Pedro SEZ "Relax"

 

South Carolina welcomes us through the raindrops

Greetings from Hamer, South Carolina.

That is the census-designated place (CDP) where South of the Border is located.

Sean and I have parked our trusty car in the carport and we are in our motel room at the South of the Border Motor Inn.

Room 102, thank you very much.

The accommodations are literally exactly what I expected. It's basic and comfortable. There are two beds in our room and there's a front and back door, with the back door leading to a small sitting area on a patio. 

The TV gets lousy service*. There's a mini fridge and a functioning bathroom. Creature comforts, friends!

Given that it is currently storming here, there's no need for the outdoor pool. Instead, Sean and I jumped into the indoor pool inside what's known as "Pedro's Pleasure Dome."

It wasn't as creepy as that sounds.

*The storms have stopped so service is better. Minimal but sufficient.

In fact, everything has been comfortable. The bed is firm -- a reward for 650 miles over 12 hours since we left Greenwich this morning.

The thing about South of the Border is the same as it's been for a few years. It's fairly quiet here and, in the days leading up to this, people would tell me that they didn't know it was still open. But, yes, it's quite open and has been since 1949.

You have to come here with a sense of humor as well as a bit of a sense of adventure. 

This is the Super Bowl of tourist traps.

For me, it's years of memories stretching across generations.

A good place to end this first day.

Traffic was, in fact, as I predicted. The problems were in Virginia where we slowed up just south of Lorton (not far from Washington, D.C.). Overall, though, things were minimized. Rain peppered us most of the day, beginning with drops in New Jersey until we found a full thunderstorm here in SC.

We stopped frequently, mostly due to my struggling to stay awake at times. That being said, I only had two cups of coffee.

I'd have to say things went OK, even if the stops lengthened the day. But so be it. We made it and we're safe.

Sean was under his headphones most of the day while I listened to plenty of music and a few podcasts. 

And, while not in view, we're basically a long walk from a Waffle House on the NC/SC state line.

Basically, a two-minute car ride if I go slow.

There is much joy here. The All-Star Special awaits.