E and A Adventures Day 7

The last and final day of our trip together!

We got up early and went to visit the Stroud's local business, Magic Morning Bakery.

Esther had never been!

We then hit the road for approximately 12 hours of driving.

Indiana "steam."

Esther's shoe life for day 7.

I requested we stop at the Half Price Books outlet shop in Rockford, IL because it was about halfway and because I really like Half Price Books.

We both found some things we liked enough to purchase!

The water tower had a heart on it and I thought it was beautiful!

Esther being a boss and driving the last four hours.

We finished AnnE of Green Gables and got about an hour into the second book in the series. I really liked the first one and I'm probably going to read the second one really soon! Finally, after hours and hours we made it to MN!

Got just the right shot, despite Esther considerately slowing down for me.

We pulled into the Mach household and said our goodbyes. I truly enjoy traveling with Esther. She's someone who can keep me laughing in the middle of the night or at 7 am. She's incredibly flexible with her plans and is able to shake off the things that annoy her. I'm so thankful she was willing to drive around the South with me!

I wasn't quite ready to go home just yet. First I needed to say a different goodbye to another good friend.

My friend Brynn left for Madagascar for a year this morning (well, technically Chicago for a week, then Madagascar) and I knew I needed to see her off if possible.

Brynnertons! Off to go serve the Lord.

Her mom and I were pretty obnoxious. We stood in line watching her go through security.

Super obnoxious picture. Not Brynn, the fact I took it.

Anyway, Brynn had a 7:00 flight so we were there very early in the morning. I slept a few hours at Brynn's house after the airport. Then it was time to finally go home.

E and A Adventures Day 6

We started the morning early, of course, I was the last to get up, including the three children. It was nice to have breakfast with so many friendly faces. Not that I'm really good friends with everyone (save Esther), but because they are all such friendly people.

The night before Esther and Rick discussed stacking their hammocks and decided the next morning everyone was to bring their hammocks to a local park. Once the two Bubar girls were off to school we headed out to The Cove, as the locals call it.

I just used Kara's that she graciously offered because I don't usually run with the ritzy crowd that uses hammocks. 

After we said goodbye to Tim at the park we drove to the Bubar's for goodbyes with Kara. Then Esther and unintentionally (but intentionally) beat the Borners to REI. My main concern was getting a free TN sticker because I FORGOT TO GET ONE IN CHARLOTTE AND I'M SO SAD. But I got a state sticker, so mission accomplished. We then followed the Borners to the downtown Knoxville Mast General store because I'm slightly obsessed. I got some candy for a friend back in MN, and we parted ways with the Borners, knowing we'd see them soon back home.

We soon stopped at the furthest north Bojangles for lunch, but also so Esther  could have a Bo Berry Biscuit. I think she found it worth the stop! I didn't mind getting my last cup of sweet tea for a while.

Once we passed into Kentucky Esther requested a visit to Daniel Boone Forest. We would be driving through it so it seemed doable. We really wanted to try a short trail, but unfortunately we were behind our estimated schedule. Somehow we got it in our heads that Bedford, IN was four hours from Knoxville (I told Esther the wrong time). So we took a small scenic drive on the Kentucky Scenic Byway and just made a short stop in Berea, KY. A small town that appreciates art. Obviously, we both agreed on visiting the local bookstore. It had a surprising collection.

Bookstore haul.

After the bookstore Esther ran into their cute little coffee shop for a nice hot cup of tea! We hit the road for Bedford, IN and made it by 9:15, despite the traffic and road work! The Strouds were incredibly understanding with each text message announcing an hour delay. They also made scrumptious sloppy joes which we both devoured after our day of traveling. Of course, I gave Laura some stained laundry I had amassed over the summer and she willingly cleaned them in her lab.

She also willingly lent me some of her late mother's camera equipment from the 60s! I'm so excited to learn how to take awesome pictures with it!

