Seesea Travel Blog » North America

Entry #2: Memphis

lucie a — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:09:11 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,Tennessee,Memphis

After enjoying the Nashville country music scene – a scene based around a genre of music that is, quite honestly, of no real interest to me – I was fairly excited to move onto Memphis, the home of rock and roll, and the birthplace of many a soul star’s rise. Unfortunately, my initial foray into this historic town held no such romance or musical power for me, as I found myself thrust from the busy streets and morning sunshine of Nashville, into its neighbour’s bitter cold and empty streets.
It was more than two hours (a time that included two visitor centres and more than two bus stops) before Fin and I found ourselves at the correct bus stop, and by the time we had reached our hostel in the out-of-town Cooper-Young neighbourhood, the digits on our hands and feet, had forgotten how to feel.
However, if travelling has taught me any one lesson, it is that – whilst there may never be the opportunity for a second first impression – your first impression is by no means always right. A friendly woman at the last bus stop had told us that the Cooper-Young neighbourhood where we were staying, was home to good restaurants, bars and cafes, and upon reaching South Cooper St, it was obvious that this was no run-down dump with ‘character’ (the kind of location in which you can expect to find ‘out-of-town’ hostels), but an interesting crossroads at which to see live music, eat all kinds of food and peruse through odd little antique shops. Our hostel, which was a bargain at only $15 a night, was adjoined to a church and played host to a large homely dining room and several common rooms boasting comfy settees, if not so much in the way of actual guests.
If there is one word/person/thought commonly associated with Memphis, it is of course: Elvis. The man, nay superstar, who chose to reside in his beloved hometown until his untimely death abreast – if we choose to believe the rumours -a lavatory.
More than one person, and some of these local, had expressed to me, the opinion that, at around $30, the Graceland tour is over-priced, and out-done by its cheaper contemporaries: Sun Studios and the Civil Rights, Stax and Rock and Soul museums. My advice? Don’t believe it.
From the outside, Graceland may not exude the grandeur that you will probably be expecting, but once inside, you’ll find yourself blown away by the shining array of outfits, gold discs and original film posters that recall the very spirit of Elvis. His charisma and charm leap out even from beyond the grave, and it is certainly worth paying an extra $5 to purchase a platinum ticket which will also grant you access to several museums, and Elvis’s private car and plane collections.
If you also choose to visit Sun Studios, as I did, you can see the very place where Elvis made his first records, amongst contemporaries such as Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ike Turner (before he became INfamous, via association with Tina). Knowing little about Elvis should not affect you visiting these places, as they are pieces of Memphis history that will draw you in, whatever your views or knowledge on the King. However, if you find yourself at the mercy of the Memphis public transport system, either be as prepared as possible, or be open-minded to over-priced taxi rides and long non-scenic walks. I won’t extrapolate, as I’ve complained too much already, but suffice it to say, that I have experienced both.
Arrive at Memphis straight from home, and the chances are, that you’ll follow the much-aligned tour of the various music-related tourist attractions, such as those mentioned above. But the great benefit of travelling, is that you hear about strange little traditions that can often give away more of a place’s real character and quirks than the more expensive, and expansive outings to museums, famous buildings and so on. Such it was that I came to hear of the ducks of the Peabody museum from a fellow backpacker, whilst in New Orleans, and visited the grand old place this afternoon, a full hour in advance of the duckmaster’s arrival.
Go to the Peabody Hotel any given day at 11am or 5pm, and find yourself party to a wierd and wonderful spectacle – a ringmaster unfurling a royal red carpet from an old-fashioned elevator to an ornate fountain in the middle of the Peabody bar (if not from fountain to lift), and leading his parade of well-trained ducks from one end to the other, unperturbed by flashing cameras or excitable guests. This is the tradition of Memphis’s Peabody hotel, a place evocative of the Shining’s Overlook hotel, in its past glory days; where twice a day, this strange little show takes place amongst many welcomed watchers, and not just those who can afford to be guests of the hotel.
Finally, if you go to Memphis, you have to eat South-style, and in this part of town, that invariably leads you to the slow Memphis-style barbeque where ribs cannot be over-looked. Fin and I were advised to visit Central Barbeque, just a couple of blocks down from our hostel. It’s a diner-style joint, staffed by tie-dye wearing Tennesseans and filled with pig memorabilia that is reminiscent of Central Barbeque’s swine logo. For just over $10 each, we were able to gorge ourselves on a ‘slab’ of ribs for two, and sides of ‘mac n cheese’, potato salad and fries. And believe me, this is nothing like the over-priced meat and bones that you might find in an English restaurant. You have to get your hands dirty, and if – like Fin – you enjoy the novelty of food in a basket, then you will love what the South has to offer (minus the obesity factor of course!). But wherever you go, ask locals to suggest places first, and then ask no more, or like us, you will return from your meal satisfied, until another local ‘well-wisher’ tells you about where you ‘should’ have gone. Remember that everyone has a different favourite!

