The Lost Sea

Of course we had to do all the touristy stuff when we visit. One of the first things we found out about upon arriving in TN was the Lost Sea Adventure. The story goes that a young boy was playing around out by himself. He got a little curious when he found a hole deep in the ground, so he followed it. When he came to the bottom he found a lake. A lake in the bottom of a cave with no trace of  running water around. He ran back to tell his family about it, but of course, none of them believed him. He was a little bit of a boy who cried wolf I guess. He finally convinced someone to come see for themselves but by that time he couldn't find it again. Well, about 70 years later, another guy happened upon it in approximately the same manner. They somehow found the original kid (now an 80 year old man) and contacted him to be one of the first ones down there and give him credit for discovering it.

This is what a full day of 100% humidity and hiking around in a cave will do to your hair. 

Stopped off at a famous hamburger joint and bakery on the way home. I see why they are the best joint around...

A replica of the 'boats' they used down in the water in the beginning.

This is called the "Ah Shit" part of the cave. Imagine what you would say when you're walking along - not paying attention - and you hit your head on this?

The Devil's Portal. They were telling a story about how they trick little kids to look in there and see if they see the Devil. One girl looked into it and started freaking out. At the end of the tour, the guide took her aside and asked her what she saw. She said she saw a man's face looking up at her.... probably the Devil, of course. Well, they went back and found later that there had been a maintenance guy down there during that tour, changing a light bulb. Ooops.

A true original moonshine still. They used to come down here so as not to get caught by the law. They also used to have a bar down here during Prohibition. The guy then said something about the pressure changes causes your body to react differently to alcohol. As in... the higher you climb on the way out, the drunker you get. Could be a bad situation. 

The Lost Sea at last. 

I guess some Tennessee fellow got the bright idea to throw a bunch of trout into the lake to see if they could find a way out of the cave. They never left... either because they didn't find a way out or because they continued to be fed multiple times daily. Who knows? 

We were told this was the only part of the cave that they encouraged you to touch. Shawna decided this is how she wanted to do it, so naturally I faked like my camera wasn't working to see how long I could get her to keep her lips on that nasty piece of rock that everyone else had touched after not washing their hands. Again, oops. :)

The man (kid) that discovered the Lost Sea. 

Hike in the Hills

On our next adventure, we took a little hike in the hills. As much as in the hills we can get in TN .Shawna took care of the first order of "business."

 The Tennessee River. (pretty sure)

 Go Big T!

My turn next. Oh the hill was bigger than it looked...

Bedroom Farce

So we had freshly arrived in Knoxville and we were itching for some culture. On a leisurely stroll through the downtown area we came upon this sign...

We had no idea what it was about, but we didn't really mind. We just wanted some

community theater.

 This was the scene. It all took place inside the bedrooms of 3 English couples. The theater of about 23 seats was completely sold out. We were so close to the stage we could practically taste the sweat beading on their poor little foreheads. We were the youngest people there by a good 50 years. It was so much fun!

 We enjoyed getting all dressed up to take ourselves out for a night 

(Sunday afternoon, rather) on the town!

Before and After

For whatever reason, Shawna decided she needed braces. Shortly after we got to Tennessee she found this great orthodontist who would work with her through all the traveling and such to formulate a plan to have them on and off in no time flat. You were always beautiful before, but here's to a perfect smile too!

 Before

After (for now)

State Lines

I have a thing... well I have many o 'things' but this one I particularly like. I take a picture at every state line we have crossed since starting this journey. I wanna see how many states I can rack up! So here are duplicates of all the state line signs. One for me, one for Shawna. We were getting a little tired of the whole stand up straight and smile routine, so we decided to try out a few different poses this trip. 

 

 

 

 

 

 No, I am not saying I love Illinois. It was Valentine's Day.

Didn't have time to align everything. With my car on the side of the road, trucks whizzing by at 80 mph and us being white girls throwing up 'gang signs' just outside of Memphis, Tennessee... we needed to get the hell on the road.

Not again...

As you probably can tell, I am having a really hard time keeping this all together. Three different cameras and four weeks in the past make for a forgetfull Jessica.

