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Aug 192006
 

DSC_0027_edited-1 So, I finally made it to Monticello.  It is a truly amazing house that is quite stunning and certainly much more tasteful than the other mansion I visited.  It is always odd to ponder the contradictions of this great man, and his house is no exception.  It is a strange thing to think that a man who gave such an eloquent defense of liberty in the Declaration of Independence and even argued for the abolition of slavery in the colonies should have excavations of slave cabins on his land.

It was also amazing to see his vast array of little home inventions, including my favorite, the fireplace wine bottle dumbwaiter that would bring wine straight into the dining room from the wine cellar.  They also had his fabulous writing reproduction machine out as well which is a stunning piece of engineering.   All in all, this really was an amazing highlight on my trip and is well worth a visit to anyone in the area.

DSC_0078_edited-1 From Monticello, I got on the Skyline Drive which at a blazing 35 mph takes you though the beautiful Shenandoah National Park.  From there, I connected with US 50 and started heading west though West Virginia.  I have to say that while beautiful, the extreme poverty of this state is a little disconcerting.   I don’t think I saw a nice coat of paint on a building in the entire state.  However, the country side is beautiful and I camped for the night at the very nice Tygart Lake State Park.

The next morning, it was off through the flat farmland of Ohio and Indiana.  It’s amazing how much corn there actually is in the Midwest.  ;)   I camped for the night at a little recreational area in central Indiana.

DSC_0102_edited-1 The next morning, I did a little hiking around and took a few pictures of the area.   However, I was starting to feel tired of the road.  I was starting to drive for distance and not stopping to see the sights.  Instead of pushing on, I decided that my vacation should be about doing what I want.  So, I took off for home and arrived early yesterday evening.

All in all, it was a heck of a trip and just what the doctor ordered.  The vacation was great, but it’s great to be home and I’m looking forward to getting back to work tanned, rested and ready.

Weather is Beautiful, Wish You Were Here

Aug 152006
 

DSC_0010_edited-1Well, I’ve been out of cell phone coverage for a few days now and have just been too busy soaking up the rays and enjoying good friends to post, but I’m back on the road now and getting back to business.

Well, I made my rapid trip back to Oklahoma City.  It was a bit surreal to fly into your hometown as a stopping off point instead of as a destination.  In any case, the service was nice and I was glad I was able to make it back.

Then back on a plane to get back to the journey.  The trip back cost me a couple of days so I had to hustle to make it to New York by Friday.  However, I was able to do a great deal of the Blue Ridge Parkway before getting on the interstates for the run to New York.  Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to Monticello on the way up, but the nice thing about a flexible vacation is that I can still make it on the way back.

DSC_0035_edited-1 So, I made my way out to Long Island on Thursday night without much excitement except a slight detour through beautiful Elizabeth, New Jersey.  It was wonderful see some great old friends in such beautiful settings.  The beach house was just gorgeous, the water was warm (well, for the Atlantic that is) and the weather was freakishly nice (mid 70’s for highs).  We woke up late, drank beer early, and ate like royalty (thanks to the culinary genius of Gina)   It was just what I needed after this long period of uninterrupted work.

On Monday, I bade my farewells to everyone and headed back on the road.  Unfortunately, I have seemingly been catching up on several decades’ worth of sleep so I didn’t make it far before having to pull over early.  Then, I slept late so I didn’t make it back into Charlottesville, VA until late this afternoon.  However, I’m off to get a good night sleep before waking up early to see the home of Mr. Jefferson and heading back up to US 50.

Roadtrip Update

Aug 082006
 

Well, it’s been quite a busy trip so far and it doesn’t look like it’s going to change anytime soon. My travel plans have changed considerably in fact. My grandfather, who had been suffering with a weak heart for sometime, passed away on Friday night. I’m currently flying back to Oklahoma City for the funeral on Tuesday. However, I’m not giving up. I’ll be flying back out on Wednesday to pick up my car and to continue the journey.

Despite this rather somber note, the trip so far has been spectacular. I know many have enjoyed my not quite so sober video post which I think speaks volumes to the good time I’ve been having. So here’s the big recap so far . . .

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Tom In Memphis

Aug 052006
 

Vacation At Last

Aug 042006
 

Well, after three years of non-stop work, I’m finally taking a vacation and hitting the open road.  It’s an almost indescribable feeling to be away from the office and to know that I won’t be back for a full two weeks.  I’m taking a very long road trip up to Long Island to a friend’s beach house.  On the way, I’m gonna tour the south, see a couple of Tom Waits shows and see how much one person can unwind.  Right now I’m sitting in the Mini dealership in Memphis waiting for my oil to be changed (it’s a long story).  After this, I’m headed to Graceland to get my musical spirit revved up.  Then it’s off to see Tom Waits at the Orpheum.  Not a bad way to start a vacation.
I think the car is about ready, so I’m gonna sing off.  I’ll try to post some pictures on the way assuming that I can get a cell phone signal.

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