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Who Says You Need To Leave The Country To Travel?

Michellita — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:03:37 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,Minnesota,Minneapolis

How do you define traveling? Some countries or thoughts that may come to mind include: Sierra Leone, scuba diving off of Belize, or perhaps a family vacation to Europe.
I partly define traveling by a change in my state of mind, where I am transported into such a different environment that I learn to see people, ideas, cultures, languages, religious, notions and ways of doing things differently.
This is not surprising, given that when you travel, you may surprise yourself: you may learn that you are much more open than you thought you were; you may also learn that you can really learn to salsa dance like the Hispanic women do. You may learn your limits, your frustrations, or that little things about your foreign roommates really bother you…You may find things that give you joy, such as tranquil lakes set next to erupting volcanoes or even watching the bus scene in downtown Managua.

Since being back, I have been transported back to my regular state of mind as I was before I lived in Central America. For the first month, I was awed by everything that I had; slowly that feeling faded and I started to see how level I was with everyone else I interacted with. No longer was I the rich, white woman who was lucky to make $500 a month (probably the highest paying jobs starting out). I was now just another white, rich woman living with folk with backgrounds similar to mine. Since being back, I have been hungry for being be-dazzled about every little thing and have sought out diversity in my own home region.

It would be wrong to say that my travels haven’t impacted me; they have. Every time I drive in my car, I remember how sick I felt in those overcrowded buses and how I felt lucky when my friends would offer me a ride (oh how I longed to have a car there). Whenever I go out, I think of the girls in Managua who don’t have money to go out and get a taxi, let alone feel safe in a city bus. Whenever I complain how mundane something is, like proficiency computer tests, I remember my students who re-read the same book just to learn the English in its pages and who thrist for knowledge. Whenever I feel like procrastinating or being lazy, I remember all the kids in NPH and in Nicaragua who get up at 4:30am every morning and do chores, homework, etc. Whenever I complain that I am lonely, I remember how I just craved my own time when I was with the kids for some peace and quiet! My privileged Managuan friends had their own homes and I was jealous of them!

I am grateful for these memories, for they have impacted how I live currently. I just wish I could get a daily fix of that life just so that I don’t ever take my life here for granted.

I would just like to share some experiences here in the Twin Cities that I have had that have given me insights and a different state of mind like my travels have. First is interacting with my South St. Paul adult ESL students, all from Central and South America. Some have even invited me into their home. I was introduced into a new part of the city, only 15 minutes from where I live. Just interacting with them was like being transported to somewhere very foreign. I will never forget Roberto’s 20th birthday party: I really felt like I was in Guatemala! I felt very comfortable in their family and felt welcomed. The same day, I went to a jewelry party, also of mostly strangers, but the feeling was completely different: I felt foreign, unsure, uncomfortable, etc. These Hispanic families at Roberto’s home really welcomed me. They teach me how important the person really is, as well as your relationship with them. They also teach me how a college degree and a good set of teeth make you lucky. I got the same connected feeling after hanging out with Natalia, from Argentina. She is just so personable that you really feel a part of her life! It’s just a funny feeling foreign in your own country! It took a while, but I felt very unsocial with other North Americans for a while! However, with anyone who speaks Spanish or who has traveled there, I feel an instant connection.

My Rotaract Club visited a men’s shelter right before Thanksgiving: I was transported into a new world again. Instead of standing around, I knew I was there to learn from these men, so I found one and started talking to him. John is a man who has made a lot of bad decisions in his life but who has also been dealt some bad cards. I instantly found out he has a hunger for the Word and for Jesus. His spiritual gift is prophesy. We bonded over our faith and I was left touched for his desire to know God. Funny thing is that John and I are really neighbors and brothers and sisters in Christ yet we are so different. Just like when you travel to a poor third world country and interact with your global neighbors, you can drive 20 minutes to the inner city and find a similar experience. It was this type of diversity that I have been craving! The more I learn about others who appear different, the more I learn that we are really more alike than unlike. In fact, it wasn’t until I learned about how he views life and God that I understood my faith more.

Every weekend since the summer, I have checked out a new museum through the library museum pass program. I have been to many places, each different. By far, my favorite has been the Hennepin County History Museum, which sits in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts’ shadow down the street. Learning about the posh, rich neighborhood that once was, I was transported back in time to the 1800’s.
I have also enjoyed going to the Basilica and Cathedral. Both are works of art that are meant to glorify a creator. They remind me of the churches of Europe: grand in their posture and stance. If it weren’t for Europe’s churches stimulating me so much, maybe I wouldn’t have seen these hidden jewels with the same eyes. Funny how something in a foreign country can really inspire and awe you and yet you can find the same types of buildings, groups, etc. from your own country and not even seen that emotive factor in them…

You may travel to get a thrill, since you are literally transported into a whole new world. However, I think you also grow when you can find that same excitement in everyday life. Just think: you have a very ordinary life in your eyes, but to a foreigner, you are fascinating! Look out for those hidden gems in your truly fascinating life.

