Virginia is for lovers. And traffic. And carcasses. Short of rush hour in Los Angeles I have never sat in traffic longer and for no apparent reason than in Virginia. I’ve done it twice now thanks to prescriptions I had to pick up at a Kroger pharmacy. You would think that all the dead deer would be the reason for the traffic but people just keep hitting them until they’re pancakes. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’d say that they don’t have anyone picking them up – but how could they? Anyone blocking a lane in that traffic would be Chris Christie-ed out of a job (or human roadkill)!!!!
I really didn’t want to put any money into the North Carolina economy (I’m a huge supporter of human rights – including LGBTQ) but did stop to get my first legitimate taste of Carolina BBQ. I’ve gotta say that I like it. It was a buffet (everything is here for some reason) and I don’t love buffets. So, I ordered off the menu – a combo plate with fried chicken, chopped pork, coleslaw, beans and “stew”. The fried chicken was unapologetically greasy and delicious. It almost had a tempura feel. I doused it in their vinegar sauce which I could drink.
The chopped pork and coleslaw were the best – the consistency of baby food – but in a super good way. Again, doused in vinegar sauce. The stew was corn, lima beans and what I’m guessing was more chopped pork – tasty but weird. If I sleep tonight it will be a miracle – I drank a gallon of unsweetened tea. When I left, the gal serving me chased me down with a huge styrofoam cup to go (made me think of my friend Brenda)!
That was the only money I spent in North Carolina. But I did see my first – for real – cotton field. It took me a minute to figure out what it was. I always tried to identify crops that I drive by and I’d never seen such a white one! I was hauling ass by so didn’t get a picture.
I broke my rule and drove in the dark. I really wanted to make it to Myrtle Beach today and Virginia traffic fucked up my program. I’m camping in a Walmart tonight and it’s too hot to sleep (not to mention the tea). I anticipated this issue and made reservations awhile back for the next three nights in Savannah.
I am approaching the conclusion of my journey and have decided that from this point on I’m not killing myself to get an education everywhere I go. I’m partying down! In Savannah I go on a ghost tour and may break my buffet repulsion to go to Lady & Sons (think Paula Deen). I’m going to try to go to places that we’re in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I just can’t believe that The Lady Chablis died last month!!! It makes me sick that I didn’t get to see her perform. I’m still going to Club One for a drag show.
Then on to Atlanta to see Susie. I’ve managed to hold onto three bottles of wine I got in New York for our visit. And then…..New Orleans where I made reservations at the only RV park literally in the French Quarter. No more commutes for this old lady. I’m right in the thick of it. I’m drinking, eating and jazzing until the break of day. I fully intend to do at least one walk of shame in New Orleans – I expect you to hold me to it.
Speaking of Jazz….one of the biggest reasons I like to travel alone? I get to listen to Jazz. Crazy, doesn’t-make-sense Jazz. It’s what my brain likes more than any other music. My heart loves rap, pop & country – but my brain digs Jazz. Jazz is music that is hard to play for a crowd. Nothing brings down a popping party faster than putting on Miles Davis. But driving down the road by myself? It’s perfect. I’ve played every Spotify playlist to death. I’ve banned it for the last month so I wouldn’t be jazzed out before I got to New Orleans. Today I allowed myself some Blues…..but that’s a slippery slope right to Pat Martino.
Onward….♋+♊
The Lolo Down 