242 miles via I-26, US 17, US 701, NC 403 and US 117 with a refueling stop in Whiteville NC. Miles since the end of Hop 1: 261. Cumulative route miles: 772. Total TN9 miles: 791. The extra 19 miles were due to a trip into Charleston.
This hop was entirely on small highways, except for the few miles on I-26 at the start. This was intentional as I find the local roads in the Carolinas to be far more interesting than I-95. My original intent was to travel up the coast through Myrtle Beach, but Google said that the route I took was shorter and faster and I think it was right. The weather was good and the traffic was light. The only delay – for about 5 minutes – was waiting for a train to pass just before arriving at my destination.
My home in North Charleston was the Days Inn near the airport. Not a great hotel but not terrible either (unless you don’t like cockroaches – I found 2 dead ones). The bed was comfortable and about 40 cable channels were available. No breakfast, though.
I spent much of my day in Charleston in my room, watching TV and doing genealogical research because it rained almost all day. But the sun broke through in the late afternoon and I took a quick trip into Charleston to snap some photos and have a light dinner (fried green tomatoes and a Smithwick’s Ale) at Tommy Condon’s, my favorite restaurant in Charleston. This is not a cheap restaurant (my light dinner cost me $27) but the food is always terrific and I love the atmosphere. And Charleston is always photogenic even when the sun is not shining brightly.
I plan to return to Charleston, with Marlene, on the trip south at the end of August. She has never been to Charleston. She is going to love it.
