so close to finished they were done by the time I got to the end. I'm not sure which is better. When I read a completed trip report I tend to skip over a lot of the comments. I would read the Chapters and the first post by Smidgy after each installment. You get big doses of Nebo and Smidgy that way, reading 3 or 4 installments at a time.
Reading the report as it is written gives you time to read everyone's post and lets you feel a sense of community like your sharing the story with a big group.. It is fun but the cliff hangers and the waiting are killers.

Hi, and welcome! And I totally agree with you, I never liked waiting for the next chapter reading a report, that's why all of us here try to make the down time fun with bizarre comments and such.

I need Valium after reading this! It's been many years since I had to drive far in a blinding rain and it took 10 years off my life!

We had a minor incident with our van on a trip to Disney once. The rubber gasket thing around the windshield came loose at the sides and flapped in the breeze like Dumbo taking flight! Duct tape. Keep a roll in each of your vehicles, I'm just sayin'.

Oh yes, that'll work.
I can picture the Santa Fe rolling down the highway with the right front tire encased in duct tape that is also holding up the exhaust while the rest of the roll trails behind the car with the words: "Just Worried" written on it.

Nebo and Smidgey......what a great tale you're telling.

Sitting beside the road in the fetal position in a blinding rainstorm is perhaps the best cliff hanger I've ever had the happy experience to read about it. and what happened to the pictures. Pictures of the rain??? Pictures of the rust????? Pictures of the guys showing up with the pretty white straight jackets??? Come on Nebo, no excuses ....cough up a couple of pics........

waiting patiently for the next installment

AWW, danger Note the NEW countdown ticker.... Ya inspired me to jump on top of some great airfare deal, bite the bullet, and not drive to Orlando. Thanks Nebo.....I needed the encouragement to jump on this deal.

I promise, couple of dumb pics next chapter, nothing to get excited about though.
Congrats on the ticker! Hope you have a great trip!

Waiting.....

Still waiting....

And still waiting......


But I really don't understand how you possibly drove through all that rain from Lee. I thought it was all in my basement. Seriously, I barely managed the six mile drive to work without Valium. Have you ever caressed your dashboard and whispered sweet nothings to your car? "You can do it, don't die on me..." I never could have drove any distance.

Redwitch, if we had known just how bad it was going to be, we might have gone all the way east to 95 and come down from there to miss it. Once you are in it though, you have no choice anymore.

Aww, Nebo that should be a really sweet gesture and it would be, had you not mentioned the fly infestation in your home. I think I'll pass on being a cast member of Nebo's version of Lord of the Flies.

Hey, I thought it was Lord of the Files?



Thanks Nebo! Posting in your TRs is not for the slow of wit. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed(think pkondz), but every now and then I have my moments.

Yes, you have great movements,,,moments, but this is not a witty contest, it's all of us
contributing to make for a fun read!


Smidgy, your dialogue of the drama within the Santa Fe during the monsoon really added another layer of tension to the drive. I have said this several times, but seriously you and Nebo are vividly depicting some of my worst fears. I really, really want this to get better for you guys. Kudos on the no smoking!

Funny thing was, these were my fears before we left,
I just didn't know what to do about the situation.
Plus, don't you ALWAYS picture things worse than what
actually happens? Then you chide yourself later?
Did I mention we arent' done yet?

Well, my job here is done. I just wanted to make Nebo say "Gack"... mission accomplished. I guess I won't be posting anymore, bye all, it's been fun.


Ok, thank you, "Ladies and gentlemen, Ponzi has left the building."


Give that man a cheroot. (Had to throw one more MASH quote in).

Oh you came back!

I remember reading your last trip report and I often think of you guys as i use the same exit as Safari Inn to go to my sister's house. Next time you guys go down, pm me and I will give you my number - then you don't have to pay $41 for some crappy resort fee. I am right around the area that has b/c a magnet for your guys to stop! For some reason I think of you like Indiana Jones or something... Smidgy you rock!
Hoping your TR will hold me over these next 3 weeks until we get to try it on our own! Looking forward to the rest of your tale!

Yeah but will we get the complimentary styrofoam cup of coffee in the morning?
AS far as the Indy thing goes, I've often wished I could have a little
map across the screen that shows the line moving
from Carpentersville to Disneyworld, like they did for the
plane ride in Raiders of the Lost Ack.

