IV. APPROACHING NORTH CAROLINA
32.266487,-90.126951
I AM NOT YOUR CARPET RIDE, I AM THE SKY
After realizing I was about to put more than 600 miles behind me, I took a sigh of relief and expressed my gratitude. Joe is a kind working man, who is very proud of his family. He spent much of the time doting on his children, and expressing his love for his wife.
The hours, and miles, passed quickly and seamlessly. We crossed into Alabama before noon. Joe was pointing out the places he stopped to pick up past hitchhikers on the way. He mentioned one such hitchhiker, which he picked up a week earlier, was also traveling to North Carolina.
As the miles fell behind us, I noticed several other hitchhikers on the side of the road. I found myself comparing me to them. I seemed to be much better equipped than most other hitchhikers. But, maybe that's just my ego puffing up my head.
After realizing I was about to put more than 600 miles behind me, I took a sigh of relief and expressed my gratitude. Joe is a kind working man, who is very proud of his family. He spent much of the time doting on his children, and expressing his love for his wife.
The hours, and miles, passed quickly and seamlessly. We crossed into Alabama before noon. Joe was pointing out the places he stopped to pick up past hitchhikers on the way. He mentioned one such hitchhiker, which he picked up a week earlier, was also traveling to North Carolina.
As the miles fell behind us, I noticed several other hitchhikers on the side of the road. I found myself comparing me to them. I seemed to be much better equipped than most other hitchhikers. But, maybe that's just my ego puffing up my head.
33.584826,-86.068078
Joe was very understanding when I told him I didn't get much rest the night before. I apologized ahead of time for dozing off. We passed through Birmingham while I was resting my eyes. I opened my eyes shortly after passing Birmingham, and Joe announced the Talladega Superspeedway was coming up in an hour or so.
We spent much of the ride trading small talk and funny stories. Joe pointed out any points of interest, and gave me plenty of warning of upcoming photo-ops.
Joe pointed out the Talladega Superspeedway. It was difficult to see from the interstate, but I took a picture anyway.
We spent much of the ride trading small talk and funny stories. Joe pointed out any points of interest, and gave me plenty of warning of upcoming photo-ops.
Joe pointed out the Talladega Superspeedway. It was difficult to see from the interstate, but I took a picture anyway.
33.894429,-84.254776
Eventually, we crossed into South Carolina. A little more than 600 miles, and about nine hours later, Joe dropped me off at a Love's Truck Stop, outside Blacksburg, South Carolina.
I thanked him, grabbed my gear, and he wished me luck. It was about 5:00pm, so I decided to push my luck. I set up in front of the truckers' entrance, hoping for another ride.
No ride was ever offered, but a few people stopped and gave me food. By the end of the night, I had a full belly.
With the day now fully expired, and the moon hanging high, I broke down my gear for some rest. After laying there about fifteen minutes, a young female employee came outside.
"Excuse me, sir. Sir!", she said, trying eagerly to get my attention.
I turned my head, and offered an inquisitive expression.
A little too gleefully, she announced, "You can't stay here."
Without a single word, I jumped up and began to pack up my gear. She muttered a couple of words of regret as I walked away. There was an overpass nearby, so I walked over to investigate. It was not a very accommodating location, so I looked elsewhere.
I thanked him, grabbed my gear, and he wished me luck. It was about 5:00pm, so I decided to push my luck. I set up in front of the truckers' entrance, hoping for another ride.
No ride was ever offered, but a few people stopped and gave me food. By the end of the night, I had a full belly.
With the day now fully expired, and the moon hanging high, I broke down my gear for some rest. After laying there about fifteen minutes, a young female employee came outside.
"Excuse me, sir. Sir!", she said, trying eagerly to get my attention.
I turned my head, and offered an inquisitive expression.
A little too gleefully, she announced, "You can't stay here."
Without a single word, I jumped up and began to pack up my gear. She muttered a couple of words of regret as I walked away. There was an overpass nearby, so I walked over to investigate. It was not a very accommodating location, so I looked elsewhere.
35.157811,-81.478239
It was about 11:00pm when I settled on a spot in the middle of a barren field. I broke down my gear, for a second time. I found my new campsite pleasing, and I fell asleep quickly.