HELL IS REAL

So declares every fourth billboard as you make your way from Kentucky, through Tennessee, and into Alabama. One of the other three shouts “ARE YOU GOING TO HEAVEN OR HELL?!?!?” (Izzie: “Mom, why does that sign ask that?” Liz: “That's so that everyone can answer 'yes.'” Genius. The other two billboards are, of course, for booze and an adult superstore.

It's important to mention/recognize at this point that camper driving is waaaaayyyyy different from car driving. It's not just a matter of paying attention more due to length. It's physically demanding, especially when you have to fight the crosswind. Last night's drive was two hours short, which means we added that to an already long day of driving. Our standard day's drive is 300-400, and today was more than 600. After 11 hours, we finally made it to the Alabama state line. And were surprised to discovered that Alabama has the narrowest traffic lanes in America. I couldn't actually keep the trailer between the lines.

I forgot to mention that last night there was a HE-YU-JAH thunderstorm. One boomer woke me up so quick my chest hurt. Got me thinking, now that I'm well on my way to becoming an old man... I wonder how many old guys have just kicked it because a clap of thunder hit them over the head in the middle of the night. Diane, I know you're wondering... I did remember the storm when I went outside and did not dump the 12 gallons of water from the kayaks onto my head. Sorry, better luck next time.

Anyway, last time we came to Huntsville, we stayed at the campground at the Space and Rocket Center. You know... Space Camp! It was great. A truly terrible campground, but you can watch the nerdlings from camp launch model rocket. ANNNNNNDDDD guys, guys, guys.... AND you could walk right over to the SR-71 and the Saturn V Rocket, exactly the one I had the plastic model of when I was 5! Squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! Ahem, nerds. But that campgound was full and so we came to what is inarguably the most beautiful place in Huntsville, Monte Sano. Side note: if you've never been to Huntsville, it's sort of like the grossest parts of Henrietta and Greece and Gates all had a baby. Michigan friends, think Downriver. But on the eastern edge, away from the strip malls and strip mines (yes, they have lots of both), is this gorgeous mountain forest preserve. Side note #2: I randomly opened my unread 3-month-old Bike Magazine, and there is a pic of the MTB team from my nieces' and nephews' high school, riding here at Monte Sano, lined up right here in the campground. Huh. Small world. But, as always, I digress.

And so now, returning to the task at hand: Unfortunately for us, this park and campground is at the top of Monte Sano. You know those stories of people who follow the GPS and by the time they realize they're in trouble, it's way too late? Yeah, that. By the time you see the sign that says “Switchbacks ahead: No vehicles longer than 30 feet,” your 35-foot camper and the 19-foot vehicle that's pulling it have no place to turn around. And if you have ever driven super-sketchy, steep, twisting mountain roads, it was like that, except with a neighborbood. And stop signs that arrest whatever momentum you had.

But, we finally made it, and it's lovely. We stopped in to see my dad, who's doing a stint in rehab. No, not that rehab. He got hurt and needs to get better. Tomorrow I see my sister and her family.

And tomorrow is also the 10^th birthday of her wonderfulness, the princess of all, the glorious one, our darling Isabella.