Ark.

See? He's still making me say "ACK"!

Wow! What a tale! I can't wait to read what happens next. You must wish you had taken your chances with the aluminum tube. I had no idea the drive from the midwest was so treacherous. It sounds bad even under ideal conditions.

Laura, I really don't think it's a bad drive when the
weather is ok, the mountains part just spices it up a bit.
If you take the more easter route through the heart of the Smokies and through Knoxville and Ashville,,,, that's another story.

If we were to drive from the northeast we'd just have to deal with the traffic and endless boredom of 95. Although we did have an incident driving through Delaware once. The alternator went out while my husband was driving in the left lane of 95 and he had to coast across 3 lanes of traffic to get to the right side of the highway. We had no idea what the problem was. I was afraid the car would blow up so I grabbed my six month old daughter and ran near the woods. We had to join AAA from the side of the road, and that is an odd place to give out your credit card information.

Good ol' Triple A. Funny you should mention them,,,,

I hope the Santa Fe is doing well now!

It's much better now, we'll get to that....

I was wondering about that. Somehow those responces didn't ring of true Smidginess. She's kind of in that front-line-of-fire herself, so she's prbably got some choice stories as well.

I'm staying and waiting for my treat. A tasty (if possibly terrifying) chapter of Nebo/Smidgy traveling excitement.

FLady Rat, you shall be rewarded, but I'm sorry, not till tomorrow.

NOT a fun start to your trip!!!! I'm hoping it gets better from here...

And Congratulations to you! So you have to put the trip off a couple days for childbirth.

 

[ddstratton]

And Congratulations to you! So you have to put the trip off a couple days for childbirth.

Thank you! Yeah, our trips is put off more than a few days... It'll be 2013 before we go again. And then we'll have a toddler, a teenager and a senior with us!! (new baby, DD will be 14, and Mom will be 63 - close enough to senior citizen!!)

 

[1971DBday]

......and this is why we fly!!!! Cheaper and safer!!!!!

Why do you put yourself and Smidgy through this??? I can't stand driving under normal circumstances and it would kill me to going to WDW, like pure slow torture (i.e. your drive so far).

Not to mention, while flying your could break out some fuzzy cups!!!!!

We are flying out in 4 days with a terrorist threat looming over us and I would still rather fly then drive, but I can't wait to hear more of your adventure - you just have the art of story telling. I may have to catch up when we return!!!!

 

[queenbetsey]

.., I wonder?)Oh look! Nebo has become a master of understatement. Bravo, sir. Here's your plaque. (For your tooth of course... had it yanked out yet? And how is queenbetsey doing, I wonder?)


hey pkondz
queenbetsey is doing much better. Did spend Labor Day weekend pretty much a drooling swollen mess. But things are healing up. Getting used to the new teeth. The kids in the classroom I work in were funny. One said to make sure to put ,y teeth under my pillow for the tooth fairy (that would have made her broke) and another said he liked my "other teeth" better because I reminded him of Nanny Mc Phee. (look it up on the internet if you don't know that series. hmmmm ) Kids are great to work with. So Nebo take care of your tooth before you end up with HUGE dental issues.
Upside is that I've lost 15 pounds.

 

[queenbetsey]

I have to agree with everyone here. Wow! What a mess. That is one heck of a story. I also would have curled up into a fetal position. Really you guys need to sell these stories or make a book or something.
Thanks for all the diversion as I re read your old TR.s during Labor Day weekend. Never had so much fun while in so much pain. But a few vics and it was well worth it.
Moral of the story is.. Take care of your teeth before they get too bad.
Ironically I finally got insurance through my job//a Too late for my situation but it's all good. And just in time for my accident prone hubby to injure his finger and need surgery.
Glad you made it there and back!
Betsey

 

[buzz1121]

Funny thing was, these were my fears before we left,
I just didn't know what to do about the situation.
Plus, don't you ALWAYS picture things worse than what
actually happens? Then you chide yourself later?
Did I mention we arent' done yet?

I think I hope that my imagination is worse than what actually happens. That tends to work for me on the little things. It's the events that you can't possibly envision that pack the wallop, so to speak. You know car troubles are bad, and those you may possibly chide yourself for later, but car trouble combined simultaneously with blinding rain just ratchets it up another level for me. I think about my fears and I think of how I might handle dealing with them, but I have to admit that I don't often think of them combined in one particular event. So, thanks Nebo, for planting that lovely seed for further rumination.

