Jeep is all packed up!
All our stuff barely fits, we're trying to trim it down a bit already.
We took off from Caroline’s parents house around 2:30pm on Wednesday, August 5th – just after I got two fillings at the dentist. A numb mouth was not quite the feeling I wanted to depart with, but the Novocaine wore off in a couple of hours.
Before we get to far from home, we both would like to thank our wonderfully generous parents for putting us up (and putting up with us) while we were temporarily homeless after we moved out of our apartment at the end of July. And also thanks for letting us put all those boxes with our leftover possessions in your basements! We hope to make it home in 6-12 months and move those boxes out of there…
Until then, this is the place to follow us on our Journey to the South, or as the blog is titled in Spanish: Viaje al Sur. We plan to do a couple of months of land cruising through the southern and western United States before flying off to Central and South America.
Since the 5th of August we’ve been on a south western heading stopping first in Damascus, Virginia: a rest for the night to break up the driving. It turned out to be a nice little town focused on hiking the Appalachian Trail and biking the Virginia Creeper trail – in the middle of Deliverance country. I swear there was banjo music playing when we pulled in late that night…
the campground... limo RV?
The campground we found seemed a little on the skeevy side at first, but it was full of nice folks who were very interested in our tent. Walking to the bathhouse a nice fellow said: “We’ve beeeen settin’ heerad-mirin’ yer tent.” Then his buddy chimed in with: “It’s like a tree house on wheels!” We agree, it’s like being a kid again up in a tree fort.
our 'tree house on wheels'
- campground folks
As easy as it is to poke fun at the locals, everyone we have met thus far has been genuine, friendly and helpful. I stopped at a bike shop in Damascus to swap out the clipless pedals on Caro’s bike for flats. Not only did the mechanic swap them out for free, he also found a pair of flat pedals laying around the shop and gave them to us for free too.
After a great breakfast at a little coffee shop, we set off for our first real destination: the Great Smokey Mountain National Park in Tennessee.
viaje al sur 
The return of the travel blog – awesome!! Can’t wait to see you guys!!
By: Brent on August 11, 2009
at 5:39 pm
I love the tent. Awesome!
By: Galen on August 11, 2009
at 6:19 pm
Great to hear your news and see the photos. The blog is such a cool way to feel connected to your journey. We’ll look forward to it daily. Have fun and stay cool.
By: Mom & Dad on August 11, 2009
at 10:14 pm
We will be following you every step of the way. Thanks for letting us come along.
By: Noreen & Vinnie on August 12, 2009
at 11:23 pm
We are definitely on board! The tent is very cool. Are the bikes inside or out? Love AL and Bill
By: Louise and Bill on August 12, 2009
at 11:37 pm
Thanks for letting travel with you. We will be following every step!
By: Noreen & Vinnie on August 13, 2009
at 9:53 pm
Lookin Good! Dont know your route but glacier national park Montana is amazing – get a camp site at jenny lake!! also if you get through colorado, rocky mountain national park is awesome too – hike to sky pond a must see, both blow yellowstone out of the water in my opinion. invest in some bear spray – wont ever use it but it feels nice to have.
By: Neil Markey on August 15, 2009
at 3:17 am
That tent is “da bomb!” (Am I showing my age already??!!) Anyway, show us more pictures of the tent. What’s it look like inside? I think I’m gonna put one on top of an old junk car in the back yard just so I can sleep up high in the trees!!
By: Dannette Lewis on August 18, 2009
at 3:05 pm
wow , great pics Patrick,it has been fun reading about all the places you’re have been, Be safe, Tommy at N.I.S.T.
By: Tommy on August 20, 2009
at 6:50 pm