Virginia Is For Lovers

Today’s Trip – Durham, NC to Chapel Hill, NC to Richmond, VA

Traversing a significant portion of the Southeastern US , we have traveled a 1000 miles in about fifty hours, passing through Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The roads and scenery are steadily beginning to differ from Sweet Home Alabama. North Carolina definitely had some of the most scenic routes I’ve ever seen.

After a good night’s rest in Coach K Territory, we headed to the Duke University campus to see the site home to the infamous Lacrosse Team, as well as Cameron Coliseum and Wallace Wade Stadium. The college houses immediately surrounding the campus closely resembled neighborhoods in Tuscaloosa where UA students reside behind Tutweiler. Arriving in Durham about 8 last night, we watched another exiting game of the NBA Conference Finals. After getting settled, Russ suggested a pub that served various sandwiches and such called The Down Under Pub.

After wandering through some of the streets on the Duke Campus, including Chapel Hill Road (my street in Dothan), we found this eatery in a desolate dark part of town. Attempting to parallel park, a gentleman without a home who bears close resemblance to Kevin Garnett (and Anthony Grant) approached our pathfinder and met Hayden at the car door. However, this guy few feet shorter than KG and had a studdering problem, and in his first words he stated the obvious, “I know I’m black.” Hayden, sporting the sporting the famous Spring 2009 Old Row T-Shirt, generously gave him two dollars and told him he had to save the rest of his cash for his dinner. So we went into the restaurant/pub to get menus, and Hayden and Russ swiftly returned to the car to lock up all the valuables. The Bear Trap-esqe eatery was full of college guys watching the game, and a significant number of lesbian couples. Very interesting experience.

I woke up this morning, with Russ standing above me trying to take a picture of Hayden and me sleeping in the same bed. Either he has a twin fetish or Russ is trying to feed the famous rumor that Hayden and I have racecar bunk beds in Tuscaloosa. But deep down inside, I think he really fantasizes about Jason Mraz.

Starting today’s adventures on the third straight cloudy day and after three delicious enchiladas, we explored Duke before traveling down Tobacco Road to quickly survey the UNC in Chapel Hill. The Duke campus was much more attractive relative to their rival school. I noticed the Blue Devil Stadium was named in honor of Wallace Wade, who was their best football coach, who was our fourth best coach, who is about to be our fifth best coach, winning three national championships in Tuscaloosa. We were able to go see Coach K Court where the state’s best high school players were competing in a summer league. For some strange reason, every time Hayden takes over the wheel, University Police seems to follow the pathfinder for miles. Even though Hayden sometimes may break or accelerate at inappropriate times, the cops may wonder why a drunk driver would be going around campus at noon on a Sunday.

After the first two days of 400+ mile drives, today was only 150 miles, which now seems just like a drive in the park. Russ is enthused about visiting the native soil of Jazon Mraz, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Chris Brown, but most importantly we all know that Virginia is the notorious stomping grounds of the Dave Matthews Band.