It's been a great day though. My DS's soccer team won their game and there were some great college football games on TV today. My favorite team won. The weather was nice. All in all, just a great fall day!

I know I always anticipate the next Nebo chapter, but I also must say that I just really enjoy the whole Nebo TR experience. You are the main contributor of course, but there are so many really great folks who post in your threads. Speaking for myself, I am completely fine with the TR lasting as long as possible. Nebo TRs shouldn't be rushed, they should be savored like a fine wine, not gulped like a cheap Merlot!

Oh yes, and less I forget, I have certainly had memorable movements in my life. Live long enough and you're bound to I think. Wouldn't you say your Ohana shrimp movement was memorable? The telling of the tale(or tails as it were) was very memorable to me!

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I know I always anticipate the next Nebo chapter, but I also must say that I just really enjoy the whole Nebo TR experience. You are the main contributor of course, but there are so many really great folks who post in your threads. Speaking for myself, I am completely fine with the TR lasting as long as possible. Nebo TRs shouldn't be rushed, they should be savored like a fine wine, not gulped like a cheap Merlot!

I totally agree!

Couldn't have said it any better myself, if I were that eloquent, which I certainly am not, LOL! So thanks for stating this, Buzz.

Marita

 

[pkondz]

Nebo TRs shouldn't be rushed, they should be savored like a fine wine, not gulped like a cheap Merlot!

You forgot the 'H' in wine.

 

[burly]

NEBO, catching up. attempting to keep up with the chatting, but i have no patience. some stuff...
I hate tires. I have run over at least 4 bolts or had a bubble or had some crazy rim issue, blek. tires suck. unless they are nicely rolling us along.

i agree with you on the gas light. Because it will come on....right after you roll by the signs stating the next gas station is 1,700 miles on down the road...

I also have an emotional condition with driving on a trip and weather.
first off when its raining there is always that cold rain and hot people window fogging issue, and you work on the the vents/temp/ and window crack thing while driving in a torrential downpour and that's not safe...

Also when driving in the crazy gorgeous mountains in the stupid pouring rain the only thing you do see is the giant truck runoff up the side of the road!

Ok ready for more. sorry so wordy and run on ee.

KIM
p.s. sounds like you took a round about way down there, but i am too lazy to map it so i could be totally wrong.

 

[nebo]

Thank you! Yeah, our trips is put off more than a few days... It'll be 2013 before we go again. And then we'll have a toddler, a teenager and a senior with us!! (new baby, DD will be 14, and Mom will be 63 - close enough to senior citizen!!)

Ok Darla, what's anoather year? I just can'dt imagine touring a park with a baby.

......and this is why we fly!!!! Cheaper and safer!!!!!

Why do you put yourself and Smidgy through this??? I can't stand driving under normal circumstances and it would kill me to going to WDW, like pure slow torture (i.e. your drive so far).

Not to mention, while flying your could break out some fuzzy cups!!!!!

We are flying out in 4 days with a terrorist threat looming over us and I would still rather fly then drive, but I can't wait to hear more of your adventure - you just have the art of story telling. I may have to catch up when we return!!!!

Fine, take the easy route. Have a great trip kathy, say hi to Jeff and tell him to keep his shirt on this time.

I have to agree with everyone here. Wow! What a mess. That is one heck of a story. I also would have curled up into a fetal position. Really you guys need to sell these stories or make a book or something.
Thanks for all the diversion as I re read your old TR.s during Labor Day weekend. Never had so much fun while in so much pain. But a few vics and it was well worth it.
Moral of the story is.. Take care of your teeth before they get too bad.
Ironically I finally got insurance through my job//a Too late for my situation but it's all good. And just in time for my accident prone hubby to injure his finger and need surgery.
Glad you made it there and back!
Betsey

bets, glad your teeth are improving, wew still need a lot of work ourselves, but at least you'll fully understand my vike references now.

I know I always anticipate the next Nebo chapter, but I also must say that I just really enjoy the whole Nebo TR experience. You are the main contributor of course, but there are so many really great folks who post in your threads. Speaking for myself, I am completely fine with the TR lasting as long as possible. Nebo TRs shouldn't be rushed, they should be savored like a fine wine, not gulped like a cheap Merlot!

