Epilog 4-10-09

We've been home a week now. Our trip is becoming a memory, a very fond one at that. Fortunetly we have pictures and this blog to look back at to help us remember (we need all the help we can get).

The trip was great. We headed south without reservations, which might have been the smartest thing we did. Our objective was to get warm, and we got the job done. When we found a place we liked, we tried to stay there until we had explored the place to our satisfaction, or got restless and moved on. We met interesting people, explored many interesting places and had a great relaxing experience. It's great to get up in the morning with nothing you have to do, only what you want to do. We had minimal mechanical issues, other than the brakes on the Miata. That was outstanding, considering we were operating 12 tons of equipment over 3,000 miles over a period of two months.

Will we do it again next year? Absolutely, assuming we can.
Will we go to Florida? Maybe, haven't decided.
Do we have other trips planned? Yes, to North Georgia for my mother's Burck family reunion, July 11th, 12th '09, afterwhich we'll stay for a few days for a motorcycle trip around the Smokies with Larry Swan and my brother John Detwiler.

Thanks to all who kept up with our blog and those who commented. You made it worth while taking pictures and keeping it current.

Until our next blog,

Tim and Rae

Announcing....................

We were emailed the photo above on March 18th, but have been under a strict gag rule to keep it confidential until now. No, Rae is not pregnant. If you look closely at the text above the pregnancy tester above, you'll see it says: Positive Test! Johnsen Baby #1, coming soon....11/24/09. That would be Jared and Rachel (Detwiler) Johnsen.

We're going to be Grandparents!!!

The End is Near 4-1-09

We left Florence, KY this AM, drove through Indianapolis, then across eastern IN and western IL to Champaign, IL. We are parked in another WalMart, right next to the Starbucks, so Rae can get her Chi Tea in the morning. Then we'll drive to Bloomington and on home.

Tim

Jerry and Diana Detwiler

Florence, KY - We drove due north from TN towards Cinncinnati, OH so we could stop and see my brother Jerry and his wife Diana. We met them for dinner, went to their very nice house, then met them again for breakfast. Had a nice visit.

Slaying the Dragon

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Sunday afternoon, 3-29-09, we drove to Deals Gap, NE of Chatanooga, TN, just south of the Smokey Moutain National Park and parked along the road, next to the Little Tennessee River Reservoir (top pictures). Monday morning we drove up the Tail of the Dragon, an 11 mile stretch of road containing 318 curves. http://www.tailofthedragon.com/ The Dragon is a mecca for crotch rocket motorcycles and sports cars. It is a beautiful piece of road with hairpin curves and clean asphalt. I drove up, Rae drove down, we had lunch, then Rae drove up and I drove down. There were three photographers along the way taking pictures. You can go to their web site and buy copies. Rae video taped me driving. You can watch it on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjVU5wMnrLQ

So, we both slayed the Dragon. Loads of fun.

Tim

Trials Training Center, Sequatchie, TN

Tri

We spent Fri PM til Sun noon, 3-27 to 29 at the Trials Training Center, west of Chattanooga, TN. TTC is a mecca for observed trials competitors from all over the US and Canada. They have 600 acres of woods, mountains, creeks and waterfalls to ride and explore. I've ridden National competitions there and scored World competitions. As you can see, it is early spring there. Red bud trees were all over the place. It had just rained early Friday, so the creeks and waterfalls were full. The waterfall shown above is called Lampkin Falls, after the British family whose father and son have been world champions. We were there so I could visit with old friends I've met over the last 30 plus years I've been involved with the sport.

Tim

Greetings to all of our friends and family. We are currently just south of Atlanta where we will spend the night and take off tomorrow for Chattanooga, TN to spend the weekend visiting friends at the Trials Training Center. The first 2 pictures are of the azaleas in full bloom at the campground where we spent last night (Lake Park, GA) . The dogwood trees, azaleas, redbud trees and wisteria are all in full bloom. It's beautiful!!! The last picture is from our last night 3/23/09 at Fort Desoto Park on the beach at sunset. Tim surprised me with cheese, crackers, cocktails and a couple chairs to watch the sunset over the gulf. A nice man was walking by and offered to take our picture. Having a great time and looking forward to coming home next week to enjoy spring in Sycamore. Love to you all. Rae Jean