Well, I talked myself into doing another heat scorched 240 miles again today, and have ended up in Williamston, NC. I was almost exclusively on Interstates and limited access highways, and in all those miles there was only one rest area. It came after only an hour and a half of my near six hour drive. A bigger concern to me was finding a gas station I could get in and out of. I had left the campground with a half a tank, and wanted to fill it up as soon as possible. There just don’t seem to be as many big truck stops here in North Carolina as I’ve seen in more westerly states.
My rig isn’t a diesel pusher, so I have to find a place that I can get into and out of at the regular pumps. It’s always a challenge, and causes me more heartburn than most anything else I encounter on the road. After 100 miles, there was finally a Flying J with an RV lane. Halleluiah! The young lady at the counter really didn’t want to turn the pump on for me so I could get more than the allotted $75 worth of gas, but she finally agreed. So I went back out to fill up, and the pump wouldn’t start. Seems she couldn’t hear the chime inside to start the pump since she had one of those ear buds filling her head with loud music. Grrr! After four trips back inside the station, I was finally able to get underway again.
Around 2:30 I finally arrived at Pierce’s RV and Mobile Home Park. So far tonight, I’m the only RV visiting here. There are 30 full hookup RV spaces in this well manicured ‘back 40’. With an Escapees discount, the cost is $22; cash on the barrel head.
It’s only 2 miles off the main drag of US 64, and is a quiet rural spot to grab a good night’s sleep before the final push to the Outer Banks. Oddly enough, I have 4G coverage here with my Verizon Air Card.
I’ll be meeting Abbey Reibel, the volunteer coordinator, tomorrow morning to decide which spot I’ll set up camp at. Our meeting place is about 80 miles down the road, so it will be an easy jaunt in the morning before it gets back up into the 90’s. (fingers crossed) All I hooked up tonight was the electric so I could get the AC going inside. Should make for an early exit tomorrow. Not an exciting day, but I’m ‘almost there!’
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
Posts
I love the header picture..
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to your posts about the outer banks. That park looks lonely! Sleep well.
ReplyDeleteFuel stops give me heartburn as well, although with a diesel pusher now, we find it a bit easier.
ReplyDeleteI could have sworn you were going to be working at the Okeefenokee swamp. Was I imagining things, or is that later on?
I believe we've had that $75 limit happen to us... we just go the $75 limit... put the same credit card in again and start over. The "good" thing is that we use gasoline and have a 55 gallon tank so we've never had one of those $1,000 diesel costs that those kind of rigs have. The closest we've ever volunteered to where you're going is Carolina Sandhills.... so it will be interesting to read about your next "assignment".
ReplyDeleteOur MH was a gas rig and I hated trying to find places we would fit. I like the fifth wheel so much better because most of the time we can unhitch and then go get diesel. Looks like a nice campground - wonder why it's so empty. Maybe things pick up on the week-end. Jim loves the Outer Banks area but I've never been there so I'm really looking forward to your pictures and posts from there.
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of campground I love - an empty one.
ReplyDeleteGood deal on your campground, Judy! Hate the whole fueling thing, always a worry about lanes being big enough, getting in and out of unfamiliar fuel stations, yada yada yada...
ReplyDeleteWe are gas as well & have certainly been challenged by many a small gas island along the way.
ReplyDeleteNo one should be allowed to work and get paid while wearing an ear bud!! 4 trips in and I'd have been asking for the manager. I think my patience with incompetence gets shorter and shorter the older I get.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear about Alligator River.
We L O V E the Outer Banks! The place you stopped looks like the place we stopped at two years ago. I so wish that we could stop there, but it is in the wrong direction! Enjoy everything enough for all of us. Be sure to send a good address as soon as you get settled.
ReplyDeleteI admire you so much Judy. I could NEVER travel like you do by myself. I can't image trying to get gas anywhere. Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour spot looks so BIG. Glad you got in easily.
I hear you on the gas stops. Even at Flying J, etc, the gas pumps are not always set up to handle motorhomes. We always have to deal with the $75 limit. We can put our card in again, but usually they have a firm limit of $150 and if you want more gas than that we definitely have to go inside. We were at a Pilot station a couple of days ago where they wanted us to pay ahead a few hundred dollars and then they would give us credit for the remainder. No thanks! What are the gas prices in that part of the country?
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to some great stories and photos of the Outer Banks.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a nice quiet place to get a good night's sleep. Travel safe in the morning. Looking forward to reading all about your new adventures.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great overnight spot. Fueling is always stressful. Looking forward to your posts about your new gig.
ReplyDeleteI get heartburn when we get diesel..and I am not even the driver...How you manage to get that big bus into those tiny spots makes me cringe just thinking about it...I'm anxious to see the Outer Banks....Our son-in-law's parents live in Asheville and they use to visit there quite often...I, too, really love that header photo..
ReplyDeleteI just go inside first and ask for an estimated amount, say $200 and have it charged to my card. When I finish fueling, I go back inside and they print the actual amount I took, say $176.29 and they then charge may card for that exact amount. Saves multiple trips back and forth.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lonely looking campground:) One of my new issues is getting fuel. The new little MH is still diesel but I can get into any pump. However the tank is only one fourth of the last one. I had never seen the low fuel light then, now I have had it twice already. I was sure I was going to run out of fuel in the corn fields of Iowa.
ReplyDeleteFuel stops. YUCK. Hate 'em.
ReplyDeleteAlmost settled in for a nice, long, wonderful stay tho'... so ENJOY!
Love the header pic as well. And, I so envy you your next stop...OBX OBX OBX....lived there for about 2 1/2 years a while back. Husband was actually living there when we met back in 1999. Can ya believe he moved INLAND,instead of me moving to OBX ..While you are there be sure to try out "Awful Arther's Raw Bar" awesome seafood + lunch menus as well. Hubby worked there and is my favorite place to eat when we are back in the area. Ask for AJ and tell him Marsha Nelson sent ya :)
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to your photos of Outer Banks!! Safe travels.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your Outer Banks posts. We've never been there.
ReplyDeleteI think fuel stops are on everyone's hate list. We stopped trying to go to anything other than truck stops after the drive behind the station produced a brick wall instead of an exit on the other side. Just too stressful to deal with...even if fuel were lots cheaper :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Outer Banks. It's a great place!
Wow! Very nice blog and photo
ReplyDeleteNepal family holidays