Auburn (football!)

Football is a religion in the southeast. We decided to take part by going to the auburn/WSU game in Alabama. Sweet, eh? And then it turned out that Leslie and Tim, friends from high school, were going to make the game too. What fun!!

Welcome to Opelika, Alabama

I worked out this morning, made a stop for provisions, and then we packet and drove west. 6.5 hours and two coffee stops later we pulled into the land of orange and navy. One thing that I'll say for Auburn fans - they are some of the nicest fans (of any sport!) I have ever met. Those of us in crimson and gray were told to "enjoy the game," "y'all played well," and "welcome to Auburn!"

The first TD of the game went to the Cougs!

WSU actually showed up to play (and looked pretty good!), and Leslie and Tim spent the better part of the game sitting with Jim and me in the nosebleed section. I hadn't seen either of them in years- Tim in Vienna, and Leslie four years before in Anacortes. Good times!
Ryan, my cousin who lives in Auburn, meet up with us for burgers after the game. We finally got to talk about family and just hang out. He couldn't believe that someone from his dad's teetotaling side of the family bought him a beer :)

Strange after-game traditions...

Savannah

A few weeks hanging around Charleston, no plans on Sunday... Let's go to Georgia!

Savannah is just a few hours south of Charleston, down Hwy 17. We parked along the river and wandered through town, following chalk on the sidewalk through squares and parks to the end of the story in Forsyth Park. Savannah has the same southern charm as Charleston - people in the streets, Spanish moss draped over every tree, cute cafés - but it's more planned, laid out on a perfect grid with parks spaced regularly through the city. Our chalk story ended in Forsyth park, the heart of the city, which was so full of Frisbee players, fountains, and pavilions.

Adventure is Out There!

As we wandered back into town, we passed the Southeastern Railway Museum. Why not? We rode on a turntable and learned a little more about the development of the Southern economy. At one time, the Georgia had more track than any other company in the world. Sherman's neckties were lengths of track that were heated and wrapped around trees as Sherman marched to the sea.

We headed home in the afternoon, but not before stopping at the Coffee Fox. If you ever find yourself in this lovely little city, make sure to stop by for an iced Mexican Mocha served in a mason jar :)

What happens when I miss Mountains

I was signed up for the SeaWheeze half marathon in Vancouver, BC on July 10 long before Charleston ever come up. The Powers that Be at the office took pity on me and flew me home in time to run. How great are they? Since I was already home for a while, I decided I'd better make the most of it and use that tent I bought thinking that I was going to spend the entire summer in the mountains.

Hidden Lake

Enter the scheming: Petra, a friend from the Czech Rep. (see this post) and her BF are working in Glacier for the summer. My grandparents in the Kootenays haven't seen me in 8 months. And my car misses me. Connect the dots, and you have a 4-day epic road trip.

Gracious hosts and wonderful hiking guides!

I left Thursday evening and drove through Hwy 2/ Leavanworth to Couer d'Alene, where I pitched camp at Beauty Creek Campground. The next day it was over the mountains to meet up with Petra and Jan. They were my tour guides for an afternoon to Hidden Lake on the afternoon I arrived, and another to Red Rock Falls before I left.
In between, we toasted marshmallows on a camp stove. Did you know that S'mores are not a thing in the Czech Rep? I left the box of Grahms with my friends in Montana for their future adventures :)

Red Rock falls

I drove from St Mary over the Crowsnest and spent the next two nights with Nana and Grandpa. I helped Grandpa move a bookshelf into his shop, and in return he took me up for a ride over the Creston Valley in his plane. It had been a few years since I'd flown. What fun! As always, Nana beat me at two games out of three at cribbage. I don't think I've ever won a best out of three against her!
I cruised back down the Panhandle and across WA. Back in SC, life returned to the Boeing routine... until the next adventure...