Oh yes, and less I forget, I have certainly had memorable movements in my life. Live long enough and you're bound to I think. Wouldn't you say your Ohana shrimp movement was memorable? The telling of the tale(or tails as it were) was very memorable to me!

I don't even want to think about teh Ohana night! By the way, I always thought my reports fell more into the Boonesfarm category. Or Mad Dog.

 

[nebo]

i agree with you on the gas light. Because it will come on....right after you roll by the signs stating the next gas station is 1,700 miles on down the road...

I also have an emotional condition with driving on a trip and weather.
first off when its raining there is always that cold rain and hot people window fogging issue, and you work on the the vents/temp/ and window crack thing while driving in a torrential downpour and that's not safe...




KIM
p.s. sounds like you took a round about way down there, but i am too lazy to map it so i could be totally wrong.

Hi Kim, this route so far is actually about as direct as you can go, to Orlando.
You did mention the litttle gas light, that will come into play later. Also, you hit it right on the head with the fogging issue,,,, that was a real problem, constantly adjusting different combinations of defroster, a/c, window cracked, vents,,and sometimes I couldn't tell if it was fog on the window or just the torrential rain outside making it look that way.

Ok, new chapter coming later on, honest!

(did you see how I just ignored my Canadian friend?)

 

[ddstratton]

Ok Darla, what's anoather year? I just can'dt imagine touring a park with a baby.

I know. I'm missing Disney already, and it's gonna be about 2 years from now before we go back... When we do go again, the new one will be almost 18 months old. Touring parks could be interesting. Definitely a new experience for us! We'll have quite the age spread -- from 18 months to 63 years.

 

[buzz1121]

I totally agree!

Couldn't have said it any better myself, if I were that eloquent, which I certainly am not, LOL! So thanks for stating this, Buzz.

Marita

Thanks Marita! I always enjoy reading your Nebo insight!

You forgot the 'H' in wine.

Gah, how could I have forgotten?

I don't even want to think about teh Ohana night! By the way, I always thought my reports fell more into the Boonesfarm category. Or Mad Dog.

Ah, Boones Farm, the alcohol beverage of necessity during my college days! Those were the days when fuzzy cups were a luxury and a well used coffee mug worked just fine for dorm room get togethers. And Mad Dog, yes, I could see a Mad Dog fit for a Nebo TR.

 

[Self_resqing_princz]

I have forgotten who made the comment... but someone said they enjoyed reading the story in real time because it feels like you're sharing the story with a large group of people...

In this case... it almost seems like we're all packed into the backseat of the Santa Fe watching as Nebo clutches the steering wheel- white knuckling it and his forehead pressed against the windshield and Smidgy thumbing through the map and then wiping the fog off the glass from Nebo breathing so heavy on it because they're both scared to death!
I'm sitting on the floor in the back, behind the console with my chin resting on it... so I'd be sitting on the feet of Thumper Man and Backstage Gal...
everyone else sits on laps or squeezes to find a spot among the luggage... with all that extra weight on the tire, you're lucky it didn't completely pop!
But, I guess we're more like ghosts in the backseat really... we're retroactively living the moment with you... so I guess that saves the tire.... am I making any sense?
And honestly, I think any one of us would probably have needed a cigarette after that ordeal!
Okay... lets finish the trip down there- drama free please... I'm gonna go pop another TUMS to get my stomach unknotted. Thanks!

 

[LadyMar]

Ok, I'm all up to date now, very enjoyable as always. Congrats on you both quitting smoking! bravo!

here is flashback for you..

4/17/08
Quote:
Originally Posted by nebo
Natalie, congrats on the no smoking thing, I hope to join you there soon.


see you made it!! Natalie

Looking forward to the rest of your report.

 

[nebo]

I know. I'm missing Disney already, and it's gonna be about 2 years from now before we go back... When we do go again, the new one will be almost 18 months old. Touring parks could be interesting. Definitely a new experience for us! We'll have quite the age spread -- from 18 months to 63 years.

Darla, You just need to read trip reports until then, maybe pick up a new Unoficial Guide as well and the time will fly by.

Thanks Marita! I always enjoy reading your Nebo insight!






