Nawlins (New Orleans).

We just got into Nawlins a few hours ago. We will be staying with Rob's aunt out here for two nights. Unless we change our minds.

Now some statistics (harper's index style) for any interested parties:

99% ... chance of finding at least 1 shirtless individual on the bus at any given time

85% ... chance of finding at least 2 shirtless individuals on the bus at any given time

75% ... chance of finding at lease 3 shirtless individuals on the bus at any given time

65% ... chance of finding all four of us sitting around shirtless on the bus at any given time

12.24 ... cumulative liters of sweat perspired by Rob and Andrew (1.75 liters daily)

1 ... night of sober sleep since the trip began

1563 ... total miles driven thusfar

11 ... states passed through (counting NY)

10 ... states visited (sorry Delaware)

2 ... bottle rockets fired out of a moving vehicle

1 ... burnt Andrew finger as a result of firing bottle rockets out of a moving vehicle

659 ... times "fuck! it's fucking hot!" uttered in the bus

25% ... of total bus population contends a good possible name for the bus could be "The Enterprise" (subhead "boldly going.") (75% of total bus population ignorantly opposes me...er...him.)

50% ... of total bus population seems to think Rufus, or the "roofie-mobile" for short, is somehow an acceptable alternative

3/4 ... of bus population uses a purple or pink toothbrush. peculiar.

54.54% ... fabricated and partially fabricated statistics for our blog

3 ... leaks in the roof of the bus

4,563 ... insect carcasses plastered on the front of the bus

100% ... satisfaction rating for the road trip so far.



And now, a recap since Atlanta pt. 1, aptly titled...

Atlanta pt. 2 (followed by all the other stuff after Atlanta):

The headlights and tires were indeed fixed. However, the leaks in the roof, lightless console, and heat-spewing-a/c appear to be hopeless endeavors.

We set off to explore Atlanta for the day, with Abhi's exuberant and very pregnant cousin Shri as our guide. Andrew really wanted to check out the World of Coke. Despite weak attempts to fend him off, we ended up going anyway (I wanted to see the aquarium). It turned out to be quite a bit more than anyone bargained for. While Andrew maintains that he "thought it was going to be the actual factory," it was a no more than grandiose and meticulously plotted propaganda machine whose sole aim was the indoctrination of innocent youngsters into a Coca-Cola-consuming-robot culture. (more on this later, perhaps)

Afterwards, we went over to Emory to meet with one of Abhi's highschool friends, Mick Larson (brother of Jay Larson, with whom we stayed in Durham, NC). We went to a local blues joint called Maddy's (near Emory) to meet with Ajay, Ami, and Kavia (Abhis cousin-in-law, niece, and cousin, respectively) and ate some devastatingly delicious ribs. We had a couple of pitchers of a local brew called Sweetwater that we thoroughly enjoyed and then made the blues band come back to our bus to sign the map. Later that night we did the usual shenanigans (went to a bar called Fontaine's(?) ) and ended up passed out in assorted locations around Mick's house and driveway. Quote of the evening-- Rob, half jesting: "I know I'm eye candy. I don't care for what sex."

The next day (yesterday) we woke up early and drove out to Birmingham, Alabama. We were greeted by Sharonda and her friend Helen, who took us to eat at a bbq place called Dreamland (more delicious ribs). Then we checked out the 16th Street Baptist church, which we found very moving. The church is an incredibly powerful civil rights monument (more on this later, perhaps). We also paid a visit to the world's largest cast-iron statue, Vulcan. Meh. Although we were supposed to spend the night with Sharonda, we realized that we hadn't had a chance to see much of the more rural backcountry around here. So, after some discussions in the early afternoon, we decided to truck it out to Mississippi for the evening. We looked up a campground that was semi-on-the-way to New Orleans and hopped back on the bus. After taking a quick dinner break for some local fast food (Milo's), we were soon coasting down a quiet country road in Quitman, Mississippi. We eventually found the campgrounds and staked out a spot right near a small lake. Possibly the best nighttime drive ever.

This morning we packed up and set off for New Orleans, which is where we are now.

That concludes this update.

-jerone