The Polaroids are for HanMak's wedding. The other stuff is for me play with!

We watched a few episodes of Tiny House Hunters with the Stroud parental units and then headed for bed.

Today will be all day driving with the plan to get to Minnesota tonight!

E and A Adventures Day 5

We woke up to shower and go to church. It was so odd seeing Tim on the stage of a different church!

Tim hosting at "Trivers."

After church we had a delicious lunch provided by the Bubar's. Then we headed "the park." Which is apparently what the locals call the Great Smoky  Mountains National Park. We were IN the Smoky Mountains!

Actual signage!

What's great about the Park is that it's free! If I lived in the area I would go here every weekend! With so many different trails it would take days to hike them all! Esther and I chose to go up the Chimney Tops Trail.

A pretty steep path at points, not this point in particular.

Entire body sweat means you're working hard I guess...

The end of the trail ended in scaling this rock to get to the very top.

This is very much a staged picture.

By the time I made it up to the top to meet Esther (I had sent her ahead of me because I'm basically a sloth) it started raining. We assumed it would continue so we really only had time to take some pictures before starting down. Rocks get slippery when wet and we wanted to avoid any serious injuries.

A kind stranger took our picture. Made it to the top!

We very awkwardly slid down this to get to the bottom of the rock wall...

Once we were done it took us longer than anticipated (read: I was incredibly slow) so we didn't have time to check out any other trails. We did the drive back to Knoxville working out way through AnnE of Green Gables. I think we'll be on the second book today!

We had pizza and great company for dinner. The Bubar's and the Borners are great families! I'm so glad I got to see the former and truly meet the latter.

Maps are like, super cool, bro.

Today we'll head to Bedford, IN to see Jami's parents! Wahoo!

E and A Adventures Day 4

First thing we did was pack my car. Yikes. We wanted to leave around 9, but then Jane (our host mom) offered to make us breakfast. A hot breakfast sounded a lot better than PopTarts so we accepted her offer.

As my friend Hannah always hashtags, #homemadeisbestmade

There's a 24/7 prayer room in Charlotte and they have a partnership with Common Ground. About twenty minutes outside of "Uptown" Charlotte they set up a walking prayer/meditation trail. Esther and I were able to spend an hour walking the trail.

One of many entrances to the trails.

Out of focus picture of convicting sign in park.

After seeing that sign I dropped of my backpack and eventually took of my shoes. It was quite freeing walking in a field without a heavy bag to carry. And also without feeling like I needed to take pictures and capture the wildlife around me. Sometimes it's so relaxing to just enjoy nature.

After the trail we set off for Montreat College in Black Mountain, NC. The summer of 2012 Esther joined a team of like-minded young adults and served in Uganda. One of her teammates, Aimee, invited us to visit her since we were in the same state! She gave us a tour of the school.

Aimee and Esther, matching Kavu bags!

Aimee and her boyfriend took us to Asheville! I had been wanting to see it since I came to Charlotte and read about the city in a short story. It was pretty small, but very hippie and reminded me of San Francisco.

Really cool wall with a bucket of chalk!

Awesome shop full of unique things. Like socks that say "I have vague feelings about whatever."

Before we started the trek to Knoxville I made sure Esther and I got shakes at Cookout. I got my classic peanut butter fudge and she got blueberry. I'm going to miss those shakes, but not the aftermath.

Speaking of, we were about twenty minutes from our destination when we had to stop at an O'Reilly's auto parts to buy more oil for my car. And that's where I asked for a bathroom. I was then walked into their huge warehouse and maybe given access to a staff bathroom? The poor guy who worked their had to wait outside for me. V. awkward.

Here's some photos Esther felt she needed to capture on the drive!

This one was my request because mountains and clouds.

We FINALLY made it to Knoxville after what felt like forever, but was actually four hours. (pretty nervous for our 12 hour drive...)

