Memphis- New Time Zone!

We've made it to Memphis, TN! But not before hanging out in Durham, NC and Asheville, NC.

We stayed with Mel's friend Camila in Durham. Their house was absolutely amazing and extremely comfortable, but Durham didn't seem to offer too much. There was a whole foods and a local movie store that her brother worked at, and a neat recycle/exchange center. Camila took us to the beach, which was absolutely beautiful and relaxing. By the time we got there it wasn't really sunny but the weather was hot and the ocean was warm. Swimming in the Atlantic felt absolutely wonderful. I'm definitely going to miss spending my summer by its side.

We left a little after noon on Friday to head over to Asheville, NC where Mel's uncle Mark lives. To get there we drove through the Blue Ridge Parkway, which was amazing. We drove so high in the mountains we went through clouds, and along these deep ridges and through rock tunnels that must have been blasted with dynamite to have been created. It was really special. We listened to more CDs from high school that both helped to reconnect our friendship, singing very loudly along the highway. Winding around the curves and bellowing lyrics was an exhilarating experience- just what we needed to keep us going for the rest of the night.

We made it to Asheville around 6, and Mark met us in town and took us to this huge street fair where everyone was drinking beer and a bluegrass (I think- they were playing the washboard) was playing on a big stage underneath the highway overpass. He took us out to dinner at a great vegetarian restaurant named Rosetta's. Afterwards we met up with his wife Monica and her lovely family who was also visiting and had a drink outside by the world's first mall, by a haunted former hotel where people jumped to their deaths due to misfortune during the great depression. As we were walking to the restaurant for a drink we came across a group of people playing drums and dancing around a square- Mark told us that they meet up every Friday and play their percussion instruments and dance, just for fun. People should do that more often- just make noise for fun.

We headed back to the Bastin's beautiful house in the countryside and went to bed. This morning we went with Mark, his son Ryan and their Giant Rhodesian Ridgeback pup named Koda for a walk to a stream. It was beautiful- and, amazingly enough I didn't have any allergies up there in the mountains. Ryan picked us blackberries from bushes and trees and told us stories of wild animal encounters in the North Carolina woods.

I loved Asheville, and am definitely keeping it on the list of places I'd like to relocate to.

The ride to Memphis was long, but we've made it. We're staying at the Pilgrim Hostel which is part of a very liberal church in the center of town. Its cute, clean and quiet. Its nice to finally sit and just enjoy our surroundings silently.

Tomorrow we head to East Wind Community to farm for two weeks. I'm unaware for the most part about what it will be like, and I'm anticipating the best.

I'll post pictures and more later. Ciao Ciao!