Day 4 of 6 month solo road trip: Beating the storm sort of…

Day 4

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After a not so restful sleep, the couple in the next room had a 12 hour love-making marathon. Needless to say their moans kept me awake. UGH! I drag myself out of bed and look outside. The sun is trying to cut through the fog. I look at the weather forecast and a severe storm is headed for the Outer Banks aka OBX.

That seals the deal. I won’t be staying another day, it’s time to head to my friends in Sanford, NC. I shower and get ready. Breakfast is served in the John White Breakfast Room located on the first floor.  I normally skip hotel breakfasts but this is an exception. First Colony Inn is quaint and full of charm. “A hot homemade continental breakfast is served every day from 8am to 9:30am with coffee, juice, fruit, cereals and at least one “hot dish.” (from First Colony Inn website). I opt for a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice, and tea. I choose a table which overlooks the back yard. Photographs hanging on the wall show how the building was moved in three sections on trucks. What an impressive feat.

Overall I had a wonderful stay at the Inn. If I’m ever in the area again I will stay here. After breakfast I take one look around, check out and head out. I decide to continue south on route 158 to 64 west. My GPS is telling me that it’s close to a 4 hour drive. As I drive over the bridge the fog roles in and the visibility is cut down to nil. It will be a slow drive. At least it’s daylight which is easier to drive in inclement weather than night-time. In the distance I can see the dark clouds. Just wonderful. The clouds open up and the rain pours down.

It’s one thing to be driving in the rain when you are close to home but quite another when that home is a 1000 miles away. The commute is slow. Thank goodness it’s Sunday so traffic is not as congested.

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I call my friends from a gas station to let them know my ETA. Close to five hours later I’m at the security gate. It’s a maze in the massive 1400 home subdivision. Everything looks the same except for the houses. It’s a wonder that these retirees can find their way. At various times the road diverts into two with an island in between. Not being accustom to this I drive down the wrong side. Oops. Finally I arrive at their home.

It’s Sunday and the NE Patriot’s are playing on TV, when I arrive. It’s great to see them. Carol the mom is like an Aunt to me. I used to date her son a long time ago and I’ve been friends with the family since 1988. In 2006 they sold their home in Massachusetts and moved to Sanford, NC to a golfing community. Last time I saw them was in York Maine in 2010. Since the early 1990’s it’s been a tradition that we have Thanksgiving together at their home. It will be nice to have it again. My plan is to stay for a week and then head to Charleston SC to see another friend.

Great friends are always worth the journey. IMG_0016

About inthecompanyofnone

Residential Designer by Trade who also blogs about various topics. Just came back from a 6 month solo road trip which took me through 30 states and two international countries. Seeing the USA by road is amazing. It's so diverse in natural beauty and climate. Traveling solo allows me the freedom to go where and where I want without compromise. It's a sense of accomplishment to be able to travel in the company of none.

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