IS EVERYONE HEADED SOUTH FOR THE WINTER??

Sunday, January 5, 2025
Fairfield Inn
Elkin, North Carolina to St. Augustine, Florida
Clouds and sun 62^oF

 

Elkin, North Carolina

23F Sunday morning

Driving today was much better road wise, dry and clear, with no snow. We do think that everyone from PA, OH, and MI is heading to Florida, and we mean EVERYONE.  South Carolina’s highway is only two lane going South and that is just not enough for all the drivers.  We think the travelers are either going south for the warmth or headed home after the holidays.

It was another 500 mile day, a lot for TK and somewhat a lot for a passenger.  We were originally going to drive my car so we could share the driving, but TK’s truck won out because of the weather, and he still won’t let me drive it. 

You won't see the truck this dirty very often

South Carolina rest stop

We elected not to eat until dinner and that caused some “hangries.”  That is probably enough said.  I don't think we will do that again.

Welcome to Georgia

TK smiling because Donna texted

I kept quiet with books. Yesterday I read Three Women Disappear, and today I am almost finished with The 5^th Horseman, both by James Patterson, et. al.  My brother gave me American Heroes for Christmas, a non-fiction by Patterson. That is his best book by far and I recommend it.  Patterson and others interviewed U.S. soldiers or their survivors who served in overseas conflicts—from World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan. They are valiant stories of those who earned distinguished military medals, including the Medal of Honor. Every one of them insisted they did not act alone, and others deserved medals too.   I personally knew three of the Medal of Honor recipients featured in this book.

Welcome to Florida

Orange juice is always our choice!

St. Augustine

Gas at Buc-ees

We arrived in St. Augustine about 5:30 p.m. and headed straight to Ford’s Garage for a burger and sweet and tangy chicken—just what we needed.   Today the temperature ranged from 23F to 63F, from North Carolina to St. Augustine.

Ford Model A in Ford's Garage

St. Augustine, Florida

TK’s Takes: He mentioned that his friend called him Dr. Doom—watching the weather like he does. I wanted to say Dr. D to soften it a bit, but TK said Dr. Doom was a comic book hero. I will go with that.  He also said that this was the worst traffic ever on our trip south to Florida.  I can vouch for that.   He is very tired again tonight. 

Day 1 Read

Day 2 Read

Best book for Christmas!

SNOW AND ICE BEGONE! NORTH CAROLINA WARMS US!

Saturday, January 4, 2025

Fairfield Inn
Erie, Pennsylvania to Elkin, North Carolina
Snow much of the way, 32F

 

Skyline Drive, Erie

January 4, 2025

8:22 a.m.

Thankfully TK keeps good track of the weather, especially when he spied a winter storm that would push toward West Virginia and Virginia on Sunday, our original departure date.  I’m more of a “the weather is what the weather is” kind of gal.  Since we were already packed, we left Erie this morning at 8:22 a.m. with a temperature of 20⁰ F and snow flurries threatening more Lake Effect snow.

The roads finally improved around Mercer, with mostly dry roads from then on.  We still saw some snow on the fields as we passed through West Virginia into Virginia. 

Here we are, West Virginia!

We stopped for lunch and our traditional “TK made” delicious pita sandwiches stuffed with tuna at the Walmart parking lot in Flatwoods, WV.  We bypassed the Fiesta Outlet in Flatwoods this time, hard to do, but our dear daughters in law have enough Fiesta dinnerware to open a small store.

West Virginia

January 4, 2025

I opted for only one sandwich for lunch because I must lose 8 pounds by Thursday so I can fit into my artful leggings. I texted Friend Donna to make sure she brought hers—she replied that she did, mentioning that we better wear them early in the cruise before they truly do not fit. Our dear friends Donna and Lawrence (Wisconsin) and Gwenda and Colin (England) are joining us on this cruise, and we are excited to see them!

With TK’s skillful driving through the windy roads and hills of West Virginia, we arrived in Elkin, North Carolina, about 500 miles from Erie, by 5 p.m.

TK is tired from expertly handling the GMC Sierra, and with snowy roads, crossword puzzles, a James Patterson book, small towns, pit stops at Flying J and Pilot, hawks soaring in the sky, creeks, rivers, New River Bridge, some ice, drivers who are nailbitingly careless, and Casey Kasem’s top 100 of 1978, I am tired too.  [More credit is obviously due to TK!]

After corralling our luggage into our room at Fairfield Inn, we had dinner--the other pita/tuna sandwich!

Dear Readers, here we go again!!