Ah, Boones Farm, the alcohol beverage of necessity during my college days! Those were the days when fuzzy cups were a luxury and a well used coffee mug worked just fine for dorm room get togethers. And Mad Dog, yes, I could see a Mad Dog fit for a Nebo TR.

Other great cheapo wines back in the day were Thunderbird, Cold Duck, Ripple and Bali Hai. I remember my older sister would share some of her Bali Hai with me when I was still 16 as long as I would sit and listen to her James Taylor and Joni Mitchell albums.
That's why I'[m as messed up as I am today.

I have forgotten who made the comment... but someone said they enjoyed reading the story in real time because it feels like you're sharing the story with a large group of people...

In this case... it almost seems like we're all packed into the backseat of the Santa Fe watching as Nebo clutches the steering wheel- white knuckling it and his forehead pressed against the windshield and Smidgy thumbing through the map and then wiping the fog off the glass from Nebo breathing so heavy on it because they're both scared to death!
I'm sitting on the floor in the back, behind the console with my chin resting on it... so I'd be sitting on the feet of Thumper Man and Backstage Gal...
everyone else sits on laps or squeezes to find a spot among the luggage... with all that extra weight on the tire, you're lucky it didn't completely pop!
But, I guess we're more like ghosts in the backseat really... we're retroactively living the moment with you... so I guess that saves the tire.... am I making any sense?
And honestly, I think any one of us would probably have needed a cigarette after that ordeal!
Okay... lets finish the trip down there- drama free please... I'm gonna go pop another TUMS to get my stomach unknotted. Thanks!

Hey Becka, that was very will done, bravo!

Ok, I'm all up to date now, very enjoyable as always. Congrats on you both quitting smoking! bravo!

here is flashback for you..

4/17/08
Quote:
Originally Posted by nebo
Natalie, congrats on the no smoking thing, I hope to join you there soon.


see you made it!! Natalie

Looking forward to the rest of your report.

Natalie, great to see you again!
How in the world did you pull something from over three years ago up? Seriously. I forgot all about that.

Ok, coming up in a few minutes we'll find out what else lies down the highway, if and when they get back on the road.
(you're doing that third person thing again, stop it!,,,,,,,, sorry)

 

[Backstage_Gal]

I have forgotten who made the comment... but someone said they enjoyed reading the story in real time because it feels like you're sharing the story with a large group of people...

In this case... it almost seems like we're all packed into the backseat of the Santa Fe watching as Nebo clutches the steering wheel- white knuckling it and his forehead pressed against the windshield and Smidgy thumbing through the map and then wiping the fog off the glass from Nebo breathing so heavy on it because they're both scared to death!
I'm sitting on the floor in the back, behind the console with my chin resting on it... so I'd be sitting on the feet of Thumper Man and Backstage Gal...
everyone else sits on laps or squeezes to find a spot among the luggage... with all that extra weight on the tire, you're lucky it didn't completely pop!
But, I guess we're more like ghosts in the backseat really... we're retroactively living the moment with you... so I guess that saves the tire.... am I making any sense?
And honestly, I think any one of us would probably have needed a cigarette after that ordeal!
Okay... lets finish the trip down there- drama free please... I'm gonna go pop another TUMS to get my stomach unknotted. Thanks!

I swear, the Nebo and Smidgy fan club has some of the wittiest people on the net.
Now get off my foot please, SRP!

 

[nebo]

With the rain pounding down around us, I'm still curled up
in a ball on the front drivers seat, wondering what we should
do now.
Our situatiion is thus;
The rain is coming down in sheets, and it's going to keep
doing that ALL,,,DANG ,,,, DAY, even though the wind isn't really
a problem yet, this is Tropical Storm Lee sitting over us,
sharing.
I can't see to drive, Smidgy sees a little better than I do,
but even she needs cataract surgery still on one eye, and
she not only does not drive highways, she hates to drive in the rain, and really doesn't like to drive, period. Again, as for highways, she never has and now is not
the time to start.

I had no idea I was going to be this prophetic when I named this report, "On Stranger Rides!"

But Smidgy has had the Atlas on her lap the entire morning, looking at it; You could say the weight of the whole world is
on her lap, well, at least the weight of the United States plus
Canada is on her lap,,,,
hmmm, mayve it's just the weight of Charles Atlas on her
lap,,, must reconsider this,,,,,

anyway

Smidgy then spoke:
"Ok, I can see better than you, it looks like there's a state route not too far from here, rt. 27 that goes way down in Georgia, it will be much slower of course, but at least we'll be heading in the right direction and making some progress.

