coming Home - the last leg

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." George Moore

Mo and I left Nashville about 9:30.  We slept in for the first time in 16 days and the rest felt good.

Our trip today started with a 3 hour drive from Nashville to Knoxville.  My wife, Wendy, and I started our marriage in Knoxville.  I got off the interstate and drove down Sutherland Ave to try to find our first home, 3700 Golf Range apartments.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) the development had been torn down and replaced by several recreational fields.  From what I remember our two bedroom apartment cost $150 per month, and our electric bill averaged $30.00 per month.  Wendy and I look back on that time with fondness.  We had very little money, but enough, and good friends to share the situation.

We drove by the University of Tennessee next.  Our old basketball facility, Stokely Athletic Center, is in the process of being torn down.  it was really not a well designed facility for basketball.  very flat, so the top rows were a long way from the court.  On the other hand, we had great memories, defeating #1 Kentucky. In that game Wendy was sitting at the opposite end of the court. from the team.  With 30 seconds left and Tennessee leading by 1 point a timeout was called.  With Rocky Top blaring in the background one of the players says to me,  "Coach Byers, is that your wife dancing with the mascot (Smoky the dog).  It was actually true.  The mascot had grabbed Wendy off the first row and they were dancing to "Rocky Top" at half court.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n9prNixjbg&feature=kp     A little embarrassing.   Fortunately we won the game, and it made for a great story 30 years later. 

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2014/3/27/272890/UT-s-Gibbs-Hall-And-Stokely-Athletic.aspx 

We drove by Neyland stadium, seating over 100,000 football fans and then headed out of town.

Our next stop was Clyde, North Carolina.  Unfortunately my aunt, Marie Byers, had passed away unexpectedly a week earlier.  While I couldn't make it back for the funeral I decided to make one more side trip to visit by father's brother, Joe.  My father passed in 1990.  Joe is 6 years younger than my father would have been.  He was the fun one for me.  Joe was always trout fishing , hunting and traveling to Yellowstone in Wyoming or Montana.  My father had heart problems that developed when he was about 12 years old.  This prevented him from doing strenuous activities.  I can remember John rebounding my basketball shots a couple of times, but not much more.  We did have an opportunity to fish together at the peer at Cape Hatteras.  While I would have wished for more, my time with my father was precious.  Even though he didn't have the capacity to be an athletic person he opened doors for me to follow my dreams and supported me 110%.  He bought tickets to Va Tech basketball and football games and took my sister and me to them, even though I'm sure he would have preferred to be reading a good book.  Even though I lost "Papa" in 1990 he left a legacy of family commitment, honesty and integrity that I can only hope to follow.  I miss you Papa. 

We pulled into Blacksburg at about 8:30 Sunday night.  7800 miles, 16 days days and visited 21 states, including 8 national parks and lots of interesting sites and people. We saw incredible things and learned so much about America.  My trip was based on a John Steinbeck that a hiking buddy introduced me to called "Travels with Charley,"  I really enjoyed the book, but it was even more fun writing our own book. 

The timing of how things developed along the way couldn't have been better either.   I couldn't have done it without my friend, Mohamed.  Glad to make the trip, but even more glad to be home.   Mo takes off for his home in Tanzania next Sunday.  He hasn't seen his family in a year.  Mo lost his father a few years ago.   I know he is looking forward to getting home, too. 

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." George Moore