John is the owner of the Appalacian Pinball Museum, we ran into each other just before the Asheville Pinball Museum opened when he was loading a Simpson's pinball into his truck. He's still amazed at the resurgence of popularity with pinball, and sometimes wishes the machines wouldn't break so damn much. When I asked him about politics 'things are too divided right now, and I try to stay away from it as much as I can'.
April 30, 2018 - Asheville Pinball Museum - Asheville - NC
Sure there was a room with over 40 tables, but I spent most of my time on this one. Awesome game that I hadn't played much, and I was determined to leave some initials before I left.
April 30, 2018 - Asheville Pinball Museum - Asheville - NC
Was in pinball heaven for a few hours. Great selection of machines and well maintained. Rocked a few games with the longhair on the left, who was visiting from out of town. He worked in a call centre and wishes "that people wouldn't think we're stupid or backwards just because of the way we speak, the condescending thing bothers me sometimes."
April 30, 2018 - Brian and Chloe - Asheville - NC
Right after I pulled into Asheville, I ran into Brian and Chloe. I figured I could use some good advice about where to eat lunch and they seemed like nice folks. They'd actually gone to the Asheville Pinball Hall of Fame (my destination) on their first date over a year ago. "Asheville is really different than the rest of the state, we're all kinda hippies here."
April 30, 2018 - Village Inn Pizza Parlor - Lenoir - NC
With an average Google rating of 4.3 stars, the internet has told me that I should make a point of trying the salad bar. I just liked the sign and architecture.
April 29, 2018 - Narinder - Elk Inn, Elkin - NC
After a long day of riding through Blue Ridge, I ran out of light, gas and energy so I peeled off towards the first reasonably priced motel that google maps could find. This led me to Elkin NC, and the Elk Inn. Narinder and his wife manage the hotel and we got to talking. His son, a Nuclear Engineer and his grandson who is in school to become a doctor were his pride and joy, and when he spoke about them he seemed to grow an extra inch and absolutely beamed. "I love America, because it gave us opportunities that we could not have anywhere else."
April 29, 2018 - Gas Station near Blueridge Parkway - VA
Bertha needed some gas, so I pulled off the parkway, and headed towards the nearest gas station according to Google. This one was closer. The van belonged to the cashier working the counter. She made a point of telling me that she "wasn't a Jesus freak."
April 29, 2018 - Mariah - Blueridge Parkway - VA
Mariah is from Laredo TX, she was passing through the mountains from Washington DC on her way to North Carolina traveling and living out of her truck. I met her reading a book in front of a gorgeous overlook, as I noticed the Texas license plates. Growing up in south Texas, the majority of her friends and neighbours were all hispanic "I didn't really know racism until I left home, since all of my friends were brown, as was everyone else around me." We had a wonderful chat, about America and the things that were important to each of us, and I was shocked when she told me she was just 22, as she seemed much more mature. "When I came out to my family and friends in Texas, everyone accepted me."
April 29, 2018 - Blueridge Parkway - VA
Sometimes all you need for a perfect breakfast is a great croissant, strong coffee and one hell of an amazing view.
April 28, 2018 - Kate & Natalie - Firefly - Charlottesville, VA
Hit up Firefly, to get some pin in and also have a beverage or two. Kate and Natalie are both from DC (actually Virginia, but they felt they are from DC) who both work for the federal government there and were visiting Charlottesville for a horse event. They described working and living in Washington like visiting a funeral every day since Trump was elected with their friends, all career civil servants in a daze. Both from the southeast, they found the proliferation of Confederate Flags, and the increasing animosity that they saw on the news to be jarring and disheartening. "I think it really boils down to how you see the role of government in your life, and the role of your country in the world, and everything flows out of that, it's a rural vs urban divide more than anything else" said Kate.
April 28, 2018 - Jak 'n Jil, Charlottesville - VA
They were just closing up shop when I passed by, or else I would have had to go in. Still this sign alone has more character than the sea of chain fast food joints that we all drive by without really noticing each day. Good or bad, at least it's different.
April 28, 2018 - Jessica and Bethany, Emancipation Park, Charlottesville - VA
While taking photo's of the Robert E. Lee statue, I met Jessica (left) and Bethany (right) walking through the park. Both of them are graduating from the University of Virginia and realized that in four years they hadn't explored that much of the downtown area, and wanted to walk through the park. Jessica, who studied urban planning told me about how envious she was that I'm from Canada, and while she felt that a lot of tension was overblown in the media, she really liked the way our society and culture functioned and wished that the United States could incorporate more of it.
April 28, 2018 - Robert E. Lee Statute, Charlottesville - VA
Ironically located in the centre of Emancipation Park, this statue of the confederate general Robert E. Lee, riding atop his horse sits prominently in the middle of the green space. The site of a protest and rioting that made national headlines the previous summer featuring torch wielding white supremacists, it forced a painful re-examination of the racial divides that still exist in the United States. The park was quiet when I arrived on a Saturday evening, and the statue, still slated for removal seemed more like an uncomfortable afterthought than the centrepiece of the park.
April 28, 2018 - Skyline Drive, VA
"It's all about where you put the horizon, Said the Great John Ford to the young man rising,
You got to frame it just right and have some luck of course" - Patterson Hood
April 28, 2018 - Jim and Terry, Front Royal VA
Jim's a regular at Jalisco Mexican Restaurant in Front Royal VA. He's a Democrat who wishes that his government would spend less money on the police and guns and more on social projects. Terry is his buddy, and voted Trump last election. They make barbeque sauce together and gave me a sample for the road. It was delicious on a grill cheese later that night. "Just because we don't agree on politics, doesn't mean we can't be friends."
April 27, 2018 - Chronic Town, State College PA
First day of the two wheeled pinball spirit quest, first game, wrecked it so hard that my food sat cold at the table. Great start to a trip.
April 27, 2018 - Beaver Stadium, State College PA
It emerges like a death star, holds a hundred and ten thousand people and nowhere on its wikipedia page does it mention the statue of former head coach, and the man whose success effectively built the stadium being removed after it was discovered that he helped to cover up the pedophilia of one of his assistant coaches.. Statues don't last forever and time will always decide how history is written.
April 27, 2018 - The Now Pizzeria, Hamburgh New York
It's hard to explain, but I always gravitate to places like this. Sometimes they are great, sometimes ok, and sometimes terrible, but what they aren't is predictable. I like that. "Trees are a pizza this earth too!" said the sign, and I was back on my way to somewhere else.
April 27, 2018 - Near Moshannon State Forrest, Pennsylvania
Beautiful weather, a gorgeous empty road and surrounded by trees and water. When you are doing what you love, happiness comes easy.