Jomeokee Mystery

hApPy 53rd gLeNn

SC, NC, Virginia, WV, Barley's then Home

I was up at 605am. I felt about as good as I have in two weeks. Still a little cough but my sinuses dry. I started a pot of coffee then walked out on the balcony and eventually the beach. The sky was cloudy and the sun not quite up. Very few people out walking the beach.

I enjoyed a little coffee but then left for my run at 635am. I started my run to the north and ran for about 30-35 minutes. By the time I did my turnaround, the sun was up and peaking through the thinning clouds.

Kenny was the only other person up & awake at my run’s conclusion. We chatted briefly, both of us in packing/loading mode. I made Mindy a cup of coffee then headed for a shower. She asked to be up at 7am. It was 710am.

After a shower I started loading some of our gear into the Honda, though I had to wait for Mindy to finish getting ready before I could load the lion’s share of our gear. By 730am all of the adults were up, getting ready, and packing/loading. We left the kids slept till the last few minutes. Our goal departure time was 9am. We were well ahead of that schedule. The Honda was loaded by 8am. We woke the kids and made one last pass through the house. Yikes! There was still quite a bit of odds and ends lying around. I found a black tee-shirt and  a pair of underwear in one of my assigned dresser drawers.

We left the beach house at 830am. We headed to the Shell station right around the corner to fill our gas tank and purchase some driving snacks. Gas was only $3.30 per gallon. I washed all the windows while Mindy headed in for snacks. The gas station was packed. Mindy was in there for what seemed forever. I pulled away from the pumps to wait in the parking lot next door to free up others to get their gas.

We hit the highway closer to 845am. I saw the others drive by us while I was fueling the Honda. We decided to use the Navigation system in lieu of the printed directions, but Mindy compared the two as we went along. It was apparent that we were taking a slightly different route than the one we brought in.

The first hour or first 50-60miles seemed to drag. We hit the first of two traffic jams after about 100 miles. That lasted about 10-15 minutes, or two miles. We agreed to stop for lunch just the other side of Winston-Salem. We’d driven about 220 miles when we stopped at a McDonald’s. I was getting really sleepy prior to our stop.

The stretch felt great and the food was fulfilling. Bella fell asleep right after we left the beach house and aside from lunch, remained that way for most of the day. The drive through North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia was lovely. Somewhere in there we got caught up in the second traffic jam, however this one was far longer (8 miles – 40 minutes). I believe it was at the rt 77 / rt 81 split.

I started getting really sleepy again just into West Virginia. By then we had traveled just under 400 miles. When we stopped for gas and a bathroom break, I asked Mindy to drive for a while so I could get a little sleep. She drove us through all three West Virginia turnpike toll booths. In total, I’m guessing she drove for about two hours.

I woke with about 50 miles to go in West Virginia.  Ashley called a few minutes later asking of our ETA. We figured 730p. Mindy drove us into Ohio and the first rest stop along rt. 33. The toilets there were “pit style”. I drove us the rest of the way in.

Somewhere along the final 50-60 miles, Mindy suggested we stop for dinner at Barley’s before heading home. Sounded good to me and Jacob. Bella woke somewhere around Nelsonville. The last 60 miles went really fast. Since we agreed to eat dinner at Barley’s, we took 315N. Pulled into Barley’s at 740p.

Felt good to be home. The crowd was much larger than we expected, but we still got a table in Justin’s area. I was very happy to learn that they still had CBC’s Bodhi on tap. And man was it yummy!

Mindy, Jacob, and I all ordered wings. Jacob and I ordered gates of hell. Mindy, K.C. Bella ordered a corndog, but ate next to none. Said her ear was hurting too much to chew (swimmers ear). I ordered a second Bodhi. We shared some loaded fries too.

Dinner was great. Good call dear! Time to head home. All of us were excited to get home and then go get Eiknarf.

Early on, Mindy made it very clear to the kids that they needed to help carry in all of our gear. They were more than helpful. Our lawn and flowers were more lush than they were before we left. But this we already figured once we crossed over into Ohio. And anyone we talked to back home advised that it had rained almost everyday since we left.

While Mindy and Jacob went after Eiknarf, I helped get our gear organized. I also took a walk about the yard. Flowers were gorgeous! Mindy was gone only five-ten minutes. And just after she returned with Eiknarf, my dad stopped by to turn on the spotlights. Said he didn’t expect us back until Sunday.

Dad visited for about 5-10 minutes. It was near dark when he departed. I’m guessing it was near 930p. Mindy and the kids headed to bed around 10p. I stayed up about 30 minutes later than the others uploading photos from both cameras I took on vacation.

I headed up to bed at 1045p. The fresh bedsheets felt incredible. I knew instantly that I was gonna sleep well.