Thanks to all who wrote to me after I changed the blog format! Glad you like the change...
Pictures of our road trip are after this post:)
Since we reached Ohio late after that twelve hour plus long drive.....we woke up late the next day...giving us only half of the 24th to get ready for Christmas. Lucikly my friend is someone who was super organised and had cooked all the meals for our stay a head of time, had decorated the house for Christmas, put up the beautiful tree, wrapped the presents and had planned a party with friends, karaoke and great food!
We went for the midnight Church service on the 24th/25th, and returned home for some yummy hot chocolate. The next morning, we did some shopping in the morning while my friends husband cooked the main dish for that nights party...Lobster lasagna..which included other types of seafood as well. YUMM!
The kids opened their gifts and settled down to play some game or read one of their new books.
About three in the afternoon, the first guests arrived and they brought the entire Karoke system with them. Mixer, mikes, speakers..the works. At first it took some time for everyone to feel comfortable enough to sing...in public....but soon we were all crooing hits from the '80's and 90's. It's a good thing no one paid tickets to come and hear us...but we really had fun!
After an evening of singing, dancing, playing 'Dance revolution', eating....eating and even more eating....we called it a night.
The next day we out for lunch and in the evening took the kids to play Laser Tag. All the adults played too...it brought out the kid in all of us..as we ran around the small space, trying not to get shot and trying to shoot as many people from the other team as possible. We played about three rounds of this, ordered some pizza and went home for another late night of my friend and I staying up till three in the morning..talking. We did a lot of that...we had four years to catch up on..and even more years of, 'Remember whens'.
The morning of the 27th, we drove out to Nashville. The drive...simply wonderful. Sun shining, no rain, no snow and no black ice.........
We reached Nashville at about eight in the night....had a wonderful home cooked dinner and caught up with my Sister-in-law and her family on the latest.
We then spent the next few days eating out, celebrating birthdays (my husband and my daughter), visiting the Jack Daniels distillery, the Science Center, boat ride through the Opryland hotel, celebrating the New Year, meeting new friends, dinner invites, meeting friends who drove down from Atlanta to see us, a couple of meals at Cracker Barrel (one of my favourite places to eat), shopping and eating. Did I mention eating? We did a lot of that....and probably put on some weight...but who cares....it's the season to be jolly, right?
It was the most relaxing holiday we've had in a long time....spending it with friends and family. But all good things must come to an end....(me and my sayings) and on Jan 2nd we said our goodbyes and headed out to Ohio, to spend one night with my friend again before the long stretch to Toronto.
The kids took the drive well. They were used to going on long drives, as we used to do this in India too. We have driven from Chennai to Nagercoil and back several times, sometimes via Ooty or Kodaikanal. One holiday we drove from Chennai to Chicmangalur to Coorg, to Ooty, to Salem and back. We were so happy at the end of that holiday to get out of the car!
We reached home at about eight pm on the 3rd, after another nice drive. The weather was perfect and we made good time. After picking up some dinner we went home and breathed a huge sigh of relief and said a quiet prayer...we drove over 2000 miles and made it home safe.
Some facts:
When driving here, the highways are more or less straight..you can drive for hours without having to turn your steering wheel......and therefore you can get bored easily and fall asleep if you're not careful.
Also, because your driving on straight roads, it is very easy to be driving much faster than you think you are. Keep an eye on your speed. Speed limits are posted everywhere.
You see plenty of dead deer, raccoons and some other animals I couldn't recognise all over the roads. Especially at night.
All the exits are clear and the signs tell you way ahead of time when an exit is coming and how far away it is.
There are signs towards the exit, telling you what restaurants, hotels and gas stations are there, so that you can take the exit ....eat, fill up on gas and then come back to the highway.
Listen to the traffic or weather channel once in a while to hear about closed roads, detours or storms heading your way.
Experience the Country driving...it is the best way to get a real feel of a place.
Until next time.................HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!!
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