Friday, 20 May 2022
…Florida that is. Jimmie and Stephen’s Alexa kept reporting the weather for Jacksonville, NC when asked.
I think I left Jimmie and Stephen around 8 am and arrived in Jacksonville around 4pm, so that’s pretty much 8 hours including stops. My first stop was actually in Greensboro to get some diesel and to air up my left front tire. It’s had a slow leak for about a year and I probably should do something about it but I have a pump that plugs into the cigarette lighter that does the trick. Another reason I haven’t done anything about it is it’s about time to get new tires. There’s still a little tread left but it’s getting pretty thin.
It seems the drivers on the interstate are pretty aggressive. I travel the speed limit and try to be helpful to truckers in letting them in or moving over a lane when they begin to overtake me. On the other hand are those that cut you off, block you off from your lane so you cannot move over to allow people entering the interstate and most famously, those that match your speed while they are in the fast lane so you can’t maneuver around slower traffic in your lane. Regardless, I made it safe and sound to Jacksonville.
I’m in the Hilton Garden Inn in the downtown area. The hotel is very nice but the area is a little iffy. It looks like the area is undergoing a resurgence but it also looks like it hasn’t gotten there yet.
Speaking of iffy, I got a little nervous when I walked into the elevator and a very professional looking sign that said the rule about no parties was strictly enforced. Also strange, my self check in app on my iPhone did not work. Then when I went to the 6th floor, there were wet paint signs all over the place. I would have assumed the hotel would not book a floor that was undergoing painting because of paint fumes.
In any case, the room is nice albeit the carpet seems a little dirty. I’ll just wear socks everywhere.
Dinner tonight was Grubhub delivery of red curry with chicken. It was mediocre at best. My favorite Thai restaurant is a little hole in the wall called 84 Thai (it’s on state road 84). Of all the Thai restaurants in Fort Lauderdale area, this one is the best (to me).
Tomorrow is a five plus hour drive to Fort Lauderdale – all on I-95. There will be the usual slow down in Palm Beach but unless there is a major wreck (entirely possible) I should be home between 2-4 pm. Then comes the unpacking. Then a dip in the pool. Then a stiff drink.
Stay tuned!
