Ok so it's been a while...and here we go

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Trip Start Sep 13, 2006 Previous
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  Marvin, North Carolina, United States
Tuesday, January 2, 2007

All right folks, it has been a long time since our last entry, much has happened, much has been seen and many good times have been had. Since it has been so long and there is soooo very much to tell, we are going to do our best to keep it as short as possible. (Disclaimer: If you were involved or otherwise associated with the following events, stories, good times etc. Please do not take offense at the potential brevity of their mention or dare we say possible unintentional omission or plain "we forgot" of certain things that meant a lot to you but must not have meant a thing to us cause we didn't even mention it. Remember each of you is the most important person in our lives.)
Where were we?
We left the beauty that was a presumably still is Zion and moved on to Arches. Some would say, "Great Dave and Kim, more dirt, this time in funny shapes!" Very true, but it doesn't begin to describe the beauty of this place. A bit crowded, but another breath taking example of why Utah is a flippin amazing place! (ps Dave looks hot in a sleeveless shirt!)
Arches National Park, Utah USA: Amazing sights, beautiful hike (stretch the ole leg), had a few minosaur sightings as well. With the added nice privy, Arches gets a 4 out of 5 high fives! (loss of points due to some annoying terrorist, I mean tourists)
We saw many other breath taking sights in Utah as we puttered across the great expanse.
Onto Telluride CO to see Angela, Josh and of course Sorin. Of all the places we had stopped this was by far the best.

A rare glimse of Kim in the womb

Driving in to Telluride we started to get snow flurries and by the time we hit town it was full fledged snow fall. Did I mention it was the last day of summer? Angela, Josh and Sorin took us under their wings and showed us around town and gave us much needed shelter, shower, etc. (really cool house by the way) they even took us to a Steeprock Builders party (where Josh works). This place was awesome, good food, good beer, cool building and amazing people.
Telluride, CO USA: This place has it all. Old friends we hadn't seen in years not to mention one really cute little guy, Sorin, whom we loved playing with. A cool green building company, mounds of snow, a gondola ride, sushi, beer, coffee and on and on. Telluride is a really cool town that we really recommend visiting. Here comes the cheese, beautiful location earns Telluride at least 3 out 5 high fives, but it was being with such good people that made Telluride, CO our first 5 out of 5 high fives! Thanks again Angela and Josh and a big thanks to you Sorin!
Snow melts and we journey south...on to Mesa Verde.
Mesa Verde, CO USA: This place is a must see. We took a tour of Balcony House which was amazing. You climb up a wooden ladder to enter as well as to leave the site. Walkin in the footsteps of these people and seeing what their everyday lives must have been about was incredible. This particular tour is a must do. Eat a light lunch; you have to crawl through a pretty small tunnel. So much to see and do there, we recommend a full day.

Buff Bride

Sights and history of a culture long since banished to reservations give Mesa Verde a 4.5 out of 5 high fives (loss of .5 because you can't go to all the sites, I know I know, preservation)
On to New Mexico.
Now we have been told that Taos is pretty cool town. One of two things happened, we were in a not so cool mood or all the cool was on vacation for our brief stay. Before we get emails in Taos' defense and before we lose the respect of out readers, we had a good time wandering this town but it didn't live up to the hype.
Taos, NM USA: Cool galleries, with stuffy curators, nick naks, hummers and expensive camping all abound. Should you visit? Sure especially since we just slaughtered the hype! To be fair it was probably just us so we will be kind and give it 2 out of 5 high fives.
Here's where we are going to speed things up a bit:
We decide to haul ass and get to NC due to dwindling travel funds and an up coming events in NC. We did what most people do to the middle of the United States, stopped only for gas and shits (a few giggles in between, some during).
Amarillo, TX USA:...um we saw it...tried to give a high five but Kim was asleep so no rating tallied (it's for the best)
Oklahoma USA: Congrats, you get rated as an entire state! Cheapest gas the whole way!!! Five out of Five high fives (it touched Dave's cheap ass side). O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A, Oklahoma you're OK!

Fast forward many hours and lots of coffee...Welcome to North Carolina, local time 4:37 AM.

Congrats Beth and Brendan

This was an exciting moment that may have been clouded or enhanced by sleep deprivation, either way it felt good to be "home."

A few days and many little chores later Dave's sister Beth has her big day! It was a beautiful event with lots of family and friends which ultimately meant a fair amount of libations. Beth looked gorgeous and Brendan, the groom, dapper and surprisingly there on his own free will. Everything went according to plan, minus the rain, but hey everyone had a great time, including Dave's cousin who preformed his ritual, shall we say, revealing dance. Nice red silk boxers Key!
Dave leaves to go north with Brandon Caskey AKA: B-Arthur, Dusty Balls B, Lymbs Jr., Grundel, Songline, Baby Kittens etc. Talk about good times and good people. Dave and B really had a great time and would like to thank, Gaylin, James, Audrey, Bill, Helena, Sheetz, Kathryn, Laura, Betsy, Andrew, Christina, and even though they backed out on her Jan. A very get awesome adventure.
North East USA: Totally sweet!!! Everyone should make a fall pilgrimage up the Eastern Seaboard! No high fives due to absence of Kim.
Kim here...so, as Dave and B had their adventure up North, I hung out with my folks and saw my old friend NC mountains in the fall....LOVE IT!!! After Dave and B returned, I took my trip up the Northeastern coast.
First stop was Burlington, VT to visit Audrey and James who showed me good times and so graciously took me into their home! Next I took a train ride to Amherst, MA to visit Kathryn and her roomies, Betsy and Laura. Again, awesome time and thank you for all of the hospitality!
OK...so as you can imagine, we are running out of money and it is time to get back to the real world (sorta) and make some cash. Dave and I were commissioned to remodel my mom and Rik's kitchen...or house which it turned out to be. Dave and I were living it up in Wilkes by-god County, eating and sleeping for free and we destroyed the very house I grew up in. Fun times...well most of the time, except the ceiling scraping and the shits and damns from Dave's mouth (on occasion).... It is done now and it looks awesome!!!
During all of this fun, my brother and his wife decided to pop out a baby boy, Ethan Cole Shumate. The little man gave us a scare but everything is great now and he is by far the cutest kid ever! Thanks for giving us a nephew Eric and Emily!
Super speed....Thanksgiving and pre X-mas at Beth and Brendan's, X-mas in Kentucky (Dave), X-mas in Wilkes (Kim)....Merry good fun!
I think we are about there folks! We just brought in the New Year with friends at LKN, or Lake Norman for those of you who are not cool enough to know the lingo. Best way to end '06 and bring in '07. Thanks for the use of the lake house John and Ada AKA dadada!
Well, I think that is all....we leave for New Zealand on Thursday! Talk with ya'll soon!
Kim and Dave Shulay

Post your own travel photos for friends and family More Pictures

Damn nice shirt	Dance Dance Revolution	Dave and Beer	Dave makes a friend
Ethan and Bubba E	Ethan and Uncle Dave	Gondala ride	HEE HAW
Kim ponders all that is Arches	Kim rides the Earth Ship	Mesa Verde, Balcony House	Mesa Verde, Treehouse
Minosaurs attack	NC in the fall	NC in the fall #2	Sorin, ain't he cute
The New Years Monster

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