N.C. Fall 2016: Day 1: The Usual

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

I have been driving this route so often, especially since Mom died in June, that things are starting to get very familiar.  I went to N.C. in June, July and now September.

After doing some last minute things on the internet, watering inside plants (primarily because for the life of me I couldn't remember if I'd done it yesterday or not) and packing, I left.  As usual, some small roads out to Ill-120, to Woodstock, then Illinois-47 to Mahomet.

I stoped in Dwight to eat at Hardee's and Mahomet at the BP.  Then I-74 the Crawfordsville Pilot station for gas, then to Indy and through it on I-70.  Usual stop  in Ohio at welcome center for motel coupon magazines and Englewood for Skyline Chili fix.

Drove to Columbus to Zanesville and stopped for the night at the Super 8.

--RoadDog

T-Giving 2015-- Day 1: Travel

November 24, 2015, Tuesday.

Drove Il-47 south from Woodstock, Illinois, to Mahomet. I had a back up for road construction at south of Stark's Corner by Il-72 and US-20.   Glad to report that the road construction through Yorkville is finally finished after at least two years and a great, four lane stretch the whole way.  I got gas at the Pilot at Crawfordsville, Indiana, for $1.66 a gallon.  I sure love these gas prices these days.  I never saw gas over $2 today.

Took I-74 from Mahomet to Indy and through town on I-70 and then on to Huber Heights, Ohio, where I got a room at the Days Inn.  I was glad to find a Skyline Chili by the motel and took advantage, having a four-way.

Gas prices on our side of I-70 were $1.66 as well, but $1.90 on the other side.  I was thinking about filling up, but decided to wait until tomorrow to do so.  More on this decision on the next post.

Went to BW3 (Buffalo Wild Wings) and played NTN while watching NIU put forth a lame effort against Ohio University.  I left in disgust at half time.

--RoadDog

500 Miles, Lots of Interstates, Cincy Chili and Gatlinburg

APRIL 22ND, 2015

Still Extremely Cold!!  Global Blah-Blah-Blah my foot.

Drove over 500 miles as the old Proclaimers song said today, almost exclusively on interstates.  Left Champaign on I-74 and took it to Indianapolis then to Cincinnati and the bypass around it to I-75.  Stopped at a Skyline Chili for that great Cincy chili.

Then south in I-75 to Lexington and Knoxville, Tennessee.  Now on I-40 heading east.  Decided to stop at Tn.-66 and go through the tourist mecca of Sevierville , Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg.  Got a room at the Four Seasons Motel in downtown Gatlinburg and did some barhopping to the Shamrock and Old Hickory Holler (new and selling legal moonshine.  The first two places had entertainment (the Holler had a bluegrass band).

Then to Pucker's, Hogg's and Crawdaddy's.

--RoadDrivingDog

Spring Hasn't Sprung: NC Spring 2014-- Part 1

MARCH 23RD, SUNDAY: Extremely biting cold when leaving Illinois and stayed biting cold the whole way to Ohio. Enjoyed Rock and Roll Roots on WDRV and Breakfast With the Beatles on WXRT from 9 to 10 AM. Then, the Drive was doing Ten at Ten all weekend and got to hear 1972 until out of range. Took Il-120 to Il-47. south to I-74. Tried the new Burger King Big King (their answer to the Big Mac) at the Route 66 Burger King at the new Ambler-Becker gas station by I-55. It's as good as a Big Mac, but I wouldn't say any better. //// Took 47 to I-74 to Indianapolis. Gas at Crawfordsville, Ind. was $3.66 (Gas in Illinois $3.70- to $3.86). //// Picked up I-70 and east to Ohio where I had my Cincy Chili fix at Skyline Chili at Englewood. The other kind of gas was $3.40!!! Prooving that the farther you get from Chicago, the cheaper gas gets. //// The clerk at the Best Western was NICE enough to let me wait for two really, really long check-ins before informing me that there were no rooms available. Mighty nice of him!!! Continued on to Reynoldsburg, Ohio, outside of Columbus, before stopping for the night. //// Isn't It Supposed to get Warmer the Further South You Go? --RoadDogI-74

Just Got Back-- Carolina-Style BBQ, Philly Cheese Steak, and Autumn at Topsail

I was gone and On the Road the last two weeks from October 11th to the 25th.

The first day, I drove to Cincinnati via Illinois Highway 47 and I-74. Got together with road buddy Denny and had a great chicken meal at the Silver Spring House which dates to the 1930s. Then played NTN with his team at Buffalo Wild Wings and we had three Number threes on some games I really wasn't able to help much on as they were movies.

October 12th- Friday-- Drove on two of the great two laners I've ever been on, both in southern highway, Ohio 247 and Ohio 125. Talk about your roads following the contours of the land. Plus, 125 went through the beautiful Shawnee State Park. Caught I-64 and took it to the West Virginia Turnpike. I know that we two lane types disparage the interstates, or, Superslabs, as we call them. But, this drive is equal in beauty to anything a two lane can offer. I'd put it right up there with I-70 from where it starts in Utah , to Denver.

Took I-74 past Andy Griffith's hometown of Mt. Airy, NC, and picked up I-40 at Winston-Salem and all the way to Raleigh. I-40 is some of the heaviest driving you'll find anywhere. I mean, there are a LOT of cars and trucks on this road. Never a real pleasure to drive this road because of the congestion.

Decided to stop and get my first taste of Carolina-style pulled pork vinegar-based bbq at Smithfield's in Mebane, NC, about 12 miles east of Burlington. There are about twenty stores in this chain, many along interstates, so if you're ever int he area and would like to find out what I'm talking about, give it a try. Nothing like bbq, cole slaw, hush puppies, and sweet tea. Now, that's good eatin', or as Andy would say, "Gooooooodddd."

Got to Mom's after getting a bit lost in Goldsboro, as usual.

Drove 985 miles over these past two days.

Gas was usually around $2.80 with a high of $2.95 in Elburn, Illinois, and a low of $2.54 just south of Wytheville, Virginia. For some reason, this is always cheaper. They must actually have competition to sell that gas.

On Da Road Again, Even if It Was Mostly Superslab. --RoadDog