appalachian mountains

after north carolina was south carolina and myrtle beach. we pulled in late and headed to the beach. there were hotels everywhere. we found a small public beach and with no shoes walked in the sand and into the water up to knees. the water was very warm. felt like a small lake in the summer. it was warm and windy. eventually it started to rain. we slept in a walmart parking lot. the nicest one we've seen.

the next morning it was pouring rain and windy so we headed in land and north to the mountains. we took a scenic roadway through the beginnings of the smokey and appalachian mountains. there were high elevations. 4000 feet and more. sharp turns in the road. we travelled slowly our front tires were covered in brake dust by the end. there were delicious club house sandwhiches. it was incredibly beautiful we drove in and out of the fog. all the trees were the brightest reds and oranges and yellows.

cheap cigarettes

here's me smoking my favorite brand of menthols. we are in west virginia in the mountains right now. at a public library running out of time. north carolina was a while ago. i will catch up soon.

and then north carolina

in north carolina we took coastal roads along the cape hatteras national seashore. the road follows a series of off shore sandbar islands. many times the islands were minimally wider then the road. we took another long causeway to get out to the first island. and a small car ferry from one island to another. we stayed the night in a state park on the second island. it was hot and muggy. it rained all night and blew hard. it felt like a hurricane but i'm sure it wasn't close. there were funny little crabs that lived in holes not particularly close to the water and in the middle of the camp ground. we took a longer ferry to get from the second island back to the main land. on this last ferry we saw dolphins. green water. the air was hot.

all the way from delware the houses were built on stilts suspended a storey above the ground. in north carolina the homes were all large and beautiful. big homes still built off the ground on stilts. many had metal shutters to cover the windows for hurricane season. recreational fishing was life everywhere along this coast. every truck was a 4x4 lifted with large sand tires and ellaborate fishing rod racks mounted to the front or rear bumpers. everywhere there were marinas with beautiful fishing boats. large motors. all brand new. and no sailboats.

and virginia

chesapeake bay first. we stayed the night in pocomoke river state park. had warm showers. the bay was beautiful. roads always along the water. beach everywhere. very small towns far apart.

at the southern tip of the chesapeake bay we took a twenty mile causeway to virginia beach. the causeways was incredible. at two points the roadway goes under the sea floor for ship traffic. the views were incredible the water was bright green. the air was warm.

and maryland

in maryland was the assateague national sea shore. and gems like ocean city. palm trees and hotels and ihop and mini golf courses. and the big dunes and the beach.

delaware

i don't think there were high expectations for delaware. but it was quite and beautiful. there are no interstate highways. we were on two lane roads. always near the water and marsh. no trees had turned. everything was green and lush. and warm. and our first nuclear power plant.

bedford ave pizza

last night night in new york. stephanie and mimi and brian and donald and i went walking then pizza then late night conversations. it was nice being here. thank-you.

today we are leaving for delaware chesapeake bay and virginia beach.