adventure
\əd-ˈven-chər\ noun
1. a. an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks
b. the encountering of risks
2. an exciting or remarkable experience
3. this
What began as a terrible (or fantastic) idea is now quickly becoming a whirlwind experience across the southern U.S. with an all-star supporting cast.
The Road
16 hours. Five states. Interesting fact? Whether we took I-10 or I-20, there was only a one mile distance between our route choices. Look. Look at the map:
Since we’ll be hitting up Pensacola on the way back to Austin, we figured that I-20 would be a viable option. Additionally, I don’t believe that I had been on I-20 since 2005, right after Hurricane Katrina struck the gulf. Since parts of I-10 had been washed out or too heavily damaged, there was no other way to drive to Savannah to begin my undergraduate career. Eight years later, things look perfectly normal, but I found myself reflecting upon the damage, displaced coastal citizens, and the scores of military, government, and construction vehicles that filled the now calm highway. Here’s hoping for more peaceful years in this region.
Otherwise, the drive was longer than the 14 hours we had initially anticipated (stops at Cracker Barrel and Walmart will do that to you). That being said, I have my first road trip endorsement: Forever Comfy. It’s a cushion. For your butt. You can use it anywhere. In the car. At an Italian restaurant. At a wake. Forever Comfy does not discriminate and makes even the most uncomfortable car seats tolerable. Seriously, it saved our asses.
Atlanta
Our first major stop on this trip was The Big Peach aka The City Too Busy To Hate aka ATL aka Da A aka Dogwood City (really?). The least I can say about the stay is that it was far too short. Two nights was not enough justice for this sprawling cityscape. Atlanta is truly immense with sixteen lane highways, a million restaurants and bars, and more small townships/neighborhoods than I can shake a stick at.
Night 1: We arrived into town around 9:30, set up camp at our hotel (which sported abysmal squeaky spring-laden beds), and set out to a personal staple: The Vortex in Little Five Points. I must recommend to you the Zombie Apocalypse: an open-faced burger on Texas toast covered with pulled pork, two over easy eggs, salsa, and a steak knife right through the zombie face that the staff lovingly crafted out of the dish itself. Combine that with a 22 ounce Terrapin Hopsecutioner beer (rocking a 7.2% ABV) and you’re set for the night. We called it quits right after that.
Day 2: After waking up far too early after our escapades from the previous day, we made our way to Centennial Park to visit the Georgia Aquarium and the World of Coca-Cola. I can give a shining endorsement for one of these institutions; can you guess which one it is? If you guessed the aquatic wonderland where I made friends with penguins, whale sharks, and sea otters who loved sucking on their own paws, then you’re correct! If you guessed the theme park-wannabe that praises the universal marketing machine that is Coca-Cola, then you’re wrong. That being said, trying a variety of sodas from around the world was fun, but ultimately made me ill. The rest of the museum/attraction/propaganda machine was forgettable. After touring the sites and discovering the long wait at Gladys Knight & Ron’s Chicken and Waffles, we found ourselves chowing down on the delicious fried chicken at Mary Mac’s Tearoom. No one had ever recommended it to me and I now see it as my job to let you know about it. It’s great, that’s all you need to know.
Also, I have a question for the good people of Atlanta and, perhaps, all of Georgia: could you please explain this sign to me?
Night 2: After a soul food induced nap, we made our way to Doraville to celebrate Halloween with my old friend Jeff Bullins, his wife Melissa, and a bevy of their friends and co-workers. A big shoutout and thank you to our gracious hosts who provided us with homebrew pumpkin ale, candy bar stout, and a plethora of snack-size candy bars. An extra special thanks to Jeff for taking us out to brunch the following morning before our departure north.
I’ll miss you, you bearded majestic man. Until next time ATL, stay classy.
Northbound, I-75
Nashville is where we currently find ourselves and the drive up was absolutely gorgeous. The leaves are just on the verge of changing into their true fall colors and I’ve never been quite able to experience anything like this. Texas doesn’t really have fall, you see. One day, all the leaves decide to turn a sickly brown and fall to the ground in one unceremonious exhibition. This, however, is something entirely different. It’s absolutely beautiful. The drive was, unsurprisingly, uneventful and incredibly short. Less than four hours in the car was a blessing of sorts.
Next Time…
The escapades continue as I regale you with tales from Nashville with our guide, Elise Baker, and the experience that will be Dollywood. Also, we’ve added a couple of stops to our route, so if you’re in New Orleans or Abita Springs, prepare for our little tour to come your way!
Keep up with photos, insights, and pointless banter on my Twitter feed (@SXSRhys) and get in touch with us as our adventure unfolds. Until next time, cheers!
Two Month Weekend 