Renaissance Charlotte Suites Hotel

... mer* *nd one of those new Flip c*mcorders. You better believe I will be uplo*ding pictures *nd videos every single d*y on here. Well, Jimmy John's should be here *ny minute. I *m so excited for the months to come *nd I will truly miss * lot of people, BUT I *m excited to sh*re *ll of my cr*zy "Becc* shen*****ns" with you *ll through this blog.

Goodbye, Arrivederci, H*st* Luego.

Becc* *k* Cupc*ke

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.

The day draws closer...I will be driving up with Jason, Hope, Ali and Diane, all in one car, so I wonder how this is all going to pan out, we will still be friends by the end? Will I have my sanity? Am I just thinking too much of what could happen? Who knows? We will see what enfolds on the journey to the North..stay tuned.

Today was quite interesting. I took apart the front end of my fathers truck - to remove the reservoir for the windshield wiper fluid. - lets just say that those re-filling bottles (the blue ones) should be better labeled.. if thats even possible - it was ridiculous - i had to remove the front left light, the battery, a large metal ...