DAY 13 - FLORENCE - ROCKY MOUNT - RICHMOND

Heading up the East Coast, and my accent is getting thicker by the mile ... Even I can hear it now.  Dang!  lol

A day of repeat visits on this leg.  Florence was a cool stop the first year of the tour, but I only got to see it in the dark ... And this house is reputed to be haunted.  Cool, huh?

This time around it was noonish, and hot as ... Well, the east coast in summer.  We parked the van in the shade and were arranging the load when the Chief saw us outside.

Before you knew it, we were inside the cool building with glasses of sweet tea.  Niiiice!

This is a small town compared to most we visited this time.  And the house was proportionate ... But the heart was big!

Florence just has that down home, come in and relax, laugh and get to know us feel.  The folks on duty were just friendly, and we'd have loved to experience a hometown type picnic with them, you know?

As in the larger houses, there's plenty of good natured teasing between the crew, and lots of laughter.

We didn't get to see the Hag ... this house is called the "Hag Station", but then, She and I have already met and have an agreement that she can come out and say hi to us while we visit ... BUT, she is NOT coming with us!  For those of you thinking I am being rude, the Hag is the ghost.

We will visit Florence again.  They're too nice to miss!  Oh wait ... They qualify for next year's tour!  Next year we are trying to visit cities with foreign names.  This could work!

Rocky Mount was next.  Another repeat from year 1.  It's always fun to come in on a crew who has no idea that we are on a return visit.  Before we can get to the pix, we try to remember what the past crew looked like, and they try to figure out who we are describing.  Often times, my memory is really off.  But they love picking on whoever we name, never fails!

RMFD is another of those stops with that hometown "feel" to it.  As we got into town, I was trying to navigate from memory.  THERE's a great notion!  So, we stopped 2 teens and asked for directions.  We were told, "Oh yeah, they're by MY house."  No really, that was the response.  So we continued on, and finally got to familiar territory, landing on their doorstep at dinner time.

Another of those great southern cooks resides here.  Most of the houses are really good about offering to feed us, and we try to try a little something at each stop ... Which accounts for the diet I'm on now.  Sigh.  We just noshed on a small something, and afterwards both commented that we should have eaten, it looked and smelled great!  Next time.

This is another of those "watch for the character" stops.  There's one at each stop, we keep an eye open for them.  And if all else fails, we ask who it might be.  There are a couple here, and we're happy about that.

And we have apologized for misspelling Rocky Mount on the back window.  My bad.  Tried playing it off, but nah, got caught.  So we gave them extra goodies form the goody bag.  And we will double check next time.  Deal?

So Rocky Mount, we hope to see lots of shirts for the Troops coming in from your way.  And now we KNOW how to get back to you ... You're right by that kid's house.  ( ;

Richmond was the last official stop for the day.  And memory got us there on the first try.  Probably because last time I asked a young woman where the fire department was and she replied that "We don't have one here"  No really, that was her reply!  (What's in the water in NC?  lol)

This time, we arrived in dark, and the guys were just great.  they posed for our photo ops, and were so gracious.  The southern hospitality extends high up into Virginia.

Personally, this visit was just way too short.  These are some really good people here in Richmond, and both of our visits have been quick.  Next time we remedy that!  Note:  Richmond has a wounded Troop in WRAMC, and he has a great warmth ... The same as we felt from the gentlemen in his hometown.  We wish him a speedy recovery, and a quick return to his home which he spoke of with a soft smile.  Good people here. 

Salute to ALL of our stops today!  Get your shirts ready!

lj