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Monday, November 8, 2004

I sleep in and wake around 10am. Yesterday, I was throwing around the idea of going bike riding today, but, my research has just shed some light on a very dark fact. Mountain biking isn't allowed in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Can you believe it?

Logistically, if I want a worthwhile trail (which I do), I'd have to drive 2 hours into North Carolina. That's where the good mountain biking is, just east of the park's eastern border. Well, it's past 10am, it gets dark around 5pm now, I have to drive 2 hours to get there, and I'm not exactly sure how long it'll take me to ride the trail I choose. Hmmm, let's see. Nope, I'm not going riding today. Major bummer!

So, what am I going to do today? Well, I could drive to Memphis, TN, I have plans to visit Graceland as well as any other interesting offering Memphis can cough up. Checking my guidebook, I'm foiled again. Graceland is closed on Tuesdays. I could spend the day driving out there today, but, I'd just scrounge around tomorrow looking for something to do while waiting for Wednesday to roll around.

It looks like I'm staying put for another day in Eastern Tennessee.

While the day wears on I resort to all that I can do when cooped up in the van. Yes, that's right, travel writing. Now, I suppose I could visit Dollywood. Partially owned by the famous country singer/actress Dolly Parton, Dollywood is basically an amusement/theme park. Nearby you'll find Dollywood's Splash Country. Good Lord, just think of all the yelling kids that'll be swarming both places. I think I'll just enjoy the peaceful solitude of my van's interior today, thank you very much.

God! I sound like the Grinch. Maybe I'm a little cranky because it's getting really cold in the van. I think I'll turn on the engine and heat things up. I wonder, how hot can I get it? After about 15 minutes of running the heater on high, the mercury almost hits 95 degrees!

Yowza! Who needs clothes!

The van does a pretty good job of holding in the heat. It takes about an hour for the temperature to drop 15 degrees. Ahhh, the simple pleasures of living one's life as a minimalist.

Dinner time finally arrives. What better fixings than leftover chicken and a can of baked beans. I'm unsure now, am I a minimalist or am I really just a hobo? First, there was hobo Boxcar Willie, now there's Extended Van Jeffrey. If only I had this sweet ride instead. With it, by golly, I'd be set.