The weather channel was correct; there were indeed southerly winds this morning, and although we were on US 158 WEST most of the time, in this part of the state that means roughly north. So we had a tailwind, at long last, and were rewarded with an average speed of over 15 mph. Nancy led us all the way today, as we passed over the 158 bridge (over Albemarle Sound) and through the Dismal Swamp. We could see the gathering storm clouds and knew, from the maps, of a dearth of protected places to stay along the route, so last night I investigated alternatives and found Elizabeth City not far off the route. Dad, if you look at map A, you will see the intersection of 158 and 343 near the bottom center - we are about 5 miles down past that point on 158.
A tailwind of 20 mph, by the way, feels like no wind at all when you are traveling at about 20 mph. Go figure.
We passed through the Great Dismal Swamp today, under gray skies but shielded from the wind, and saw many, many turtles, egrets (or herons, hard to tell), and lots of black water covered by green alge. It certainly could be dismal, if you had to cross it any other way but on a roadway; but today it was just beautiful.
We stopped for lunch at a BBQ place near Coinjock, and outside we met a law-school student named Robin who happens to be from Portland (Lake Oswego, actually, but close enough). She will be in the Navy's JAG corps when she graduates, but ultimately wants to move back to the west coast. We told her where to find us! She waved as she passed us a little down the road, and we waved back; hopefully we'll meet her again in a few years.
My hour is up here at the Elizabeth City library, so for now that's it; John, Lando, someone there at PPI move the pin out of the Outer Banks and over to Elizabeth City. Thanks. More tomorrow!
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