What a good look

The long-awaited first facial hair update is here. Ladies, don't worry what you're feeling is perfectly natural, but please don't do anything impulsive with your significant others. Stay tuned as the beard continues to get trimmed down.

Nashville: Better than Milwaukee

By all accounts our night in Nashville was a successful one. The whole team enjoyed the amenities at the Courtyard, with free parking and breakfast courtesy of Andy's gold status. Good location, too -- it was great to get out of the car and walk around after a long day on the road.

First stop was, of course, food. We put in calls to a number of the dives, BBQ and soul food joints recommended by Roadfood, but we were once again foiled by the holiday. Instead we turned to the list of 10 Best Bars in Nashville, and hit up number two on the list, Broadway Brewhouse (and Mojo). Good call. A sign the front door declared "This is a smoking establishment", and with nearly 40 beers on draft, this was my kind of dive bar.

Anxious to try out the local suds, we ordered from the selection of Yazoo Brewing Company, straight outta Nashville. Both enjoyed the Pale Ale. Andy then stumbled in picking the sub-par Hefeweizen, while I sipped on the tasty Mexican-style Dos Perros.

Turning to food, both were happy with our choices. Andy checked out the Chicken Queso (grilled chicken over rice and -- of course -- cheese). Three of his favorite things on one plate. I ordered up the Sante Fe Chicken Sandwich. Shredded smoked chicken with a bit of a kick and vaguely southwestern pepper sauce on the side. I was impressed with how tender and flavorful the meet was.

This was also, it should be noted, the point in the evening when -- after scoring on their first drive -- it looked like Cincinnati might be able to stick it to VT. Times were good. Alas, the Cincy QB started throwing to Tech as often as to his own team, and it was all down hill from there. Andy did, however, develop a well-deserved crush on the Bearcats' Mardy Galyard. He's a WR; maybe the Lions'll take him in the draft next year.

After our fill of Broadway, we headed out in search of the Tin Roof, which advertised live music 6 days a week. Sadly, this was not one of those days, and the bar wasn't even open.

On the way over to Music Row, though, we ran across Buddy Killen Circle. A warned me to get back -- we better not both be in the circle at the same time or it's anything goes. All kidding aside, we shouldn't make fun of the man's name. He produced a lot of great songs in Nashville, not the least of which is "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (w/ No Big Fat Woman)".

After striking out at the Tin Roof we ended the night at Dan McGuinness' drowning our Orange Bowl sorrows in Smithwick's (me) and Woodchuck Cider (Andy).

On the road again now. Next stop: Memphis.

Day 2

Good morning!

We're still in Nashville, fixin' to get out of here soon. (As Andy said, "Beauty is hard work." We're a little slow getting started this morning.)

More on our night in Nashville (with pictures!) from the road, but a quick technical note: Some of you were having trouble leaving comments, and we want to hear from you all we can. I changed the settings so that one does not have to be registered in order to leave a comment. Hopefully that'll solve the problem.

And while I'm here, a quick question: Smokey and the Bandit. Heard of it? Shocked that I haven't? Discuss.

See y'all (virtually) on the road!

Fail.

Sun setting on 40 West

We are about 2 hours from the completion of our first day. Whether you are envious of our journey or think we're crazy, you may be asking yourself, "What does it look like out there on the road?"

The first picture is my perspective while driving that I snapped as the road led directly towards a very scenic mountain. I am not sure my cameraphone fully captured the moment.

The second picture represents my UK pride and is the more tasteful of my gestures captured on film. Fear not though, we have left the Axis of Exil (Knoxville and Blacksburg) far behind.

Our latest diversion involved my abrupt demand to exit because I saw a sign for Frozen Head State Park. Upon exiting, we encountered a hitchhiker with a large duffel bag heading in the park's direction. Unfortunately, I found on the GPS that it was 13 miles away, so I was not that interested in learning the story behind the name. Also, I have no idea as to whether that guy was on his way to collect a frozen head or deposit one.

Peace, Virginia

Tennessee welcomes us!


And we both made it!

So far so good ... we're headed in the right direction (west, for those of you keeping score at home), and have only heard "at the first opportunity, make a legal u-turn" a couple of times.

For our first restaurant review, A would like to report that the wheat bread from the Subway in Troutville VA was a bit to crumbly (the Mazda agrees, but the first mess of many over the next couple of days, I'm sure), and the ham was mediocre. Service was top notch (and well-decorated -- the baby feet tattoos on his forearm were adorable), though.

We hope to do better for dinner. The plan is to stop for an early meal in Knoxville at Litton's Market & Restaurant. Roadside Food reports that it is "the most famous hamburger restaurant in the mid-South." Sounds good to me!

If we're making good time perhaps we'll take a quick swing through Knoxville and the UT campus, where the Web site advises us that Knoxville gets 47" of rain a year, and we'd best bring along a bumbershoot. I take it that's an umbrella 'round these parts. Looks like sunny skies all the way today, though.

Oh, and in case you were concerned, our faithful companion is still hanging in there. Here his is mugging with an honor-our-troops art piece at the Welcome to Tennessee Center.

On the road!

All right ladies and gentle skin, we are off and running, Moy Moy with her coffee and me with my Gatorade. Despite lots of fun at Wally's last night, we were able to leave at a decent time. The GPS lady targets our arrival in Cashville at 8:07, and nothing but blue sky ahead ...