At first it seemed really stupid to me, and as I was thinking about it she also mentioned that she could try the
interstate since with this weather we can't go fast anyway,
but she'd really prefer not to.

The more i thought about it the more sense it made,
so I took my macho ego, put it in the glove box and got out
of the driver's seat so we could switch places.
She went inside the gas station to ask for directions.

She asked, he answered, and when the directions didn't work, she pulled into
another gas station.

This was also another Pakistani or Indian clerk with an even stronger accent, she was in there a while and really
frustrated when she came out. He basically told her at the end
to just go down 3 stoplights, make a left and when we see
the Waffle House, pull into the Exxon gas station next to it
and go inside and ask his cousin, he speaks better English.

We felt like the Griswolds.

Even this didn't work out so swell, the neighborhood got worse and worse, we went inside this long, dark tunnel and
I'm making sure the doors are locked and thinking about
all the money we have on us. I really felt like the Griswolds then after touring the "urban blight".
She turned around and we went back and started over, this
tiem we did find the Waffle House/ Exxon, and for the 3rd
time she goes in to ask directions.

This time they worked, and we got on route 27, heading
south. We are once again making progress, but the beast was not happy with this.

She was remarkable!

Even though it was easier to see on this road which was for
the most part, empty, it was still not an easy drive.

For one thing you had to always pay attention to the signs,
you would be sitting at an occasional stop light, (which is not to be confused with an occasional table,) waiting for green, or as we were starting to call the game when you could barely see the lights, "Wet light, green light",
and then notice the sign that says rt. 27 goes left here.

Meanwhile, the rain never let up.

Feeling useless, the Chucky book now sitting on my lap I
couldn't believe how sore I was. Yesterday took a lot out
of me, and all morning my entire body was just a complete
knot, and my tailbone was killing me from hunching over and sitting too rigid, I guess.

Hmmm, I'm not driving, hmmm.

You know what's coming, right?

Yep, I did.

The painkillers seem to make my bad eye worse, so I've
refrained from taking them while I'm driving, especially
in the rain.

But now?

We are cleared for take off!

And on we go, hitting speeds of around 60 at times, which
was still better than sitting Back at the Raceway in Chattanooga.
There was a positive side effect from this excursion:
we are going to miss Atlanta completely on the west side!

Our major concern at first, and one which lasted for a long, while, was that we immediately lost route 27.
Just a couple miles down the road we found ourselves in what seemed to be a national park of sorts, meant to be
a commemorative Civil War monument I think.
It lasted for what seemed miles, with bunkers and flags and canons in settings along the side of the road.
Finally we found another sign saying we are still on 27.

Slowly, the miles and the towns go by, at one point though,
the rain and the winds picked up to where even Smidgy couldn't see, and she pulled into a gas station/ mini mart in a
town called Carrolton.

Man, was it coming down! I could just picture what it was like over on the interstate,
with all the semis and their 18 wheels spraying up the water on top of this!
Yeah, I figured we made the right choice.


I was looking at the map, and 27 did some strange things further down in the state, plus it was getting further and further aaway from the interstate that we eventually want to get back to, at sometime. I was looking at this diagonal
linie, rt. 16 that slowly heads on back to rt. 75 and thought maybe we should take that now.
After Diane was finally able to release the wheel where her hands had been at the ten and two o'clock position, she agreed. Yes, she's a "go by the textbook" type driver, I'm
usually steering with my knees.

But even though Smidgy bit back at the beast by taking
over the wheel, the beast wasn't through yet.

As we sat there, once again at the storm's mercy, the sirens started going off!

No, I don't mean a passing ambulance, or a passing squad car or even a Good Humor truck was going by,,,,
I mean the "Run for your lives, the sky is falling, the
bombs are coming, the Martians are here, and Dakota
Fanning is going to spend the next 2 hours screaming" type of emergency air raid sirens.

Incredibly, Diane found an extremely local radio station coming in clearly on the radio that was based
just outside of Carrolton, monitoring the storm, and they
basically said, "Run for your lives, the sky is falling the....
yada yada yada."

What they actually said, was, a tornado was spotted just outside Carrolton, and is heading this way, should be here in 5 to 8 minutes!

