Tue - 4 Mar/14

Up on and our way by 6:01 a.m.

Not really raining - a light mist now and then. We took a new route from Umatilla, FL through Barberville and Bunnell to just below St. Augustine. The road was great, the distance shorter and the travel time less than going straight out to I-95. We will come in this way on the way back.

Only one slow part on I-95 near Jacksonville; otherwise, good fluid travel even though some areas where wall-to-wall traffic.

Our route, being we are in the car, will be different than when in the Motorhome. This route is more mountainous than the way we come in the RV. We are going this way for a change of scene and to avoid going through a few major cities in rush hour that we would encounter on our usual RV route.

We stopped to fuel up at the Flying J in Brunswick, GA. This is another usual stop. It is also cheaper than filling up in Florida. The cheapest gas - SC ($3.03 a U.S. gallon). Note: Multiply the US price by .264 to get the per liter cost. (In US dollars). Even with the current exchange that is more than $2.00 a gallon cheaper than back home.

We have a routine: Charlotte grabbed our winter coats from the trunk (It will be below freezing by the time we arrive at our motel in VA.) As I fill, Charlotte goes into Denny's and orders our usual breakfast. By the time I'm done the food is at the table. Soon we are on our way again.

The highway crews were still clearing trees from I-95 for several miles on both sides of Walterboro, SC. Probably due to the bad ice storm that came through a few days ago. All were off the highway by the time we came through. They were no cutting and clearing up the mess.

From I-95 we took I-26 to Columbia, SC then I-77 to Charlotte, NC and through to Fort Chiswell, VA were we connect with I-81.

We stopped at the Super 8 in Salem, VA at 5:30 p.m. We have used this stop before. It breaks our trip nearly in half. It is also right off the exit.

After checking in we went to our usual supper stop - Arby's - just down the street at the corner. Then, we fill up a few blocks from there at the convenience store (across from Walmart). The fuel here is 25 cents a gallon cheaper that the gas station at the interstate exit.

Did I say Walmart? Naturally, we went in. Found some gift items: 3 sweaters, 1 coat and 1 t-shirt for gifts when we arrive home.

Even though Tuesday is my TV night, neither of us lasted too long after arriving back at the motel. We watched Jeopardy together. Charlotte was asleep before the end of N.C.I.S. and I  almost made it to the end.

Wake Up call is for 5:30 a.m.