North Carolina and Smoky Mountains
Friday
Friday night we started out on our trip by going to Crown Point for the night to get a head start out of town. I brought the waterpainting mom bought that she wanted me to mat and frame. Had a nice little visit, slept on uncomfortable beds and then at 7:30 the next morning we headed out for as long as we can drive.
The day before I checked out some books on tapes for the long drive and was surprised to find out that the one book I got, the Notebook, was set in New Bern which is where we are heading.
Saturday
We drove and drove until we got to Charlotte West Virginia at around 6:00 our time. We stopped at a Days Inn first. Around here they are happy to give you the AAA discount even if we donāt have it. The prices are really cheap here but their pool is outdoor and it is getting late and not really warm so we passed. We then went to Country Inns. $25 more (even with the AAA discount) but a nicer place with a nice pool and wireless internet and a good breakfast buffet.
Hollace had her heart of pizza for dinner but the thought of Pizza Hut turned my stomach. After looking at our options we finally settled on Applebeeās (we travel this far to go here?) because they had pizza on the kids menu. Well not in West Virginia they donāt. Hollace is crushed. RAW is getting crabby and the sky opens up and the rains come. RAW promises that we will get Hollace some Pizza Hut later. We get back to the hotel, I order the pizza but the delivery wonāt be for an hour so RAW goes out to get it, me and Hollace hit the pool which was nice. RAW forgot his bathing suit, which is added to his growing list of stuff he forgot. He gets crabbier cause he has to go way over this way for the pizza, over that way for the fuel and yet another way to Kmart for a bathing suit. After all he just spent all day driving. He skips the Kmart and just soaks in the tub instead.
Sunday
The next morning at around 8am (their time) we head out for the rest of our trip. We wind through the mountains of WV and literally through the mountains in Virginia (tunnels) then into North Carolina. Another long day of driving but by 5:00 we finally get to RAWās cousin Dorothy outside of New Bern. They really live out in the middle of nowhere off the river.
Hollace is thrilled to see jelly fish at their dock. At last count she has seen 13 jellyfish, one baby jellyfish and one green gecko. We go for a boat ride and just relax. Hollace was busy entertaining us all with her picture shows. I brought along my fancy color pencils and large sketchpad.
Dorothy had nice accommodations in the house so it was hard to pass on over our camper. RAW stayed in the camper though. Me and Hollace stayed in.
Monday
This morning, the crab guy dropped off some fresh flounder and some crabs so good eating is guaranteed tonight.
Today we are hanging low but visiting the relatives that are local and checking out the town of New Bern.
Today Dorothy took us to town for lunch, ice cream at the Cow Caf and to visit her mother, Aunt Mary and their cousin Carol.
For dinner, we had the flounder which RAW cooked.
We spent the night in the house again. RAW stayed outside.
Tuesday
Today was our big day being tourists. We took the ferry over to get to Morehead NC where we went to the new aquarium that just opened in May. Then we went to lunch to Sanitary Seafood. I had a stuffed twice-baked potato with crab and shrimp. After lunch we went to the Atlantic Ocean to walk on the beach. Hollace had a great time running around and collecting shells.
Tonightās dinner was barbecue ribs and potato salad. Right now there is a thunderstorm brewing and the lights are threatening to go out.
Wednesday
The plan was to leave on Wednesday but we got talked into staying another day. Besides RAW hadnāt done any fishing yet and I would never hear the end of it if he didnāt get that in.
Us girls went to Walmart. I donāt know, I guess it isnāt vacation unless I get out to Wally-land once. We then went on a quest for postcards. Had a heck of a time trying to find some.
RAW is now coming down with a cold and you know how men get when they are sick.
Thursday
We get up and head out to the Smokies but first we need to stop in to see aunt Nalbro who lives on our route about 1.5 hours down the road. She is 89 and the only surviving sibling on RAWās dadās side. We look at the old photo albums. She is really appreciative of the visit. She makes Raggedy Ann dolls and was anxious to give Hollace one. I hope RAW didnāt give her cold.
It is now 10 am and it off through the state of North Carolina we go. Finally the moment I was dreading, driving his honkin big truck towing a camper. I donāt know why I was dreading it, probably because I hadnāt done it before. RAW needs a nap (remember he is sick). As soon as I get ready to go it starts raining. No rain during any of the drive time so far, only when it is my turn. We sit in the rest area for a few minutes and it passes.
We get to the campsite at 7pm. We picked a park that isnāt popular and it is Thursday so we didnāt have too much trouble finding a nice site. The thing was they didnāt have too many RV spots, only nice tent ones. No electricity at all. Havenāt had to rough it like that since our tent days. Because this is bear country we lock up the coolers in the truck.
Now my throat is getting scratchy.
Friday
When you are close to Gatlinburg, you gotta visit. I know we are amongst all that nature but I wanted to do something touristy. That took most of our day.
When driving back, just outside our park, we see a black bear. That was a freaky site.
When we get back all I want to do is sit at the site and tackle the pile of magazines I brought that I hadnāt touched yet (I should really quit subscribing to so much). RAW and Hollace go hiking but not for long. RAW claimed it was because we spent too much time in Gatlinburg but I say they could of hiked longer if they picked a longer trail and not the .3 mile one. Hollace was also getting concerned about running into a bear out there. RAW admitted he was wondering too.
Sitting around the campfire at night, we make sāmores and talk about what the moon is made of. Hollace is trying her hardest to get me to say the moon isnāt made of Velveeta. We have fun.
Saturday
Time to pull up camp and go home, seriously. Our goal is to get home that night so I have all day Sunday to recuperate before work on Monday.
We drive and drive. After Indianapolis I got in the drivers seat to relieve the driver and again it starts to rain! Only when I drive it does this. Anyway, after 10 hours or so we are home.
Sunday
I am now sick. RAW doesnāt seem to notice how my voice has changed and the coughing. I donāt complain one bit. I spend all day putting stuff away and getting things done. RAW sits on the couch and does nothing all day. In his defense, he still did the bulk of that marathon driving.
Monday
I so want to call in sick but I figured they would be suspicious since it is tacked onto the end of a vacation. The boss has called in sick and so has one of my clients. I guess it is going around ;-) I start to dread answering the phone since I now have no voice and I have to use my energy to explain that yes, I am sick.
Tuesday
I so wanted to call in sick again but I feel like with my workload it wouldnāt be a good idea. RAW and Hollace got in the truck and headed out to Fort Wayne for the week.
The week stats
$485 for diesel fuel (RAW estimated around $500)
$145 for lodging. One hotel and 2 nights camping
$178 for food.
Around 2000 miles driving. RAW hasnāt be able to give me a firm number here
142 slug bugs
___52 ö me
___46 ö RAW
___44 ö Hollace
Since I am one of those people who get nauseous when reading in a vehicle, I just sat there and looked while RAW drove at 40+ hours of total driving. Hollace was really good keeping busy. The iPod is a godsend. Give the girl a little bit of music and she is good to go. She now wants her own for Christmas.