Blue Road Adventures: The Madien Voyage

Blue Road Blogger Date----Monday June 13 & Tuesday June 14 2011---

We are on our way. We left Lillington, North Carolina around 4:00 p.m Monday. We took US 421 (it will take you to Harlan, Kentucky) to Greensboro than US 52 north to where it changes to I-74 just before the Virginia line. Since there aren't too many blue roads out of NC going north, we jumped the interstate (I-77) to our first destination--Cracker Barrel in Wythevile, Virgina.
We arrived at CB around 8:00 pm and had a very nice dinner. We spoke with the manager to clear our overnight with city or county regulations. We were sleeping (trying) by 9:30 pm. Around 2:30 am, something started buring somehere. We thought it was cigarettes, but when we stopped t the KAngaroo gas station for 4:30 am coffee, we were told it was out in the woods somewhere...

We continued on I-77 to Dover, Ohio. We were early, too early for the campground check-in, so I suggested we stop at the Shoney's in Dover at exit 83. I had been there back in April 2009 when I came back to Michigan after being in North Carolina since February 23. The place was wall-to-wall cars that April morning. Turns out there was a motocross competition that week and EVERYONE was at Shoney's for the breakfast buffet. As I found my way in, it was very clear why so many folks were there that morning. The buffet was excellent. It was one of the best I had ever patronized.
As I duggested it to Mary, I also cautioned it may have been great because so many people were there and the food was freash and quickly being replaced as it was being quickly chowed.

She was willing to go, as I had mentioned this Shoney's several times. Actually it was the Shoney's I compared all Shoney's to. We went in and were seated just before the breakfast buffet was closing (20-30 minutes. Our waiter told us we could do the breakfast buffet OR if we chose the lunch buffet we could have breakfast and switch to lunch if we wanted--but we had to pay the .50 cent lunch buffet premium. Sounded fair, so we took his advise and did lunch. As for a buffet, it was just as excellent as it was in 2009. Sour Kraut appeared to have been hand shredded, the mac-n-cheese was wonderful, and the salad bar was as fresh so fresh it had to have come straight from the farm to Shoney's. We took a moment to speak with the manager (Patrick) to let him know how impressed we were with the buffet. We left him a card with our blog and hopefully he will be stopping by to read this! THANK U Patrick, you have a great resurant there in Shoney's in Dover, Ohio

It is so great to be on the road and meeting folks like those at Shoney's. The entire team is great and seem to have great pride in their work and their resturant!

This is Mary's first real Blue Road type trip. We have made many runs between North Carolina and Michigan. We have covered the Blue Roads often, but there is a distinct difference in taking a Blue Road and driving one. The entire idea of being Blue Road Blogger is taking the blue roads and seeing, meeting and sharing with the people who live along the blue roads.

We are staying the night at Amish Country Campsites outside Winesburg, Ohio. It is a small CG, but quite beautiful. Trees and rolling hills surround the land. This is the Ohio we never see from the windows when driving 70 mph on I-75 or I-77. The interstates just turn nature's beauty into drab and ugly.
We met John Wile when we checked it. He and his wife Ruth, own and operate Amish Country Campsites. No pre planned frills, arcades, water slides or community room bingos here. Just a very nice place to hang your hat while you run about the Amish countryside exploring. John even gives you a coupon for free cheese back up the road in Sugar Creek--this may be a limited offer so if you stay the night, don't hold me to the cheese offer--

We are headed to Lehman's Hardware in Kindron, Ohio in the morning. When you get a chance, stop by one day and tell them Blue Road Blogger wanted you to say hello!

NOT that our trip hasn't been with out the traditional PIT FALLS of a madien voyage. Ther have been a few. We will share those tomorrow, after we have had a chance to process those moments and see them in a new light!

Tim and Mary

Amish Country Campsites
Dundee, Ohio
Near Winesburg)

Do they make trailer tires anymore?

So the garage in Lillington passed the Dodge upon having the three deficits corrected. Had to pay an additional .85 cents for the "sticker." If it is all electronic, what sticker did I pay for?
While I was waiting for the Dodge to clear the last hurdle before new plates could be purchased, I inquired about tires for the Coachmen Catalina 5er. The guy showed me three options--all were truck tires and one had all-terrain tread. I asked him if the Grabbers all-terrain would make the 5er handle better in snow and mud.
"Probably not." he replied...
"No tire trailers?" I asked again.

"Not that size (245/75/16)." he stated.
"Hmmmmm," I stalled, "Nothing?"

I left for the DMV license plate office wondering how long the all-terrain tread would hold out on the Blue Roads in 90° heat and black-topped two-lanes..

I arrived home and started calling local (within 50 miles of our zip) tire stores. Appearently the guy was right...There are no "trailer" tires to be found in the Sandhills of North Carolina.
Finally I get a hold of this guy named Josh. He starts selling me some Falken and then a set of Cooper H/T--both road tread / all season tires. I try to remind Josh it is a trailer I need tires for and would like trailer tires with highway tread.
Carlisle or Goodyear? 10 ply, specifically for trailer use tires..do you sell this?
He stated they had Carlisle Highway radials for $146.78 and he also sees there are Goodyear Marathons--but only in a 235/80/16 size. Goodyears have the "BEST" insignia and Carlise have "GOOD." For the few dollars difference I go big and ask for the Marathons. Josh sets the phone down and when he returns a few minutes later tells me NO MARATHONS that size in North Carolina and he has to order / ship them from Missouri.
We really would like tires this weekend and have them installed and done so we can get serious about loading the stuff we have pawned off on family up north. Josh tells me the Carlisle tire might be available by Friday--they are shipping in from Hickory, North Carolina. OK...lets go with the Carlisle and plan to do this on Saturday.
So, if FedEx has the tires to Cary by Friday, the Coachmen Catalina will have new treads on Saturday. ACTUAL trailer tires and we will be waiting for June 13 to try the tires out on the highway.
We are still finalizing the route to Michigan, but it looks like this so far:
1. Leave Lillington Monday June, 13 by 5:00 pm
2. Arrive Wytheville, Virginia by 9:00 pm in time for LATE dinner(6/13)
3. Leave Wytheville, Virginia by 5:00 am in time for an EARLY breakfast.
4. Arrive Ripley, West Virginia by 10:00 am for snacks(6/14)
5. Continue to Wooster, Ohio by 1:00 pm and set up camp for lunch(6/14)
6. Leave Wooster, Ohio 6:00 am another EARLY breakfast(6/15)
7. Arrive Brighton, Michigan by 3:00 pm for dinner with FAMILY(6/15)
8. Wedding stuff all day 6/16
9. Final wedding stuff 6/17
10. WEDDING 6/18
11. 4 more weeks left of VACATION!!