This was the restaurant we went to as soon as we checked into our room in St Louis. After the day we had... we needed beer. This waitress was the sweetest lil thang we ever did meet! (Was the first person with a southern accent and we just adored her.) Wanna know what's cool about the south? Before they even bring you waters or take your drink order they drop off a plate of buscuits and preserves. You can tell these people like to eat, and they want it NOW!!

 While we were driving on Valentine's Day we were trying to figure out where to stop for lunch. I found a place called "Loveless Cafe" and thought it fit. Turns out, it was a pretty popular place with the country music stars too!

 Shawna 'checked us in.' My favorite part is what she named me.

 Framer.

 Yeah, mom.

The Volunteer State

On the road again. This time to the Volunteer State of good ol Tennessee. Why is it called the volunteer state? Dunno. 

 So on the first day we made it to Nevada. Somehow it came up during conversation that in Nevada prostitution is legal. Not only that... but there was a brothel right off the interstate. Found it! In true Jessica and Shawna fashion, we took a little tour. We had quite the conversation with one of the ladies, but when she looked us up and down and asked if we were 'looking for a job' we headed straight for the door!

 This snapshot from a moving vehicle did this sunset absolutely no justice. It should be a sin to not have viewed a full moon from the desert floor.

 When we finally stopped for the night in some nasty little town, this is what greeted us at our hotel. I haven't laughed so hard in quite a while. If only I could've witnessed that show.

 This what we found when we went looking for the Starbucks the next morning. Gambling at 8 o'clock in the morning? Nevada really can't get it together.

 Seriously... if you have to have this sign you have a serious problem.

How come the only cute pictures of Molly are when she's sleeping?

 At least they're energy effecient. Might as well use all that wind and nothingness...

*cough* I mean prime real estate and open space.

Since there was nothing left to take pictures of the rest of the trip, we jump now to when I made it back home.

 Duke!

Jeremy brought Jayda over for dinner the first night I was there. We shared a little funny face time.

 It was SO COLD there! It had been way too long since I had been in this kind of extreme weather and I was completely unprepared.

 When trying to figure out what route to take to Tennessee, TJ and Trish spoke up and offered what turned out to be an excellent tip. Anthony Bourdain has a list of 13 Places You Must Eat Before You Die. Oklahoma Joe's Barbecue was one of them. When you roll up in the parking lot you're scared... really scared. I'm talking "I'm gonna get Hepatitis and/or food poisoning" kinda scared.



There was a rule that you couldn't grab a seat until you had your food. No seat saving allowed, that's how busy they were. 

This is why I was scared. It is inside of a gas station! Ya know how gas stations have a section devoted to potato chips and trail mix?

This one had one of the best barbecue joints in the world and an aisle of hot sauce.

 Their special. And this was their small!

 Shawna didn't waste any time diggin' in.

 I was pretty excited myself. Of course you can't tell if I'm excited or getting ready for

my peg leg to be put on.  

 I am defeated. In this case of Woman vs Food... Food wins.

We had been driving all day, it started blizzarding like crazy, there was a bunch of nuts on the road and we almost got stuck in the really bad part of St Louis. I mean  REALLY.  The one and only motel we could find was across the street from the gnarly looking strip club, some guy was creepin on us at the gas station, and I swear we heard gunshots. Ok... maybe not but still. We plugged onto the next town until we could find a place where there wasn't bars on windows and found a pretty nice hotel. This picture was because we were so glad to still be alive.

 Might as well make the best of a bad situation!

 The next morning AGAIN looking for a Starbucks. Shawna on her GPS,

me looking around us for signs...

 Don't worry, we found it. Along with a Chik-fil-a. Know what I learned? Don't eat at a Chik-fil-a.

But I thought the heart shaped buscuits on Valentine's Day were a cute touch.

 We made it to Tennessee!! Only a few hours more to our new hometown!

 How do you to celebrate  V-Day when 2500 miles away from your boyfriend? Smell the flowers he sent you over and over and over and over...

I still can't watch this video and not get the 'ugly laugh.' I sometimes snort just thinking about it. We've all been there.




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