Operation Bragg: Day One

Ahhhhh... here we are in Fort Bragg, which will be, as of next year, the largest army base in the country.

Fayetteville (the city in which Fort Bragg is located) has been nicknamed by the locals Fayette-nam... and for good reason. The city is rather like a giant black hole filled with nothing but porn shops, pawn shops, strip clubs, and cars with tinted windows and large lifts.

This is, without a doubt, the most out-of-place we have looked since the beginning of our trip... which actually says a lot because we have already gone through Texas.

But we have more than enough reason to be here, for this is the home of my most wonderful brother Alex. 

We first met up with my brother in the early afternoon. When he had finished laughing at our van (my brothers last vehicle was a Hummer H1... before he joined the military!), we all drove together to one of the 1,256 pawn shops within a twelve mile radius of the army base and bought a new car stereo. Up until this point, we had been listening only to the radio, for the tape deck that came with the van liked to make loud, grinding noises when we put in a tape, thus rendering the tapes, mp3 player, and diskman that we had brought for the trip useless.  

We had been waiting to buy a new stereo until this point, because my brother just happens to be a master at installing car stereos. Casey helped by sitting in the drivers seat and looking impressed (a very important job). In about 10 minutes flat, we were graced with music.

It was time to celebrate. So we headed off to Ruby Tuesdays, where Casey had his first Magic Hat Number 9 (one of the only east coast beers worth drinking).

After dinner, we parted ways... my brother headed back to his military base and Casey and I headed to the local Walmart for some much-needed sleep.

We will check in again tomorrow.