Talledago! Let's Go Racing!!

As I said below....we started our vacation off with searching for covered bridges. Then Friday we went to the museum there at the Talledaga Track. That night we went to the dirt track races. I found out really quick that I had racing in my blood. My Grandpa Beadle and my uncle Rocky Beadle raced on dirt tracks. I remember going to the dirt track in Bryant, AR...but that was a long time ago so I don't remember a whole lot. My brother and I moved away when we were little to Northwest AR. I'm sure of it that if we had remained in the Little Rock area....Zackary and I would be racing. I've always enjoyed it. We both love to go out mudding. I don't get the chance to do it too often....but when I do....man I can feel the pull. And I did Friday night at the dirt races. We have a family reunion with my Mom's family in Little Rock in June....we're planning to attend the dirt races. I'm so excited.

The dirt races....Oops....over the edge he went...there were several of them that got too close the edge. Scary thing was our car was parked just down the hill from the car. We were far enough away....but having grown up around dirt races and it's wrecks...we were a little worried about parking there.

Walking around all day long and then getting to walk around in the pits area at the dirt track...Tia and I had some filthy feet. Tia's feet....
The gang....Aunt Deb, Me, Garwayne (it's Gary Wayne...but that's our nick name for him), Tia and Mom
This guy was the funniest. Those that were getting their picture taken with Barney...had no idea what he was doing behind them. He made some of the funniest poses with them.

Garwayne and I walked up to the very top of the stadium to get pictures...I thought I was going to pass straight out. It was so steep and so far up there. I could not breath. But it was worth it...the view was breath taking.

Pit Row.....we got Pit Passes for Sunday's race also. It was really neat. We saw Dale and Jeff up close and then walked down on part of the pits area. Some of the pits guys were out to give autographs. I'm not really into that but Tia was. It was really neat to walk back up across the race track. I'm not sure of the degree of embankment....but it was a climb too.

The cars were ready to take off.
Tia and some pit crew guys.
Jeff Gordon...most people are not Gordon fans. But I like him. He's a really nice guys. I've watched him on Regis and Kelly several times and like him. I may become a fan.
Dale, JR.....everyone is a fan of his.
Gentleman....start your engines. And we're off! This was actually Saturday's race (the main race being on Sunday)...but both races....we sat on the bottom section. Saturday we were just a few rows higher than Sunday. Sunday's race we were on the first and second row. It was incredibly loud. It's a loudness that gets you fired up though. I loved it. I called the kids several times to let them hear as the cars went by....they loved it also. Dalton cannot wait to go to his first race.

One of many wrecked cars.....

God Bless America!!!
One of Dale's pit stops....
Here we are Sunday....it was crowded....but I loved it.
Sunday we didn't even try to exit any time too quick. We extended our departure knowing it wasn't even worth the wait in traffic. So we setup a tailgate area to hang out and grill dinner. We were all decked out.

Vacation with the girls!

For the first time in my life.....I was blessed to have been able to go on vacation with my Mom, my Aunt Debbie and my uncle Rudy's girlfriend Tia. And this was along......no kids. I missed them terribly, but it was so nice to have some down time. I was gone for 6 days. And I enjoyed every minute of it. And have now become a NASCAR fan. To Talledaga we went. This was ofcourse mine and my Aunt Debbie's first trip, Mom's 3rd and Tia's 2nd. My cousin Garwayne joined us and we had a blast with him. It was like having a personal body guard all weekend. He was incredible to have around. He and I had never gotten to visit before and we had some great conversations. He's a special man.

The first part of our trip we went looking for covered bridges. It was so fun. I had my GPS with us and my has a laptop with wireless internet. That was really cool investigating and find the roads and locations of these bridges. We came across 3 really neat places.

The first covered bridge we found had been relocated to the city party.

Mom (JoAnn) and Tia
Covered bridge #2. There was an old saw mill here that a family had converted into a restraurent. It was perfect timing for lunch and they were open. It was incredible good. We'll be going back next year.
My Mom is so beautiful. I love this picture. She's a special women and very dear to me.
The Old Mill Restraurent. Look it up if you are ever around Talledaga. It was incredible. One of those great little restraurents out in the middle of no where.

Bridge #3. If it hadn't of been for a sign on the road (which was a miracle). We would have completely missed this one. But it was so beautiful. Just down the stream from the bridge is an old flour mill...that does still operate. Both buildings were beautiful. There was a little water fall there beside the building. I got some pictures of the stream and water fall.

Race for the Cure!

Darin's parents...Carl and Ann Strange (15 year survivor)

Karri, Joe and their crew.
Mandy Taylor and Maryssa!

The first year Darin and I married....his Mom was given devastating news that she had breast cancer. She is a 15 year survivor. All these and we never been able to attend a Race for the Cure with her. But this we made it. It was moving at times to think about all the people there and all the women that were not. I'm very proud of Ann and we are so happy she's still a survivor. Along the way, we also met up with some old friends and my sisternlaw Karri and her soon to be husband and family.

Happy Easter!!

Easter is always at the Strange's house. And as most of you can remember, it was just a little chilly. But we seemed to manage. It was another beautiful time. Everyone is getting so big and everyone was just as handsome as they were last year.

Grandma and her boys.

Go Cambre!
Cole's such a happy man.
Good job Crosby....wait! That's flower. No...we hunting eggs. Go Crosby Go!
Grandma's babies....some of them anyway.

My babies....Malachi and Cambre. Aren't they cute.

My Mom-n-law...Ann


Crosby....Darrell's (Darin's middle brother) youngest daughter.

My Granny!!

In March I took my Granny back to Little Rock for a surprise 80th birthday party for one of her dear friends that she worked with at K-Mart in Little Rock. They had been out of touch for a long while but have just recently gotten back into touch with each other. It was a neat trip and I enjoyed spending time with her. I've promised to take her back to her home town in Newport, AR sometime soon. I just hope I can get her back there. Our schedule gets so crazy that before I know it the year is up.