North Carolina

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Suffolk VA to Henderson, NC

I’m parked at the Lowe’s in Henderson, North Carolina. More on that in a bit.

I’d scheduled departure for around 12:30 so I was in absolutely no rush this morning and didn’t even start to act like I was going to pull out until about 11:00.

Today, I really wish I had taken picture of the rig prior to previous departures over the last four years. Except for putting the office away, interior prep was just putting things where they belong. There’s nothing on the floor, nothing in the sinks, nothing on the arm chair, and only my inbox on the bed in the back. Even the office dismantling was minimal. I have finally achieved that balance I sought between having a proper home and having a home I can pack up at a moment’s notice.

The exterior work went quickly and by noon I was ready to roll off my levelers and get them put away.

This is my pile of levelers:

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And this is how badly Miranda needed them!

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Mom came out at one point to check on my progress and I apologized for the mess I made of the grass. She laughed and said, “Doesn’t bother me in the least. Less to mow!”

This being Sunday, the road was not too busy, but I was still glad to have my friend as a spotter as I eased myself out. The actual manoeuvring was a non-issue, just back straight, crank right, pull ahead, done.

Hooking up the truck took a bit, but went very well! I’m getting the hang of it! I just need to find a visual clue as to how far up I need to bring the truck to the motorhome.

I took off around 12:30 and drove steadily to Emporia, about an hour away, to Jellystone Park/Emporia Yogi, which appears to be part of a chain as I remember seeing a Jellystone Park in Montana. The office was closed, but there was a sign saying to call if anything, including propane was needed. I called and was told to park at the propane tank; someone would be with me shortly.

Indeed, a gentleman in a golf cart pulled up to the tank about the same time as I did. As he was filling the tank, I asked if I could use the dump station and he looked at me for a split second then said, “Uh, there’s a charge for that.” I replied that I wouldn’t have expected anything else. He told me to instead go into one of the sites as that would be easier than getting in and out of the dump station. I did as instructed, then went inside to pay before dumping.

The dump fee was $15 and the propane was about $48, which is actually quite reasonable. I could have probably found a free dump station, but I was there, I understand the costs involved in maintaining a dump station, and it’s not like I’ll be paying for parking in the next couple of days anyway.

I’d taken on water in Suffolk, so I just had to empty the tanks and did so without incident. Jellystone park looked a little barren without any leaves, but the sites were nice and big with full hookups.

Fuel in Suffolk was about $3.24, the highest since I got there (the lowest was $2.98!!!!!!!!!), so I had decided to wait, regretting my decision as prices in Emporia were in the high $3.50s! But I was due by the time I left Jellystone, so it was time to find a gas station regardless of the price. The first one I saw with an easy in and out was marked… $3.19. For once, fueling procrastination paid off!!! Just a mile down the road, prices were back up above $3.50!

My goal for the night was the Walmart in South Hill, VA, at which I arrived at about 3:30. I had called ahead and was given the impression that RV parking was allowed. Well, nope! The South Hill VA Walmart is extremely RV unfriendly. The manager said she doesn’t want to see RVs in her lot at any time and that any there at night will be towed. Shop elsewhere!

For some unfathomable reason, I didn’t have any backup options! But it was pretty early, so I decided to try my luck at the next Walmart down the road, which was in Henderson, North Carolina.

On the way there, I thought, “I should have called them!” I guess I’m still not used to having a phone. But it would up being good that I didn’t call because if I had, I would have again been told rudely no and to go away and I would have missed a great overnight spot, the Lowe’s I spotted on the way to the Walmart.

When I came out of the Walmart, the sun was setting. It was crunch time. I decided to call the Lowe’s and if they said no, I would try the Cracker Barrel even though my rig is too long for their RV/bus spots.

I was on hold with Lowe’s more than five minutes before I finally got someone who could tell me whether or not RV parking is allowed. He said that they really don’t care as long as people park in the back of the lot at the top of the hill. Woohoo!

The Lowe’s lot is very steeply sloped, but there is a flat section at the top. I was able to squeeze in between some trucks and am now in a nice fairly quiet and well lit spot.

The game of over night parking roulette had left me feeling a tad drained, plus I had planned to get groceries at Walmart, so I decided to walk over to the Ruby Tuesday’s for dinner, where I had some really good salmon!

Tomorrow, I plan to drive to a rest area for a good part of the day and may land just past Charlotte. But I will call the Walmart I have in mind to make sure they do allow overnight parking!

