January 14th
I am rested. Stiff and sore, but rested. We hit the bathrooms, feed the animals, walk the dogs and then get ready to get back on the road.
It's been pretty awesome finding good music along the way. Songs I haven't heard in years, new songs I love and every once in a while, there'd be nothing good, so I'd throw in a CD.
Funny thing about our drive...even if we get split up for a bit by other cars, I quickly am back behind Gary again because NO ONE likes driving behind a U-Haul trailer. LOL
Sun is out and the drive has been pretty good. The stops have been pretty decent and we're pretty well coordinated. We get into Georgia and stop for dinner. Feed the dogs, feed the cats, feed ourselves. Gary says we will drive for a bit and stop in Albany to get gas. Then it'll be just over an hour to the cabin.
We. Are. So. Close!
As we're driving, it starts to rain. Yep. Here we go again. Thing is, these roads are freaking DARK at night and when it rains...omg, forget about it. I'm a total mess. On a side note, the Rendevous (Rhonda is her name), has been driving great and I'm pleased about that. Of course, like I said, I enrolled in AAA Gold just before we left, so I had peace of mind if either car decided it didn't want to cooperate during the trip.
Now, they say things are slower in the South. I am not sure where "they" are referring to because let me tell you, if you are not doing 80, even in the rain, you are going to get passed first section of dotted lines that come along. Yeppers. And I am NOT a speeder. At most I've done 15 over the speed limit. But usually keep it to under 10 extra MPH. But, when the speed limit is 65...yeah, no. I'm doing 65. Thankfully, Gary was restricted to about that, since he was hauling the trailer which was clearly marked "55 MPH SPEED LIMIT."
Anyway, it is dark. It is raining, HARD. I've got headlights riding my bumper. And I see the sign that Albany is only a few miles away. Thank goodness, cause now I've got to pee too. I can't wait to get to Albany.
Now, mind you, the entire drive so far, my eyes have been mostly focused on the trailer Gary is towing behind his truck. He slows, I slow. He puts on his blinker, so do I and then I shift lanes, so I'm able to block anyone from coming up his side. And so on. So when the exit for Albany is just ahead, my bladder is happy. I am happy.
Side note about this trip...on the road we were on, Route 82, it's mostly 65 MPH and no road lights for much of our drive. As we get closer to a town, you see signs for "Speed Zone Ahead" and the limit drops to 55 and then 45 and possibly to 35 MPH depending on the town. So seeing a Speed Zone Ahead creates alertness for congestion, traffic, etc. And, also means places to stop for gas, food, bathrooms, etc.
Back to Albany. As we near Albany and I see the speed zone ahead, I start to wiggle in my seat because my bladder is like..."it's time, Joy." And we slow down, 55...45...and I see the sign welcoming us to Albany. I'm ready to turn on my blinker. But, Gary didn't put on his blinker and isn't slowing down and now, we are speeding up. W. T. H.
My bladder, and my nerves, are NOT pleased.
I think to myself, "Maybe he's stopping somewhere else, that's a part of Albany."
NOPE.
We drive for another 30 minutes, on the dark winding, hilly roads in the pouring rain. Then, he texts me.
Now, I'm really not handling this too well. As it is, the headlights behind me are frustrating me and the rain is heavier and the roads are like a roller coaster and Gary's way ahead of me and I want to pull over but I can't see a damn thing and I know the road opens to 2 lanes and why isn't it opening up so this guy can go around me and now Gary's texting me when my hands are stuck gripping the steering wheel for dear life.
YEP. That run-on sentence was the censored version of what's going on in my mind.
The road opens to 2 lanes FINALLY and the tractor trailer behind me cruises past me, along with a couple other cars that I was holding up. Usually, I'll let everyone pass me. I don't give a damn. I'd rather get there safely then have to be first in line. Plus, if the a-holes are in front of me, I can keep a better eye on them.
Anyway, I can finally reach over and hit the call button on my phone to call Gary.
I'm upset and he's like, "why didn't you tell me you had to pee?" I kept repeating that he said we were stopping in Albany for gas. Then he says, he's going to stop at the gas station just down the road. Ok. I can hold it together.
We go through another Speed Zone Ahead and keep going past a gas station.
Now, I'm fuming.