We're staying with the old youth director at Five Oaks church. Tim, his wife Kara and their two daughters. They also have family friends staying with them so it's a big party! Kara made a DELICIOUS dinner for us all:

HOMEMADE CHICKEN POT PIES!!

It was great to spend time in the presence of people I knew from Minnesota. Even though I'm on my way back, it's been a while since interacting with people I've known for more than a summer.

Hope they're not mad I posted this...

After some quality time we went to bed ready for showers and church in the morning.

Road Trip Day 3

The first and most important stop:

This is the bakery that Jami's parents own. I've heard many a tale about this bakery! And here I was in Bedford, Indiana where the magic happens. I had to!

In the back of that picture is a hallway that leads to the room where I had my first ever CREME filled Long John and learned how to make Peanut Butter No Bakes!

After leaving with goodies for the road (literally) I made it to my fifth state!

I had to hang up on my friend Greta and nearly miss my exit to get that picture. But it was worth it. This is where I imagine fancy racing horses are born:

I had planned on only stopping once in Tennessee, but I made a spontaneous decision to check out a local Kentucky distillery!

What surprised me the most at the tasting was how well the bourbon whiskey went with the chocolate they had for us to nibble on. It was actually delicious and smooth.

After getting crunk with my distillery tour mates (all at least over 50) I was headed to Market Square in Tennessee!

I would be willing to drive around Tennessee for my life. It was gorgeous! Even the Market Square in downtown!

I didn't have much time for dinner, so I essentially shoveled a BBQ chicken flatbread for dinner. Thanks Blue Coast Bar & Grill!

The great thig about the border of Tennesee and North Carolina? You essentially drive through these lush mountains! It's so pretty and very enjoyable driving!

And in the middle of all these mountains you cross over into

Hardly readable, but it says North Carolina!

By the time I got to North Carolina the sunlight was growing dimmer and I just wanted to get there. I know, I know! It's all about the journey not the destination. But, I'd gone on the distillery tour? Doesn't that mean I carpe'd enough diem?

If you're wondering, I made it.

Road Trip Day 2

Today I had a shorter driving distance, but I had a nice long stop to break it up!

First:

It was so nice to cross into the fourth state of the trip! And pretty early on I might add.

I finally gave in and stopped at one of those Amish furniture place.

Maybe this one was a particularly spendy one, but it wasn't worth it for me! Although on this same stop I went into one of those Fireworks! Outlet places and got to use their bathroom! That was worth it for me.

I really wanted to experience a little bit of Jami's past so I made sure to stop at:

Indiana University is a beautiful campus!

That's like, fifty yards from a decently busy road. It feels like you're walking in a forest. Also, If you're ever in Bloomington you should check out this bar! They had an awesome patio in the front and the back!

As you can tell Kilroy's on Kirkwood, or KOK, was a pretty happening spot. Also, one of the schools in the University was having a graduation. Kind of weird feeling so removed from college (despite the summer internship) and seeing so many recent graduates in their cap and gowns.

It was a quick drive to get to Jami's parents! They were so kind and friendly! Letting me stay in their guest bed and treating me so nice! Including the dogs.

I had requested pizza from Chef Stroud, because Jami makes his recipe, but I wanted it from the creator himself:

Terrible picture, but delicious pizza.

I got two treats tonight! One in the form of ice cream. More specifically a PUPPY CHOW Cyclone!

The second treat comes with a story. Before Wednesday of last week I worked part time at a bookstore. I would normally wear jeans and never noticed them looking grubby or gross. One day I branched out and tried to do "fashion." I bought a pair of light pink jeans. After the first day of kneeling on them once every 30 minutes to put books away, or check the hold shelf or all the other things you do at a bookstore, the knees were covered in dirt and grime. So I chucked them in the wash hoping that would solve it. Apparently that just sets the stain in even more! Jami specifically told me to bring my jeans to her mother because her mom loves laundry challenges. Well, Momma Stroud did not disappoint!

I'm going to be wearing them tomorrow.