April 26, 2006

News from the Middle of the Road

Marion, North Carolina, Wednesday, April 26, 3:44 PM
We haven't seen this much rain since we left the Low Countries. It's hard to tell where we are sometimes. I can't make out all the highway signs but I think we've passed through Self Storage, Maryland and Rent Me, North Carolina.

Today the rain was coming down so hard I actually got off the highway, something I never do. It's easier to keep going in, say, New Jersey, where the density of the traffic gives you lots of visual references. In a more rural area like suburban Hickory, North Carolina, you have to tailgate a pickup truck or a big rig if you want to see where you're going at all. If you get tired of all the spray and fall back, you might lose sight of the road completely.
Usually that doesn't faze me. I know the recipe for good long-distance driving: mix a sluggish temperament and zenlike stoicism with a fear of death and lightning-quick reflexes, add a healthy dose of macho competitiveness and a variegated list of excuses in case you get stopped. This last item is also known as "in-flight entertainment." Don't drive after 5 PM if you can possibly help it. Avoid candy (the sugar crash will make you sleepy, except with M&Ms, which compel the body to stay awake so it can eat more M&Ms). Never drink coffee. Make a pit stop before you get to New York or don't bother. Turn in the direction of the skid. Or is it the opposite direction? Maybe somebody will tell me before we set out for Johnson City.
We have a couple of days off after Merlefest and are thinking of taking a side trip to Nashville, a city we have never visited. Any suggestions?

Posted by Annie at April 26, 2006 7:43 PM
Comments

Has your trip gotten you near the Rev. Billy Wirtz hometown of Chromosome, NC? Where the police can't use DNA or dental records for obvious reasons. How about Beaver Falls, PA home of Sadie's Big Beaver? The food wasn't too good but the T-shirts were cool. I might catch you folks in Bethlehem on Saturday.

Posted by: Greg at May 3, 2006 9:53 PM

Is gas any cheaper down South? Did you get tips on how to save gas? Don't exceed 40 mph, etc. I can never remember is it better to run the ac or leave the window down?
Seriously I saw Rev. Billy last week and I know gas nonsense will hurt your wallet. I will be at Godfrey Daniels. I hope you bring some CD's.

Posted by: Greg at May 4, 2006 10:00 PM

It's interesting to travel around and compare gas prices. I thought Maryland would be more expensive than Virginia, but I was wrong. Tennessee is the hands-down winner so far on this tour with regular going for about $2.75 a gallon. When we were in England (where petrol sells for about 95 pence per litre, basically 6 bucks a gallon - ouch!) we found that Shell had the cheapest gas, whereas here in the States BP is among the cheapest, along with Wawa and the independent "no-name" filling stations.
We drive at the fuel-conserving speed of 80 m.p.h., on the reasoning that the faster we drive, the more distance we'll cover before we run out of gas. Sounds crazy but it works, as long as we're not in Florida. Anyway, we make up for this irresponsible behavior by not running the AC and only occasionally rolling the windows down. It's probably not the ideal way to get baked in the car, but it's still legal.
Yes, we will have tons of CDs at Godfrey's. I hear they make excellent Memorial Day gifts. Also Independence Day, Tisha B'av, etc.

Posted by: Annie at May 5, 2006 6:29 AM

Greg is full of it.
Sadie's Big Beaver Restaurant has been closed for years. The sign has been gone for quite awhile and building houses an insurance company.

PS..I know Sadie personally and she's not bad looking..:)

Posted by: Duke at November 22, 2006 7:36 PM
© 2006, 2007 Paul Rishell and Annie Raines.