You can learn a lot about a person from camping with them. Who knew that Julia is an outdoorswoman, that Tes can make a mean eggs over easy on a Bunsen burner, that Truong builds a quality fire without quality supplies, or that Emlen is an excellent bartender, even while working hard to avoid the detection from the park ranger. Who ever heard of an alcohol free campsite? Pshaw!
We camped for the first of what will be numerous times in southwest Virginia at a place called Lake Claytor. We originally planned to make it down to Asheville, NC, but were sidetracked by the numerous attractions that Virginia has to offer. Did you know Virginia has a black market zoo where you can have your picture taken holding a baby tiger? (They do, but we skipped the photo) Did you know that 2 miles down the road, there is a scale model of Stonehenge made entirely of Styrofoam? Did you know that only 2 miles further, there is a giant dinosaur park complete with Tyrannosaurus Rex statues eating Civil War re-enactors? How could someone not get side-tracked?
The next day, we made it to Asheville for a quick tour of the city. We didn’t stay for too long, but I absolutely loved the city. It is like they took Austin, shrunk it, removed the government and the obnoxious UT fans, and dropped it into the middle of the mountains. I’m not sure what the occasion will be, but I hope to make it back someday soon and I’d recommend anyone do the same.
After we left Asheville, we headed into the Blue Ridge Mountains to Chimney Rock Park. This area is where Last of the Mohicans was filmed. Everyone was pumped to hike to the base of the waterfall used in a famous scene from the movie. Well, almost everyone. I grew up in Nebraska. It is famous for being flat. I live in Houston for 8 years, a city that is mainly below sea level. I do not enjoy high elevation, I do not see the point of walking up graded hills for fun, and I am generally a big baby. I tried hard not to show my misery, but my lack of poker face betrayed me. Well, it was either that, or the flop sweat and the wheezing. The waterfall was very beautiful when we did reach it and I may enjoy hiking by the end of this trip, but I was ecstatic when we headed back to civilization.
We stayed the night in Atlanta with the recently married Alex and Lisa. The problem with Alex and Lisa is that they are very nearly perfect and there is not much I can say to make fun of them. Perfect wedding? Probably the most fun one I have ever been to. Perfect house? You should see their deck, their backyard, the ridiculous man cave of a basement. Perfect dog? Except for the fact that it was named after a St. Louis Cardinal, yep. Even their lack of height is perfectly proportional. It is like you took the perfect couple, and just shrunk them a little bit. Spend 5 minutes with them and it is very apparent how in love they are. They gently tease each other, they finish each other sentences, but they are somehow still lots of fun. It is enough to make a single person gag.
Finally, major congratulations are due to G for his recent engagement to Emily. We have been begging him to lock her down for years. She is so far out of his league that there should be university researchers studying the couple.
What I’m listening to: Use Somebody – Bat for Lashes, The Absence of God – Rilo Kiley, & Like I Needed – Rogue Wave
Next stop: Nashville
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