Day 1 is in the books

Day 1 of the westward adventure is now in the books.  Tanya and I hit the road around 1pm, about 3 hours later than planned because I always underestimate just how long it takes to clean a place up before moving out.  After making one last stop at Harris Teeter to satisfy Tanya's need for free sugar cookies, we got on I-40 and headed west towards Nashville.  Our first stop was in Asheville, where I found a good omen in a local craft store and Tanya made friends with the local swine.

Tupelo Honey Cafe was the choice for dinner where, after 11 years living in the South, I had my first fried green tomato.  When then headed west with Knoxville as the next destination, crossing the Tennessee state line shortly after.  As we approached Knoxville, the lure of Dollywood proved too great, resulting in an impromptu 45-minute detour to Pigeon Forge only to find that Dolly keeps all her attractions tucked into the woods, out of view to those unwilling to pay $10 for parking.  After exiting the parking lot in shame and getting sneered at by a carful of high school girls for exiting through the entrance lane, we finally landed at our hotel in Knoxville around 10pm.

Tomorrow's agenda includes a quick tour of the University of Tennessee, a trip to Oak Ridge to see the American Museum of Science and Energy, Nashville to see the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Opry, and beautiful and scenic East St. Louis, IL.

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