In case you missed yesterday’s report, we did finally catch my dad (aka Big Jim, or BJ) at Cracker Barrel, along with Peggy, my step-mom. We all had a nice dinner together somewhere around 9pm, and then we all made it to the Ramada there in Crossville, Tennessee. But darned if BJ didn’t have another trick up his sleeve, and sure enough, he beat us to Boone… by about an hour!
First, though, I need to back up a little. In my exhaustion last night, I failed to give any indication of how lovely Tennessee appeared to us, especially once we’d passed Nashville. I tried snapping a few pictures, but the best one shows a pretty sunset scene through a thoroughly bug-smeared windshield (shrug). By the way, all the trip’s pictures should be up by Wednesday, and I’ll let you know where to look.
BJ had split the hotel early in the moving truck, and we led Peggy the last 160-or-so miles in her van through the midmorning and past midday. The first 130 of that took us east along the last part we expect to see for a while of Interstate 40, then onto Interstate 81 north on the other side of Knoxville, then to highway 321 and all its many odd-numbered tributaries in Elizabethton. We drove through Bristol and then through the last thirty miles of the most scenic, lush, green, heavenly country we’ve seen anywhere. The Tennessee-side of the drive into the Cherokee National Forest offered lots of access to Watauga Lake, and the green hills and mountains ahead in North Carolina also dazzled us. By the time we’d climbed up to just above 3,000 feet of elevation, we were in Boone. Peggy followed us in, and soon we were turning onto Winkler’s Creek Road, then onto the gravel of Rocky Creek Road. Three-tenths of a mile later, we saw the Budget truck at the end of the lane named Rocky Maple which crosses Rocky Creek… the place where we’ve already started making our home, and where we’ll be settled for the months ahead until our (Amelia’s) new home is ready.
Awaiting us on our arrival were Beth’s mom Ginny, sister Ann and brother-in-law Chuck (donning video gear), our nearly three-year-old niece Grace and her baby-sister Claire (7-8 months), plus BJ (donning an unmistakable ear-to-ear grin).
So now, you have some idea of how amazing the journey is to our new home, and if you accept our standing invitation to visit — for snow skiing, white-water rafting, golfing, camping, hiking or baby visiting (Amelia’s due on 8/31) — we promise a great time with many more laughs… and we vow also to listen attentively to the travel tales you bring to share. After hanging with us across these 2,400 miles, we owe you that much, at least.
Thanks again for all the well-wishes. You all helped us see our journey through.
Love — Roger, Beth, Maggie, Callie, Amelia-in-the-pod
Escape from LA by Roger Darnell
. Countdown: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 – The Countdown Begins
. Day 1: Thursday, May 31, 2001 – Simply Grand
. Day 2: Friday, June 1, 2001 – Catching Up
. Day 3: Saturday, June 2, 2001 – Almost There
. Day 4: Sunday, June 3, 2001 – Home At Last…
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