QC21-01 Out of the cold

January 19, 2012 (Thur) Home to Winchester, VA (296/296 miles) 20/40° - We heard that they are being very strict about toll cheaters on the Garden State Parkway - vigilance, steep fines etc. There is no toll taker in the booth where we normally get on northbound (only EZ Pass and exact change baskets) and we have no idea what the new tolls are for a motor home, much less a motor home with a car in tow. So we drove up NJ35 to Cliffwood separately, hooked up and got on the GSP up there - probably saving $3 to $5 in the process. Then of all times, we missed a turn (or rather got ourselves in the wrong lane to get on I-278) and wound up wandering around Raritan Center, making our way back to the parkway.

The temperature climbed through the 20s and 30s as we drove south on I-81 through PA, MD, WV, into VA. It was 40° when we got to Winchester. After an early supper at Chipotle (delicious) and poking around a Books-a-Million book store for a while we found the Walmart, made up our bed and retired early - 7:30pm

Q082475 Camp Walmart Winchester, VA
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January 20, 2012 (Fri) Winchester, VA to Mars Hill, NC (397/693 miles) 28/58° - The area of the parking lot we called home last night was completely empty when we pulled in around 5:00. An hour or so later a big class A motor home pulled in and parked right beside us and turned on his generator. It was still running when we finally got to sleep sometime after 11:00 (we'd gone to bed at 7:30!). We noticed it was quiet around 12:00 but at 3am the drone started up again waking us both from a sound sleep. Why, if the guy was going to run his generator all night (to power his electric blanket?), did he choose to park next to us? We were up early and off by 6:20 hoping we'd made enough noise to disturb their sleep.

The sunrise over the Shenandoah Mountains, though not spectacular, was beautiful as we drove south on I-81. But sunrises are almost always beautiful - one of the reasons we like traveling in the early morning. At 7:40 we stopped in a rest area to fix and eat our breakfast.

After lunch in another rest area and again southbound on I-81 we were passed by a flat bed truck carrying a huge sign consisting of the just the letters K and S - 10 foot tall letters!. They were obviously only part of a larger word so we speculated for a while on what the whole word might be (some thoughts more risque than others). Finally curiosity overtook common sense and we sped up to catch and pass the truck so that we could see the other side where we assumed the rest of the sign was. There we saw "DIC" in equally huge letters. Apparently Dicks Sporting Goods would be getting a new sign somewhere.

Spritzing rain accompanied us as we crossed over the Blue Ridge Mountains from TN into NC. We pulled into Bob and Pat's driveway at 4:03.

January 21, 2012 (Sat) Mars Hill, NC (2) 44/58° - A quiet unremarkable day mostly visiting and reading - oh, and the obligatory game of dominoes.

January 22, 2012 (Sun) Mars Hill, NC (3) 43/59° - The annual meeting for Bob and Pat's church was held immediately after the service. We didn't stay but of interest was that the priest integrated his "rector's report" into the sermon. This not only shortened the annual meeting, as was his stated intent, but gave him the opportunity illustrate spiritual points with relatable events and activities but also to publicly praise his flock for all their good work over the year - which was extensive. A good sermon.

Bob's music friends came over in the afternoon and Mark had a great time jamming with them. Pat and Joy retreated to the front room to knit and talk. In the evening we all went up to Kaye's house for soup and dominoes. And lemon meringue pie - Mark's favorite. He got an extra big piece. John and Marti were also there.

January 23, 2012 (Mon) Mars Hill, NC (4) 42/57° - It's been overcast and rather miserable since we got here. The sun has shown now and then but for the most part spritzing rain was much more likely. This afternoon the sun began to come out with a lot more purpose and promise of better things to come.

January 24, 2012 (Tue) Mars Hill, NC (5) 38/58° - Joy and Pat went into Marshall early to work at My Sister's Place, a second hand shop that benefits abused women, while Mark and Bob hung out at home doing odd jobs. We all lunched together at Zuma's in Marshall. In the evening we watched the president's State of the Union speech.

Q082872 Bob and Pat's Yard