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lucie a — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 07:03:19 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,South-Carolina,Charleston

Atlanta, Georgia is the home of Coca-Cola – a typically American, consumer-driven way to summarise a place, – but in this case, it’s self-evident. We chose Atlanta because of its location as a useful stop-over, rather than out of any particular desire to go there; the skies were grey with the promise of rain, and other than being the home of Coca-Cola and some interesting museums, I hadn’t heard that there was much to see.

There is only one hostel in Atlanta (Atlanta Hostel), and it certainly takes advantage of its monopoly status, charging high rates for measly ‘breakfast’ and rentable linens. Perhaps my strangest encounter with an American happened here, when a man apparently working at the hostel asked me if I was Jamaican, then told me that I looked like Tia/Tamera from SisterSister and asked me ‘where the other black girl was’. I replied that there was no other black girl in my room, only (white, blonde) Fin, to which he thought it appropriate to respond that Fin could easily dye her skin black, after all MJ went white. Later on that evening, a mixed-race girl walked into the hostel and I heard said worker mumble to himself, ‘ah, there’s the other one’.

The second most interesting feature of my short time spent in Atlanta, was at the ‘World of Coca-Cola’ museum. Impressive as the tour was, there were several points where I felt slightly sick with myself for paying into Coca-Cola’s self-deluded vision; the first time the bile rose, was when my group was asked by our spirited and very efficient guide, to chant ‘Open Happiness!’ This, we were subsequently told, was the company’s latest advertising slogan. Brainwashing, was the first thought that sprang to mind. My advice would be to pay your $15 and go straight to the tasting room, where over sixty Coke brands from around the world are available to sip to your heart’s desire.

Our next stop was Charleston, South Carolina. To our dismay, the Southern prefix did not foretell blue skies and warm weather, and once again we arrived to a non-descript climate reminiscent of English summer. Fortunately, this did not hold up, and the sun broke through on the third day, but even without this welcome change, we found Charleston a much prettier and more hospitable place than our previous stop.

The ‘Not So Hostel’ that we stayed in is Charleston’s only hostel, but unlike the ‘Atlanta Hostel’, it does not bank in on this by being stingy and expensive. We payed $22 a night for great breakfasts, free towels and linen, and a stay in a lovely old Southern house only a short walk away from downtown. We were told that the hostel is often pretty quiet – something like Charleston’s best-kept secret – but while we were there, so were a group of travelling musicians. This ensured a bustling household (which is good), and campfire sing-alongs (debatable). For me personally, the laminated song-words were just a step too far.

Downtown Charleston is beautiful; resplendent with colourful Southern houses, sometimes decrepit, but always charming, you find yourself coveting the swings and furniture sets that embellish most of the housefronts. However, If you – like us – have travelled by bus from the Greyhound station, it’s quite unsettling to see the landscape alter so much. Where the first half of the bus-ride takes you through an odd caricature of Hicksville (where all the yokels are black), as soon as you hit downtown everything, and nearly everyone, becomes clean and white. This bus-ride was my most tangible experience of the polarities that run through American society, and it was strange to witness.

Charleston is picturesque, but as with so many such places there’s not really a huge amount to do. Without a car, it’s pretty much impossible to visit the plantations and landscape sights that are advertised in the visitor centre. It’s nice to walk down to the bay through the town and visit the aquarium, but you’ll probably spend the majority of your time sampling the food and drink on offer. A good place to visit is a diner/restaurant called Jestine’s that does all sorts of authentic Southern meals, and even a Coca-Cola cake, which was really like no baked good I have ever tried before. Because there’s not so much going on, this is definitely a town where you want to stay in a hostel, if just to meet wierdos and travelling musicians.

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Vancouver!

chrisetay — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:11:09 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,Canada,British-Columbia

Hey guys and welcome to my blog!

I plan on keeping you updated with all my shenanagins throughout the season and whatever happens afterwards!

So I left home at 8 saying a very emotional goodbye to my mum! My dad and I then travelled up to Heathrow and checked in all my bags at 10 o clock where I met Dan and Tom (two guys from Fernie last season) at the check in desks and headed up for a coffee before saying my goodbyes to my Dad and Tom’s sister! 10 hours later and we are on the plane and I get chatting to this girl one the plane who said shes worked with the likes of Matthew Perry and The Hoff! So I have her cell now and hopefully I’ll be able to meet up with her after the season and chill out in Vancouver for a while!

