Finish line.......ocean

We did it! After 2,600 miles, four pairs of shoes and a few layers of skin off the shoulders we did it. The last 20 miles was fun, the rain let up for just enough time to finish the trip. Now we start driving home to camp in your front yard! ............. Yes I'm talking to you right now,I'm on my way....................................... seriously.
your pal
Ben Warner

National !!!!!!

We recently attended the National Boys & Girls conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Usher was there, via video feed, and told us his confessions...
not really. But he was inducted into the hall of fame and I thought that was pretty cool because I used to always listen to his confessions album while skateboarding.
The conference had inspiring speakers and some dynamic performances. The older generation of the Boys & Girls club members have so much wisdom and love to share and the cheesecake was amazing.
Before the conference we went to the Holyfield Boys & Girls club in Atlanta. It never ceases to amaze us how much energy the kids have. We interviewed one of the staff members and he told us a little more about the struggles and successes of the kids and the club.

pop quiz

The Clubs have been so much fun, until the kids began to ask me questions I did not know the answer too.............. I wish i payed better attention in Geometry.

fancy food

We finished skating and decided to have some gourmet food in the most elegant campsite in Alabama. For some reason my tuxedo was left at the dry cleaners so i wore my favorite sweater. The food was great but I'm not crazy about the cleanliness of the cook.

Dance lessons 101

1. Make it look effortless

(Ryan didn't make it that far...)

now for some moves from the Meridian, Mississippi kids....

I cant stop writing blogs

We caught Mike trying to skate to the waffle house during a visit at the Meridian Boys & Girls club. I quickly set the camera to tazer mode and brought him down so the kids could ride his board. He recovered 10 minutes later, for some reason he refers to himself as sid now. Oh well, the kids really seem to love this guy.

Is this awesome or AWESOME?!?!

Pretty much the coolest vehicle/trailer set we've seen the entire trip.

Mooooo

Okay so I know I mentioned we have really been enjoying that southern hospitality, but today I realized not everyone possesses those wonderful qualities that give the south that special charm. The realization came as Ben and I were skating along highway 11 in east Alabama. Humidity and spirits were running high as we came upon a pack of cows. Here is how the conversation played out...

Me: "Hey cow!"
(cows look, acknowledge me)
Ben: "Hey cow!"
(cows look at him, start to turn around)
Together: "Hey cow!"
(cows run away from us)

Somewhere along the line, the cows seem to have lost their southern hospitality of being welcoming and respectful to their elders.

Feels like home

This photo was taken at about 10:30 in the morning two days ago. It starting raining so hard, I had the urge to go for a walk in the rain. My umbrella lasted about two seconds before it broke from the wind. The rain was warm and I found myself stepping in puddles of up to six inches. (my shoes still smell). There is nothing like a mid morning walk in the storm. Beautiful.

Aftermath: went to go do the laundry cause our clothes were soaked and it cost $4.25 to do one wash...didn't want to pay that much. So, our van is smelly. Well, smellier than it already was...

war wound

We were at an RV park in Vicksburg, Mississippi we were playing chicken in the water when Stacy and Ryan were battling. Stacy pushed Ryan off Ben's shoulders and on the floor of the swamp. Thinking that he was being attacked by an alligator, he began to panic. When he got to the surface of the water he realized that it was mike biting his foot. We forgot to feed the animal that is Mike Jones! Ryan will recover physically.Emotionally it could take years.