welcome to texas

Today was a relaxing day w/ GPJ & GMD. We got Miles serviced (the new nickname for the car), and then went target shooting at an outdoor range. This was Jenn's first time firing a gun, and she blew everyone out of the water (literally). Her very first target (w/ a .22) had 1 bullseye and several other good shots. She then prooved to be just as proficient with the .45 and 9mm. I never stood a chance!

Then we hung out, GMD gave us a tour of their amazing yard, which is more a botanical garden, and finished the night off with dinner out.

Pics

Ok, we've finally got pics uploaded! Go to this link (you do not need to sign up for an account even though it might say something about that). View pics or click on the 9 Albums next to Bryan's slideshow to see them sorted by each State (some have description, others we'll fill in later). Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=5ut2bdvt.bqxze4it&Uy=otgcdm&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

The Florida Keys are great; a beach community in every sense of the word. It was much different than I expected, which was sort of Santa Monica pier type set-ups along the coast for miles. This is much more rustic, lived-in, secluded. The only area really resembling that was Key West, which was more like a giant Venice Beach.

We inadvertently arrived during the Hemingway festival (whom I'd not realized was famous for living on KW). This was also of course where we officially reached our 1/2 way pnt, coming to the Southernmost Point in the Continental US. The festival was great, and we did some shopping and eating. This night we didn't feel like spending another $60 on KOA camping, so even though exhausted, we drove the length of the Keys back up to the peninsula and found a hotel for less than that.

Is anyone really reading these?

We're in Florida! This is momentous, for we knew if we made it here the entire trip would be happening regardless, because now we're across the country, as far from Seattle as one could be whilst still in US of A!

More blog soon.


ps Sorry no pics yet. Having problem with Jenn's laptop, so been using other pc's. Soon.

It was good to be back in the Smokies. I haven't been in this area since hiking the AT, and it brought back a flood of memories. We saw the Dark Side of the park, entering via car instead of on foot, driving through the vomitus trap of Gatlinburn during the height of tourist season.

The Smokies is the most visited NP in the country, but most people never leave the pavement. We decided to do an over-nighter on the AT and sleep in a shelter, and the minute we stepped away from our car and onto the trail, everyone vansihed. It was wonderful.