uptosomethin: Trip 2 Chattanooga/Newnan/South of the Border/Baltimore 2016.4

Day 1 Friday 21 July 2016

And so it was at about 0700 on July 21st 2016, my intrepid super-daughter and I pointed the Subaru west and headed out on my second travel adventure of the summer. Our eventual destination was beautiful Chattanooga, Tennessee, site of our 2016 Clanton Family Reunion. It came to pass, that I found out that fantastic trad-style, New Orleans Band, Tuba Skinny, was playing a small show in Knoxville at about 7pm that evening. I told Ellie that it was statistically possible that if we left at 7am and took only necessary breaks, we might be able to catch them. If not, no worries but lets try....and try we did.
Their gig was at the historic Candoro Marble works and was a very DIY, local, pot-luck, historic-preservation, progressive-Tennesseans-trying-to-make-a-difference kind of event.
We got there about ten after 7, paid the tiny cover, got ourselves a few complimentary fans and hung by the picnic tables to check them out. They were fantastic of course despite the high 80s temperature and 70 plus percent humidity. It was downright tropical. It was also a potluck which I didn't know. We dug about 7 or 8 tunes until their set break and then, because it was totally gross out and because we'd been on the road for 12 hours and because we had traveled 646 miles, we retreated to our hotel by the University. It was a serviceable hotel and the dinner at the bar was sadly forgettable. We did sleep well that night!

Tuba Skinny on the road

Day 2 Saturday 22 July 2016

Friday dawned hot and sticky again but to our delight, we discovered a french crepe cafe not far from the hotel! It was called the French Market Creperie and it was exactly what we needed! Great breakfast crepes and strong coffee, fresh squeezed juice and Parisian decor. My Francophile daughter was delighted!
It was only about an hour and a half to Chattanooga so we boogied on down the road and checked into the Embassy Suites on the edge of town. It was actually a very large, upscale and pretty nice hotel. This is where the reunion would be.
Needing lunch, we asked the desk man for a recommendation downtown and were directed to a very nice diner, right on the river. It was the Blue Plate and it was perfect. Upscale, modern diner food with a southern twist and a nice selection of local brews. You could see the river right out the window and across the lawn. Again, perfect....The Blue Plate is across the street from the very large, very modern and very popular Tennessee Aquarium. We didn't go in this time but we did explore a bit and discovered a stepped, manmade waterfall on the far side. Kids from a local day camp were frolicking in the water, (it was still hot) and in the wading pool at the bottom of the stairs. It was a beautiful detail and an unexpected delight. Ellie shed her shoes and waded some.

The view from the Blue Plate, that'd be the mighty Mississippi by the way...

Ellie cools off...

Later that afternoon, we discovered several of our family members had arrived and were availing them selves of the free happy hour in the large room adjacent to the main lobby. Hugs all around and lots and lots of catching up. Our Nashville relations arrived later and there was more catching up and hugging and laughing and drinking. I can't even begin the put into words my delight at being around my kinfolk. So, so great....
That evening, Kathy's family and Ellie and I walked across the parking lot to the Pizza place, Mellow Mushroom. It was decent but strangely figured in a senior moment I had already had but of which I was not aware just yet. I had left my sunglasses on the table in the lounge area in the hotel the night before but became convinced I had left them at the pizza joint. After some gnashing of teeth and rending of virtual garments, on our last morning I thought to ask the front desk and lo and behold, sunglasses.
When I first mentioned to Ellie that I'd be taking her the the reunion on Chattanooga, the first question her precocious mind came up with was, "can we visit the battlefield?" Well, of course I was going to suggest it but she had just studied it in her American Civil War unit in 8th grade social studies. So, Saturday morning, we braved the crowds at the elaborate and expansive breakfast buffet, applied sunblock and bug spray and drove over the the Chickamauga National Battlefield Park.
We tried to meet up with my Sister and eventually did at the visitor center. I wished the Park Service employees Happy Birthday, we watched the film, downloaded the audio guide app for our phone (super cool!), then headed out on the park road for the phone-guide directed auto and foot tour.
It was extremely well done and thought out and very, very thorough. The battlefield itself is remarkable not just for the cataclysmic events of September 1863, but also because it is the least-changed landscape of any US battlefield park. The hallowed ground was never settled, farmed or developed in the nearly 153 years since the conflagration.
On the way back, we ascended Lookout Mountain and dodged a hyper-local rains storm for the amazing view. One has to pay to really see the view or ride the incline. Also, Rock City was on the way down and again, a fairly steep admission price but a classic Southern tourist destination. I remember seeing the billboards as a kid all up and down the highway when we sojourned to Jonesboro, Georgia to visit Grandpa when I was a kid.
We met with Kathy, Daniel and Kylie back at the Blue Plate for yet another tasty, tasty meal and then headed back to the Hotel. Once there, a short rest and change of clothes and refresh and then to was time for the classic Clanton Saturday night gathering.
Once again, hugs, laughs and stories all around, this time with pizza! We were regaled with amazing tales from my Grandpa, his brothers Bruce and Don and their various children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, (one of whom was of course Ellie!). It was again, beautiful, meaningful and moving to me. My Mom endeavored to take us to this reunion as many years as time and money and schedules would allow and I am trying very hard to keep this tradition alive and hopefully, germinate an interest in my own daughter.

