One month ago, I received an offer to be a court reporter, so I left the cozy cubicle confines of D.C. Government for life on the road (or the Metro, come to find out). Eventually, my boss told me I would be doing a little bit of traveling within the US and abroad, but as of now, I've been training at the company's office in Logan Circle, and court hopping in the metro area. Through my experience, I have found that a job description does not necessarily capture the day-to-day monotony of the job itself. So it goes.
Seeing that I was in between jobs for a week, high on cash, and hungry for adventure, I set out on my long-awaited road trip to see Americana. I would have one week to see the country and tear up the road before returning to working life.
I started my long-awaited adventure from Vienna to Cleveland. I lodged in the Cleveland Hostel, a downtown traveler's haven in the Ohio City Neighborhood that was formerly a Victorian style-hotel. After my trip, I schlepped around the downtown area, and ended up at Market Garden Brewery, a local brewery that specializes in organic brews. Three succulent pork tacos and three hearty beers later (I especially enjoyed the Wahoo Wit), I was back in my hostel bed, worn out, but anxious to travel the following day.
The next day started early, and was a whirlwind. First, I visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Cleveland's Lake Erie shore. The exhibits on the Allman Brothers Band, Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, and the British Invasion were fascinating, but I found that there was a disappointing lack of emphasis on roots music, R&B, country, and blues that propelled Rock and Roll to the forefront of American culture.
After eating at the Winking Lizard, a sports bar in close proximity to the Browns, Cavaliers, and Indians' stadiums, I hustled an hour southward to Canton in a driving rain to see the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A friendly staff, coupled with my nostalgia for the past glory days of the Redskins, made for an enjoyable visit.
Four dreary hours later, I found myself in Newport, Kentucky, riding a Queen City Riverboat to the Great American Ballpark of the Cincinnati Reds. Unfortunately, the game was rained out that night, but I was able to stop by the Reds Hall of Fame for a bit. That night, I had no solid plans for lodging, but found a cheap hotel in Blue Ash, a Cincinnati suburb. Hotels Tonight, an iPhone app that finds hotels that peddle their unsold rooms for cheap, saved my hide. I would recommend using it if you're ever in a bind for lodging, and it's a non-peak traveling period.
The next day was my long driving day. Hungover, and somewhat exhausted from my previous excursions, I set out for New Orleans. I drove straight through Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi (plus a few tornado warnings), until I barreled into my friend Anna's driveway off of South Claiborne Street. She lives a few blocks from Tulane, and teaches at a new charter school closer to the Quarter. We hit the French Quarter, and had a somewhat touristy night, seeing the River and all, but I told her that I wanted more of a local's perspective the next day.
I relished my full day in New Orleans, the fact that I wasn't on the interstate for a change, and that I wasn't having to interact with strangers on a daily basis. She took me to Elizabeth's for brunch right off the Quarter. I got to see the Quarter in the daytime, and we went to a few local dive bars at night.
The next morning, I traveled seven hours to Hot Springs, North Carolina and stayed at Iron Horse Station. I only saw a few hikers (the Appalachian Trail was built through Hot Springs) , but was able to make friends with some through-hikers from West Virginia and Germany. I'd never really seen the Smoky Mountains before, so that was a treat. From there, I headed to my hometown, Wakefield, Virginia, before returning northward to Vienna.
All in all, it was an exciting trip. I enjoyed following my instincts for a change, and not having a fixed schedule. I hadn't really planned what I was going to do until the night before I arrived at each place, and I was able to visit everything I wanted to see. I wish I could've stayed in certain places longer (Hot Springs, New Orleans) so I could get more of a feel for the soul and the local culture of each place, but chalk it up to traveler's inexperience and not really knowing anyone where I visited. One often feels a debilitating sense of isolation in a new place with no contacts. I didn't really stray off the interstate unless I was at my destination, and I understand that there is a plethora of sights and memorable misadventures off the beaten path. Also, I wish I heard more local blues music. Especially in New Orleans.