I couldn't believe it!
Tornados?
Now?
Don't they sell them in the gas station?
I was incredulous!

"Oh, of course! What self-respecting tropical storm would not be
carrying at least a couple of tornados with it?"
I got out and yelled into the rain, "Hey, don't forget the flash
floods and the mud slides!"
The beast laughed!

Smidgy went inside the store with the most concerned look on her face, when I didn't get up to go too, I thought for sure she was going to hold out her hand and say,
"Come with me if you want to live!"

Not me. With the rain coming down in sheets and the sirens blaring all around me I climbed on
top of the roof of the car with my arm raised to the sky
yelling, "Come on, bring it on!" Ah yes, tornados and Vicodin.

Well, ok, actually I stayed in the car and listened to the
weather station she found.

Ten minutes later we are still there, and I don't know what I'm looking at coming from the northwest, but a huge dark mass appeared to be heading this way.
Before I could even get out of the car, Smidgy came back out.

She hadn't seen this mass approaching, she came out because suddenly, the rain had really slowed down, it was
really kind of freaky the way it did it so suddenly.
I looked at the all glass MiniMart, then up at the sky and decided that what ever it was selling I don't want any, and she got in and we took off.

Now, with her still driving, I'm watching behind us.
After about 5 miles, I can't see that dark shape anymore, and we relaxed some.
Never did find out if it was a false alarm or just what.


It was back to just pouring now, but we did find route 16,
now we are traveling in a SE manner, eventually going to
probably pick up rt 341, south.

45 minutes later, and the rain seemed to fizzle out a bit, leading us to a false sense of security. The amazing thing was
I looked at the speedometer a few times, and she was
hitting 70 miles an hour! Even she admitted she had probably never driven that fast in her life.

Then the rain would come back gangbusters!

I took it as a good sign this was happening at all, and the later it got, the more it happened.

And then what do you know, we are going through the town
of Newnan.
I had never heard of this town until recently, because we
now have two friends who live here.

Notice the avatar of our very own Reelmom who just recently posted and you will see this name.
We also met a guy we met on the Dis, and his family when we
stayed at Riverside at the same time, this would be
Disneydad99, or Patrick,,, I still talk to him on the phone once
in a while.

And they will just kill us for not stopping and calling them
for a visit, but this was the last thing we expected we'd
be doing, and even Patrick's number is at home.

Seemed like a nice town, I've always like towns where the cars pull in and park on the main streets on the diagonal.

The rain was stopping and starting more often now, and
you couldn't get rid of the feeling that the end was in sight.

Switched to 341, and let this road take us right into Perry Georgia, where we have stayed more often than anywhere
else in the state. It was barely drizzling now, and though the sky was still a solid
stratus cloud, I knew we had been successful in our "Flea from Lee, the Storm out of the Norm."

What's funny is, it's almost 6 now at night, on day 2.
This is where I used to almost always drive to THE
FIRST DAY!

Since we are coming from a different road now, I wondered what the odds are of finding the motel we used to always stay at here, The Great Inn.

It's pretty hidden as it is, but suddenly as we went under route 75 Diane yelled out, "Hey, looks familiar, there's the Wallmart,,,,,, and there's the sign for the Great Inn!

She pulled in, the rain had stopped and we went inside.
What I couldn't help noticing was there wasn't many puddles around, didn't it rain here?

The old lady behind the counter said she kinda remembered
us, and gave us what she said was "Her LAST room".

Total cost with tax, 35 something, works for me.
Then she asked us if we came down rt.75, there was a huge pile-up near Forsythe, which is south of Atlanta.

My mood was a little improved, seemed like we made it through alive, that's all behind us now, we hope, and the tire and the exhaust are still hanging in there.

She brought stuff in from the car, I went and did the important stuff, like go and fill up the ice bucket.

After making a couple drinks, I had to grab the camera to
show what a "Motel with no rooms left" looked like, remember, we got the "last room."

Okey dokey, the much heralded picture I forespake of.
Forespake? Sounds like something that is usually taken care of at birth.

It was just as emptty on the other side, I had no idea how
this would work out today booking a room, this WAS Labor Day remember.

Since it wasn't raining we decided to take our drinks and sit by the pool, in all the times we've stayed here, and I'm guessing this is now our 4th or even 5th, we have never gone in, or sat, by the pool.

