Driving into Blowing Rock

In my youth I had thought that it would be a cool job driving a truck all across the country. See the sights, eat in all the funky diners...you know...really see America. One week ago today we were driving the impossibly big Penske truck towing our car on a trailer. I don't know how long the entire rig was, but the truck storage area was 26 feet. I did not drive. I was happy to "let" Bill drive, and he was happy to do so. It was an amazing thing to fill up the tank for $150. I am cured from ever wanting to be a long-range trucker. It is noisy and not extremely comfortable. I don't sit well hour after hour, my legs hurt and I become a cranky whiner.
We spent the night in Forrest City, Arkansas at a Holiday Inn. We checked in, ate most of the basket Hilary had given as our going away gift: Brie wedges, pepper water crackers, apples, plums, nectarines, lemon thyme olives, and chorizo sausage. We had eaten from the basket throughout the day - especially the chocolate covered coffee beans, mixed nuts with wasabi peas, and ginger cookies.
The next morning we were up and on the road by 7 am. We stopped at the Loretta Lynn Kitchen at the Hurricane Mills, Tennessee exit for breakfast. Had the buffet, which was alright - the biscuits were great! Then on down the road we went. And went. And went. Bill decided somewhere west of Asheville to drive on into Blowing Rock. I was hoping to stay in Asheville and maybe see a Tourist's game- but I wasn't driving so I let it go. Mostly.
I was pretty frustrated when we got to Lenoir. I was on the phone and missed a turn ("you're the navigator") so we drove 8 miles to King's Creek before seeing a sign telling us where we were! We turned around and found the right road. Bill had talked with our landlords and they were waiting for us. It was now around 9:30 and darkness had come to the mountains. We stopped at the Walmart in Lenoir so I could buy some dinner - nothing would be open in Blowing Rock by the time we would arrive and I was already hungry - which doesn't help with my cranking.
The right road was under construction for part of the way and very winding, very steep, and not very easy for a big truck pulling a trailered car. Once again, I was very glad not to be driving, but still wishing we were in Asheville eating hotdogs watching the Tourists.
When we get to the apartment, we can't pull the truck and trailer into the parking area - it is a 4 apartment complex. So we took the car off the trailer - which popped the trailer off the truck, then Bill drove the truck down the street to the park and left it there. We had packed our blow-up bed along with pillows and sheets in the car just in case.
After some broasted chicken and crappy sourdough bread, we inflated the mattress, made the bed, showered and went to sleep. We had arrived!

For Camille

This is what happens when you have friends. They tell you to stay in touch, then they suggest you blog so that all your friends can find out what you're up to. Then they send you the link to blogspot.com and tell you to "start creating!" Well, that's what Camille did anyway. And now that I'm sober, I usually take pretty good directions. So even though I have nothing to say (I have homework to do, which actually means piano practice), I wanted to "start creating" so I can stay in touch with my friends who are still just a few miles away!

So Camille....if you make it to the 10:30 service, I'll see you then. And thanks for the link and liking me enough to be interested in what I am/should be doing.

Now I'm off for Aura Lee and Etude....

Dawn