Road Trip to Nowhere In Particular: Day 4

This trip should be renamed to the "No Mo Tels Tour 2011" since when we left Tampa we had intended to stay mostly in little, old fashioned motor lodges instead of big hotels. Slight problem with that plan though, the American motel is dead. Though no place has had the motel graveyard we witnessed in Vilano Beach, everywhere else they simply don't exist. Shame, shame, shame.

So yesterday was a drive day, what else is there to say? After making my attempt to stop at Big John's on the way out of town to say thanks (not open yet), we took the 178 out of Charleston to the 25 all the way to Asheville. We intentionally avoided the interstate, to enjoy a more leisurely and scenic route. I knew it wouldn't be as fast and that was fine, we're not going for time here. What I DIDN'T know, and no map will tell you, is how many times the speed limit changes. Most of the road is 55, dropping down as you pass through towns. But some of these places play the speed trap game, 55, 45, 35, 45, 25, back to 55. Pick a damn speed andstickto it, please. Not wanting citation in a state that requires you to appear in person, even if you don't contest it, I obeyed them dutifully. This added a good 90 minutes plus to the drive.

It did make it more scenic though. Farmland, farmland, farmland. Big old houses with wraparouund porches, and ancient gas stations. I spotted an old filling station with an American Pickers grade gas pump out front. If I had the means, I would have sought out the owner and made an offer. Somewhere near Greensboro I spotted an amazing vintage Pabst Blue Ribbon sign rotting it's way off the post. Had I been driving truck, it would be in the bed right now. I wish we had been tallying Huddle House restaurants, must have passed a few dozen at least by now.

So we wheeled into town around 8 last night and went straight to another Four Points Hotel. Dinner in the hotel restaurant, drinks in the room, and girl scout cookies in bed. That was the extent of the adventure.

Today it's off to see the Biltmore Estate. Perhaps this will be our one stop we spend two nights at, we shall see later. Not in any hurry to get back in the car.

Tomorrow's update should be more interesting. Until then...