New England Trip
Monday, June 23, 2008
Hello all,
Our first day on the road was full of lucky sevens a good omen for the trip, we think.
Leaving Hartwell, we took GA Hwy 77 to pick up I-85 at Exit 177.
After taking I-85 to Charlotte, we turned onto I-77 North, and drove through Statesville, NC to the eastern edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains at the skinny south-western tip of Virginia. The motor home handled the drive through the rolling piedmont without much trouble, but the rise to 3,500 ft. across the Virginia state line was a challenge. The engine temp gauge stayed on the cool side of center the whole way, but we stayed with the big trucks in an extra right lane for under-50 speeds for about 10 miles. There were times we were making only 30 mph up the steepest grades.
The views, however, were beautiful. Broad valleys with small farms nestled in thick hardwood forest. There were no billboards in sight, just sweeping views of mountains, valleys and a good road. If not for the cell towers, it would have seemed completely unspoiled. Some day we hope Georgia will outlaw the TOPLESS billboards that welcome travelers to Hart County.
Strangely, I-77 North merged with I-81 South just north of the Virginia line. The two routes cross in an X and briefly merge in a sort of do-si-do before going their separate ways. While the two highways were merged, I-77 borrowed exit numbers from I-81, so we took Exit # 77 to the KOA campground in Wytheville, VA where we had reservations. (Thanks to our Virginian friend Spencer for educating us that Wytheville is pronounced Withville.) At the KOA we were assigned camping site # 77, a pull-through site where we did not need to un-hook the Acura and can get a simple and early start in the morning. After our first fill-up, we found that we obtained 7.4 mpg today.
As soon as we can buy a lottery ticket, we will play some sevens!
Its wonderfully cooler here, only about 300 miles north. The high was around 79 degrees, and the low tonight is forecast to be 53.
Not much excitement to report yet, but when youre just trying to make time going north, thats exactly what you want no excitement.
