Home at last - #71-12

March 26, 2007 (Mon) Savannah, GA to McClellanville, SC (171/3261 miles) - It was surprisingly noisy during the night. There seemed to be a party going on somewhere in the parking lot and trucks seemed to be constantly coming and going. In spite of that we slept pretty well, when we slept. After on-board showers and breakfast we got off at 8:15 (cloudy 67º). We were in the wrong lane as we left the parking lot and had to turn right. Hildene protested but after a mile or so of trying to turn us around, calculated a new route back to I-95. We think it may have been a better one than the original.

On I-95 we think we may have seen the couple we met in Hillsborough SP (FL) going south. How many Chinook Glaciers towing gray HHRs could there be on the roads? The Wisteria and Azaleas are out in force along the highway and in the surrounding landscape. Beautiful! In Walterboro, South Carolina, where we left I-95 to head East toward the coast we saw a topiary shaped like a pickup truck - actual size with real wheels. Interesting!

After a stop at the Charleston Costco we pulled into the Buck Hall campground at about 12:30. The gnats, so small they come right through the screens, are as bad as they were last year. It's warmer this year and it's going to be hard being closed up.

Q037336 Buck Hall CG, Francis Marion National Forest #1 e $10.00s A (x1)

March 27, 2007 (Tue) McClellanville, SC to New Burn, NC (336/3510 miles) - We pulled out of the campground in a cloud of gnats at about 8:15 (57º) without bothering to dump or take on fresh water. US 17 North was four lanes and relatively light on traffic. We took note of a Wal-Mart Supercenter and a Costco on the Myrtle Beach bypass - there is no telling when one or both may come in handy. At 10:19 we crossed the border into North Carolina and immediately noticed a 15¢ per gallon increase in gas prices. We had plenty for a while.

We lunched in a Food Lion (supermarket) parking lot and soon after turned off US 17 at Jacksonville where we passed Camp Lejeune Marine Corp Base. All along the fences protecting the base from the public are hand painted (in most cases) welcome home banners. The most poignant was "Welcome Home Daddy" in big letters next to a big red heart.

We pulled into the Neuse River Campground (Croatan National Forest) at about 3:00 and picked a site away from other campers at the far end of the loop. After a time to relax from the rigors of the road we took a walk on the trail that overlooks the river and circumvents the campground.

Q037585 Neuse River CG, Croatan NF #24 dry $6.00 B+ (x1)

March 28, 2007 (Wed) New Burn, NC to Franklin, VA (164/3674 miles) - We got off at 9:08 (Hazy 63°) and made our way North on US 70, US 17 and State Route 43 to Greenville, NC - about 50 miles. Nephew Jake met us in the Wal-Mart parking lot and after a short visit we all hiked up the highway (crossing a busy intersection two ways) to a Mexican buffet restaurant. We'd seen another one somewhere in our travels and had wondered what it would like. It was actually quite good. The selection was small and the table was kept fresh. We'd do it again. After lunch we went with Jake to his apartment and hung out for an hour of so before getting back on the road. It was real good to see you, Jake and to hear about what's going on in your life. Thanks for taking the time for us.

Scotland Neck, NC on US 258 uses the center of their street as a parking lot. There are perpendicular parking spaces all the way through the town. There was also parallel parking along the curbs. Wide streets! We crossed the border into Virginia at 4:19 (70° cloudy) and pulled into the Franklin Wal-Mart parking lot at about 5:00.

Q037749 Camp Wal-Mart, Franklin, VA

March 29, 2007 (Thu) Franklin, VA to Home (396/4070 miles) - It rained during the night but we could see clearing in the East as we headed for our McDonald's breakfast at 7:50 (50°). The Red Bud trees were in bloom and periodically lined the road with beautiful purple displays. There is a rest area at the North end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel well set up for overnight parking - a sign stated that there is a 48 hour parking limit. We may consider stopping there next time. US 13 up the Delmarva Peninsula is getting quite built up. When we first traveled this road it was a bit depressing with many falling down buildings and overgrown farm fields. Overnight, it seems, there are now many new buildings and businesses along with a general sprucing up.

I-195 across New Jersey and the Garden State Parkway are never fun but they weren't bad today. We got home at about 2:50 and began the tiring job of unloading Q. Is it good to be home? Yes and no.

Q038145 Home