2000 SANS Trip -- March 16 through March 30

My first trip down to Orlando, the long way. 15 Days, 3,590 miles.

It was 2000, and everyone was taking computer security seriously, especially after that ridiculous Y2K fear mongering. So I was going to get myself to a SANS computer security conference, and check up on the latest intrusion protection and authentication schemes. Oh, the conference just happened to be in Orlando, Florida. Also coincidentally, a couple of friends would be in Tampa, and would join me for a few days before the conference.

Of course we would do Disneyworld. It would be my first time there in some 23 years. But that's another web page.

The trip to and from Orlando, on the other hand, was planned just like all my other vacations, visiting interesting places along the way.

My first day of this trip was to get to Nashville. Early the next morning, I would do the Natchez Trace Parkway, Part 2. I did part 1 in 1998, from Natchez to Tupelo, Mississippi.

This trip would be from the Terminus, literally then end of the road, Southwest to Tupelo, Mississippi. Mile Marker 0 is in Natchez, I would be starting from mile marker 442.

The Natchez Trace Parkway (and the Blue Ridge Parkway) is all about the drive. There might be a destination, but if you're going to drive these roads, you get on it to enjoy the scenery, the road and the history, not how fast you can get from point A to B. If that's your objective, take the interstate.

One place I did stop at was the gravesite of Merriweather Lewis, who committed suicide at Grinders Stand on October 11, 1809. He was travelling from St. Louis to Washington D.C. to clear up some accounts. He was also a manic depressive, and by this time was an alcoholic and a drug user. A very sad ending for one of the pioneering heroes of this country.

Natchez Trace Parkway, Tennessee/Alabama

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After reaching Tupelo, and satisfying my completionist side, I drove down to Birmingham and South to Pensicola. I got up early to take pictures of the Sunrise, and drove down to Peniscola Beach, to the Gulf Islands National Seashore. They actually close it, and gate it off at night. Bummer.

I also wanted to take Country Road 399 down the barrier island, but they closed the road on me. Bummer again.

Pensacola Beach, Florida

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After driveing down the coast for a while, it became apparent it'd take me forever, since it's all a tourist area. So I drove inland to I-10 and took the interstates to Tampa. On the way inland, I passed the US Air Force Armament Museum, on the grounds of Eglin Air Force Base. The museum wasn't open yet, but the outdoor exhibits were accessible.

US Air Force Armament Museum, Florida

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I picked up a friend in Tampa before driving to Orlando, and laughed at the seabirds that inhabit the bay and the pool...

Various Wildlife

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So you're in Orlando. What do you do? Disneyworld! I would be there for three days before my conference started, but that's another page. Click the thumbnail to go there.

In addition to Congaree Swamp National Monutment (which is now Congaree Swamp National Park, btw), I visited Fort Pulaski National Monument, but only took video. That's when I was still carrying my Nikon F3, and it wasn't worth carrying around both cameras. Too bad. It's an interesting place.

Congaree Swamp was an interesting place too. There's a mosquito meter on the Ranger's cabin. It was set to low, so I took a walk around the place, following the boardwalks. This place has one of the last lowland old-growth forests, with some of the tallest trees in the country. Of course the Sequoias in Yosemite and the spruces in Olymipic are much more impresssive, but that's another page.

The swamp floods a number of times a year, but not when I was there. It was a nice mile walk around the swamp.

Congaree Swamp National Monument, North Carolina

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I would visit the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Smokys again in 2007. There would be leaves on the trees in 2007, if you could see them through the fog...

I'm not sure where I entered the Parkway in 2000, but I don't remember Grandfather Mountain or the Lynn Cove Viaduct. I do remember a number of places when I went back in 2007, though.

I still need to explore Great Smoky Mountain National Park, though. Due to the fog and time I had in 2007, I've never had the chance.

Blue Ridge Parkway / Smoky Mountain National Park

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Once again, in 2000, I mostly took video, and only took a couple of pics from the car, when the Nikon was handy. If you want to see more of the museum itself, see my National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Pat AFB page under Other Stuff.

US Air Force Museum

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