Brad's Journal

(4:00 pm) #

Destination: Atlanta, any route you like.

Home. Tired. Sunburned.

Really should have put the top back up once I got out of the mountains.

1385.9 miles. 22 hours and 15 minutes on the road.

I need one of those cold, refreshing sorts of beers.

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(9:07 pm) #

[no subject]

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(8:51 pm) #

[no subject]

Hello from Asheville. What a great day of driving. That's what I was looking for. Did the Tail of the Dragon, went around Lake Santeetlah, rode the Cherohaoaoaha Skyway. Then I realized that if I actually drove all the rest of the twisty little roads I'd mapped out, followed by that low speed grind along the Blue Ridge Parkway, it would tomorrow before I finished. So, off to Asheville, ending the backroads stuff on NC-28 near Almond, NC.

The Dragon was pretty great, but there are other roads around there that are as challenging and don't get as much notice. I passed more cops there than I saw the whole rest of the trip. That wasn't much of a problem, though. Actually going the speed limit is a challenge in many spots, and those are the fun spots. Going fast in a straight line? I already did plenty of that this weekend. (Gurney disclaimer: At no time did I exceed 121mph.) Four new Michelin Pilot Sport AS+ tires were a big help, and performed beautifully both today, and in the occasional bits of wet.

Sadly, I did pass by a wreck, a little while after getting off 129. Two cars, one BMW with a smashed in side, and another car with a damaged front. An ambulance was leaving just as I got to it. Stern looks all around. Both were probably lucky not to have gone off the side of the mountain.

I'm staying at the Grand Bohemian Hotel, near the Biltmore estate. This is a great hotel, and it's practically free with my discount, which is amazing. I foresee many happy returns - this is a great staging location for runs into the west NC mountain roads.

Right now: Awaiting filet mignon (just arrived!), and a couple of old friends I haven't seen in a long time.

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(4:45 pm) #

Scenic overlook

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(2:43 pm) #

Sit rep

Stopped for gas somewhere near Lenoir City, TN. I-40 is a nice little highway. Next stop: Deal's Gap!

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(11:16 am) #

Mysteries explained

So maybe the reason Nashville is so hopping this weekend is that Summer NAMM (a big time music industry convention) is in town and just wrapped up yesterday. Yes, perhaps that has something to do with it.

Having some coffee and a croissant, waiting on a bellman to bring me a toilet plunger, and I'll be out in a little while. Destination: Somewhere in NC.

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(10:46 pm) #

Sit rep

I was previously unaware of this, but apparently, on Saturday nights in the summer, Nashville is one damned busy place. The strip on Broadway is jam packed with people. Lots of chicks wearing cowboy boots. Lots of street musicians. Lots of bars with live music. Fireworks. It is calamity.

Not being quite fit for partying tonight, I found a quieter Italian place a couple blocks away and am nursing a sweet tea, seated for some reason inside a train car.

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(8:25 pm) #

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(8:22 pm) #

[no title]

St. Bernardus kicked my ass. Fun night, but rough morning. I still have a headache.

I was late getting on the road, so my earlier/original idea of running part of the Natchez Trace parkway didn't happen. Instead, I got to do more interstate driving. It was pretty good up to Montgomery, and then everybody became retarded. The pathological tardism continued through Birmingham, and on into where I am now. Which is: Nashville, Tennessee!

Staying at the Renaissance Nashville, which is one street away from Broadway, which is where one wants to be, if one is in the market for a cowboy hat, boots, bar-b-q, records, expensive guitars, or any number of other awesome things. No discount available tonight, so since I was going to have to go big anyway, I upgraded to a corner room. It's shaped like a right triangle, and the hypotenuse is all floor-to-ceiling window with a city view. The decor has kind of a 1970s vibe, but I dig it. It makes me feel like I should be celebrating landing a record deal by getting coked up with some hookers. Which is what I like to think happened a lot in the 70s.

Going to get cleaned up a bit, and head out to see what's up.

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(11:23 pm) #

[no title]

At Hopjacks now. Lots of taps, mostly good. The atmosphere reminds me of Athens, minus the college. Or maybe there is a college here. How the hell would I know. Drinking Back 40 Naked Pig, locally made. They also have St. Bernardus ABT12, not so local. Planning on that being my nightcap.

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(10:32 pm) #

[no title]

Just got advised to leave one bar, as I asked what's on tap that's good, to which they replied they only have Bud Lite. Despite a giant Rogue Brewery banner. Just Bud Lite. So off to Heroes, having a Great Divide Titan served too cold. Hopjacks is also supposed to be good. So far, judging establishments by their names is not working out well.

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(9:29 pm) #

[no title]

What is more depressing than a hotel bar that only has three taps, two of which are the same as two of the three taps from the last place you left, one of which is Sweetwater 420, which you drove 350 miles to get away from? Throw in the one-man-band playing love songs on an out of tune piano and a drum machine, and I have got to get the hell out of here. I hear Dauphin St. is where it's at. Let's go see.

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(8:47 pm) #

sit rep

Greetings from downtown Mobile, AL. The first thing I askeed when I got here was for the correct pronunciation: moe-BEEL. Unlike the MOE-bul 1 I poured into my engine earlier. In case you're also wondering, it takes four and a half hours to get here from Atlanta, on a good day. And today was a good day..

I'm at the Battle House Renaissance Hotel, built in the 1850's. Mercifully, it has been updated a bit since then. I doubt flatscreen TVs and walk-in showers were too common in pre-Civil-War times. Having some local brew now, Danny McBride's twin is tending bar, waiting on dinner to come out in the form of a giant damn pork chop, then hop down all the bars I passed on the way from the hotel to this place, The Royal Scam.

So where to, tomorrow? New Orleans isn't too far away. But then, a number of destinations are possible. Dallas. St. Louis. Nashville. Miami. Or even right the hell back home (not likely!). I do have a good idea of where I want to end up by Sunday night, but between now and then, anything goes. I just want less Interstate driving, and to get the top down some.

I actually had a hard time getting myself out to make this trip. Earlier in the week, I was feeling the stress of things and wanted to get out, but things calmed down and by today it was tempting to just stay home. But, instead, I got out. And it's fun. And not even that expensive (thanks for the discount, Mom!).

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(2:15 pm) #

On the road

After a heavy couple of weeks of work, I'm getting out of town. It's an ultra-exclusive rally -- I'm the only participant! Where am I heading? Who the hell knows! I'll be back Monday evening.

Live GPS Tracking, by Instamapper.

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(11:22 pm) #

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Until tonight, until just mere moments ago, I had never, under any circumstances, ever heard an adult yell "Grandma, what the fuck!!!" over the phone at their grandmother. (Note multiple exclamation points - a sure sign of a diseased mind.) And repeating. "I'm your granddaughter! I'm your grandaughter! I'm your granddaughter! I'm your oldest granddaughter! LISTEN TO ME!!!"

Such nice people that live around here. For now.

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