!@#$!@#@!!!
Couple hills and bends later, we FINALLY stop at the gas station he was referring to.
OMFG
I'm shaking from head to toe AND I feel sick to my stomach.
But, I finally got to pee!
To Be Continued...
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
I'm Tired and Now It's Raining
Late January 13th
We've been on the road FOREVER. Not really, I'm just starting to get crabby and tired. Gary called me and we decided to stop at the next rest area. I think we're close to North Carolina and after many pit stops for gas (yes, this girl DID pump her own gas), walk the dogs and coffee we are going to park for the night and sleep a bit.
It's starting to rain a bit, it's getting late and it's dark. Let me tell you, I do NOT like driving in the rain. About 20 years ago, I hydroplaned and hit 2 other cars. Ever since then, I've not been able to shake my fear of sliding in wet weather. Yes, I know, that's silly considering NJ gets plenty of it. I can do it, I just am a tight bundle of cranky nerves whenever I have to.
I cannot wait until the next stop. It seems like every few miles, as we get closer, the rain gets a little heavier. Oh and now the sky is lighting up. Did I mention, I hate lightning and thunder. Double whammy is what this is.
What. The. Fudgcicle?!
How is the rest area CLOSED for renovations?!?! GREAT.
We get on the phone and decide to keep driving until we find another. Or, a truck stop.
We finally arrive at one in North Carolina, and I'm DONE. I'm not driving any more until the sun is up.
The rain has gotten pretty heavy now and Gary is heading inside to use the bathroom. I'm sitting in the driver's seat, trying to calm my nerves a little when something catches my eye...it's one of the cats. He squeezed through the blockade we had created in the back and is now climbing on the dash. And there's the other cat, following suit. Just great.
I manage to climb over the bags in the back seat and corral the cats to the far back. Figuring out how they got through, and moving blankets, bags, small boxes to fill in any gaps was no fun, let me tell you. After over 8 hours in the car, my body aches and I was twisting it in ways it isn't supposed to go, just to get the cats secured again.
Finally, I'm settled with the cats and Gary is in his truck, settled with the dogs. Neither of us are comfortable, but as always we will make the best of it.
Just a few hours sleep and back on the road for round 2!
To be continued...
We've been on the road FOREVER. Not really, I'm just starting to get crabby and tired. Gary called me and we decided to stop at the next rest area. I think we're close to North Carolina and after many pit stops for gas (yes, this girl DID pump her own gas), walk the dogs and coffee we are going to park for the night and sleep a bit.
It's starting to rain a bit, it's getting late and it's dark. Let me tell you, I do NOT like driving in the rain. About 20 years ago, I hydroplaned and hit 2 other cars. Ever since then, I've not been able to shake my fear of sliding in wet weather. Yes, I know, that's silly considering NJ gets plenty of it. I can do it, I just am a tight bundle of cranky nerves whenever I have to.
I cannot wait until the next stop. It seems like every few miles, as we get closer, the rain gets a little heavier. Oh and now the sky is lighting up. Did I mention, I hate lightning and thunder. Double whammy is what this is.
What. The. Fudgcicle?!
How is the rest area CLOSED for renovations?!?! GREAT.
We get on the phone and decide to keep driving until we find another. Or, a truck stop.
We finally arrive at one in North Carolina, and I'm DONE. I'm not driving any more until the sun is up.
The rain has gotten pretty heavy now and Gary is heading inside to use the bathroom. I'm sitting in the driver's seat, trying to calm my nerves a little when something catches my eye...it's one of the cats. He squeezed through the blockade we had created in the back and is now climbing on the dash. And there's the other cat, following suit. Just great.
I manage to climb over the bags in the back seat and corral the cats to the far back. Figuring out how they got through, and moving blankets, bags, small boxes to fill in any gaps was no fun, let me tell you. After over 8 hours in the car, my body aches and I was twisting it in ways it isn't supposed to go, just to get the cats secured again.
Finally, I'm settled with the cats and Gary is in his truck, settled with the dogs. Neither of us are comfortable, but as always we will make the best of it.
Just a few hours sleep and back on the road for round 2!
To be continued...
