Tuesday June 28th, 2011

Started the day at Waffle House with the big slam breakfast. How the Waffle House hasn’t penetrated New England is beyond me.

It was to be Nashville, Tennessee today. The Grand Ole Opry was a bust. It was a nothing fancy type theatre that stood alone, surrounded by a large parking lot…..not at all what I’d envisioned. The Opryland hotel was pretty cool. It had a massive air conditioned river walk inside which was neat to stroll around. Neither however, were worth the stop.

I’d say in general, that there was nothing to see in Nashvillle. After a quick stop downtown it was time to blow out of town.

Alabama was next on the list. I dipped into northern Alabama after a four hour ride and decided to stretch my legs at a baseball game I saw off in the distance. It turned out to be people playing tennis. 10 courts were filled with people of all abilities ripping balls all over. It was nice to relax for a second in a setting that was all too familiar to me. Next stop was the University of Northern Alabama. It was supposed to be home to Leo and Luna, a pair of real lions that were the school’s two mascots. By the time I arrived it was after dark and there were no cats to be found…..they were tucked away for the night. The school itself was really nice. It lied amidst the tree lined streets of Florence and had that idyllic charm that so many areas in the south have.

It was on to Mississippi for state number 43 then on to Memphis to bed……

As you know I've got the fishing itch......and I'm still contemplating way to scratch it. Look for a major diversion in the itinerary coming soon. That's right, a cliffhanger....

Monday June 27th, 2011

Of the fifty, I have eleven states remaining. These states happen to be found in a clump in the south central part of the US. To set foot in all of them I’m going to have to make some awkward and potentially frustrating, zigzag type moves across the map to make it happen. The first zig took me north out of Tennessee through the Appalachian’s into Kentucky. I spent most of the day driving. Some of the highlights included seeing the low, smoky clouds in the hills, and driving strait into the heart of a couple of wild thunderstorms.

Most people of Appalachia seem to live simply and peacefully in the quiet hills. At its heart is bluegrass music, a style of music that I seem to enjoy more and more every day. I tried to hit a few bluegrass museums, but they were closed on Monday’s.

On a side note…….

When my great grandparents first moved to America in the early 1900’s, they bought a classic three decker in the Greendale section of Worcester. The family and extended family eventually occupied all three floors. My sweet grandmother Helen was born in the back bedroom and lived in the house her entire 86 years. My father lived there until college and the Air Force took him elsewhere. I have fond memories of Greendale, most of which involve my grandmother. Today, after serving as the epicenter of the Spedding-Ulewitcz family for 100 years my family sold the house. For the surviving members of my family it was a monumental day. It’s astonishing to think of exactly how much family history was kept in one place. Special mention here to my Dad. No one knows what 39 has meant to us all more than you. It served us honorably. I think Martin Ulewitcz would be satisfied.

Sunday June 26, 2011

Well blog fans, we're at it again. Destination....the dirty south, the California coast, and amazingly enough, Hawaii. Sitting in my living room now, it all doesn't seem possible, but in a few hours I'll be in behind the wheel again.

This years summer trek is having a strange effect on me....... I feel much different about it than I have in years passed. As a fly fisherman, fishing was always the mission. The driving force behind this adventure will not be fishing. I say that now, but in the end, its the thing I love the most....... so there's a real possibility that my itinerary take a violent turn. I want to say I visited all 50 states and some of the places I need to hit on this trip take me away from the woods and waters I love. Last summer was a no brainer. For a fly fisherman, Alaska is the ultimate destination. Alaska had a grip on me, and I was powerfully driven reach my goal of reaching Alaska and feeling alive and in the wild. This year, the goal is based more on hope; to simply "encounter" fun. Without a clear objective and a promise of clean fishable fly water, I approach the trip tentatively.

Every minute in our lives is precious and I don't want to squander a second of it, even more reason to be skeptical of my uncertain intinterary. I know time is precious because I see my parents and loved one's faces when I leave every year. I realize I'm leaving them out of our relationship for a few months...and it pulls at my heartstrings. The blog is my connection to them.....and they are why I type..... because life is better shared.

So away we go.....at 5:30, after 3 tennis matches and a good shower, my goal was to drive as far as I could. When I could go no more, I found myself in Harrisburg, PA for the night.