Anyway after collecting all my bags we headed onto the Vancouver Sky Train which took us about a kilometre from our hotel which was a trek and a half with five bags negotiating traffic and the like! Jack and Adam (more Fernie guys) met us in the hotel room and had beers waiting for us which were soon consumed and we went out on the town for soom food a good party Vancouver style! 7 hours later we finally retire to our room at 3am. Awake for 27 hours on the bounce, not good when you have 5 hours sleep before you have to be up the next day! Love it, what a welcome to Canada!

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Yoshi B — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:52:43 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,Alaska,Juneau

Alaska was the trip to complete the North American adventure voyage…(that’s why I feel like I gotta keep moving, since it took me 31 years to cover that much ground, and to think that North America is only a fraction of the globe, if I kept my current pace, I would never get ‘er done before I hit 65 in which I time I wanna be taken out back and put down with diginity gawd damnit.) …wow, does the period go before or after the parathethesis…what if the paranthesis was properly plural? Alrighty, now that I’ve spelled parenthesis wrong three times already and think it’s funnier to leave them versus correcting them and had two incredibly long run-on sentences, I can move on.

So, my last place to visit in North America and I get to meet a friend there and travel around with her for a week…awesome!!!
Beverly was a fantastic hostess and while Mr Christopher was no stand-in for Albert, he gave me the softy-cuddles that Albert probably would not have given me. hehe, totally kidding B. With careful planning, and precision we timed it for the SE Alaskan State Fair! Yes…it totally Rocked, mostly the real-live hawt lumberjacks!! Well, first things first…I might have to break this into a few sessions….I’m switching to a picture commentary rather than the other word-y typey commentary that I can get so wrapped up in, ya know? We need to ease back into this…not all at once honey…real smooth like, easy. I gotta keep ya interested til somebody gets knocked up and then we’re stuck with each other for the long haul. Cheers!

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Yoshi B — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:22:27 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,Alaska,Haines

We headed out of Juneau on the slow boat ferry to Haines. Can I just say this was….by far the best 4 hours in Alaska! Party of 5 on the top deck enjoying not only beautiful sunny weather, but warm weather, delicious margaritas and so much seafood…it was friggin’ sweet! Haines was totally awesome and I can see why people never leave. It was packed full with writers, painters, sculpters, musicians, I’m sure there are some drifters n droolers and then me. I met this dude who has a cute little co-op gallery in the woods, and he lives across the bay and drives his canoe to work.

Before I left for AK, everyone who had been used adjectives like majestic, tranquil, breathtaking, mesmerizing, yada yada. Yes, it was those things only because that’s the closest words we have to describe this place. Just the level of wildlife I saw daily doesn’t even come close to Montana or BC and the fact that you should be trained in bear attacks and expect encounters often and the sheer magnitude of the mountains that literally emerge, erupt and sky-rocket out of the water is so unbelievably impossible, you get caught staring. Alaska is sick…in the best sickest way and the lumberjacks are really amazing too, which I decided at the last minute to give it to ya. Here’s the final fair pics too.

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Late Update, Sorry

Lisa & Matt — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:21:03 +0000

Travel Location: Zacatecas,Mexico

Travel About: mexico,north-america

Friday night Matt and I went to the movies and like always in the States we spent $20. Of course here that means we bought tickets and bought two of the most delicious Jamon Serrano sandwiches with huge drinks. We went to see 10,000 Years B.C. (or here 10000 Anos A.C.). As the narrator began to speak in the beginning, I knew that the gamble had not gone in our favor. This movie did not have subtitles in Spanish, it had been dubbed. But I forget how much Matt and I understand when we stop trying. When we are just relaxed watching a movie in the dark… Because neither of us got lost, or frustrated. It was a great movie, and I understood it all. We are going to school now, and have been for the last week at Fenix Language Institute. It has helped me tremendously, especially in terms of confidence. As one of the teachers said in my entrance interview (to determine my class level) “You still know everything you learned four years ago, your mind just has to remember that you know.”

There was a slight accident in the last week however. Last Saturday we went to the hostal’s Margarita Party, and after several hours there Ernesto (the owner) shepherded us out and to Cactus Club. The majority of the other hostal residents were from Germany and I hung out on the dance floor with them, while Matt played pool. Let me tell you drinking with the girls from Germany is dangerous, but we had fun and went home very late. That, ironically, is when the accident happened. I think I was taking off my shoes, and our floor is very slick tiles, and my socks slipped and I fell, smacking the side of my face really really hard. So for the past two weeks I have had a black eye, not to mention the fact that I scared Matt something awful when he ran in the bedroom and there was blood everywhere.

