Friday September 16 & Saturday September 17 (Ayden and on to Washington DC)

Friday

I did not get to sleep until the middle of the night but managed a few good hours.

Terri cooked a lovely breakfast, bacon and eggs with the remains of the hash brown casserole!

I did some washing and then it was time to pack my bags. I had help from a few four legged friends, lol, but managed to complete the task. I have also discovered that Matty is a paper shredder, lol!

I had a lazy afternoon although I had to keep making allowances for Autumn and Gracie who love sharing the chair with me, lol!!

Hope was enjoying the Jet box, which was also just the right size for Jazzy!! Odi would have loved to try it o for size but Hope was not budging!!

Later we went round to visit Sonya and Chris. At least that was the original plan but Chris had to drive to Alabama to pick up a car that needed work.

The guy he was collecting it from, not the owner, held him up for three hours so he would not be home until the early hours.

We had fun with Aiden and their new puppy who was a wee bit shy of us, especially me with my strange accent, lol!

We ordered our meal from an Italian food place that delivered and it was very good.

There was a beautiful moon out as we drove left for home! The photo does not do it justice!




I had ordered a piece of Tiramisu for dessert and took it home with me to eat with a cup of tea, it was delicious!

Then it was time for a shower and bed for the final time on this visit with Steve and Terri, not forgetting the cats and dogs of course, lol!

I really enjoyed my visit and was beginning to feel somewhat emotional. I always feel so welcome wherever I travel, Terri and Steve and family have certainly welcomed me into their lives. I have attended a few family events and have never felt out of place! Heartfelt Thanks go to one and all!

Saturday

I had a reasonable sleep and then it was time to get up, have some breakfast and pack my final bits and pieces. Odi followed me round and I had some good cuddles with him before breakfast. Autumn also came for some pets and chatted to me for a while. My new roommate, Matty, has been a joy and she loves to pounce on anything moving under the covers, even in the middle of the night, lol!

I packed my drink bottles in one of my bags and am trying the frozen sponges in bags to see how cool they keep things! Then it was time to leave and farewell the cats and dogs. We had a good run through to Rocky Mount although the lovely cafe we found last time has sadly closed down so we ate at Applebee's. I had French Onion Soup and then Terri and I shared a couple of sides that looked good.

Lunch was a hilarious event due to a text conversation Steve had. The conversation began with a text inviting him to a family reunion next Saturday. There was only one problem, Steve did not recognise the number. He responded by saying he would go if he did not have to work and then asked which cousin he was talking to. The other replied with a couple of names, someone's grandfather's brother's son. So the conversation continued. 

The other then realised that he had texted the wrong number but told Steve he could still go! Steve said he really needed to workman he had 18 cats, three dogs, a wife and a mail order bride from New Zealand to support. The other then asked if Steve would like him to set up a GoFundme page!! Response from Steve, Yes please!! Soon after that the conversation ended.

You have to realise this conversation took place during the course of lunch which lasted about an hour. It was tense waiting for each response and then the laughter broke out with each response, lol! I have never had such a hilarious lunch!!

As I went to the restroom one of the servers laughed at my T-Shirt, Beach Hair, Don't Care. Then I whipped my cap off and showed her my hair, we both laughed!!

We took a slight detour so I could get a coffee at a nearby Starbucks then it was on to the station, my pommie Google Maps lady took us there, lol.

I went up and got my ticket printed as I had used a coupon to upgrade to a Business Class seat and was informed the train was still on time. It had just left Wilson,the stop I had arrived at!

The train going in the other direction pulled in and about five minutes after that had left my train was approaching. So it was time for the worst part of visiting good friends, saying farewell. We had had a fun packed and adventurous three weeks that had absolutely flown by. The lady in front of me offered to the a photo with Terri and Sreve in the background. Soon after we were pulling away!!

It took me a while to settle down and then I decided it would be a good time to write my blog. I always use Notes app on my IPad and then email them to myself to update the blog on my laptop. 

The engineer driving the train was sure not hanging around and we made good time. At Richmond, VA, we were able to get off and stretch our legs. I chatted to the car attendant and he asked me if New Zealand was in the South Pacific, how far away from the US and if we had railways in New Zealand.

Not far out of Richmond, we had to stop and wait for some other passenger trains to pass, so it must have been single track, lol! However, this did not stop the train arriving ten minutes EARLY!!!!!!! I fund a place that was open and grabbed a sandwich but the Starbucks was closed. So i went out to find a taxi, not far to the Hyatt Regency but I have too much stuff to hike.

I get to the hotel and this lovely guy helps me with my luggage. After checking in, I head to the elevator and there, on my right, is a Starbucks, unbelievable, lol! Of course, I grabbed a coffee, then up to my room which is very nice. It has a very hi-tech key entry, you place the key flat on a face plate and, voila, the door opens, lol!!

I brought my blog up-to-date then showered and went to bed.