Deep South Trip Day 9: To The Colder Temps of the Carolinas and Tennessee

When I woke up, it was much colder than I was used to. I guess spending time in Florida had spoiled me.

Weather app screenshot showing 57°F partly cloudy conditions in Lando, South Carolina at 7:03 AM with 4 mph wind Foggy morning scene at a rest area with bare trees, parked vehicles including a white minivan and white van, and white fence visible through the mist Dense fog obscuring a rest area with bare winter trees, street lamp, road signs, and trash receptacles along a sidewalk

The plan for the day was to head to Charlotte and meet my friend Mike for lunch and have some BBQ. I hit the road and made a pit stop at a Pilot for breakfast. I took my breakfast to the North Carolina Welcome Center and then worked on a few things at a picnic table.

View through car windshield of foggy highway with limited visibility, divided road with guardrails visible through the mist Pilot gas station pump showing $2.79 per gallon price, with promotional signs for free food items and truck visible in background View of Pilot gas station and convenience store building from under the fuel canopy with several pickup trucks parked in front Coffee cup with red lid from Pilot convenience store sitting in vehicle cup holder next to gear shift Fast food breakfast items unwrapped on red and black car seat, including wrapped sandwich with orange sticker and brown paper bag Highway view through windshield approaching exit signs for Pineville, Huntersville, and Charlotte with white SUV ahead on wet road Interstate highway view through windshield showing divided roadway with guardrails, exit signs visible ahead in overcast conditions Park pathway lined with bare crepe myrtle trees creating a natural archway over concrete walkway, winter dormant grass visible Wider view of park with multiple bare crepe myrtle trees along concrete pathway, picnic shelters visible in background Stainless steel water bottle and black and white composition notebook sitting on stone picnic table at park

It was soon time to hit the road and meet my friend Mike. We decided to go to a place called Mac's Speed Shop.

Mac's Speed Shop custom truck door decal featuring red and orange flame design on black vehicle Mac's Speed Shop building exterior with flame logo banner and vintage racing gasoline metal sign on gray wall Interstate highway view with dramatic storm clouds breaking to show blue sky, green exit sign visible ahead

This was actually the first time I met Mike in person. I have known him for over a decade from a web forum I belong to. We're both Packer fans, so we're constantly messaging each other during the games. It was cool to actually meet him in person after all these years of knowing each other online!

After lunch, I hit the road for Asheville.

Interstate highway view with dramatic storm clouds breaking to show blue sky, green exit sign visible ahead

Now, something weird started happening. I noticed a lot of people hanging out on overpasses. There were American flags hung by cranes. People started stopping in the median. I put two and two together and found out that Billy Graham's funeral procession was coming the other way!

Highway view through windshield approaching overpass with ominous dark storm clouds overhead, traffic visible ahead Interstate highway view following semi-truck trailer in right lane under threatening storm clouds

After the slight traffic jam caused by the funeral procession, the traffic cleared up. To Asheville, here I come!

Highway driving view with pickup trucks ahead, storm clouds breaking to reveal patches of blue sky and sunshine Clear blue sky highway view with bare winter trees lining both sides of divided interstate, improved weather conditions Interstate highway view with high-voltage electrical transmission tower on right side, mixed clouds and blue sky, wooded hills flanking both sides of the road Highway cutting through hilly terrain with steep rock cut on right side, scattered clouds above, early spring vegetation visible Open interstate highway with mountain ridge visible in distance under partly cloudy blue sky, light traffic in opposite lanes Clear interstate highway view through mostly bare winter trees under bright blue sky with wispy clouds Landscaped water feature with natural stone arrangement creating small stream bed, surrounded by evergreen plantings and mulch, brick building visible in background Rest area parking lot with accessible parking spaces, mixed bare deciduous and evergreen trees, red car parked in distance, blue sky with clouds American flag and North Carolina state flag flying on flagpole against partly cloudy sky, trees visible in background Mountain silhouette view at dusk through black security fence along interstate rest area, cloudy evening sky Dramatic backlit clouds and bare tree silhouette with mountain ridge in background, power lines visible, vehicles on interstate beyond fence Rest area overlook view through bare trees showing interstate highway below with mountains in background under partly cloudy sky, picnic table visible Wet interstate highway through forested area under threatening gray storm clouds, empty road ahead Mountain interstate view with dark storm clouds overhead, curved highway ahead with mountains visible in distance, sparse traffic Highway cutting through mountainous terrain with steep rock face on right, ominous dark clouds overhead, light traffic ahead Interstate view approaching exit with GPS device visible on dashboard, overcast gray sky with dramatic cloud formations Highway passing through rock cuts in mountainous terrain under dark overcast sky, pickup truck and red car visible ahead, yellow warning sign

I wanted to see what kind of local products Asheville had. I stopped at Harris Teeter. This is a chain local to North Carolina.

Harris Teeter supermarket exterior with busy parking lot full of vehicles under partly cloudy sky

I got lunch there and then hit the road again. Asheville was the last stop on my list before I headed back to Austin.

Utz sourdough hard pretzels bag, packaged sandwich in clear container, and stainless steel water bottle arranged on concrete curb Close-up of hand holding partially eaten sandwich with lettuce and filling visible, parking lot pavement and vehicle wheel in background Small town main street view with various businesses, overhead power lines, mixed traffic including white sedan, cloudy sky Urban street scene following sedan under overpass with brick buildings on both sides, power lines crisscrossing overhead, partly cloudy sky Evening interstate highway view with dramatic cloud formations breaking to reveal golden sunset light, street lights illuminated, mountains visible in distance Sunset driving view through mountains with sun breaking through storm clouds, red car ahead on highway, mountain silhouettes on both sides Mountain highway under overcast sky with green exit sign visible, steep hillside cut on right, bare winter trees, dim sunset light breaking through clouds Following vehicles through mountain pass with massive rock cut wall on right side, overcast gray sky, guardrail visible along road edge

There were some big storms coming. I wanted to call it a night at a North Carolina rest stop, but the plumbing broke there. I kept driving into Tennessee.

Weather radar map on phone showing Asheville, North Carolina location at 6:59 PM with 38% battery, displaying precipitation patterns across eastern United States Rest area facilities building with white siding and stone accents, covered porch area with picnic tables, green lawn, wooded hillside background Rest area parking lot view at dusk with orange traffic barrels, vehicles parked, picnic table on grass, dramatic cloudy sky, mountains in background Framed display board titled Night highway driving view with headlights of oncoming traffic, Tennessee state welcome sign visible on right, total darkness surrounding road

Tennessee doesn't like the way I travel. They are the strictest when it comes to staying at rest stops. They only have a 2-hour limit and no overnight parking.

Night parking sign showing no right turn symbol above White sign reading

I figured with the storms coming, I'd stay the night in a hotel. I made it to Kodak, TN and stayed at an America's Best Value Inn.

Night view looking up at illuminated motel sign from below white building overhang, dark sky above

I started to wind down and got ready for bed. I figured since I wasn't sleeping in my car, I'd get a good night's sleep. I turned out the lights, and that's exactly what I did!

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