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Day 1 of my semi-frugal vacation

3K views 0 replies 1 participant last post by  KimB 
#1 ·
3 months ago, friends of ours asked if we would like to spend a week at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina with them at their time share condo. My husband and I decided to accept the invitation. My husband loves to golf and I like to visit places I've never been so the area met our first criteria.
My first goal for this vacation was to spend less than we have in the past. My second goal was to just relax. From the beginning I knew we would be spending less money because of certain differences in this trip.
1) For the first time it is just hubby and I. No kids, no exchange students, no nieces or nephews, no parents etc. I have always felt compelled to share my vacations with others. Because we were invited and staying with friends I really had no choice in this one.
2) We chose to drive from Wisconsin. We have driven on many long distance trips. I really wanted to stop and sleep on this trip as to not arrive exhausted. Dh had other plans. He drove all but 4 hours of this 22 ++ hour car ride. We drove straight through (sort of). I worked from 6 a.m. until 1:30 p.m on Sunday and he picked me up at the front door. We arrived at 9 p.m. Monday. That's 31.5 hours without the time change.
Here is the story of our adventures: We had good weather until we hit Indiana. We were caught in the worst white out conditions I have ever driven in. I warned dh that the weather reports were for blowing snow, he replied," don't worry I'll drive really slow if needed. " It was definately needed. He took my advice and did not take the chance of passing anyone, no matter how slow the drive was going. It was the first time I have seen every car and semi on a road driving with the hazard lights on. At one point I said to my husband, I see at least 10 cars in front of the one we were following, by the end of this 50 mile stretch of blowing snow, 11 cars drove into the ditches on our side of the highway and only us and the car in front of us remained on the road. It was so bad that you could not see the exits even if you chose to pull off and to pull to side of the road was not a safe option either. So once we got through all that the conditions were good again and I took over the driving to allow dh time to recuperate and rest his eyes. 2 hours later I had to wake him, we had a flat tire. Luckily our insurance carrier has included travel coverage for these sort of things. Within 30 minutes a young man was to our vehicle to help us, no charge to us, but we gave him a $20 tip. It was so cold and it was 3 a.m. We traveled for awhile more, stopped for dollar menu breakfast at McD's, and at 8 a.m. some very nice Kentucky Walmart employees put a new tire and windshield wipers on the car for less than $150.00. They actually only had that one tire we needed because someone else had ordered it and than didn't show up for their appointment. So now it is 9 a.m. and on we go. The rest of the drive was uneventful, good weather and no car problems. The Smokey Mountains were awesome but I wouldn't want to drive those winding roads everyday.
When we arrived in South Carolina the temp was 64 and Dh asked to stop and play 9 holes of golf as we found out the temps are going to be in 30's and freezing rain and possible snow today here in Myrtle Beach. We found a golf course within 4 miles of where we were driving. For $21.00 Dh golfed 9 holes with golf cart and they said it was no problem for me to ride along as I would not be golfing. I walked mostly, soaked in the sun and searched for lost golf balls. Found 11 very nice ones. The price of gas is cheaper here too, $2.99 per gallon.
When we arrived at the condo, our hosts had lasagna, garlic bread, and lettuce salad ready for us.
An hour of visiting, a hot shower and hit the king size bed in the master suite. I don't think I moved all night. Feel rested this a.m.
I have so much to be grateful for in the past 48 hours.
P.S. I will be starting a vacation fund when I get home that will include Air travel.
 
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