Mel's Travelogue

I can't believe it's almost a year later and I've finally remembered that I needed to do this trip report. Anyway, I'll write what I remember since it's been so long!

August 25, 2010 - we drove down to Orlando and stayed for a couple of nights at the DVC resort Saratoga Springs. The only way I afforded this was to rent a DVC owner's points, via the http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=29 DISboards DVC points rent/transfer forum. The resort was beautiful and conveniently located. It was a weird stay though, b/c it's the first time we've stayed in Orlando and not gone to any of the Disney parks.

Our hotel room - kind of small but nice and had a balcony too:

You can see from our balcony the Treehouse Villas which were recently renovated and put back into use.

August 26, 2010 - spending the day in Orlando, about to hit the outlet mall! We also went to Downtown Disney and walked around, shopped, etc. then ate dinner at T-Rex which is like a Rainforest Cafe, but dinosaur themed.

August 27, 2010 ~ drove to Port Canaveral, it only took about an hour from Orlando. We checked in at the Disney terminal and after a short wait, we got to board. We ate lunch and waited to go to our rooms. We had to do the lifeboat drill and other stuff too. Here are some pics, I will add more information later I promise!!!

Documents from August 27, 2009 3 Night Bahamian Disney Cruise (3 night)

http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/castawayCAYinfo1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/castawayCAYinfo2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/castawayclubinvite1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/castawayclubinvite2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/castawaygiftnote1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/castawaygiftnote2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/dutyfreeliquorlist.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/internetbrochure1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/internetbrochure2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/movielist.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/nassaumap1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/nassaumap2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/nassauportmap1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/nassauportmap2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/nassauportmap3.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/nassauportmap4.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_fri_pg1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_fri_pg2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_fri_pg3.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_fri_pg4.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_sat_pg1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_sat_pg2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_sat_pg3.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_sat_pg4.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_thurs_pg1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_thurs_pg2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_thurs_pg3.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/navigator_thurs_pg4.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/paradiseislandmap.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/rebookinfo1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/rebookinfo2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/rebookinfo3.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/rebookinfo4.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/rebookinfocard1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/rebookinfocard2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/shoppingpromos1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/shoppingpromos2.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/shopspecials.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/televisionguide.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/welcomehomepg1.pdf
http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/welcomehomepg2.pdf

http://www.lilinando.com/disneydocs/3nightcruiseaug27documents.zip

Will and Anthony and I drove over to North Carolina to the Blue Ridge Parkway and parked in the Black Balsam Parking lot (at end of Black Balsam Road, just past milepost 420 on parkway...hmm coincidence that hiking with Will & Ant takes us to milepost 420? I think not

We've done this hike several times and everytime it's either rained or been very cold. Thank goodness this time broke the mold and we had great weather. Will's been there on his own and claims to have had perfect weather, but without witnesses.....? Storm clouds were all around Friday night when we got up there (and the forecast was thunderstorms and lightening) but they rolled on by. Saturday was gorgeous and warm. The sunrise was beautiful. I didn't take a camera since I thought we'd be soaking wet but did manage to take some pictures with my cell phone (unfortunately, didn't get any of the sunrise though). Below pictures of this trip are pictures from previous times we've made this hike. Figured I'd just put them all here instead of doing separate trip reports for all our hikes up there.

Previous Trips:

June 21, 2008 - The first time Will & I went up, it rained just as we got to the top. Will quickly set up one of the tents but got drenched in the process. The rain stopped, but we had packed light for summer weather and being wet made him chill so we hiked back down and didn't stay overnight.

June 28, 2008 - The next weekend, we went up with Jason, Anthony, Justin, and Arnes (what was I thinking?!?). Will and I were the only ones who brought sleeping bags and tents - the other boys thought since it was summer that they'd just sleep out under the stars. But, that night there was a hurricane/monsoon/torrential downpour! At first they tried to make a shelter with a tarp they'd brought and some disposable ponchos. But the wind was way to strong for that to work. So Arnes and Ant got in tents with me & Will and poor Justin and Jason did their best out in the storm covered with whatever they could find. The rain would stop, we'd all get out and try to light a fire, then rain came back and so on - this went on for hours. The fog and rain were so bad, we had to tough it out because it would have been too dangerous to hike out at night in those conditions. First light the next morning, we were able to get off the mountain. Whew, it was almost like a Lifetime TV survival movie-of-the-week

October 17, 2008 - The next time it didn't rain but it was winter so it got cold. My friend Judy came with us, and if you ask her, it was about 40 below zero! She still talks about how much she didn't enjoy the camping that night and I think is still traumatized. The only picture I got that day was with with my cell phone of Judy at the signpost at the bottom of the mountain.

Shastina and I drove over the Nashville for the day just to have a quick roadtrip. We had great weather and no troubles on this trip.

First up, we went to Whole Foods - what a great place, it's a grocery store and has a hot/cold bar section that is HUGE and has lots and lots of vegetarian and vegan options, I was in veg overload. They had something wonderful called 'chicken fried tofu' which was breaded and fried cubes of tofu, and tons of other stuff too. The area that it was in downtown is really cute and reminded us of Atlantic Station in Atlanta.

Then we went to Centennial Park to see the Parthenon which is a full size replica of the Greek monument. It has an art museum in it, and also a 42-foot statue of Athena and reproductions of the Elgin Marbles.

Next we went to Opry Mills mall. Had planned to also check out Opryland Hotel since Shas has never been, but we ended up shopping too long and still had to go to dinner before driving home.

We ate at Maggiano's Restaurant (had previously eaten at the one in Atlanta) - it was excellent Italian cuisine. Had an uneventful drive home.

The End

I took off a Friday and Mom and I drove over to Asheville to go to Biltmore House. We hadn't been in years and mom still had the ticket I'd bought her for Mother's Day a few years ago - oops Anyway, they've opened up four new rooms so we wanted to check it out. Great weather and not too crowded at Biltmore. Couldn't take pictures inside, but I really liked the newly opened room that was Mrs. Vanderbilts, the one she gave birth to her kids in, had a great balcony sitting area.

After that, we met up with Will and I left with him and mom went home. Will and I were going to stay in Cullowhee, NC so that he could take his final exam for the Wilderness First Responder course. On the way there, we detoured to Black Mountain first to eat at his fave restaurant there, My Father's Pizza. Black Mountain is a really nice little mountain town with lots of cute shops and a great chocolate store.

We went to the cabin we rented in Cullowhee and Will took his exam the next day (and made a 98!).

Then we drove home in the trusty old non-air conditioned Jeep!

~ The End