But this is when you know that you are not in Utah anymore...the plane is descending and you are looking out at the view below, it's dark and the lights shining below are pretty, but seem very sparse. Then you realize that the lower you get it's not because there aren't any lights. There are plenty of lights, it's because there are so many TREES that it blocks the light out. Trees, trees, everywhere trees!
But we landed safely and even a little earlier than expected. So that's good right. We're happy to be in Nashville, but we've still got a bit of a drive ahead of us as we are driving to Knoxville. According to Google the drive is about 2 hours and 44 minutes. Everyone is tired and bit grumpy, but hey we're here, we're excited to get on our way.
I had no problems getting the rental car, but then when we got out into the parking lot we realized it was about a half a football field away and there was no way Kathy would be able to walk that far. (She has problems w/her legs) So, poor April get left to the task of going up and getting the car.
She found it just fine, it was getting back to where we were that she ran into problems. Let's just say she got a tour of the airport before she found her way back to us about 20/25 minutes later. So then, yeah, she found us and now all we need to do is get into the car and go, right? Nope. First of all, I misunderstood where she was coming back too, so I dragged Kathy, Teegan and 130 pounds of luggage to the other side of the road and then had to drag them all back over again when April finally found her way back. Then we had to struggle to get the luggage to fit and struggle to get Kathy in the back seat and then struggle to get Teegan strapped into his seat. Finally!!! We are on our way! It's only been an hour and 15 minutes since we landed. And now we have a 2 hour and 44 minute drive ahead of us according to Google.
I made April drive. I don't if you know this, but I hate driving. I really, really hate it. And I trust April. I was the navigator and the front seat/back seat driver. April kept telling me that the car had a mind of it's own and wanted to speed and I kept telling her that she was the master and had to control it. Although Teegan didn't help with his encouragement. "Mom, go faster." "Teegan, we're already going 70." "Mom, go faster", "Teeg. we are going faster."
So we are on our way. Heading east on I-40. There are a lot of Semi trucks on the road after 1 a.m. which is actually pretty good because I-40 is a very dark road. Trees. For miles and miles and miles. 168 miles to be exact. Oh and Deer, with their eerie red glowing eyes that pop out of nowhere as cars approach. That made me a little nervous. I mean, we're going 70 down a road in the middle of a forest and there are deer on the side of the road. I'm sure there were homes and other stuff around us, but you wouldn't know it. Did I mention the Trees? Anyway, we were heading down the road, there was an exit coming up into some town with civilization and so there were more lights. Which was SO good and we're SO lucky too.
Two deer were standing on the side of the road apparently just finishing up a conversation about how to freak out the tourists, when they decided to part ways and put their evil plan into motion. One, let's call him Larry, went south and the other, let's call him Jack (short for his full name Jackass), decided to run right out in front of us. Lucky for us, all of us, we saw this little conversation and parting of ways take place and April was already slowing down. I was pushing my imaginary break on the passenger side and saying "Shit, shit, shit, shit", you know, just doing my part to help out. I guess Jack decided to live after all because he bounded off, probably laughing his evil head off, planning on his next attempt to give a tourist a heart attack.
After that, we were even more watchful and finally arrived safely in Knoxville. So, here's another clue that we're not in Utah anymore. We're not far from Heathers, it's almost 4:00 in the morning. (2:00, UT time) and all of a sudden in the middle of the road there are like a dozen raccoon. Okay, maybe there were only three, but at that time in the morning and after the whole Jack and Larry thing, you just never know what those little raccoons are going to do and who knows, there could have been a dozen hiding in the bushes on the side of the road. Not to mention they were in the middle of the road and conducting what looked like suspicious activity to me. They could have been booby-trapping the road or something. We just got there a little too soon for their full plan to take affect. But our fearless driver, April managed to defeat their evil plan and avoid them too.
So you think I'm done now, right. Nope. We're only a about a block from Heathers and guess what else they have out here. Wild rabbits. I bet you are asking yourself, "What the??" right now, but yes, I said wild rabbits. Bunny rabbits that hop around all over the place for some inexplicable reason.
By this time, I was just annoyed. I think the animal kingdom has some sort of plot against the humans of this world and I'm warning you now. Watch out for it.
Thankfully, two minutes later, we're at Heathers. It's 4:15 in the morning, Teegan is now wide awake and so are the rest of us. We woke mom up and all started talking for the next hour or so. Finally went to bed about 5:30 ish and slept until they made me get up at 10:30.
Now it's time to adjust to the time change, the humidity and just relax and enjoy the visit. Oh and watch out for more evil plots from those sneaky wildlife secret agents.
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