Atlanta & Nashville

Tuesday:

We got to our hotel in Atlanta, I got us a free upgrade, American's love the Irish. Chris booked us in to what looks like a pretty sketchy 2 star hotel downtown Nashville. We went to a sports bar and watched Golden State win the NBA finals.

Another day, another drive, another useful Chris

Wednesday:

We got up early and headed for the Coca Cola museum, tried over 100 different types of Coke drinks from all over the world.

Next up was a tour of CNN studios where we were shown everything from the news rooms to the researchers floor. We then went on to the College Football Museum, where we got to catch, kick and throw footballs. Peter got his college results and got first class honours so we had to go out and celebrate. Chris found a place called MJQ online and Wednesday's were college nights so we headed there. This is what we arrived to.

We almost didn't get out of the taxi, but the taxi man convinced us it was fine. The three of us, terrified headed in to this shed. Fortunately we survived the night.

Delighted to have survived.

Thursday:

Up at 10.45, quick pack and checked out of the hotel. Had breakfast at the local Waffle House, it was packed so must be good. It was not great. We ate through our hangovers and headed to the aquarium, America's biggest. Drove 5 hours to Nashville, got to the sketchy hotel and it looked pretty awful. Thankfully, the book wasn't like cover and the room was really nice. We headed out for dinner. Nashville was bouncing, live music in every bar. Horses and cart tours down the main strip, with everyone wearing cowboy boots. So we had no choice we had to go out here. Chris didn't feel the same way, so he stayed in. Peter and I had a great night, more free drinks courtesy of the accent. We got up Friday, checked out and drove 5 more hours back to St. Louis. Kelly cooked a lovely spag bol for us which was definitely needed. Spending the next week being healthy before playing in tournament next weekend. Going in to radio silence for a week or two

Chris was also asleep at this point, I just couldn't get the pic

Thanks for reading :) 

New Orleans and Panam City Beach

Wednesday:

We left St. Louis at 12.45 with our Hyundai Elantra that we got 20% off thanks to Kelly. We drove 10 hours and 15 minutes to get to New Orleans 670 miles. We drove through the craziest thunder and lightning storm, like the worst driving conditions I've ever seen, check out the video. 

We had two pretty crazy nights in New Orleans! If you're ever there you have to go to Bourbon St. It is insane partying 24-7 there is always a bar open. Met some irish people at an irish bar Pat O'Briens and their American friend has offered up his condo for us to stay in when we go to Denver later in the summer. We had a decent walk around New Orleans, but the heat made it hard work, there were some nice views along the water, as well as a really nice church.

The three travellers 

A cannon outside the church - the perfect photo opportunity 

A real life pirate

She didn't move, even after we gave her money

Peter found his perfect bar

Had to throw in a cop Selfie 

Friday:

After two pretty heavy nights in New Orleans we left the hotel just after 12 and headed for Panama City Beach. Time to get our tans. 5 hour drive and we get to our hotel, I check us in and it's one king bed for the three of us to share - not good! Chris and Pete are getting on and were pretty cuddly in New Orleans but no way I'm sharing a bed with those two for four nights. Have a chat to the receptionist and for 65$ (20% off) we have an upgrade to a 3 bed suite. Only one thing to do and that's get back on it, over to Walmart and 1.75l  of Captain Morgan's for  20$ - we are gonna love PCB! Off out we go and end up in club lavela apparently north Americas biggest night club holds 7,000 people. Great night- missed breakfast but headed to the beach and repeated Saturday! The boys needed a night off Sunday so we went mini golfing, had a beer and nachos before a walk up the beach. We wake up Monday refreshed so we finish off the captain Morgan's on the beach and head back out Monday night. But 'North America's biggest night club is empty, don't worry liquor stores stay open till 4am, beers + beach = great night. Met some great people in PCB, these irish accents are good for something. The beach was awesome it went on for miles and the waves were relentless with a massive current so swimming in The Gulf of Mexico was quite the challenge.

Peter and I in Florida

Chris asleep in the back, becoming a recurring theme

Beach by day

Beach by night

Tuesday:

On the road to Atlanta still need to book somewhere in Nashville

Flying to America

Flight one cork to London was an absolute breeze was sat beside a pilot and had a grand ol chat! He was happy to answer all my flying questions. If only the rest of the day panned out as easily as that flight! As we say on the aeroplane waiting to take off in Heathrow the captain announced that the Hydraulics in lift had broken and we were waiting for it to be removed, 2 minutes later " I regret to inform you that engine 2 won't start" finally after an hour and a half of waiting of we headed. Unfortunately the problems didn't stop there, we had thunder and lightning storms in Dallas and were delayed further! By the time we touched down and exited the plane we had 40 minutes to catch our final flight, if everything goes smoothly we'll be ok we were assured! First customs check and Peter was already in trouble, he was sent for more questions before we were allowed to continue and attempt to find our bags amongst the other frantic passengers once again I found myself waiting for Peter. Eventually his bag game through, few more questions from custom's officer and we were safely in America, however we were over a mile away from where we needed to be and our flight was already boarding, in a mad rush we went through security and sprinted for gate D38, ended up on a tram that we were hoping was the right one as it was saying two different things, thankfully it was the right one and as we rounded the corner for D38 we saw our fellow passengers sitting, waiting, patiently as our flight had been delayed by 20 minutes.

 We arrived in St. Louis just under an hour late to be greeted by Kelly. Got to bed for 2.30 and both Peter and I were wide awake at 7, we were being taken to a new house for the weekend at 9.30,

We arrived at the new house and it was incredible, an absolute mansion! Sunny the mom together with her son McKade spoilt us, with meals out and golf trips. We were taken to a Cardinal's baseball game on the Saturday night by the other coaches. One of the hockey kids parents kindly donated 8 tickets, in the diamond box, 4 rows from the front. The game was cool, Cards won 3-0, we went out to a couple of bars after and had a great time with the other coaches.

Goodbye Cork

Relieved to have made the connecting flight

Dallas at night

Sunny's house

Sunset golf club

Getting the ball rolling

Right so, nearly three weeks into traveling so I'd better get this blog started! Bare with me as I've never done this before and essentially have no idea what I'm doing.

It didn't hit me that I was going away for so long until the Monday!  Granny had a bbq  and Granny Nora came too! Saying goodbye to my grandparents was tough as both my grannies were a little upset! I was more or less packed I'd done a bit of reading (random websites and other travellers blogs) so I had a good idea as to what I might need! Peter and Hollie came up Tuesday night and we had a lovely bbq. Saying goodbye to my girlfriend was hard as she was pretty upset and reckoned she would miss me.  The goodbyes to the family were postponed till the next morning, they had all wrote messages in a goodbye cars for me which I wasn't expecting so that was a bit emotional but thankfully no tears were shed! Goodbyes went fine the siblings said goodbye as they left for school and mom and dad came for a breakfast in the airport with Peter and his parents, so a quick goodbye and off through security we went to start our American adventure!

Hopefully I've brought everything I'll need for the next 6 months