Let me tell you drinking with the girls from Germany is dangerous

This morning, we finally found the church here in Zacatecas that we have been looking for. La Iglesia de Roca Eterna is a Christian church here that I believe we are going to continue attending for the time we are here. It was wonderfully to go to worship again after a month. I have been missing Imago Dei so much. It was a little different, like Matt looked at the clock after worship and the sermon and did a double take, “What time do you think it is?” he whispered to me. Well, it was 2:15pm, and the service began at 10:30ish, and we were still to take Communion. So it looks like each Sunday service is about four hours long, but I enjoyed it very much and again was surprised by how much of the sermon I understood. Also, today happened to be the day of their bi-annual picnic and so we went to the park afterward and got to know some of the people a bit better. That’s all for now, sorry for being a lazy updater. Here is a random photo, I had more but Blogger is not cooperating. Also, our camera now has a memory card, but it overexposes all outdoor pics, don’t worry I will figure it out or give up and buy a new one before we travel next month.

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Und weiter gehts…

ulli unterwegs — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:55:39 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,Mexico,Oaxaca

Dann werd ich meine 3h Aufenthalt in Chetumal mal sinnvoll nutzen und euch von meiner Reise berichten. Ich warte gerade auf meinen Bus nach Flores, Guatemala, d.h. mein Mexiko-Trip ist zu Ende . Mexiko ist ein wunderschoenes Land mit sehr offenen Menschen. Die Landschaft ist unglaublich und sehr verschieden in den einzelnen Staaten, aber davon mehr in den BIldern… Ich werde Mexiko in sehr guter Erinnerung behalten und es auf jeden Fall wieder besuchen.
Es ist gerade 3Uhr nachts, also entschuldigt saemtliche orthografischen Fehler…

Mein erster Stop in Mexiko fuehrte mich nach Oaxaca [sprich Oaka]. Hier traf ich im Hostel eine Gruppe Studenten aus Tijuana, die hier eine Kurs zur Lithografie besuchten sowie einen Bekannten aus dem Hostel in Mexiko City.

Da die Leute aus “TJ” nicht zum ersten Mal hier waren, konnten sie uns einen sehr guetn Ueberblick ueber die Stadt verschaffen. Fuer Mexikaner sind sie schon reich, da sie ueberhaupt reisen koennen, aber dennoch muss auf die Reisekasse geachtet werden und sind wir in Bars gelandet, die Bier fuer maximal 10 pesos [50Cent] verkaufen. “Mehr muss man hier nicht ausgeben!”
Erick hatte seine Gitarre mit dabei, so dass abends [nicht immer zur Freude der uebrigen Gaeste] mexikanische Folksongs gesungen wurden.

MIt Dan, dem Farmer aus Wales, bin ich noch weiter gereist. So haben wir die “Hierve al agua” besucht. Dies sind versteinerte Wasserfaelle. In den noch erhaltenen Becken sind wir dann baden gegangen. Schon beeindruckend, so in 50m Hoehe die Natur zu betrachten. Man hatte das Gefuehl ueber dem Tal zu schweben.

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“Best Of” Photo Gallery/After-Trip Postscript: After the Trip

Greenelvis — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,Illinois,Chicago

Saturday, November 25, 2009 Postscript/Overview of Blog: 3 Months after the trip…

Well, it’s almost 3 months since my return from the summer 2009 Chicago, Illinois to St. Lake City, Utah roundtrip drive, camping the entire month. Sophie, my traveling companion, drove a total of 6,000 miles, driving through 11 states, and returning safely back home to Chicago with 3 weeks to unwind before returning to my position as a university writing instructor. Watching the Ken Burn’s excellent 12-hour National Park series on PBS, I was glad to have “beaten” is premiere by a month, as no doubt his “natural” propaganda will invite millions more to travel in upcoming summers (and offer further evidence of Jon Krakauer’s double-edged Into Thin Air’s popularity vs. Everest travelers realized). Well, hopefully, there’s always the National Forests.

About myself, I know that I tend to “live in the present,” and this shows, because as I glance through the various 1000 posted photos and 45,000 words of text, that the experience currently seems like a long-ago dream. I obviously lived it, but the sheer numbers of sights, places, and people are but distant memories. If nothing else, the trip makes me want to travel again next summer, possibly to Washington state. I can remember various “views,” and the smells and “vastness” sense are easily recalled.

When I think about “What does it all mean?,” I can recall the “splendid isolation,” a time of contemplative solitude (although, most of my “brainpower” was divided between questions of logistics and comforts). In my opinion, the American mid-west/west is alive and well, beautiful in majesty and healthy in spirit. Having totally free days, with little or no real responsibilities, except to meander around a large and look at things, and spending little, or no, money, and in the company of a fine dog, is perhaps the most relaxing stages of extended bliss. Days were both physical and mental, and I slept great each night in the tent. I am glad that such excellent places, available in all corners of the United States, are available and still responsibly used.

