roadtrip-day 1

we began the trip a little later than we'd planned--there was WAY too much to find/do/prepare and I'd wimped out and gone to bed earlier than I had intended--that was the night after I got so little sleep.

we said goodbye to the kitties, punched an address into jack and away we went.

our car was SO full. but we were armed with clothes, sunblock, music, drinks, snacks, our garmin and pretty much every corded item we owned (cell phone charger, ipod fm transmitter, aa and aaa car battery charger, garmin charger, etc. we felt a leeeeetle like a radio shack).

first stop: see laura in greensboro. laura is about to be dirt poor and living in a foreign country, aka going to grad school in ireland. people keep talking to her like she's going to go on a year long vacay--not the case! she's a kd from high point and her twin brother is one of matt's best friends. laura and I get along like peas and carrots. she is also the person who told me about our state magazine, and is the reason I knew to submit my photos (and got published) in the first place! we went to chick-fil-a and had these AMAZING shakes. they're the caramel cappuccino something or other and deeelish!

next was Dr Pepper's grave. I told you about it before, but not the details. Matt and I had to search the place. We were in that cemetery for half an hour, easy. the view was spectacular but all in all, it was ODD. I finally found it and we took our pictures. We were so excited we forgot to stop and see the big pencil!

then we saw the peace totem pole. there was a park and a museum/science/learning center right next to it. too cool, too cool. matt kept wishing it wasn't so far away so he could take his students to see it.

we discovered that west virginia drivers are not our favorites and I got a LONG nap. matt is so awesome--he drove the ENTIRE time. all the way to/from ok. I tried to get him to let me drive, but he kept saying that I needed to sleep, this was my only vacay but part of his vacay, etc. plus, he really enjoys driving. :)

in wv we saw a BEAUTIFUL sunset and stopped for dinner. Our Garmin, Jack, said that there were lots of this restaurant called "Ginos." I figured that meant it must be decent. I was wrong. We even hesitated at the door--this was a combo biscuit/pizza place--but went in 'cause we were hungry. mis-take. we ate our very-similar-to-cardboard food while listening to one of those late night mystery shows where someone got killed and they're trying to figure it out--gaudy jewelry, hookers, drugs and three wives were part of the story. and least on our way out we saw the sign. :)

our final (sucessful) endeavor of the day was visiting frostop rootbeer in huntington, per laura's suggestion. it is her mom's favorite root beer. (that was for you, taylor!) it kind of tasted like a root beer float, but without the texture of the icecream in it. it was worth the stop!

we tried to go and get pictures in ohio, but there wasn't much to be seen so late at night. I'd hoped for spot along the river or some cool neon signs or something, but nada. oh well, I will just have to visit the northern parts when I get michigan or something.

and then we went to lexington. we got there WAY late. and we found out that the holiday inn is STUPID. thank goodness I called to confirm my reservation--if you aren't there by midnight they cancel your reservation. it required special approval for them to let me check in by 2 (we got there before then though). and we were in a handicapped room, which was fine, but we were also right next to a dog who freaked out every time we came in and out! BOO! this is also when we found out about matt and his hanging clothes. oh boy. :)

and that, my friends, was day 1.