Well, hello, the blog lives.
Once again the dilemma of writing about it versus the doing it, makes it
difficult. On this trip, to be honest, I
am leaning toward the “doing it” side, hence no on the spot reporting yet. But don't despair.
We have found that although there are many “optional” ($$)
tours available, which, by the way have been excellent so far, doing one a day
instead of morning and afternoon provides for a more enjoyable trip. This morning we are not “doing it” and
passing on the Jekyll Island tour in favor of getting ready for this afternoons
journey on a Shrimp Boat. Winds are very
brisk at this point so we’ll see..
Anyway as word gets around our travel party that I do a
blog, interest has kind of peaked, so I thought I would steal some time to
begin documentation. The curse of the
engineer is that he thinks he has to do things in chronological order rather
than (most likely) order of interest, but there you are. So I thought maybe I’ll take this first
edition as kind of an overview, and then dive into more interesting things like
food, tomorrow (or….).
We are taking a cruise from Charleston down to Jacksonville
area, stopping a several ports along the way (for the “optional” things). Our home is a relatively small ship, the
Independence, from the American Cruise lines.
Our stateroom is on the third (top) deck just below the
observation deck.
So anyway, we started from Pax on the 29th of
March and wound our way over to I 95. We
got a late start due to an obligation MFO had with the historical society
before we could leave, so our first objective was Fayetteville, where we would
RON on our first night out, then on to Charleston the next day.
It being the end of March the Northbound land was filled
with migrating “snow birds” in all sorts of plumage
and although not "Snow Birds" there were some familiar birds above as well
as we got south of Richmond there were more and more
reminders of the prevailing cuisine awaiting the travelers
We got to Fayetteville around 7ish, and checked into our
Fairfield Inn (hey these trips cost money, scrimp where you can). I should point out that Fayetteville seems to
be a popular layover for truckers, as there were “big rigs” all over the
place. As it was getting late, and needing sustenance, we interrupted the conversation
of the people behind the desk and asked dining opportunities. Kind of deer in the headlights, but they
finally produced a sheet of "Local Restaurants".
The top category “in the immediate area” listed: Ruby Tuesday; The Marquis
Bistro (inside the Doubletree Hotel); Cracker Barrel; and Subway. Not many stars there.
Next was a category of “Within a Short
Driving Distance”, the top entry of which was: “Huske Hardware House” described
as: a microbrewery specializing in English Pub Food”.. Okay that sounds good let’s go for that. The directions were to take a right out of
the hotel parking lot, and go to first stop light and make a left onto Clinton
Road. So we start out. Ten minutes and maybe six miles there was no
stoplight in sight, but after another mile or so, one appeared. Left onto Clinton Road, and directions said
that it becomes Person St., and 2nd roundabout.
Five or so minutes still had not revealed any roundabout, and after a couple
minutes more we threw in the towel as it was getting later and later.
So with tail tucked between legs we retraced our steps,
swallowed hard and entered the Ruby Tuesday.
We were greeted cheerily by the manager, and shown to a booth across
from the bar.
6864
Which was populated by what we assumed were the operators of
the eighteen wheelers scattered about. Their
menu choices seemed to be served mostly in a glass, and I counted one of them
did at least three “Jack on the Rocks”.
I finally chose a burger, figuring we were on the brink of wonderful
food, so why not indulge. Oddly enough,
they offered the option of “choice” or “prime”.
Spent the extra couple of bucks for the upgrade. Eventually I got what one friend has since dubbed the “plate
of death”:
It was as expected. Adequate
at best.
Upon leaving, we again flagged the manager and asked if there
were and “mom and pop” places for breakfast the next day (short distance to Charleston, so no hurry). He suggested the Barrel, and also a nearby
Waffle House. Obviously getting
nowhere, we thanked them and took our leave.
Besides, the spectre of lovely food, Charleston, Savannah, awaited. As a jump ahead here’s what we generally get
aboard ship.
So that experience kind of set the stage for the rest of the
journey, which will be detailed soon.
And while not for dear old Ruby, we were for the rest of the trip
DFD
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