Regarding the blog, In Nov. ’09, I have gone back and fixed as many typos, unclear sentences, and factual inaccuracies as possible. In most cases, there’s extra photographs located by scrolling to the bottom of each page, and I believe that one can click on one to start a slideshow-type option. Also, listed below is the entire trip’s itinerary.

The blog begins with a before-the-trip “nervous energy,” then winds its way around the mid-west.

Note: At present, for some reason, the site mislabeled most of the “Best of” Photo Titles, but I’m too tired to do anything about it now…

Summer 2009 (July 25 – August 31) Trip Itinerary: Chicago, Illinois to St. Lake City, Utah roundtrip

Date Day Rise Sleep
July 25, 2009 Sat Chicago Minn. rest stop 530 mi. drive
July 26, 2009 Sun Minn. rest stop Ft. Pierre National Grasslands
July 27, 2009 Mon National Grasslands Badlands National Park
July 28, 2009 Tue Badlands Nat. Park, Rushmore Black Hills, Wyoming Unit (north)
July 29, 2009 Wed Black Hills, Wy. (north unit) Black Hills Southern Unit
July 30, 2009 Thur Black Hills Southern Unit, Sturgis
July 31, 2009 Fri Bighorn National Forest
Aug 1, 2009 Sat Bighorn National Forest Yellowstone Grant Village
Aug 2, 2009 Sun Yellowstone West Thumb Grant Village Grebe Lake Backcountry Hike
Aug 3, 2009 Mon Grebe Lake Norris Basin (Grebe Lake hike)
Aug 4, 2009 Tue Norris Basin Grebe Lake
Aug 5, 2009 Wed Grebe Lake Yellowstone Back of Vik’s and Suzie’s van
Aug 6, 2009 Thur Norris campground, Yellowstone Norris campground
Aug 7, 2009 Fri Norris campground Norris campground
Aug 8, 2009 Sat Norris campground, Yellowstone Bridger-Teton Nat. For. (Tetons)
Aug 9, 2009 Sun Bridger-Teton Nat. For. Bridger-Teton Nat. For. (Afton?)
Aug 10, 2009 Mon Bridger-Teton Nat. For. Can’t remember at present!
Aug 11, 2009 Tue
Aug 12, 2009 Wed
Aug 13, 2009 Thur Willow Campground
Aug 14, 2009 Fri Willow campground (Cache Nat. for) Willow Campground (Jennifer)
Aug 15, 2009 Sat Willow campground Flaming Gorge, Utah (geo. loop)
Aug 16, 2009 Sun Flaming Gorge, Utah Henry’s Fork Trailhead, Uinta nat. fr
Aug 17, 2009 Mon Henry’s Fork Trailhead Dollar Lake (backcountry hike)
Aug 18, 2009 Tue Dollar Lake Dollar Lake, Uinta, Utah
Aug 19, 2009 Wed Dollar Lake Hwy 150 nat for campground
Aug 20, 2009 Thur Hwy 150 National Forrest campgroung Antelope Island State Park
Aug 21, 2009 Fri Antelope Island Antelope Island, Utah
Aug 22, 2009 Sat Antelope Island Dixie National Forest
Aug 23, 2009 Sun Dixie Nat. Forest (Bryce) Bryce National Park
Aug 24, 2009 Mon Bryce National Park Bryce National Park
Aug 25, 2009 Tue Bryce National Park Fishlake National Forest
Aug 26, 2009 Wed Fishlake National For. Utah (Capitol Reef) Canyonlands Nat. Park, Utah
Aug 27, 2009 Thur Canyonlands National Park, Utah []Bill Nat. For Campground (Arches)
Aug 28, 2009 Fri Bill National For Campground (Arches) Mt. Evans, Colo
Aug 39, 2009 Sat Mt. Evans, Colorado Iowa Rest Stop, Victor, Iowa
Aug 30, 2009 Sun Iowa rest stop Moline, Il.
Aug 31, 2009 Mon Quad Cities (Moline) Chicago

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A Promise Fulfilled (Half Fulfilled Anyway)

landm — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Travel Location: North-America,United-States,Wyoming,Jackson-Hole

Mark Posting (please note that many of the pictures do not correspond to the blog – most are from a walk we took yesterday):

I need to write something so that Liz does not completely hijack the blog. Unfortunately this will be the third entry in three days so the amount of untold material is limited. Therefore it is perfect timing to fulfill a promise I made a while back to convey our “national lampoon’s” camping stories from this past summer. Liz and I have already referred to ourselves as Clark and Ellen Griswold on a couple occasions and these stories reinforce our standing as their alter egos. It is also fitting since National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite movies to watch this time of year. Unfortunately, it is packed away neatly in a box in Missouri. Here is the first installment (the second will follow between now and Christmas):

Griswold Camping 101 – This past July Liz and I traveled to Kure Beach, North Carolina for her friend Christina’s wedding. Christina is a good friend of Liz’s from her hometown of Camdenton. Her now husband, Donald, was stationed at Fort Bragg at the time and would be shipping out to Afghanistan shortly thereafter. Liz could not get over the fact the wedding was within driving distance of DC and was indescribably excited at the prospect of being able to see her friend get married. At the time Liz was in training for a triathlon so we decided to camp close to the beach, hitch our bikes to the Civic and use our proximity to the bike paths along the beach to our advantage. Liz called ahead to a campground less than a mile from where the outdoor wedding was to be held and it was determined that we did not need to make a reservation.

