Day 1: The Drive to NC

Trip Start Jun 10, 2012

Trip End Jun 16, 2012

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Where I stayed

Paradise aka The Parents' House

Flag of United States Lenoir, North Carolina
Sunday, June 10, 2012

My trip began with a turn of the key at around 4:30 PM on Sunday afternoon. Ahead, 7+ hours of interstate and country road awaiting. After endeavoring to leave in the morning, the activities of the previous weekend (and lack of productive ones) conspired to move the start time later in the day. I love the drive to my parent's house in North Carolina. There are only about 5 road changes over the ~450 miles, and the 7 hours is a minute price to pay for the picturesque mountain view that awaits.

After about 45 minutes, the fun of the weekend roared its ugly head and it was time for a nap. Hooray Weis parking lot outside of Frederick! And of course who can't resist a Dollar Menu respite after a nice 20 minute nap, certainly not this guy.

I got an audiobook for this drive (and for the first time ever): Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne

View from the rest area on I-81 at dusk

. It provided a good backdrop to the start of an adventure, given that it's an epic adventure book in itself.

A couple stops for gas, water, and a bag of Cape Code chips interrupted the calm and uneventful drive. The weather throughout the entire trip to NC was absolutely beautiful, especially the image of the sun setting against the backdrop of the neverending mountainscapes on either side of I-81. I arrived into Lenoir around 1AM to find my sister sleeping on the couch waiting for me. After exchanging some very quick pleasantries, it was off to bed to get some shuteye before setting off in the morning for the Great Smoky Mountains.

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