Can I Share My Lessons With You?

Thursday, October 21, 2010

With this being my first full post after my road trip I thought I might share with you what I actually learned. Have you ever done that, took a trip and then get home only to wonder what did I learn from that?

I do it every trip, sort of like the trip was meant to be an experience and I need to relish the lessons. This trip was no exception and now that I have had a day to think about it there were definitely some lessons.

Travel companions are easy targets but worth a mention. This trip I traveled with a very old, dear friend and her blind dog, the lesson? When a friend tells you they need a break and invite you for a road trip be forewarned it will be a long trip.

My travel companion talked the entire way, every waking moment and if she was not talking she was singing or humming. Being totally southern her accent is as thick as whipping cream and her speech as simple as it comes. Lesson here is to make sure you take a bag of saltwater taffy with you.

The blind dog was a sweet heart and don’t be fooled by its handicap. This dog could smell food buried 2 feet under the sand and hear people long before we ever saw them. I did want to put one those alien antenna headbands on her though. She kept running into things and I thought feelers the answer. Like the ones you use to put on cars as not to hit the curb but my friend thought it coddling.

Everyone travels with technology these days so I must mention the GPS. For some reason ours lost its mind going and coming. Right when we arrived at an area where several roads came together and numerous turns were required she decided to recalculate. Stupid thing came back to life saying, “In 500 feet make a u-turn.” She must have not wanted to reach the beach and once she did, wanted to stay.

One of the things I was originally excited about was the North Carolina Oyster Festival. Same place and same weekend as our trip, little did I know? I guess it is a beach thing, here in Kentucky we call them festivals but if it says “Horse,” there are horses; if it says “Bourbon,” there is bourbon. The oyster festival had one booth of oysters and your choice was fried or steamed. Doesn’t exactly scream oyster festival to me, I’m a Rockefeller sort of girl. Lesson here is every state must have its own definition of the word “Festival.”

Here was the real lesson. Since I traveled with all females and rest areas were a must, take this to heart. Should you continually pass billboards advertising restrooms until they talk you into needing to go and then proclaim to be the cleanest, KEEP DRIVING. The billboards are from the fifties and so are the toilets, not to mention that is when they were last cleaned.

All in all, the trip was truly wonderful. The weather was warm and got warmer each day, the skies crystal blue and the ocean was like glass. The scenery was gorgeous, that is except for the two, beer bellied white whales that had the house next to us. The dolphins stopped by each day to wave at us and I found several pieces of sea glass. I collect sea glass, love the stuff and someday will make a bracelet or something out of it.

I’m glad to be back though and look forward to returning to the blog world. I have so many stories running around in this head of mine.

I’ll be back reading and commenting as usual, I missed you guys. I just hope I did not miss too much. Did I miss anything?



14 comments:

Karen Lange said, 

Glad you had a good time. As far as missing anything, I couldn't tell you. Was mostly unplugged last week.
Have a great weekend,
Karen

October 21, 2010 at 8:56 AM  
MTeacress said, 

A heavy southern accent for hours on end - that reminds me of my "little grandmo" from Mississippi. :)

October 21, 2010 at 10:03 AM  
f8hasit said, 

"Southern accent as thick as whipped cream...make sure to bring salt water taffy."

I about cried reading this!
:-)

Reading your tale makes me long for a road trip myself. Clean toilets or not...I think it time to pack up the car.

October 21, 2010 at 10:30 AM  
Karen Jones Gowen said, 

Glad you had a good trip! Did you miss anything? Blogging is like following soap operas-- you think you'll miss something if you're out a week, but when you come back it's very easy to pick up right where you left off.

October 21, 2010 at 11:00 AM  
Golden Eagle said, 

I'm glad that you enjoyed your road trip! :)

October 21, 2010 at 1:27 PM  
Arlee Bird said, 

I think I'm feeling a road trip coming on sometime in my not too distant future. I'm usually travelling with my wife and she's a pleasant enough companion. She doesn't like to drive that much, but I like to travel with her.
That oyster festival doesn't sound very oyster festive, but with the lack of oysters I've had in my life since moving to Los Angeles I'd take whatever I could get if they were good.

Lee
Tossing It Out

October 21, 2010 at 2:14 PM  
The Words Crafter said, 

My mouth is watering for some salt water taffy, thanks for that, lol!

October 21, 2010 at 7:05 PM  
Unknown said, 

Traveling is truly vexing. I remember a road trip with a deaf/blind friend. I'm glad she couldn't see the state of the bathrooms. Just remember, make sure the deaf/blind wash their hands after using the toilet before you start tactile signing.

CD

October 21, 2010 at 7:30 PM  
Bossy Betty said, 

What a trip! Glad you are back. Hope to hear more stories!

October 21, 2010 at 7:46 PM  
RosieC said, 

Sounds like a fun trip. And, no, never trust a billboard for bathrooms! Ha. I have also learned that lesson the hard way.

Welcome back. Let me know if you decide to NaNo it up :)

October 21, 2010 at 9:41 PM  
Natasha said, 

Welcome back. Seems like you had fun!

October 22, 2010 at 12:42 AM  
Paula said, 

Jules, you make me laugh! And wanting me to go to Kentucky!!!! It sounds like you had a great time. Wish you a blissful weekend!

October 22, 2010 at 6:22 AM  
Green Monkey said, 

limited oysters, constant chatter and blind dogs, :))))

(still smiling) this was a great read!

October 22, 2010 at 7:28 AM  
Alex J. Cavanaugh said, 

Glad you had a good time despite the GPS malfunction. And I try to avoid 'rest areas.'

October 22, 2010 at 10:01 AM  
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