Operation: Dano Quest - Part One

 October was a full and very exciting month. The events that took place were all things I will lock in my memory for as long as I have my wits.The end of the month was marked with Adventure!!! My friend Angela and I started to call this adventure Dano Quest.

You see, our dear friend Dano left for Parris Island, SC to become a United States Marine back in July. With tears and quiet fanfare he and I said our farewells the Friday before he left. It was a truly heart breaking day. But, from that moment on I cheered and hoped for him that he would make it through.
And He Did! So, Dano Quest!
You see, Angela and I said right off "Let us know when you graduate... we will make that drive!"

On Wednesday October 23rd, just after work, I got into my car and headed for VT where Angela and I began our journey.
NH is damn beautiful! #throughglass

Hello Dublin NH!! #throughglass

 Crossing over into VT is always fun for me, because I have a weird love of bridges.

Between the two of us (me starting in NH, Ang starting in VT) we crossed 11 states in approximately 16 hours of driving to get there. We even made it through the Bronx, at 4:30pm, without issues!
YEAH!

Like I said... I LOVE bridges. I wish I had gotten more bridge pictures. Alas, this was the last one.
Well hey there George Washington Bridge!


We stopped at a pretty great restaurant for our final "sit down" meal until arrival. 

We promptly ordered way too much food.

And after this... my soup arrived. What was I thinking?!


We arrived at Parris Island around 6:35am. Just in time for the Family Day final motivational run for the 3rd Recruit Battalion, India Company. The only picture I got as we drove in is way too blurry. But, let's just say Angela and I got our 3rd or 8th wind at that point and were ready to make this day happen!

The Motivational Run!


If you know Dano, it will be hard to notice him because he looks so very different. I was happy to have found him right away. He was right in the front with his platoon.

It was great when we also got to meet Dano's mother, Karen and brother, Agent B-Lightning (or Kenny)! They are both pretty rad folks.


We had lunch together, getting Dano his first cheeseburger in forever. (I think that is what he had). To spare you lots of pictures, I will say that we saw a ton of things and I am happy I brought my camera as well as Google Glass (Barracks, training areas, we saw a lot of the base). I have a whole amazing album out there on the internet. If you know me, you have seen it... if you do not, sorry it is not public. (But, you can see some great pictures on the Parris Island Facebook!)

It should go without saying that although Angela and I were troopers through and through, by 1:30 I am not 100% sure we knew who we were anymore. So very tired. By 2:00, we decided to head for the hotel and get a nap before dinner... we missed dinner and slept right through to the next morning.

Stay Tuned for Part Two of Dano Quest in which our merry band of heroes gathers for dinner, shopping, and more driving!!!

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