Yesterday I drove from Washington DC to Greenville, South Carolina. 500+ miles.

I left at 7:15 a.m. and had a lovely morning commute through Rock Creek Park and down to the Potomac. I was fascinated by the highways that had central blocks of three lanes that they flipped one direction for the other at peak volume times.

I saw a new Krispy Kreme doughnut store beside a vintage one, complete with all the 1950s style neon. And of course, the old one was being prepped for demolition.

In North Carolina, at the rest areas, they arrange the flowers into N & C shapes in the garden which from a distance in the car looks like a floral “NO.” And they also gave out lots of maps! And the attendants talked a while… I lost 15 minutes of driving time.

South of Charlotte around 4:30 p.m., I hit my first slowing of the day, but beside me in the traffic was a vivid blue McLaren which you don’t see every day.

I ate cheesy grits and a Spam crunch biscuit at Biscuitville.

I visited two independent book stores: Persnickety Books and Hub City Bookshop & Press.

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I used HotelTonight to book a room at 6 p.m. I considered staying in Spartanburg but that would have cost me $100+. I came to the ExtendedStay America right off 85 and I’m glad I did because it was only $70. I slept great and there’s a Panera outside! (If you look at the photo– it’s kinda between the two main trees.) There’s a pizza place, a liquor store and TWO grocery stores (one of which is a Walmart).