Mainstay Suites Kannapolis

... I m*y encounter, but the truth is I *m. In f*ct, the uncert*inty is terrifying. The l*st 7 d*ys of my life h*ve consisted of cr*fting for my little, b*king cupc*kes for community service, m*king * Christm*s list for my mom, *nd it's *bout to include * delicious me*l of * Jimmy John's s*ndwich for dinner. Comp*re th*t to 7 d*ys in Sp*in....I'm going to be shopping *t Z*r*, buying fresh food for dinner *t L ...

The journey home began at 6AM Venice time and even with only a one hour layover in Munich we arrived in Charlotte at 6PM est time (midnight Venice time!) a very long day. We had a trendous trip and Aunt Sue and Guido were the perfect hosts and tour guides. I almost feel like going right back but that will have to wait for now probably June 2011. The weather was cold and at times rainy so some of the things you would routinely do were just not possible.

Excited and ready to leave. The forecast does not seem very promising but it will be great to see Sue & Guido again. We leave Charlotte at 5:30 PM and should be in Venice at Noon (Italian time) Wednesday. I will try to send photo's as we take them as well as update this blog. I loved this when Chris and Liana used it .

After a long and hectic tech week in the not so glamorous land of Roxbury Community College, we finally hit the road on Saturday. Our first day was quite long. Anyone who's ever driven the I-95 route up and down the east coast knows that the triumverate of driving nuisances are Boston, NYC, and DC... and yes we were passing through all 3 in our first day of driving. Needless to say, 12 hours later we were VERY thankful to reach the hotel.

Sunday, we ...

I thought that I would post this picture of me and La Poderosa just before I left for the west coast a couple month's ago. She had to be sold in LA:( What an amazing bike for 700 bucks. She got me through one of the most amazing adventures that I've had to date. As soon as I can get my computer that has all the pics on it online I will have a boat load of stuff to post from this trip.

... the eastern boarder of Iraq while I am there. Future travels with continue to take me across I believe. I am bringing the tent and sleeping bag for my days on the road so that I can stay cheap while i'm in transit. Though I have hostel reservations for the beginning and end of my trip in Istanbul.

Sarah and Ken were waiting for us, as we deplaned in Charlotte North Carolina.They had caught a flight from Detroit to Charlotte, the meeting place for our international flight.

It seems so exciting... and odd, too. Seeing familiar faces outside the ...

WW and I drove across western NC. Got to a town called Statesville and went into J&R Cigars, billed as the World's largest cigar store. They ain't lying. BIg ol' CHurchills for $3 (or less).

We camped at Lake Norman, land donated to the State of NC by the Duke Power company as long as the state let them leave their nuke there. No pics. Suprisingly nice campground.

... After looking around and finding no one matching that description, I head over to the Avis lot on their shuttle. I did forget to mention that as soon as I stepped outside to catch the shuttle, it hit me, THE AIR! Blow dryer against the face! Hot, 89 degrees and humid 90%. DAMN!!! Welcome to the South, "God's Country." I wait around for the stripped shirt, cacky shorts Whitney Wilcoxson, and do not see him arrive. So, I text and call him after ...

... the ring. The first half had some excellent horse-riding but was very gung-ho American - they didn't seem to take account of foreigners. We all sat in North or South sections and had to cheer on our team for the second half competitions - ranging from chicken chasing & ostrich riding to slalom horse racing. After the "Are you proud to be an American" cheers they ended the night with "America the beautiful" - we snuck off and headed home. Day 356 Friday 21/10/05 ...