On LookoutMountain

A part of the Battlefield

Generations, generations....

Ellie atop a Chickamauga Tower Monument

Day 3 23 Sunday 23 July 2016

We were up and off to see my lovely wife Kim and her Aunt Marcia in Newnan, Georgia this hot Sunday. Kim had flown down to Atlanta the day before to have some visiting time with Aunt Marcia. Her trip was not without it's color either. Her brother Dave went with her to surprise Marcia, however, that was the second and most disruptive day of the famous Southwest Airlines flight cancellation debacle over the summer. After dithering about what to do for a brief moment, Kim realized that, in fact, they were at an airport. "They have planes at airports; I'll bet we can find one to Atlanta." Off she went and found a deserted Delta counter with a lone attendant. She sidled up, asked about the next flight to Atlanta, found out it was soon and booked two tickets on the spot. By the time she had done those easy few things, there was a line stretching behind her. She and Dave retrieved their bags from Southwest and boarded the Delta flight only an hour or so after their originally scheduled flight. Huzzah for my quick-thinking super-wife!
After again braving the buffet, we headed downtown one more time. This time, we hit the hilarious and delicious MoonPie General Store. Now, of course, I grew up on MoonPies. Mom would occasionally pack one in my lunch when I was a kid and certainly they were a staple treat on road trips. At various times during the years in which I've lived amongst my Yankee brethren, they've been brought to me and I've even seen them from time to time in out-of-the-way stores up North here. I introduced them to Ellie when she was a wee lass and she has loved them (who doesn't?) ever since. We spent a fun half hour there, loaded up on MoonPies and T-shirts and got us a couple of RC Colas (still my favorite) and headed Southeast.

The classic!

Along our 146 mile, 2 hour trip was the famous Tunnel Hill site. This was the tunnel through which the Great Locomotive Chase took place in 1862 during the Civil War. It was right off the highway so we stopped to try to see it. Again, it was a Sunday morning and everyone was at one of the 5 churches we saw between the interstate and the site. Also, it's not a State or National Historic site and is privately owned and operated, so, no access without an entrance fee. No one around so we could only snap pictures from a distance. It's an amazing story from that horrible conflict. As we were leaving, a Southern freight whipped pass on the newer tracks and larger tunnel about 10 feet north of the historic Western and Atlantic tracks we had just seen.
We arrived at Newnan about 1pm and it was great to see Kim and of course Aunt Marica! This was Ellie's first time meeting her and they got along like peas and carrots right off the bat. Despite the physical challenges of being an octogenarian, she still is a wonderful visit and conversationalist, full of laughs and smiles and amazing stories. It was lovely to spend some time with her. Ellie and Kim visited Marcia's favorite place to buy lotto cards and Ellie actually won 50$ her first time with a scratch off! Wow, beginner's luck!
That evening we went down the road to a Mexican restaurant Marica loves and to which Kim has gone with her for many years; La Perilla It was delicious as always. This particular trip to La Parilla was punctuated by the Pokemon Go phenomenon. Ellie and to a smaller degree, Kim were delighted and taken with game and a lot of the conversation happened to be about that.