Here's another picture:

However, sitting by the pool was not possible, let me show you
why:

Yes, that is a padlock sitting on the gate, I guess they were
worried someone might walk off with the cast iron pool furniture.

Oh well, back to the room we go.
That night we had the other halves of our foot long Subway
sammiches that we each ate half of last night in the Knight's
Inn. Some macaroni salad and Cheetohs and we were good
for bed.

Next morning I was dying to get going, the only thing I
knew was that the next night I'm staying in a motel, it's gonna
be Caribbean Beach!

Got a quick styrofoam cup of coffee in the lobby and happened
to notice a newspaper lying there.

On the front page is an article on the 18 car smash up on
rt. 75 yesterday afternoon. Turns out that the "Road not Taken" was the "Road we shouldn't have taken", which we didn't.

After the mandatory tire check it's still looking good.
Man, she's got great ears when it comes to hissing.

I gave my estimated time of arrival at 1:15, thinking to
myself I think I can beat that a bit, I always intentionally fudge on the late side a bit so I'll feel better when I beat the time.

Weatherwise, it's still cloudy, but it's not raining, not raining
at all.

You have no idea though how I now longed, and i mean LONGED
to see some blue sky somewhere, anywhere!
Doesn't have to be sunlight, just give me a patch of blue
up there that could mean sunlight is possible.

By the way, for those that are interested, yesterday,
Smidgy took over driving at about quarter to 11.
She drove till almost 6:45, and covered approximately 250 miles in the process, using a state route in the rain.

By contrast, last year we were also in Murfreesboro in the
morning, the next day, late afternoon we were sitting at
a pool at a Motel 6 in Kissimmee.
Yes, interstates rule when it comes to time.

But she was a real trooper, coming through the way she did,
if it was up to me we would still be in Chattanooga.

Back on the interstate, we pass under an overpass with a big
sign off to the side saying, "Kangaroo Gas."

Yeah! That's what I need, nothing says vacation like
seeing a Kangaroo Gas Station!

Hey, by the way, I have a mystery photo for you.

I want the first person to identify,
where in the heck this picture is from in DisneyWorld.
And please don't ignore this like my question about
posting pictures.

Ok, where was I?
Oh yes, Kangaroos have gas.

Heading south on interstate 75 at now 8 in the morning,
we are both in a quiet state of torpor.
(dang, I always wanted to use that word, finally found a reason)

It was just a reflective period I think for us, with all that
we have gone through already, and we're still in Georgia!

Now that it's not raining and I'm back in the saddle again,
it was a relief to be able to turn the cruise control back on.

Plus, it's really flat from here on out, and using the cruise
really kept the sound down from running the straight pipes.

As we are rolling along, then I started thinking; about town and city names.

Boy, it's no wonder when it comes to making a city famous
by putting it's name in song that they usually go out west
for that, the town and city names southeast are really
stupid sounding.

Try to imagine, if you will, Glen Campbell singing;
"By the time, I get to Chattanooga, she'll be sleeping"
or,

Elvis prancing up a storm to "Viva Las Louisville",
or, better yet, Tony Bennet singing his
heart out to "I left my heart, in Murfreesboro."

With that dear readers I'm going to leave you, back soon!

 

[fsmith2845]

Wow.. rough driving.. eeven my most recent trek from DC back home wasn't as long and bad as all that.. and it only involved me finding a radio station doing the EAS broadcast for flash flood warnings (NO DUH.. it's rain an inch a second and conditions exist that could cause flash floods??? thank you Dr. Obvious)!! LOL

Defintely yay to Smidgy for being such a trooper.. time for you to finish out the anchor leg and get you two to Disney right??

On the "last room"... i love that.. i've been told that before as well.. only to find a parking lot just about as empty.. It's as if they're trained to say that. to make you feel like they have done you the biggest favor.. As for the padlock on the pool.. even though the pool looked okay, wonder what kind of toxic mixture of chemicals kept it locked up!!! That could have led to yet another Nebo and Smidgy adventure!!

And now for the picture question. Is it the temple in Japan at Epcot world showcase? (over by Teppan Edo and your favorite knife wielding cook).

Wait.. it's not that.. is it in Animal Kingdom.. not sure exactly where.. near the Yak and Yeti??