July 14, 2010 In Cool companies, De-lish, Donations and Sponsorships, Photos, Virginia

“do you have a french press?”

…”if not I am going to give you one of those, along with a bunch of coffee because no friend of mine is going across country on bad coffee!”

Spoken like a true coffee lover from one to another.

My friend Tom roasts coffee for Blanchard’s Coffee Co. in Richmond, VA. The above is what Tom responded in an email to me after announcing my trip. In enters Blanchard’s as my coffee sponsor.

I got the chance to stop by for a chat and pick up with Tom on Monday. I had been in the roasting house before and the smell is so delicious you want to lick the air. As always Tom was in good spirits, peppy about life and loving his job. He had just finished roasting with the crew for the day so I snapped this photo of the roaster:

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…and of course some boxes full of all the hard roasting work:

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…and finally my gifted stock to start off my trip (Tom is going to ship me more as I drive.) A French Press too. Ahh…

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What a great treat. Bad coffee is a serious no-no for sure. I was happy to pay some of my stock forward to my hosts Gabriela and Phil who I stayed with last night. More fellow coffee lovers. It’s so fun to be able to do that thanks to Blanchard’s.

Thanks guys. No sleepy driving for me!

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July 14, 2010 In Uncategorized

133,811

That’s how many miles were on my always reliable Honda as I left Richmond, VA this morning. We shall see what the odometer reads by the time I get to the Land of the Midnight Sun. (Honda should totally put me in a commercial considering this is about the 5th time I’ll be going across the country in one of their cars that has over 100k miles on it. Honda? Hello?…)

I’m about to fall asleep at the home of my new friends; Blog Followers Gabriela and Phil. I’m all safe with a stuffed belly in their lovely little NJ abode. Arrival couldn’t have gone better. Tonight was a feast fit for a king with a Brazilian twist, great company, perfect weather, and a pesky raccoon.

I’m road tired and heading into the Big Apple tomorrow, so need to rest up. More story on new friends and that pesky raccoon along with some photos to come!

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July 13, 2010 In Uncategorized

here goes nothing. by that i mean everything…

Last minute packing and officially leaving the south on my trek. I am so excited and cannot wait for the stories I’ll pile up to share.

I have to get my behind out to door and up I-95 towards Jersey and the Big Apple, so I am off for now. Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all my friends, family, readers, and amazing intern for helping me prep for this trip.

I have never been happier in my life and have you all to thank for that.

Tonight I meet Gabriela, my email/pen/reader pal and her husband for dinner. How fun. Stay tuned for more!

Here’s to adventure, doing the things you love, and spending precious time with the people you love.

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