Before we leave Florida too far behind, we must comment on their rest stops along the interstate highways. About five miles before the rest stop there's consistently a sign indicating how many truck parking places are available. Near the rest stop there'd be a sign indicating where the next stop would be and typically that was about 30 miles. At the rest stop there were security cameras adequately placed so that the overnight guard in the building can watch what's going. We felt very safe in these areas especially when we parked amid semi-trucks and trailers that dwarfed us.
We left the bounds of Florida on Monday morning arriving in Smyrna on the northwest edge of Atlanta that evening. Leslie and her partner LaRee greeted us at the door and we exchanged greetings and hugs before retiring to their back porch overlooking a great backyard for Charlie. Going through the house we passed a large nook filled with young children's toys. Leslie and LaRee babysit LaRee's two granddaughters during the day when her daughter Lachelle works as a nurse and her husband attends school to become a doctor. Kyra went off to kindergarten the next morning and one and a half year old Georgie stayed home and intrigued Charlie.
Tuesday was a driving day to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Wednesday morning we had breakfast with Sally, a English teacher colleague we met while in China, and her four-year son Matthew. The youngest stayed home and the older one was off to school. We swapped stories of past memories and growing families over omelettes and waffles before heading south to Charleston, South Carolina. Currently Sally heads up a team of advisors for Vanguard, a financial organization
We stopped to do some laundry at a local coin laundry (no, the covered wagon does not have a washer and dryer) and a bit of crocheting. Every day requires some analysis as to where we are, what are our priorities for the next several days and making arrangements for those days.
About 4:30PM we arrived at our destination in Charleston where we met Bonnie, one of our bridesmaids and college friend. She has moved into a 55+ apartment complex and was out walking her dog. She continues to nurse in a consulting and educational way but has slowed down after her stroke several years back. They treated us to a huge platter of various local meats at a local eatery. They meaning Bonnie, her daughter Tracy and her husband Bill.
We took the evening to get a head start on our journey to Williamsburg, Virginia today. Yes, it's another WalMart.
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