Back in 2019, I drove to Beaufort, NC and back with my mom to attend my nieces wedding. It felt great to be on the road and taking charge of my destination. When I returned home I felt SO proud of myself and the distance I could drive in one day.
Then 2020 came and I had the plan to take off alone on a Road Trip South. I began planning, packing and had my car inspected to make sure it was up to the distance. Saved and saved and researched places to stay along the way and physically, mentally and emotionally I was ready to Hit the Road Jack!
Never ever planning a Pandemic ~COVID HIT and my Road Trip came to a Dead End!
Something came over me and I could not leave my house. I could not even leave my bedroom for almost two years and my plan to take a Road Trip ended. I began suffering and was diagnosed with Agoraphobia. Had a therapist for $180.00 an hour and I suffered badly!
This was not me. I had traveled alone ever since I was 13 years old and was Always filled with Adventure and Energy to Travel. However for almost two straight years I suffered the Fear of Travel, the Fear of Driving, the Fear of leaving my home. It was a real struggle!
Slowly I worked through it, little by little and I was able to leave my home, then began driving again. Seems I suffered a trauma that had a hold on me and it kept me grounded for over two years. There were times I felt myself improving by taking short trips here and there. Maybe a gig, maybe food shopping, maybe out to eat However nothing that would keep me away from home for more than an hour. Not only was it scary, it was for Real and it was something I had trouble overcoming. So I took baby steps here and there, until we were out of the clear with COVID. I never got covid in this time by the way!
My first long trip was to Nashville then to Disneyworld where yes I came down with Covid for a few weeks and it was an annoying head cold. Then I decided to stay put back home. That was 2 years ago.
Recently I began thinking about, that Road Trip, I had planned years ago and put off and decided to revisit it.
On July 17, I left New Jersey and drove, 7 1/2 hours and 413 miles straight to Rocky Mount, NC. It felt wonderful to be out on the road and all alone for that amount of time. The weather was the hottest it ever was and the humidity was felt from the outside of my car, even though I had air conditioning. I had never traveled smack in the middle of July and boy was it HOT!
When I arrived I was greeted by a friend and his wife, we went out to dinner and I left the very next day.
My next destination was Charleston. James Island to be exact which was 4 1/2 hours and 312 miles south. I knew I could do it. I arrived and spent ten days visiting my oldest son, his wife, her mother and my youngest granddaughter. Enjoying the low country, even though the heat and humidity was stifling. Temperatures in the 100's and with humidity to match. We went to the beach twice and it was for a very short time.
I spent quality time with my granddaughter. She and I checked into a posh hotel in Mount Pleasant and had a great time hanging out in the swimming pool and hotel. On the day we checked out, there was a Thunder and Lightning Storm brewing and we just made it to my son's home within minutes of a torrential storm.
From James Island, SC I drove straight to St Augustine. A four and a half hour drive, and 282 miles south. In the past I had spent time in St Augustine but never overnight. My three days went extremely quick and I made a point and decided to return on my way back. Still dealing with temps in the 100's, with high humidity and heat that made the swimming pool, where I was staying feel like a sauna with steam actually rising above the top of the water.
My next destination was Deerfield Beach in Florida. A four hour drive and 275 miles south. For the past 15 years I have flown into Fort Lauderdale, close by to visit my oldest granddaughter. I decided to stay in the exact area I had been comfortable with all these years. The Tropical Isle Beach Resort was Perfect! When I arrived and entered my room, I felt as though I could move right in and live there forever.
Still ungodly hot and humid with temperatures still in the 100's, I spent the first day in the pool even though it was hot at first, it was refreshing. My room came with a full kitchen so I went food shopping and bought groceries that my granddaughter and I would eat for weeks. She lives about 7 minutes away from where we were staying so she stayed a few days with me, and then went home and we would do things together for one whole week. I took her clothes shopping for her Catholic school uniform and school supplies.
After the first week I had decided to switch hotels moving closer to where she lived. However Plan A did not work out, in my favor. The pool was closed and the front desk clerk was extremely rude. So Plan B rocked!