Time To Go
January 13th
As if I hadn't been stressed out enough over everything that needed to be done before the move, I also had my last day at Wawa on January 5th and then the dentist for extractions on the 6th. Oh and then there was the constant concern if my car would make the 1,000 mile drive (I enrolled in AAA Gold, just in case) AND if the cats would be okay for a 24 hour period in the car. UGH
If you don't know me, my name is Joy. I was born in Long Branch, attended school in Red Bank and have lived in NJ my entire 40+ years. My boyfriend, Gary (also born and raised in NJ), and I had the amazing opportunity to move and take care of a 123 acre property in Georgia. "Where in Georgia?" people asked for the months leading up to the move. When I said Cuthbert, they were clueless. But that's okay because even people who've lived in Georgia, have NO CLUE where that is. It's in southwest Georgia, in case your curious. :)
Most said they were jealous that we were even getting out of Jersey, and their mouths would drop when we mentioned the acreage we would be living on. But, jealousy seemed to turn to absolute SHOCK when I'd go in to more detail about our new home. For example, the cabin on the property is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath with a huge back porch overlooking the backyard. Sounds nice, right? It is, and will be even better once we have electric and plumbing. That's when my friends weren't so envious anymore.
But, it's okay. I love nature and the outdoors. So does Gary. And we are both quite adaptive to whatever comes our way, sooooo....
See, Gary and I were ready to start a new chapter in our lives. He's retired from 23 years at a telecommunication company and his kids are 19 & 20 and have jobs and their own places. My kids...that's a little more involved, but bottom line is they're all good with the move. At least, that's what they told me up until the move, so I think it's all good. The 2 exceptions being my oldest son, Robert, who already lives in (northern) Georgia and my second oldest son, Christopher, who died in an accident in June 2018.
After a few last minute errands (like closing my Chase bank account because the closest one to our new home was a couple hours away, in Florida) and filling up the tank with gas, grabbing my almost last Wawa coffee, etc. we were finally ready to go. It was a Monday, so unfortunately, I didn't get to say goodbye to my kids in person that day, as they were in school, but that's the beauty of texts and snapchat. Cats and dogs were medicated and we rolled out.
To Be Continued...
As if I hadn't been stressed out enough over everything that needed to be done before the move, I also had my last day at Wawa on January 5th and then the dentist for extractions on the 6th. Oh and then there was the constant concern if my car would make the 1,000 mile drive (I enrolled in AAA Gold, just in case) AND if the cats would be okay for a 24 hour period in the car. UGH
If you don't know me, my name is Joy. I was born in Long Branch, attended school in Red Bank and have lived in NJ my entire 40+ years. My boyfriend, Gary (also born and raised in NJ), and I had the amazing opportunity to move and take care of a 123 acre property in Georgia. "Where in Georgia?" people asked for the months leading up to the move. When I said Cuthbert, they were clueless. But that's okay because even people who've lived in Georgia, have NO CLUE where that is. It's in southwest Georgia, in case your curious. :)
Most said they were jealous that we were even getting out of Jersey, and their mouths would drop when we mentioned the acreage we would be living on. But, jealousy seemed to turn to absolute SHOCK when I'd go in to more detail about our new home. For example, the cabin on the property is a 2 bedroom, 1 bath with a huge back porch overlooking the backyard. Sounds nice, right? It is, and will be even better once we have electric and plumbing. That's when my friends weren't so envious anymore.
But, it's okay. I love nature and the outdoors. So does Gary. And we are both quite adaptive to whatever comes our way, sooooo....
See, Gary and I were ready to start a new chapter in our lives. He's retired from 23 years at a telecommunication company and his kids are 19 & 20 and have jobs and their own places. My kids...that's a little more involved, but bottom line is they're all good with the move. At least, that's what they told me up until the move, so I think it's all good. The 2 exceptions being my oldest son, Robert, who already lives in (northern) Georgia and my second oldest son, Christopher, who died in an accident in June 2018.
After a few last minute errands (like closing my Chase bank account because the closest one to our new home was a couple hours away, in Florida) and filling up the tank with gas, grabbing my almost last Wawa coffee, etc. we were finally ready to go. It was a Monday, so unfortunately, I didn't get to say goodbye to my kids in person that day, as they were in school, but that's the beauty of texts and snapchat. Cats and dogs were medicated and we rolled out.
To Be Continued...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)