Al & Ray’s Excellent Adventure:
We kicked things off on June 19th, starting our Excellent Adventure like any great buddy movie—with snacks, stories, and some truly questionable navigation.
First stop: Ringgold, Georgia, where we met up with our good friends Phillip and Kim. We hung out at their place, caught up, and then hit up a seafood restaurant that made us question why we don’t live next to an ocean full-time.
Then it was off to Nashville—home of country music, cowboy boots, and parks with very specific names.
We visited the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park (try fitting that on a T-shirt), where we learned Tennessee history, admired a massive 200-foot granite map of the state, and chatted with a lovely local woman for almost an hour. Who knew a park bench could turn into a TED Talk?
Next, we explored Marathon Village—equal parts antique oil machinery, hipster shops, and a phone booth that may or may not double as a time machine. It was weird, random, and awesome.
Then we headed to Ole Red, Blake Shelton’s bar, where we spent hours listening to live music and soaking up the Nashville vibe. Ray asked me to be his wingman and introduce him to a group of ladies at a table with two open seats. I did my job, and Ray was soon talking to one of the prettiest women there. The music was loud, but I swear I heard someone mention putting a sock on the door.
Next stop: St. Louis, where I reunited with my longtime friend Loretta—first time in 40+ years! We reminisced, caught up on four decades of life, and then visited the Gateway Arch and the St. Louis Cathedral.
I’ve been to Notre-Dame in Paris, Sacre Coeur in Monmarte, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York—but this place? Absolutely breathtaking. I genuinely had a spiritual spiritual, which is rare unless desert is involved.
We rolled into Kansas City next and checked out the Truman Library and the National WWI Museum. History? Check. Giant poppies and presidential artifacts? Double check.
After that, we drove to Salina, Kansas to see the Eisenhower Library, but it turns out they had sneakily changed their open hours—so we settled for an amazing meal at the Barolo Grill instead. Shout out to amazing meal, the kind that makes you want to write a thank you note to the chef.
Next stop was Estes Park, Colorado, where the views from our lodge made us feel like we were inside a Bob Ross painting.
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