#epicroadtrip Day 2

Tuesday morning Sara and I hit the road at about 8am. We rolled out of Huntersville, NC with a big storm looming over our car. Not the most settling way to start a road trip, with such intense rain, but we prayed for protection and provision and drove uber careful! We were headed on 40W when we saw a sign for the Great Smokey Mountain National Park… so we whipped off the interstate to head there. We realized it was taking us there, but that decision would completely alter our travel plans haha. Taking us on a small “interstate” 441 literally through the Smokey Mountains which takes us through Gatlinsburg versus through Knoxville. As we got deeper into the mountains (and into a Cherokee Reservation) we lost service/ got lost twice/ realized we really did not want to arrive in Nashville 3 hours later than intended. So we straight retreated and got back on 40W. Good life choice for sure. We kept trekking to Nashville, seeing some really neat little towns and sights along the way. Once in Nashville, we went to Centennial Park to see the replica of the Parthenon then headed to 12th Street South to see Sevier Park where we stumbled upon a lovely farmers market and some food trucks. From there we walked around Belmont and Vanderbuilt, then ended up in East Nashville where we met my friend Shannon (our Nashville host) for dinner and Margs at this super cool Mexican restaurant called Rose Pepper Cantina. It’s about 10pm now and you’d think we’d be about done considering our long day… but NAHHHH. We headed to the airport to pick up our friend Steinke (Sarah Steinke, here to after referred to as “Steinke”). The three musketeers, ready to cross this beautiful country of ours. It’s about 10:45pm now so what better time to go to Broadway Street in downtown Nashville. We arrived and were overwhelmed and amazed by a massive street lined with bars lite up and glimmering with flashy signs. Soulful country music flooding out of every bar. A collection of characters strolling up and down the perfectly stimulated street. It was endless entertainment. And picture this, all this glitz and glam and us three tourists with running tights and sweatshirts on, frizzy hair knotted in a bun, no make-up, and eyes of bewilderment just wondering the street to soak it all up. So clearly we are real tired at this point and last maybe 45 minutes walking around Broadway. We pack on up and head to Shannon’s to crash so hard on some air mattresses. This morning we woke up around 8am, had breakfast (pre-bought and packed to save the monies—yeeee), and headed into the city by 9. We did the rest of downtown Nashville: the old post office (where John, this lovely yet sassy elderly man gave us a historical tour of the building and told us about a few other important buildings in the city), union station, the Nashville Music City visitor center, the Bridgestone Arena, etc. We really enjoyed Nashville and hated to leave, but it was time to head on out. Next stop? St. Louis, MO. As I typed this post in the car we had exited Tennessee, drove through Kentucky, drove through Illinois (aka farm land..), and made it to St. Loius! I should be draggin hard right now, didn’t sleep the best but I’m so hype right now! This is incredible thus farJ