3 posts tagged “driving”

SC

Sitting in a hotel somewhere in Birmingham and have had an interesting couple of days.  Driving up to NC was a quick breeze-through, although I did have a tractor trailer blow a tire in front of me in South Carolina so that made for an adrenaline rush for a moment or two.  The trailer was in the right lane, while I was behind it in the middle lane, and there was this douchebag who decided he was going to pass me on the right, behind the trailer, and then scoot in front of me.  I feel bad calling them a douchebag since they got a windshield full of rubber and debris, but hey...at least it wasn't me. 

Got to J's around time expected, which was awesome because I had left an hour late (see my procrastination post), but had swollen feet to show for it.  I really need to make sure I stop and walk around more often. 

We ended up skipping Charlotte for the night since J's friend was still in DC, but we did stop so she could grab

Rte 49 through the Uwharries

So we got to roam around campus a little bit, and it seemed every piece of architecture was inspired by sexual organs.  I don't feel the need to explain, merely show. 

There were some pretty parts, too, and if you go there, you'll soon have buns of steel with all those stairs...

So we left Charlotte with the goal of making it through Atlanta before stopping for the evening.  Driving through northern Georgia was a treat, and the kudzu!  OMG!  It covered whole stands of trees, took over grassy areas, and turned whatever it covered into some kind of shape...bears, old men, clowns (we're imaginative, what can we say?).  J turned to me and said, "Who needs clouds?  We've got kudzu!"  We also had the most amazing sunset, but that might have been because of my sunglasses. 

Well, we got through it with no problems, and decided, as we were having dinner at a Sonic, that we would press on to Birmingham.  I didn't realize that we would be pasing right through Talladega and that there were so many mountains, or I would have waited to do the drive until morning so that we could see.  Oh, well.  It was midnight by the time we found a hotel after getting just a little turned around in Birmingham.  A piece of advice...there are very few hotels off of the interstate.  What's up with that?!  I actually had to turn around and go back through the city with my GPS to find a hotel in a place that looked like we'd survive the night :-) 

Here we are, though, bright and early...well, ok, it's 9:30, but we're off to go play!

Woman hanging out legs

Sitting at my computer this morning, procrastinating a little because I don't want to finish picking up before I leave :-)  Heading up to NC to pick up J, and we start the actual trip tomorrow morning.  I'll have to fit a 3-miler in there, since I'm being forced to take today off.  Training for the Breast Cancer 3-Day is starting to pick up, so I really don't want to miss much. 

I'm experimenting with carting a small cooler along so that I don't have to eat McDonalds all week long.  We'll see if I actually use it or if it just takes up space in the trunk.  All right, must finish so I can get out the door.  I'm hoping it will be a little bit cooler 12 hours north.  People have been trying to crush it, but I will persevere.  :-) 

I get to knock out quite a few states in the next few days....I'm kinda psyched!!

Rte 52

"A remarkably freeing experience!"

How it made me feel: Contented

How I did it: I spent a few months planning my trip, and in the end just ended up doing what I felt like at any given moment.  I wrote lists and lists (I'm a list-maker) of places I wanted to see, routes I would take, people I would visit, cheap hotels...and in the end, the people won out over places and routes. 

I brought along my camping gear, stayed a few nights in state parks, stayed with family and friends, and even a few nights in highway rest areas.  Only two nights did I spend money on hotel rooms. 

I was on my own, so I had a great playlist put together, and if I didn't feel like doing a planned activity or sight, then I didn't go.  If a billboard on the highway moved me to some weird corner of the backwoods, so be it. 

All in all, it was a great way to see the bit of country I saw, catch up with friends and family, visit some old haunts, and have some quiet time for self-reflection.

Lessons & tips: Make sure your car is in good, working order.  Nothing worse than having to call AAA in The Middle of Nowhere, South Carolina. 

On that note, make sure you have AAA, or a similar roadside service.  If you're that far away from home, no one will be able to come to you when you lock your keys in the car at a rest area in Michigan.

If you choose to stay at a rest area to catch some zzz's, you might consider doing it during the daytime, and drive at night.  If you do sleep at a rest area at night, choose one that is monitored by the police.  I slept next to the cop car both nights.

Don't be afraid to TALK TO PEOPLE.  The people make the trip memorable, and they can offer you lots of info for the places you land in.

Resources: Good maps are absolutely necessary, and there are plenty of guides - especially if you are sticking along a major highway. 

If you have a GPS system, they are a nice tool for finding some of the more "out-of-the-way" places.  Also for finding something to eat other than McDonald's.

AAA.  Period.

Rest areas/Welcome Centres on the highways.  The always have deals and resources for the state you are in.  Because do you really want to miss DinoWorld?  Okay, maybe that's one worth missing, but I caught a beautiful state park I wouldn't have known about otherwise.

(originally posted 12/1/08)