Further preparations commenced including the purchase of a tent and other camping gear from Target, online research regarding said tent, and once Liz determined there were better options, the eventual return of that same tent. This was not the most efficient way of going about purchasing our “mobile home”. The tent was not actually returned until after we got back from our trip but the decision to do so was made in advance, along with a commitment to purchase a new tent at Bass Pro Shop while en route (Liz note: those from MO will be happy to know that I informed Mark of the much larger and more impressive first store in Springfield, MO). We left DC with a room booked at my aunt and uncle’s house just south of Richmond. Staying with Paul and Claire was intended to allow us to avoid traffic and get a couple hour head start on Thursday. Once again we took a counter-intuitive approach and departed at just the right time to fall in line with the heart of rush hour. By the time we reached Bass Pro Shops, the excursion served not only as an opportunity to purchase a tent, but also as a necessary bathroom break and as a stress reliever. Liz has talked up Bass Pro Shops quite a bit over the years and I was quite impressed. The restaurant and the enormous fish tank above the bar were actually what still has me aching for another visit.

We had every hope that our night with my relatives would get us off on the right foot. Things appeared to be going our way right up until we started to put our bags in the car. Unfortunately the bikes we so heavy that they were weighing down the bike rack, loosening the straps. I attempted to quickly tighten the straps but it became clear that I needed to take down the bikes and essentially start from scratch. I did and about 15 minutes later we were off. Off to a gas station/Dunkin’ Donuts that is. Shortly after pulling into the parking lot my uncle called to let us know we left our cooler in the fridge. He was nice enough to drive it over to us but my stress level was already on the rise. Before too long though, we were officially on the road, maintaining a speed of 5-7 mph over the limit, happy and smiling.

Unfortunately, joy was short-lived on this particular trip. I could not shake the feeling that the rack holding our bikes was not securely attached to the trunk. Less than an hour into our trip it was already time to make a pit stop. I spent at least a half hour taking down our bikes, tightening the straps, sweating, replacing the bikes, sweating some more, taking down the bikes, tightening the straps, swearing, sweating, and replacing the bikes. I lacked confidence that the bikes were completely secure but I also lacked the patience or energy to take them down again. At the time I did not appreciate Liz’s compassion and attempts to make a difficult situation better, even going so far as to climb on the trunk to ease the process of tightening the straps. All I could say as I got back in the car was, “I don’t care if the bikes fall off, I’m not stopping.”

Several hours later, the air-conditioning and two bikes still attached to the back of the car had cooled my temperature and temper as we rolled into town. I would have liked to go straight to the campground but it was not in the cards. We needed to stop at the local mall to purchase a wedding gift, visit Christina at the salon and then stop at a grocery store for water and other supplies. During the visit to the salon we found out the wedding was at 4:30, rather than at 5:30 as Liz had thought. This left us with little margin for error in getting our camp set up, to take showers and get dressed. Unfortunately, several mishaps were about to occur.

First, we had difficultly finding the campground so Liz called to get directions. Instead of getting directions she was informed that the camp was for military personnel only. Oops! We now had no place to stay, as well as no place to get cleaned up for the wedding. We pulled into the visitors center to find out if there was another campground nearby. There was and it was open to the public. Great! Fifteen minutes later we arrived at our home for the night. The ranger at the front desk provided us with a bunch of info including the fact that the gate to the camp closed at 10pm. That was not an immediate concern as we had no more than a half hour before we had to be back on the road to the wedding.

We picked out a lot to spend the night but just as I was starting to run the poles through tent to prop it up we decided that we’d chosen poorly. The location was on the shady side of the road and was densely populated with trees and mosquitos. It became clear the smart choice was to move everything across the street to a more open, sunnier lot. Before long everything was moved, the tent was up and I was off to the showers. Even after I was out and dressed the humidity ensured I would be a sweaty mess. To be honest, I’m not 100% sure if Liz had taken a shower (Liz note: I did!) or not but when I returned to the car she was in the process of using scissors to “hem” her dress. Like many of our delays and mishaps, that was something that could have been prepared for days or even weeks earlier but that would have taken away from what I’m sure she knew was going to be a humdinger of a day.

