http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from North America , United States , Virginia en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:58:05 BST Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:58:05 BST We had a leisurely morning as we were doing the 1880 Train Ride at 1000 a.m. and it was right next door. The ride takes about 2 hours and it was a relaxing ride though it was totally full and by the time we were able to get on the only seats left were in the very back of the very last car so we had a hard time seeing things. Then when we were on the return trip the engine was now right in http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Suffolk/blog-303813.html Today was a little more relaxed driving wise since we'd knocked off so many miles in the first 2 days. We started out around 700ish again and as we were driving decided to stop in Mitchell SD to see the world famous Corn Palace...couldn't pass it up We had breakfast there then went to find the Corn Palace. They were in the process of changing the pictures and things already for 2009 go http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Suffolk/blog-303546.html the good thing about low points is that it means there has to be a climb back out. The climb out came from all a long term Internet friend chris and her partner roger. A last minute call saying ' hey man you wanna come up and stay with us in crozet. She even drove down to Roanoke to get me. I have known these people for over 10 years on the net but never met them but by the end of the drive up http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Charlottesville/blog-302956.html We left this morning promptly at 400 a.m...after a quick turn around at the end of my driveway as I remembered that I'd forgotten my phone We pretty much had a none eventful trip though slightly behind what I wanted due to a 600 a.m. bathroom break for Stephen and to grab a cup of coffee for meWe got to Breezewood then about 915 and to the farm around 1145. We spent about an hour there http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Suffolk/blog-302526.html Only one more day until liftoff My oldest sister Cathy has come onboard too so I'll at least have another driver I still hope to get Stephen behind the wheel once we get into the open plains..The boys and I will leave early on Sunday morning think 400 a.m. and we will drive to Pittsburgh to pick up Dad Cathy. Barring any problems we should be there before noon then take a break and http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Suffolk/blog-301606.html I'm just testing out the site to make sure it works before we leave. I'm still not sure of how we're going to get Dad but we'll work it out somehow http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Suffolk/blog-300164.html So the plan was to get onto the Appalachian Trail... so i come to Roanoke the closest town to the trails in these here parts. The reality is its a fair ways outa town and heads right into the middle of the range. On my own that all looks a little daunting what with tales of homeless crazies living in the woods and lots of bears along that part of the trail. So i decide on walking the blue ridge http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Roanoke/blog-299756.html As I sit here attempting to think of everything I could need for the month I'll be away from home the idea of keeping a log of my adventures crossed my mind. Unfortunately it remains unknown if the apartment will have internet access. Most likely it will not and this log will progress no further than a few entries in London. Attempting to transfer my pictures and write an entry on a daily bas http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Blacksburg/blog-299384.html another day another greyhound. Richmond is just down the road.so what is Richmond like Well the bus station is nice as is the industrial zone... And when I realised is was walking in the wrong direction the poor zone was just as nice. I really living in the classiest places.50 gets you a cockroach infested room cockroaches are extra tho. This one did have the stadium for the richmond braves nex http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Richmond/blog-299359.html We had a blast and now we're home buuuuuuuuutttttttttttt we'd like to go again http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Virginia-Beach/blog-298630.html well we made it back to the US safe and sound it's been a few days but we figured we'd update about the last leg of the trip before it all slips our mind.. so here goeswe got up for our last day in banos and spent some time wandering the shops and markets acquiring gifts for ourselves and for some people back home. we then headed over to the bus station and got ourselves on the next bus head http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Alexandria/blog-296679.html So i have been lazy filing in my blog again. Since the last time i wrote i have stayed a couple of more days in boston and gone to NY now im in richmond again. Im here to spend 4th of july with the guys from richmond and go to the beach to hang out for 4 days from saturday. So I only have 8 more days in the USA then its back to normality in Manchester. Im looking forward to seeing everyone back in http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Richmond/blog-294696.html Suitcases are packed boarding passes are printed and tomorrow morning we head out bright and early for our big adventure The itinerary will have us hopscotching