h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well the whole thing started out with having a goodbye drink or two with some friends (THAT ended with disaster... you ever spit tequila out your nose? It freakin' HURTS!!!), and a couple tears. Then we loaded the bus.


We had a long drive from Michigan, then outside of Chattanooga (Tennessee), our bus caught on fire. Literally. Smoke everywhere and some fire extinguisher art, and 18 people on the side of the road. Providentially, there was an Adventist college at the next exit that lent us a bus for the day to get our kids off the road. (Church of God 7th Day and the Adventists are very friendly with each other for the most part, the school I worked for was CoG7D). We were all in awe of the new coach bus, with it's 6 t.v. monitors and DVD system and central air conditioning. We liked it so much, we rented it for the rest of our tour whilst our usual ride was being fixed. Saw some good old friends in Chattanooga, a rest at the hotel after the concert (where I dreamed that the Joker and Donny Osmond were trying to kill me), and then off to Tennessee.

Tennessee we were graciously taken to the Aquarium, where I was jazzed over the seahorse exhibit. Have you ever SEEN those things? The Weedy and Leafy seahorses really got my attention, as they looked like dragons grandly flying about. I mean, they Looked Exactly Like Dragons! I HAVE to get on some research sites later and get the hookup with some pictures so I can draw them into my fantasy scapes!

Florida was great. The churches were welcoming to our concert. The one in South Miami was on a mango orchard, and attended with a bunch of Carribean islanders, so was probably our most exotic stop! And enthusiastic! We spent all day there and made great music and better friends, and left with some mangos to boot! I'd never seen them actually growing, and they are the weirdest fruit... and oh so tasty.

We spent a night at a really nice little PGA tours hotel, ordering pizza to eat by the pool and pulling pranks and such. Then down to Key Biscayne to swim and watch the sunset (West Coast Kids "Hey... the sun is setting on the Beach instead of the Ocean! That's WRONG.")On my way in I saw a stingray about the size of a large serving platter, so I swam along side it (okay, and kinda chasing it) down the beach... thus fufilling a life long dream.

We went to Busch Gardens on our way out of Florida. Fun, but a little weird. Do you think they have Florida themed parks in Africa? This park was all African themed, and I had a lot of fun. Especially at the floor shows. Catch ALL of them if you ever get a chance to go.

Atlanta, Georgia was one of my favorite stops. It was just an overnight break time, and our hotel turned out to be a couple blocks from my brother's house. So Justin came and picked me up, treated me to French food at Le Madelein's along with his girlfriend. It was another first, as I'd never had French food... I hope to have it again soon! They took me all over Atlanta; to the top of the Mariott to see the city, past Elton John's condo, Buckhead, downtown. We met up with my other bro, Asher, at a place called the Righteous Room for some tortilla chips and sodas. Asher took me to Buford Hwy. to a great Chinese place called PARADISE. If you ever get a chance to... GO!!! We had shrimp in lobster sauce and filet mingon stirfry and lots of good conversation and laughter. Then back to the hotel for a few hours of sleep.

Justin had given me Freewheelin' and Another Side of Bob Dylan on cd, so at this point my trip got tons better. I will skip describing the next week and a half of my trip, other to say that Virginia Beach was the bomb, I highly recommend it, and that I still love Southern Sweet Tea.

It's hard to believe that a couple days ago I was in New York City. We stayed with a beautiful family in Long Island who made sure we did Manhatten until we were exhausted. I think I liked Brooklyn the best as a tourist... had most of the shops and resteraunts I was interested in. It was fun to take all these midwestern kids to Times Square, and think that my eyes opened that wide the first time I was there. One of our girls got accosted by a drunk who tried to kiss her... she was badly shaken, and the guys got a lecture on taking care of the girls in the Big City. Also, I swear I saw Tim Meadows from SNL.

The best part of New York mornings for me was: Bagels. Yes. I am spoiled for life. I thought it was just this pretentious New Yorker we have the best everything thing when they told me about them (cause, I gotta say, I didn't understand what was so hot about the hotdog vendors... maybe I didn't go to the right one) but the bagels were AWESOME.

Well, now I'm back at the parents house indefinately. I'm really tired, and have a really sucky flu/cold thing. So I'm gonna go have some hot herbal and curl up on the couch and watch Cowboy Bebop with M. (who moved up with me! Yay!). M. is in the basement asleep, but I'm sure I can wake him up with some ice water and a couple explosives!

Missed you all,

Raych.

cool trip, welcome back, the terranic army needs you!

i'm hoping to go to America in July to see my cousin and cousin in law in Denver for a couple of weeks. i like America. it has baseball.

spook

Welcome, back!

Wow... the Big Apple. I've never been there! Sounds like quite an Adventure.

Enjoy the Bebop! I've got the movie pre-ordered.

Hmm... I have a Bebop movie, some guy ran it off for me... I dunno which one, I'm assuming it's Knocking at Heaven's door.

for you, Myst!

hey hun long time no chat i though youd disapeared

andy

OWLY! I missed you my British buddy!!! How are things on the side of the pond with the cooler accents?

Y.S.

hi hun i thought youd dissapeared well its over this cooler side of the pond he he .
our dream hoilday is on hold at the moment because of the damn terrorists

andy

A concert in a Mango Orchard? Ooh am I envious. Apart from adoring Mangoes, the best I've managed in the last three weeks is a 'Prom in the Park' under a Marquee on Saundersfoot Cricket Pitch.

Still, the fireworks were good (what little we could see of them under the awning), though it was a bit disconcerting to be hammering our way through the last of '1812' having the audience standing with their backs to us...

Sounds like it's been a fabby trip, old gal. Good to see you back again.

Cool beans! :P

Hey, you Conceited Little MegaPuppy... there's a hoopy frood-ette I miss!

for Extreme

hi again hun hows you ?

andy

The Martian Death Cold I had seems to be winding down. Been listening to music and bumming around. I need to get better, get a driver's licence and a new job. I really don't wanna.

How you doin'?


Raych.

im doin fine stil waiting for the tour company to confirm if the holiday is still on so sonya is stressing about that but we look like settling for somewhere like jamaica still hot and sooo very chilled


andy

Jamaica would be cool... I know a lot of Jamaicans and they're beautiful fun people. Have some jerk chicken and plantain for me!

Raych

will do i had it last time deeeeeeeeeellllicious

andy

How are things with the Thundercats going?

Raych

not to bad the recruitmeny is going a bit slow

andy

Hey sounds like a really great trip!
i've always wanted to swim in da ocean but i was in iceland when i lived by one and its kinda stupid to swim in that cold water
*Chronos is very jelous*

Chronos! Long time, no chat! Where have you been? Staying out of trouble, I hope!

Sorry bout that, lifes crazy sometimes. As for trouble, it seems to follow me about, a shadow of clamity and havoc. But God is good