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[the Earl of Whirl]

I am leaving early tomorrow morning for a trip to the national ELCA Youthworkers Extravaganza.  I have gone to a number of these in several different cities (Vegas, St. Louis, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego, New Orleans).  Each time I go I attempt to make some top spinning connections or have some top spinning adventures.  I don't have any plans this time (except I want to go to the grave of Shoeless Joe Jackson) but will see what happens as I travel.  If all goes well, I should be in Charlotte late Thursday (2/4) and will stay at the Westin Hotel.

Wonder if there are any top spinners on this forum down in that area?

[Dick Stohr]

Sure hope you have a place to stay buttoned up for the weekend.  Get lots of practice.  The forecast for one to two FEET of snow is getting old.  Last weekend we had 4 inches, the weekend before was 5 1/2 inches, and don't forget the December snow fall of 19 inches.  Us old farts should not have to shovel that much in the Washington DC area.   

[the Earl of Whirl]

Well, I made it to Charlotte.  But to be totally honest, that had to be the worse top spinning trip I ever had.  It rained the whole time I was driving down (which meant I couldn't stop and throw outside).  I didn't have much space at any of my stops along the way to throw tops (but I should have tried throwing anyway and gone ahead and hit someone).  Then I hit this crazy detour between Tennessee and North Carolina where some rocks came down and closed the highway (and the detour took me at least an hour out of my way).

The good news is that now I have a nice room at a nice hotel with lots of nice people I know and I even had a top sighting.  It was at the art museum store here in downtown Charlotte.  They had about a dozen supported tops with strings for sale.

The other good news is that there is a children's museum about eight blocks from where I am staying.  I will check that out tomorrow. 

It sure is raining a lot.  How is the snow looking your way, Dick?

[the Earl of Whirl]

The rain finally slowed here in Charlotte and I was able to get out and do some more walking in the area.  I found a plaque on the sidewalk that said "Jefferson Davis was standing here when informed of Lincoln's death April 18th, 1865."  I later found a stone with the following words on it......"The last meetings of the Confederate Cabinet were held in this building and the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston were authorized from here on April 24th, 1865."  I respectfully gave both of them a top spinning salute and a couple of top tricks to boot. 

Down the street from both of these historic sites I encountered the Discovery Place, Charlotte's childrens museum.  They have a nice gift store with some gyroscopes but no tops.  I stepped in the hall, just outside the store, and threw for about ten minutes.  I noticed the shop manager watching me.  Maybe he will be checking out some tops in the future?  I met a few people India who talked about throwing tops in the old country.

Ironically, on the way out I saw some trash outside the door from a smoker.  It was some of that top cigarette paper with a top printed on it!

ps......I see this is my 500th post!

[agentsac]

congrats, superhero poster!

well, it's a shame i'm not home right now. i live in NC and would gladly make the 3 hour drive to say hi and throw a few tops with you, but i'm away on business. i know a few distinguished yo-yoers in that area, but that's about it.

sorry you didn't have a great time on your trip. my real home is MO and i've made the drive back home from NC many times and it can be quite painful.

[the Earl of Whirl]

Where do you live in N. C. agentsac?

The weather has warmed up and the sun was out quite a bit today.  I made the trek over to Greenville, SC and visited shoeless Joe Jackson's grave.  There were lots of baseballs, pennies and a broke bat.  Now there are a pair of shoes (mine) and a few tops spun over his grave.

ps.....it feels good to be a super hero!

[agentsac]

i'm just off 95, down south (about an hour or so from raleigh, almost near SC border). look for Fort Bragg/Fayetteville. i don't live there, but i'm close!

i can't wait to come home, but i still have another few weeks before i can think about that.

[the Earl of Whirl]

I wasn't too far from there.  Dagnabbit!!!  Maybe another time?

The good news is that I made it home OK despite all the forecasts of snow and bad weather.  The ride back wasn't bad at all.  I hit a bunch of rain but no snow.  Oddly enough, the worst snow was in Miamisburg!

The bad news is that because I was rushing to beat the weather, I didn't get a chance to throw tops at all going home.  Oh well.  I guess not every trip can be a top experience!

[agentsac]

glad to hear you had a safe trip. if you (or anyone on this board) is in my neck of the woods (and i'm home) just hit me up and we'll plan something. if i'm near you, i'll do likewise.