I found a place to stay for the night and to my surprise it had a wonderful deep soaking tub and it was just what I needed after dealing with my first stressful moment since I left home. Thankfully my bank dealt with my claim and within days they transferred back all the money that awlful hotel charged me, even though I never stayed there. Always let your bank deal with these matters.
I moved to a wonderful place just three blocks from the place I was staying at in Deerfield Beach, which was on 4th and Ocean. The Ocean Villas was on 7th and Ocean Avenue. Another place with a full kitchen so I could move all my groceries right in. Once again I felt as though I could live here forever. They had a wonderful pool and it felt as though I had it all to myself every day I was there. Located just one block from the beach I found myself getting up before the sunrise and walking the short block to the beach and watching the sunrise come up over the ocean.
My grocery staples were Panera Soup, bags of salads,cheese, salami, and triscuits. Lots of water and raspberry iced tea and this kept me from going out to eat on a daily based. Which helped keep my Dining Budget in check. However I could not resist conch fritters and fish tacos along with yummy sushi.
I was also there to visit my brother in law, residing in his home close by, now in hospice. My days were filled waking up early for the Sunrise, swimming all day, walking and trying my best to stay out of the sweltering Florida Sun from 1-3pm. My hair went from reddish brown to full on blonde from the sun. I did not have one bit of pain and each and every day I was feeling SO healthy. My chronic insomnia went away and my frequent fibromyalgia pain disappeared. I found myself walking everyday and I was at Peace.
After two weeks in Deerfield Beach Florida, it was time for me to drive back. I ended up back in St Augustine and after two nights staying in a roadside hotel I was not pleased with, I moved to another place. Villa 1565, just a mile outside of downtown, hence called uptown.
I contacted the hotel to request an early check in and they responded with, we have an upgraded King Deluxe that should be ready when you arrive. Well this was more than worth waiting for. All I had requested was an early check in and a room by the pool. And what I got was Perfect! Was only planning to stay a few days however I felt as though once again I was in Paradise and could live in that villa forever. So I extended my stay a week longer. I'd still be there if I did not have to return home. Once again I swam every morning and evening and had the pool all to myself.
During the day I was a tourist and checked out historical downtown St Augustine and the Amazing area around Flagler College. I would wake up early and walk the Two Lions Bridge before the sunrise and enjoy every minute of being in the moment. I visited the Lighthouse, the Olde Jail, and the Fountain of Youth, located behind the place I was staying. I drove around on my own and ventured to Vilano Beach just minutes away over the bridge. I drove up and down side streets and marveled over the magnolia trees drenched in Spanish moss and the quaint cottages build back in the 1800's. Everything was perfect and sadly I knew I had to leave.
Back on the road again to Charleston. Staying with my family for another week. It had just begun getting alittle cooler in the high 80's and 90's. I enjoyed just hanging out in their backyard and celebrating Labor Day BBQ and a fun game of Croquet, which I had not played in years and turned out I was quite good at it.
After a week I was back behind the wheel in route to Rocky Mount, NC, where I had started on July 17. With now over a month and a half of traveling and feeling the best I ever felt in my life.
Spending quality time with my granddaughters, getting to say my final goodbye to my brother in law and visiting with a girlfriend who had just moved to St Augustine, was more than what I had hoped for. Not once did I suffer any Fears. I did it and I feel as though I could do it again. My heart is content and I was able to breathe calmly the entire time. Even thought I picked up a bad cough that seems to be an allergy from the humidity and air conditioning. It's slowly getting better.
The Fear of crowds and people vanished and I felt as though I was reborn again. The thrill and excitement of traveling had returned and other than NOW missing where I had been and the family and people I was with while traveling, I am NOW planning where and when I will venture to next.
Putting in over 2562.00 miles of driving to each destination, plus the treat of having my own vehicle to take me wherever I wanted to go along the way...I DID IT and IT Was Wonderful.
Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return life and travel, "Leaves marks on you." ~Anthony Bourdain
