Quick Trip to Texas

My brother-in-law, Tim, was graduating from nursing school and at first I thought I would not be able to attend this event.  Then my son called from San Diego and said why don't we use our air miles on Southwest and fly to Dallas to surprise Tim?  I ran to my computer and checked the flights and I was able to book one that would arrive at Love Field 30 minutes before my son's flight from San Diego.  This trip was a go!

On Friday, December 12, I woke up at 3:00AM and drove to Greenville/Spartanburg Airport to catch my flight.  To get to Dallas I had to fly via Chicago Midway!  I LOVE Southwest Airlines!

Chicago Midway Airport

I arrived in Dallas on time and so did my son.  We got a rental car and started our two hour drive to Longview.  On the way we stopped at a Whataburger.  We didn't really need to, but if you have only 36 hours in Texas a Whataburger is just one of those things you need to eat.

We arrived in Longview late that afternoon and Tim was surprised to say the least.  I really think he did not expect us.  Later that evening we attended his graduation and, of course, there was Mexican food afterwards!

Tim did it!

Tex-Mex

We spent the next day, Saturday, just visiting Longiew and seeing some of the sights of my youth.  Of course, eating was involved.  We drove to Hallsville where we indulged in some Pittsburg Hotlinks.  They don't look very appetizing (I won't say what they do look like) but believe me, they are good!  Of course, we also had to have some Barbecue.  I don't like North Carolina BBQ so I have to fill up when I am in Texas.

Pittsburg Hotlinks (they do taste better than they look!!)

Barbecue the way it was meant to be.

On Sunday my son and I headed to Love Field and flew to Houston together.  From there I flew back to Greenville/Spartanburg and he flew back to San Diego.

Houston Hobby Airport

I arrived back at GSP an drove back to Asheville.  All in all it was a good trip. I only gained a few pounds, but it was totally worth it!

Thanksgiving in Wilmington, NC

My wife and I take a trip every Thanksgiving.  Our family is spread out all over the world (well at least California and Japan) and it makes no sense to us to have the traditional Thanksgiving feast for just the two of us.  Usually we travel to Charleston, Savannah or St. Augustine.  Our son that is currently in Japan has mentioned that he may want to attend the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (for surfing reasons, I am sure) so we thought we would go to Wilmington this year.

First we went to the UNC-W campus and I must say it was impressive.  It is a "planned" campus, meaning it is relatively new.  A lot of red brick building and laid out logically as a college campus.  After that we spent the rest of the day in downtown Wilmington.  Wilmington is not a tourist area so the downtown area was deserted.  About the only thing open was the Battleship North Carolina.  The battleship seems to be the biggest attraction in Wilmington.  However, we did not visit it.

Battleship North Carolina

We found a bar open in Carolina Beach and that is where we had our traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

The next day we went to Wrightsville Beach, NC just to walk along the beach and see the ocean.

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina

As you can see, those beaches were also deserted.

The next day we returned home.  Wilmington is a nice place but a little low key (and cold) this time of year.  I am sure there is a lot more going on in the summer months.  I believe we will head further south next Thanksgiving.

Beckley, WV

The Frau had a conference to attend in Beckley, WV and since I had time I decided to driver her.  There really isn't anything exciting about this trip.  It was a conference for librarians so what do you expect?  It was pretty much a run up the Interstate, spend the night in Beckley, and then run back down.  We did make one little side trip to Damascus, VA where we took the road to Shady Valley, TN.  On this road is the world's shortest tunnel.  It is only about seven or eight feet (2m) long.

The world's shortest tunnel between Damascus, VA and Shady Valley, TN

I am excited to get this blog going again.  I suspended posting due to the political situation at the time while I was in Europe.  Unfortunately this is a slow time for travel for me.  I don't foresee another trip until Thanksgiving, two months for now.  But if there is one thing I have learned... you never know what will happen!