As we made our way to the wedding ceremony I found out that while we knew it was being held at a gazebo on the beach, we did not know the exact location. Liz contacted her friend Kristy, who was the photographer for the event, to ask directions. We were told to park in the lot just past the visitors center and it was a short walk from there. Excellent, we had passed the visitors center earlier that afternoon and knew exactly where we needed to go! Not so fast. Unfortunately, the building Kristy intended for us to park near was not the same visitors center we passed earlier in the day. There were two visitors centers in less than a mile, who would have guessed? We continued on for a mile before arriving where we thought was the correct location.

Upon arriving onto the burning hot sand, we looked in all directions for either a gazebo or a wedding party, preferably both. While we could see a gazebo about a quarter mile north of us there did not appear to be anyone there. Liz approached a lifeguard on a four-wheeler who said he was not aware of another gazebo nearby. Our best option appeared to be to walk north along the beach to get a closer look at what was clearly not the correct location. The lifeguard was kind enough to take a ride up to the beach to officially rule out the only gazebo in sight. Fortunately, by the time he returned to let us know the bad news he had come to realize there was another gazebo about 1/2 mile further north. Sadly, he did not offer either of us a ride on his vehicle and our feet burned as we jogged along the beach, all the while thinking we were already late for the ceremony. As we reached the first gazebo the sand ended but the damage was done. My shoes were filled with sand and Liz’s feet were blistered, not to mention that I was sweating through my shirt. The one bright spot was that we were now able to see both a gazebo and a gathering of people. Ten minutes later we arrived and found out that, big surprise, the bride was running late. I was an alter boy at enough weddings to know they never start on time. The cool breeze nearly dried my shirt by the time the ceremony got under way and it finally felt like a our run of mishaps had come to an end.

The day would not have been complete, however, without one more scare. The ceremony was followed by wedding photos, then a reception about 20 minutes up the road. Liz and I had a brief debate regarding how long we would stay at the reception knowing that the gate to our campground closed at 10. Liz was understandably excited to see her friends and would have felt bad leaving the reception early after all we’d been through. She had suggested we stay past 10, park the car in a store lot nearby to the campground and walk back to our mobile home. I was not the least bit excited about that plan and was ready to put my foot down. Fortunately, the reception was a small but intimate affair and was not about to run deep into the night. The bride and groom were leaving bright and early for Aruba so they were ready for bed at 9:30. Perfect timing! Liz and I said our goodbyes and started back to the campground. A couple red lights had us sweating out making curfew and as we made the final turn into the park there was a ranger parked at the gate, ready to close it for the night. We waved as we pulled past at 9:59 and breathed a sigh of relief.

Any remaining tension dissipated once we crossed into the campground and would soon turn into hysterics. Liz and I were exhausted as we got out of the car and realized we still had a bit of work to do before calling it a night. The tent was up – kind of – and we had not yet inflated our mattress. It was not long after we started inflating the mattress that it became clear it might just fill the entire tent, or at the very least the opening. In the end it covered about two-thirds of the doorway and left us with little room to maneuver. At that point there was not much we could do but climb in and have a good laugh. We laughed for a while that night and have laughed several times since at all that the craziness of our road trip!

A few closing notes:

– There was a dichotomy of feelings for me as I watched the Patriots take on the New Orleans Saints last night on Monday Night Football. My desire for the Patriots to win was never in question but I had the misfortune of needing Drew Brees and/or Devery Henderson, both of the Saints, to put up some numbers to guarantee my fantasy football team a victory. If that were not bad enough I also had to hope that the Patriots won while using Randy Moss as little as possible. Going into the game my team was losing by about 6 points. I was ecstatic when Laurence Maroney went into the end zone to put the Patriots up 7-3. The Pats were winning and Moss had not even touched the ball. By the time Brees threw a 75 yard touchdown pass to a WIDE OPEN Henderson the Saints up 17-7 and I had enough points to feel comfortable a victory was in hand. Unfortunately, Brees went on to throw three more touchdowns to put the game out of reach and my team eventually won by nearly 50 points. I know my opponent reads the blog so please accept my sincerest apologies Ian. A victory has never felt so dirty. On the bright side, the Pats remain in solidly entrenched in position to qualify for the playoffs though. So while it was a difficult and slightly embarrassing loss, wins over the Dolphins and Bills in the next three weeks should all but clinch the AFC East title.

– Liz gave me a haircut last week. She initially thought she was just giving me a trim but I wanted the whole enchilada. She did a great job even if it did take an hour and a half!

– Still waiting to see the big horned sheep. Supposedly they are on the other side of the hill across the street but we went on a hike up there yesterday and did not see any. Soon enough I’m sure!

– Our Christmas tree looks great but go figure we crossed paths with the an even more perfect tree on yesterdays walk.

– The XBHS Hawks football team are taking on Brockton tonight in the semi-finals of the Massachusetts Division 1 playoffs – Go Hawks!

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