across the USA for 14 days. We'll visit 6 national parks 1 state park several national forests and momuments and will cover over 5500 miles in the process. We'll update you as often as cyberspace is available to us. You keep us po http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Virginia-Beach/blog-292505.html Well only seventeen more days until I leave for London seventeen more Red Robin white trash filled evenings until I'm gone. I sure hope busting my ass at that place will be worth it when I get to Europe. I watched a show on the Travel Channel today about Amsterdam and I am so excited for our weekend trip there. The show that came on after it was about Greece. I would love to make it to Greece http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Fredericksburg/blog-285883.html We arrived home Wednesday afternoon. God blessed us with a safe trip of over 8100 miles. It seemed when we traveled toward home time dragged. It took 5 days to travel cross country by the ldquomiddle routerdquo. We traversed the entire westeast length of Nevada Wyoming and Nebraska. Then we dropped down to Kansas City Missouri where we picked up I64. We drove through a small part of Illin http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Richmond/blog-285142.html The first two days Filled with a frenzy of activities these days mostly involved shuttling up and down picking up friends from the airport. There was a lot of confusion and excitement in the air as introductions were made about the new people in the gang which consisted of Venkat Sharmi Mudhals Dhini Shanky Pec Lavanya Mani Jacky Piyush and us...The first stop we made was at an amazing http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Luray/blog-284604.html I'm feeling more like I love Africa now that I'm home than I did when I was there. I miss it. I miss the people and the lovely spirit of togetherness. I miss the management style of family spirit that I witnessed at TASO. I think my mind was clouded by my longing for home I really did have a good time. I learned a lot and now I am eager to go back.... Just not for 4 months. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Arlington/blog-284238.html Natural Tunnel State Park and Cumberland GapSo the morning of June 1st we had to pack up in the pouring rain and so didnrsquot quite get breakfast. Rollie and I had already made coffee but we stopped at a corner store for granola bars and headed out for Cumberland Gap. The drive was lovely Virginia rolling hills farmsteads small towns. I was able to use the air card easily and make edits t http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/blog-283855.html On Our WaySo Max graduated from North Branch Middle School the evening of May 31st and then our friend Melissa hosted a campfire farewell for us and although packing was fairly well underway most of the camping gear pantry bins everyone except Rollie stayed up way too late I was doing laundry at midnight. The next day it took much of the day to both pack clear away some of our stuff for http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Bristol/blog-282530.html Wednesday 28th May Thursday 29th MayWe took the 905am flight to Washington DC which required an early start and another trip on Chicagorsquos Public Transport system. The flight to Washington was pretty easy with the exception of the two brats who were seated behind us.We took public transport to our motel which was pretty easy. The only issue was how far it was from the Metro Station we wer http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Arlington/blog-282500.html I decided late on Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend to take a little holiday to western Virginia with my bike. There's a trail that runs from Abingdon to just past Whitetop through Damascus called the Virginia Creeper Trail. It's about 34 miles long and follows the old railroad bed of the Virginia Carolina Railroad. It's a great shareduse National Recreation Trail that goes through the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Damascus/blog-280918.html Since I've left and returned something in me has changed but I can't quite determine what. There's this fire in me to make my mark on the world and experience all that life has to offer. And now more than ever do I realize that the good comes with the bad...the sweet isn't so sweet without the sour. As I was experiencing Brussels and expanding my educational horizon my 94yearold grandfather p http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Arlington/blog-280509.html HolaHopefully this site will serve as a way to keep everyone updated as to what we are up to while we are in South America. We're not sure exactly what the internet situation will be but I'm assuming we will have access on the weekends so hopefully a few entries can get up during that time we shall see.So for those of you that don't know Ryan and I will be heading down to Ecuador for about http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Alexandria/blog-279842.html Greetings from Casey's Couch.Its my last night in Richmond im off to Atlanta tomorrow lunch time i arrive at 8am on sunday crazy I have to go via Greensboro North Carolina wait for 6 hours for the train to Atlanta that will be fun. To top it all off i got tattooed today so i will have a sore right arm to go with the 20 hours of traveling and waiting....I see this as character building.My tattoo is http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Virginia/Richmond/blog-279527.html