Knoxville

Has it really only been 24 hours since yesterday?!?  Wow!  It seems like way longer than that.  Right now I am all warm and full and snuggly in my bed, but it has been quite a day.  This morning I got an early start and hit the road. 

Don't I look cheerful at 7:30am!

I realize that I'm embarking on a crazy, scary journey and starting a whole new chapter in life, but for some reason I don't really feel it.  I just feel... normal.  I guess maybe it won't really "hit me" until later on when I'm missing all my Richmond folk.

The weather forecast for today was pretty ominous and a few people even asked if I was going to delay my trip, but I've been delaying this trip for about 3 years now so I can't wait another day.  Plus, I've already booked my hotel rooms. 

When I set off this morning, the roads were fine and I headed to Winston-Salem, NC to meet LDub for a little lunch.  It was wonderful to see her again and it was kinda sorta on the way anyhow.  After lunch the snow started to pick up and the roads got much worse.  The right lane of the highway was pretty well-travelled and clear so as long as I stayed there I could drive in other people's tire tracks.  The problem came when the giant 18 wheelers decided they wanted to be speed demons and pass everyone.  The left lane was completely snowed over so when the trucks passed they ended up spewing snow everywhere and losing controls of their rigs.  Scary!!!  Obviously I survived, but on those winding mountain roads it gave me quite a fright.  When I wasn't scared for my life it was actually quite beautiful driving through the snow-kissed woods.



I was very happy when I finally arrived in Knoxville.  I had specifically book a hotel in the downtown area so that I would be within walking distance of all the fun.  When I got to the room I did some online investigating into the best restaurants to check out.  Armed with my recommendations I headed down to the cutesy downtown pedestrian mall to find some dinner and... everything was closed because of the snow.  What kind of town is this???  I wandered around in the cold and snow and finally found an open restaurant.  Sapphire ended up being a wonderful choice.  A couple of pints of Fat Tire and some buttery Shrimp and Grits really hit the spot.  Garrison (a white-haired, retired military pilot who currently flies the Verizon Wireless corporate jet) kept me company at the bar and even bought me a drink, before he had to leave to "flirt with the cute girls at the end of the bar".  Fine by me since I was more than ready for a hot shower and a comfy bed.  Goodnight Knoxville!