The storied tunnel

A modern freight and modern tunnel

Day 4 Monday 24 July 2016

We awoke, and made for the Waffle House close by. Our visit was meant solely as a cultural waypoint for my Yankee daughter. It had been many, many moons since Kim or I had set foot in one and even then, it was not 930am on a Monday (more likely 230am after a gig). Ellie had waffles (they have little logos on them!)....It was as expected. You know what I mean, red pickup in the parking lot and all.
After breakfast, we headed over to Marica's to say our goodbyes and then headed east. Across that day, we essentially traversed the entire State of South Carolina, Southwest to Northeast. It was hot and beautiful and got flatter as we neared the lowlands. Along the way, we paused at a rest stop. I am quite certain none of the three of us had ever been on that stretch of Interstate 20 before.
About dinner time, we found ourselves on the outskirts of Columbia S.C. and made our way past the University to the fabled Five Points area. Monday night, so no issue parking and after some Yelp starts and stops, we found ourselves at Publico Kitchen and Tap. Highly recommended! Taco Monday! Who knew? Fantastic tacos, craft beer and giant Jenga at all the tables! We certainly refreshed ourselves for the rest of our drive that evening.
I wasn't sure how far we could get that night but Kim and I were determined to show Ellie that great monolith of Interstate 95 in South Carolina, the east coast's Wall Drug: South of the Border.
We actually made it there just before they closed for the evening. Just enough time to snap some pictures, buy some killer fireworks, hit the latrine, get gas and peruse the souvenir shops. The lights were amazing and the neon was ubiquitous. Now, the last time I was there was about 1986 or so. It has expanded quite a bit in 30 years and is several acres of stores, motels, putt-putt, arcades etc etc etc. I wouldn't be surprised if the Astronauts on the ISS could make out the lights at night. It was kitsch on an industrial scale. Still, I'm glad we saw it and I was especially glad Ellie got to experience it.
After gassing up, we headed North right across the border to a decent hotel near the highway in Lumberton. Interestingly, the crossroads of Interstates 95 and 74 pass right by that hotel in Lumberton and a few short weeks after this trip, Kim and I would be heading West to East on Interstate 74 and pass right by the highway hotel again. Again, it was a decent stay and we slept well.

Ellie's first trip to the WH!

Generations, well-met....

Rest Area 62

S.O.B

The be-sttickered giant spark plug

Day 5 Tuesday 25 July 2016

We were up and out at a reasonable time and hoping to make it home before bedtime. We had about 514 miles to go. We booked it up 95 and made it to our favorite restaurant in Richmond, Virginia; Kuba Kuba. It is, without a doubt, the best Cuban restaurant at which I've ever eaten, Just about ever time we head South to see my family in North Carolina, we try to time it so we can stop there and have a meal. We've probably been there 5 or 6 times already, Just Kim and I and with both Keely and Ellie multiple times. It's safe to say I think it's their favorite restaurant i Richmond too! This particular trip there was as amazing as all the rest. The Arroz con Pollo and Paella are the best I've ever had and their "dessert" coffee' are amazing, sweet, confections of caffeinated goodness. One hundred stars to Kuba Kuba!
We made it to Baltimore by dinnertime and took a break and walked around that beautiful port area. We had milkshakes and a nice walk. (with more Pokemon Go of course!) About 730pm, we headed North again and made it to Benezet street about 930pm.

It was a beautiful trip, filled with family, great food, great times and interesting historical and cultural gleanings. We were all exhausted and happy and I for one, am eternally pleased we did it!

It was also a 1775 mile drive for me. Good thing I love being on the road!