Detour #1 – James Madison University

If you are going to travel, you need directions. That’s not a Chinese proverb, just a fact.

Two hours into our trip, it was time for breakfast and to get our travel plans we decided to fill up on Shmiscuits, Schmagels and Shmuffins at Sheetz. After eating, we drove through Harrisonburg to consult a wise bronze mentor, James Madison and receive our official itinerary. Our seemingly simple task of picking up our directions quickly proved harder than expected. James Madison decided to impose a test of ‘worthiness’ and said that “You Shall Not Pass Until You Defeat Me in an Arm Wrestling Contest”. He is a big deal former president guy and now made of bronze both of which make him a formidable opponent even for a super hero.

Thankfully we had been doing our Over The Top road exercises to strengthen our biceps and forearms since leaving from D.C. Those two hours of training paid off as after a 9 minute long back and forth arm wrestling match, Captain America finally pinned the bronze fist of James Madison.

As promised, James Madison turned over the AAA Trip Tix with turn by turn directions for the whole trip.

In a surprising move, he also agreed to let the travelers meet his pet Duke Dog and learn how to be fierce in the face of adversity. Duke Dog nearly bit off Chris’s head but he was eventually tamed.

The travelers received a hand shake and “Good Luck” from James Madison and a nice hard bronze lick from the Duke Dog. Then they loaded back into their van and pushed off on the highway towards Nashville again.