The Museum | Summer 13 Adventures

The Smokey Mountain Stranger

Today's Blogtember subject is...

a distinct moment when my life took a turn.

It was a sunny and hot July afternoon in the smokey mountains. We had come from Florida and stopped in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on our way home. My dad and I were walking around the Old Mill area and had been taking some photos of the ducks and geese, sweating like mad in the muggy 99.99% humidity. 

Coming down the sidewalk towards us was a young guy dressed in black jeans, a gray t-shirt, black leather jacket, and dark sunglasses. As soon as I saw him I thought "That guy must be really trying hard to look tough dressed like that in this heat." I moved over to one side of the narrow sidewalk, making room for the dude to pass. Just before he moved past me, he slowed down, bent his arm at his waist, and bowed at me. Like Jane-Austen-meet-Mr-Darcy-style. Before I could respond he continued on down the sidewalk. I didn't know how to respond. It's not everyday a young man bows to me, though I wouldn't mind it happen more often. ;) I turned around to see if my dad had seen his gesture. "I guess he was paying you a complement" he said. 

So, lesson #1: never underestimate a guy in a leather jacket and sunglasses. 

As a side note, I have a theory about who this biker dude was. He looked very much exactly like this guy:

{via}

Lesson #2: Steve Rogers/Captain America could be vacationing in the smokey mountains while under cover. 

You just never know.

Duck Duck Goose | Summer 13 Adventures

"Oh, but I like my geese. Like cats, they can't be told what to do, and like dogs, they're loyal, and like people, they talk every chance they get."
-Shannon Hale, The Goose Girl

Wildlife at the Old Mill in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

By the Pool | Summer 13 Adventures

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have 

always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” 

― Henry James

On the Road | Summer 13 Adventures

This summer I've spent many hours in the car traveling. We drove from western Kentucky to the Georgia coast and back, and then later from Kentucky to Orlando, Florida. I think it averages out to 7 full days in the car. Whew!

One thing I do like about spending all that time driving was different scenery I got to photograph; open fields of farmland, wooded areas, sunsets, and palm trees lining the roads.

I had to include a photo from when we got to Orlando late at night. The last picture is of a McDonald's, one of the many in Orlando, but very unique because it looks like a box of french fries!

Now I'm hungry.

Tybee Island Beach | Summer 13 Adventures

“Nobody could catch cold by the sea; nobody wanted appetite by the sea; nobody wanted spirits; nobody wanted strength. Sea air was healing, softening, relaxing -- fortifying and bracing -- seemingly just as was wanted -- sometimes one, sometimes the other. If the sea breeze failed, the seabath was the certain corrective; and where bathing disagreed, the sea air alone was evidently designed by nature for the cure.”
- Jane Austen

Orlando | Summer 13 Adventures

This summer we have done more traveling than usual. Thus presents my first series of posts, Summer 13 Adventures. Every Wednesday I'll post about our travels or things I've been doing this summer (or at least I'll try. Work and school keep me busy.). Enjoy the first installment!

My dad had a business trip a week ago in Orlando, Florida. Naturally, we went with him and I took pictures of stuff. No surprise there.

The fancy hotel is designed with ocean-inspired decor, like this barnacle light fixture. As Orlando is a popular tourist spot, we often heard people at the hotel speaking different languages. Mostly, we heard Spanish and Japanese.

There is a Starbucks inside the hotel (!). We of course had to visit it and pretend to be all hipster-like with our non-fat, decaf, raw Hawaiian-sugared, iced coffees. Say that three times fast.

More photos of Florida coming soon!