Dale Stenseth's 2007 Southeast US Road-trip
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Mid-April is a great time for a road-trip. It is after spring break and before summer family vacations drive up gas and hotel prices. Except for DC, traffic was light. Hotel reservations were no problem. We had to adapt our schedule a little, to stay ahead of the storms. There were ample opportunities to enjoy shrimp and seafood, and red wine. We had some unexpected delights in a Lebanese restaurant in Toledo, and a Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville. Ann wanted to see the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. The building is striking, set against Lake Erie. One visit was enough for me. We had driven through a blizzard the day before, and there was still snow on the ground in Cleveland. Next, we went to Washington DC to 'hike' the highpoint and see the cherry blossoms by the tidal bay. Morning rush-hour traffic on I-270 was very heavy. We crossed the Chesapeake Bay east and drove down eastern Maryland and Virginia to the Chesapeake Channel Bridge and Tunnels. After a night at Virginia Beach, we drove down the North Carolina Outer Banks as far as possible, taking the ferry back to the mainland from Ocracoke. We stayed a night each in Jacksonville, NC, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Hilton Head, SC. We spent a morning in Savannah, GA. We took the historic trolley tour. In the afternoon, after a windy drive, we visited Stone Mountain near Atlanta, Ga. Stone Mountain reminded me of Ayers Rock in Australia. Besides its interesting granite dome geology, Stone Mountain is noted for the bas relief carvings of the 3 confederates, Jackson, Lee, and Davis on its east face. Budget: Hotels cost $691. Meals were around $400. Gasoline was $269. Tolls and ferries amounted to $48. Admissions were $96. On future trips to the east, I would do anything necessary to avoid driving through Chicago, or spending money there. We waited in line at one Chicago toll booth for nearly 30 minutes. Overall, it was another great driving adventure! There were many historic stops which we did not visit on this trip. Ann has now been to all 50 states, polishing off her last 7 on this trip. Itinerary and pictures are below. |
| Date | Ending Location | Miles Driven |
Hours Driven |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/09/07 Monday | Toledo, OH | 638 | 11 | Depart Minneapolis at 6 am. |
| 04/10/07 | Cleveland, OH | 118 | 2 | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. |
| 04/10/07 | Frederick, MD | 323 | 5.5 | |
| 04/11/07 | Washington, DC | 41 | 1 | 39th St NW & Fessenden, highpoint. |
| 04/11/07 | Salisbury, MD | 125 | 2.5 | Eastern shore. Continued on, over and through the Chesapeake Channel bridge and tunnels. |
| 04/11/07 | Virginia Beach, VA | 130 | 2.5 | Virginia Beach, VA. |
| 04/12/07 | Ocracoke, NC. | 180. | 4.5 | NC Outer Banks and lighthouses. |
| 04/12/07 | Jacksonville, NC. | 81. | 3 | Marines from Camp LeJeune like to party. |
| 04/13/07 | Myrtle Beach, SC | 136 | 3 | Nice beach. |
| 04/14/07 | Hilton Head, SC | 205 | 4 | Nice beach & way too many golf courses. |
| 04/15/07 | Savannah, GA | 48 | 1 | Historic. |
| 04/15/07 | Stone Mountain, GA | 249 | 4.5 | Theme park, scenic. |
| 04/15/07 | Douglasville, GA | 46 | 1 | Had a nice Italian meal at Carrabba's. |
| 04/16/07 | Alma, AR | 757 | 12 | Dry, in the southern sense. Headed home! |
| 04/17/07 | Home | 711 | 11.5 | Arrive in Minneapolis after 6 pm. |
| Totals | 3788 | 69 | Some side trips includes. |
| Description | Picture |
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| Washington DC highpoint. |
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| National Cathedral, Washington DC. |
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| Cherry blossom time, at the tidal basin. |
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| After getting through the morning rush-hour and escaping DC, it was time for some comfort food. An apple tree at a McD in Maryland. |
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| We drove down the Eastern Shore and over the bridges and through the Chesapeake Channel Tunnels. There are 2 tunnels like this, beginning and ending from long bridges. There is sea water on the other side of these walls. |
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| Virginia Beach from our hotel room. The statue of Neptune is visible on the beach. |
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| We drove down the North Carolina Outer_Banks to Ocracoke. Took 2 ferries. |
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| North Carolina Ferry System. We waited about an hour for each ferry. The first crossing was about 40 minutes, the second lasted 2-1/2 hours. |
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| On the dock at Ocracoke, next to some traps. |
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| Ocracoke Lighthouse. |
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| Tidal current moving across a sandbar. |
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| Myrtle Beach, SC, from our hotel room. |
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| Pier at Myrtle Beach. |
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| Me & the pier. |
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| Spanish moss hanging from a live oak tree on Hilton Head. |
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| Hilton Head beach. |
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| Hello Kitty bikini. |
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| Couldn't feed the alligators in the pools by the hotel! |
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| Oyster shell cement and cobble stone street by the river in Savannah. |
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| Stone Mountain, GA, a large granite dome. |
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| The carving is of the confederates Jackson, Lee, and Davis on Stone Mountain. Gutzon Gorglum (Mount Rushmore) was initially commissioned to make the carving, but after some disagreements, his commission was canceled. Stone Mountain is somewhat tainted because of its association with the klan. |
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| Before sunrise, getting ready to start the last day of driving, near Fort Smith, AR. |
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