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A Vision Coming To Pass

I’m still planning to leave Hampton Roads tomorrow even though the weather isn’t going to be super great. I’m finishing up a couple of projects today and will be doing laundry this afternoon. I’ve got maybe 15 minutes of packing to do in here, if that.

Tomorrow, I need to put the propane tank in the truck, fill the fresh water tank, unplug, and back out of here without impeding traffic too badly. That’s really going to be the hardest part since traffic here is crazy. My friend is going to stand in the road and give me the all clear signal and then I need to be quick and decisive. Next time I come, I am definitely going to arrive later in the day and back in.

I’m looking forward to getting to a drier climate. It has been mostly sunny here, but still quite humid and I’m seeing a little bit of mould starting in the cab along the window frames and the loft windows have been condensating really badly.

I took the giant sheet of styrofoam and cut it down to fit snugly inside the big window and the passenger side window against which my pillow rest with the hope that that will cut down on some of the condensation. Plus, it gives me a bit of a barrier between the wall and my head and means not waking up with soggy pillows in the morning.

While I plan to set off at a leisurely place, I am going to be choosy about the places I will be exploring in the next few weeks. It would be tempting to stop to visit Charlotte and Atlanta for a day, for example, but those cities just don’t interest me.

I learned during my month in Scotland that you really can’t see everything and if you try to, you could end up seeing things you would have gladly missed (glaring at you Aviemore) and missing things on your list (Aberdeen). So I’ve got a pretty good idea of the route I’ll be taking to the Texas gulf coast and have decided that I probably won’t be doing more than one night in a place until I get to the New Orleans area, and there I might spend a few days and do road trips. New Orleans! Finally!

I already know where I’ll be landing near New Orleans as well as in Texas and have a good idea of where I’ll be overnighting in between. I’m starting to find that a more structured route plan is better than my old method of setting off and seeing where the day will take me. I can make educated choices about where to overnight and get an idea of the sights I might want to see along the way.

Tomorrow, my RVing life as I first dreamed of it is finally going to start, nearly four and a half years after I conceived it. I’ve kept a quote on my desktop all this time and today rather than inspiring me, it makes me want to whoop at the top of my lungs!

Those kinds of dreams cannot be found, brave [one]. You have to build them. And I promise you, your hands are still strong and there is plenty of time.

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Day Three

Day three made me the most nervous. Since I had reservations in Savannah that night, I had to make it there, an eight hour or so trek. I was also uneasy about the hotel I would be staying at the, the Holiday Inn Midtown on Abercorn. I’d booked the hotel through priceline.com, my first experience doing so, and had gotten a ludicrously good deal for a fairly prime Savannah location–40$ per night, including taxes. So, I really wasn’t expecting much.

The day did have a great start–I left Virginia in a lightweight cotton skirt, bare legs, sandals, and a tee-shirt!

The drive turned out to be very easy and I loved ticking off states I’d never been to before–North Carolina, South Carolina, and, at long last, Georgia! I stopped at the welcome centre there and asked for a map of Savannah so I could find my hotel. Why I didn’t Google Maps myself directions ahead of time, I have no idea. I’d thought of everything but that! The lady at the information counter did have a map, and knew exactly where the Holiday Inn is located, so she gave me super clear directions. I found the hotel without any problems.

When I stepped into my room, I was so relieved–it smelled good, which is rare for a hotel room. I liked where it was located; at the back of the motel on the second level, so I knew it would be quiet. The bathroom caulking needed updating but, otherwise, the room felt nice and clean, a real bargain. I wound up being beyond satisfied with my stay there. priceline.com is great!

Up until I got to the room, I’d been raring to go in my Savannah exploration and thought I would take a bus downtown. But once I got my luggage up to my room, I realised that I was beat, but in desperate need of exercise.

I decided to hike down to the Publix, a grocery store, to get a gallon of spring water. It was a surprising tough walk for its shortness; Savannah was HOT and very sticky. After the winter we’d endured, I relished this heat and humidity and couldn’t help turning my face upwards to drink in as much of the late day sun as possible.

Once I dropped off the water at the motel room, I decided to go up Abercorn a bit to see what restaurants were available in the mall area. There, I found an authentic Mexican cantina, where I over indulged on Corona beer, margaritas, enchiladas, burritos, and nachos. Vacation had truly begun!