North Carolina Summer 2016-- Part 12: On the Way Home

July 31, Sunday.

US-70 to Raleigh and then I-40.  Doing this on a Sunday means there is no traffic jams.  Got off on US-421 and stopped at a Cook-Out restaurant which has a really good Carolina bbq, slaw, fries and hush puppies for $3.99.  Good deal.

Then US-52 to I-77 and gas and Chocolate Uglys at Wytheville.  Gas now $1.87.  I always love gas under $2.  Experienced long back ups at the first two toll booths heading north on the West Virginia Turnpike and just plain heavy traffic.  Sunday must be a big travel day in the state.  Then I hit quite a long traffic stop a few miles outside of Charleston.  Never did see why we had that backup.

I-77 north to US-33 and then into Ohio.  Stopped at a place I've been meaning to stop at in Logan, Ohio, called Millstone BBQ.  I'll definitely stop again..

I-70 through Columbus to Motel 6 in Richmond, Indiana, for the night.

A Traveling, Eating Kind of Day.  --RoadDog

OH HELL! ... Let's Offend Everybody:  What is the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?  Answer:  The southern zoo has a description of the animal along with a recipe.

Sorry If You're Offended, But These Are Funny.

Summer North Carolina 2016-- Part 1: Gettin' My Cincy Chili, Chocolate Uglys, Snappy Lunch and Wilber's 'Cue Fixes

JULY 19, TUESDAY

I left for North Carolina to help settle affairs with my mom's estate and took the usual route there, now becoming very familiar with the third trip in as many months.  I got through Indianapolis during rush hour without a problem and stopped for my usual Cincy chili fix at Skyline Chili.  I drove to the east side of Columbus, Ohio, and then went on to Athens, Ohio, where I stayed at Super 8.

JULY 20, WEDNESDAY

On US-33 to I-77 in West Virginia.  No Virginia peanuts at the Virginia Welcome Center, but they said they had it on order.  I need my Va. peanut fix as well.  Stopped at Wytheville, Virginia, for the cheapest gas of the trip, $1.90, and got my Chocolate Ugly fix.

Then stopped at Mt. Airy, N.C., for my Snappy Lunch porkchop sandwich fix.  I-40 was busy, but made it through the Raleigh-Durham "Strangler' always a horrible traffic jam.  Arrived in Goldsboro, N.C., and went to Wilber's BBQ for my 'cue fix with Bob and Andy.

Gettin' My Fixes.  --RoadDog

N.C. Summer 2015 Trip-- Part 2: Another Day Driving, Grazing and Shopping

July 21, Tuesday

Took the road from the LaQuinta 6.7 miles south to US-33 and then that to West Virginia.  Only 4 stoplights and speed limits at least 55 mph and as high as 70 on the limited access stretches.  There are even two rest areas on this stretch, something you don't often see on US highways.

Stopped at Dogpatch Crossing for gas.

Then I took I-77 to Charleston after which it turned into the West Virginia Turnpike and into Virginia.  Made my usual stop at the Virginia Welcome Center for my peanut fix.  Then a fill up at the cheapest gas place on the trip, Wytheville, Virginia, where gas was $2.36, cheapest of the trip.

On into N.C. and a stop at Mt. Airy where I was too late for that porkchop sandwich, but did manage to graze at Golden Corral.  Back to I-74/US-52 to Winston-Salem then US-421 to I-40.  Unfortunately I hit the Raleigh-Durham area right in the midst of rush hour, never a good thing, but not as bad as it could have been.  Then got on US-70 east to Goldsboro.

I stopped at J-Rs and thought I would get out of there without buying anything until I happened upon the Christmas store section.  Also stopped at a Wal-Mart to stock up on my CheerWine, a N.C. favorite.

Arrived at Mom's and found out that my brother Bob had caught an opossum in his basement.  Later, he called to say he had caught another one.

One Possum, Two Possum.  --RoadDog


REDNECK COMPUTER TERMS:  BAR CODE--  Them's the fight'n rules down da local tavern.

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