Albuquerque --> The Navajo Nation

After checking out Graceland and filling up on Memphis BBQ, we saddled up and tore through Arkansas and Oklahoma, finally reaching Amarillo at 2am.  At every stop, the locals initiated every conversation with a hypothetical, "you're not from around here..."  Hypothetical because, of course, this rag-tag group of ford-focus-driving, north-face-wearing, word-enunciating northerners stuck out like a sore thumb.
 
On day 3, we completed our trip across the Texas panhandle and watched the flat cow-lands transition into a brick-red desert with snow-capped peaks in the distance.  After arriving in Albuquerque we consulted Roadfood and settled for a Tex-Mex restaurant in Duran Central Pharmacy.  The heat from the salsa made us sweat out the BBQ sauce we had saturated ourselves with the previous two days.


From Albuquerque we split up: Chris and Karl to Tuba City, Holly to Shiprock, and me to Fort Defiance.

Memphis

Pulled pork, BBQ nachos, catfish, ribs, fried okra and cole slaw. My body is shutting down all non-essential functions to aid in digestion.

Mile 1267.8

Hello friendly followers, and Martin,

We thought it was about time to give you some context for the pictures we have posted over the past 36 (or so) hours. We spent last night in Nashville and we are currently en route to Memphis, Tennessee for BBQ for lunch and a quick tour of Graceland to pay our respects to the King.  The goal is to spend tonight between Oklahoma City, OK and Amarillo, TX.  We’re not quite half way yet – but not to worry, we have not left anyone on the side of the road yet, and Holly’s patience so far has outlasted Old Spice.

There is no BBQ-specific decision aid, but thanks to the family med orientation we were able to use the Ottawa Criteria to make a decision to eat Memphis BBQ over Spicy Fried Chicken.  Risks of both include acute GI side effects.

Things we’ve learned on the trip so far...

1. Holly’s always wrong.
2. Pappy Ford’s wardrobe makes much more sense after spending a night out in Nashville. 
3. Line dancing is deceptively tricky.
4. Though a grown man, Karl’s grasp of the time zone idea is loose at best.  And I quote, in New Jersey: “are we on central time?”
5. Truck drivers on the road between 4am and 6am in Virginia are the worst.
6. Waffle House is the best place to watch a Virginia sunrise.
7. You think you have friends, until they all go to sleep while you’re driving at 5 in the morning. 
8. Trucks pull other trucks.  Who would have thought?
9. Just because they offer you beef tips, fried chicken, and two pulled-pork sandwiches doesn’t mean you are obliged to accept.
10. A general observation as the only girl on the trip: middle school was tough for these guys.

See you on the other side of the Mississippi.

Breakfast of champions

Wild Horse Saloon

Saturday Night in the Womens Dept

"They're just more comfortable!"

Swett's Restaurant

Arrived in Nashville, cleaned up and took power naps to prepare for lunch. Headed to Swett's Restaurant, mentioned in our Roadfood book, for a soul food lunch of massive proportions. Aaron got 2 complete lunches, the rest of us 1 1/2 plus dessert. Overall review: definitely, definitely worth the trip and necessary post-lunch naps. Aaron is now strongly considering the area for residency.

(Pictured below: Lunch. Aaron with his extra pork sandwich.)

Nashville ETA 12:30 CST

Stopping briefly for a mid-morning coffee break. Holly learns that she does not meet criteria for the McD's play place.

Back on the road and enjoying the last few sunny miles to Nashville as we make plans for BBQ and line-dancing later today.

Mile 773.0

Drove through the night... really feeling like champions this morning. Nashville bound.

To Scranton...

The key to any successful road trip is establishing car rules:

1. driver gets music choice
2. Know the difference between I-89 and I-91
3. hands at 10 and 2
4. DVT prophylaxis

Mile 0.0

It's gonna be tight. And no, Dr. Duncan; it doesn't look like there will be a whole lot of room for "souvies".

how will i be able to reach the pedals?  

The Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men

courtesy googlemaps 

Friday Night - From Hanover to Scranton, Pa. 
This also serves as a pilgrimage for The Office faithful. Chris checks that off his bucket list. 

Saturday - Destination: Nashville. 
A quick stop at Ridgewood Barbecue in Bluff City, TN. Aka the battle between “legendary pork” and Karl’s “legendary metabolism.”

Sunday - Amarillo, if we’re feeling ambitious. 
Which will last longer, my deodorant, or Holly’s patience with us? My money’s on Old Spice.

Monday 
Real World: Ford Focus will be making stops in Shiprock, NM; Fort Defiance, AZ; and finally Tuba City, AZ.

Prepping for the drive

Reading this out loud in the car: cheaper than a book on tape

Our trusty ride

Look at all that leg room!

Road trip: T-minus 4 days

File under: things I'm not mad about.