It was time for me to pay a visit to my friends and family in PA and VA! This trip has been planned for months and OF COURSE, there is now a hurricane on the way to my new home state. Sigh
I left this afternoon, somewhat reluctantly, but anxious to get the drive out of the way. My neighbor, Jan, will keep me posted on conditions. She has no plans to evacuate. So I feel better leaving this time--if you will recall, last time, I was not living in FL full time and AGAIN had a planned trip north on the Auto Train with a hurricane heading up the Gulf Coast. So, I left my place that time not knowing anyone and trusting a board member with my key to check things out. Click this LINK if you would like to refresh your memory!
I began this trek with a stop at Einstein Bagels for a delicious Cheddar Jalapeno Bagel! I'm pretty sure I read that calories consumed on a car trip don't count. Let's hope that is true! Off I went up 275. I got through Tampa with no delays! And my GPS directed me to 75 North. OK. Great! I hate driving in and around Orlando, it's always a nightmare.
I've never driven 75 and it was the first time I've seen 'hills' in Florida. I wasn't aware we had any! Seemed to be a lot of cattle farms and agriculture. It was a nice drive. The 'pack of cars' or Peloton as I like to refer to them, was doing a nice consistent 80 mph. I found a great radio station. So, I was having a live concert in the car, starring ME, singing and bopping to some great music. Volume up, those Bose speakers doing their job.............and....................I missed the exit. LOL Didn't hear her telling me to take the exit. Ooops.
I get rerouted and she says (I can hear her clearly this time as I've turned off the music in a panic) continue 17 miles and get off and go to route blah blah blah. Ok great. I'm not sure where the correct exit would have taken me.... but I'm pretty sure it wasn't anything like what I experienced next.
I'm following her directions and I go from a 4 lane road with a center grass strip and turn down a two lane road, that was heavily pot-holed. I should have turned the car around at that point and just went back the 20 miles or so and got off at the correct exit. But I didn't.
I'm driving further and further into road that I am pretty sure I've visited in my nightmares. If it had been dark, there would have been no way I'd of continued. But continue I did. If I had been a little less freaked out, I would have slowed down to take pictures..........but I didn't so I'll have to be descriptive:
The further I drove, the more wooded the area became, to the point where the trees met and formed a canopy of shade and everything was dripping with Spanish moss I kept catching glimpses of places that were clearly habitated but looked as though they had not been painted or repaired since they were built--somewhere in the 1700 or 1800 hundreds. They were huge, two story homes that I'm sure were considered mansions back in the day. Columns, covered porches, gables. I kept thinking the people that lived in one of them were probably a brother and sister--and called each other that....with a wonderful pedigree but no money. Well, my imagination was working overtime. My GPS kept telling me to continue for another 17 miles. Dear God.
At one point, I came to a crossroad and had it looked any better than the road I was on, I would have taken it. But, I continued on my way---not seeing another car EVER. Was I hearing banjos? Nah, just my mind playing tricks on me.
Finally, Finally I am instructed to turn onto I think it was 301 to go around Jacksonville. OMG I realized that I had traveled across the state on the godforsaken road. And then............detour. 301 is closed so we're going to bypass through a couple of small towns that clearly cannot handle highway traffic. So, we inched through the towns, masses of cars, tractor trailers and so many people towing campers. UGH
Then, what's that up ahead? Oh, it's where we join this 301 again. And it's a highway! Happy Happy Joy Joy! And we're off. Lovin' me that 80 mph driving. Surprisingly--or maybe not to you, my pack of 80 mph people were clearly the slowpokes. And in the blink of an eye, I left Florida and traveled through Georgia and that South Carolina line was there before I knew it.
I am now comfortably ensconced in a Holiday Inn Express and Suites in South Carolina. I like this chain. I am an IHG member and the $49 a year credit card fee is very worth it because you get a free anniversary night every year! This year, I am using it for this stay as it expires next week. But in years past, I've used the 'free night' at some of their more high end resorts. I used one night at the Intercontinental in Moorea, I stayed one year at a Crowne Plaza in Phoenix. I definitely get my money's worth from this card!
My room here is very Holiday Inn. That is one thing I like, you know what to expect when you book one. They are comfortable and roomy and they have a free breakfast in the morning. This room is spotless too.
So, long day for this girl. I'm going to get ready for bed and maybe watch a little TV or read. Tomorrow is another long day on the road and I want to get up early and get started!
TTFN!
jilly
