One hundred years ago today, my great-grandparents left their home in Woodington, Ohio, and set out for Florida. This morning, I left my home near Cincinnati, Ohio, drove north to Woodington, then I too set out for Florida. I am following their path but not their schedule. They started around noon, drove a half-dozen miles to Greenville, had some work done on their Model T Ford, and spent the night with relatives. I was in and out of Woodington well before noon and my first day ended in Georgetown, Kentucky, 125 miles or so south of Greenville.
I made this trip once before in 2001 with nice August weather and no pandemic. I have a pretty good idea how traveling in November differs from traveling in August, but how the current COVID-19 pandemic will affect this trip is an open and rather large question. There is little to suggest that motels in and of themselves are particularly dangerous, and that is also mostly true for restaurants as well. But people are an entirely different story. Meeting people is easily one of the things I enjoy most about road trips. I always look forward to chatting with my neighbors at a counter or bar, but that’s really going to be at a minimum this time around. I can see eating a lot of carry-out and possibly microwaving packaged meals in my room. I’ve even tried to mentally prepare myself for aborting the trip if conditions grow worse. Starting on the 100 year anniversary was very important to me and finishing this year is pretty important, too, but I’m going to try to not be stupid.
This entry is to let blog only subscribers know about the trip and to provide a place for comments. The journal is here.
That is really something to retrace a family trip like you’re doing. I take it your granny must have had a journal for the trip.
Liz and I are just staying home these days because of the virus.
But looking forward to getting out on the road if and when it ends.
Don
There’s some guesswork involved but no one can prove me wrong. She wrote letters to her daughter, my grandmother. They’re here: https://dennygibson.com/t2tampa2/letters.htm
I’m enjoying reading about your travels! You must be getting hungry Denny, I haven’t seen any food pictures the past two days!
😄Guess it’s all been carryout from chains which can be photogenic but is rarely interesting.
Glad you’re able to travel on the Dixie Highway before all signage is gone. There are some people offended by the name.
Nothing like canopied roads, especially when you have all that Spanish moss hanging down from the trees.
Was there ever a microbrewery that you passed up? I love microbrews, just not the price. I am a cheap drinker.
The actual renaming doesn’t bother me. The DH and other named highways were never named through every town anyway. But it does encourage people to think of the DH as having an evil background which does bother me. And I absolutely agree about the Spanish moss.
I try not to miss too many breweries. One of those in St. Augustine was my 250th.
Did Granny happen to leave any photographs? That is something to be able to trace someone’s trip from that time ago, especially a relative.
There is only one (Lincoln cabin) that I’m sure was from the trip. There are a few others that might be but are questionable.
Nothing like days off to enjoy and relax. The only thing I like about traveling more than this is getting back home.
Hey, while you’re out and about, why not drive on up to Massachusetts for the 400th anniversary? Near as I can figure out, the exact date for landing at what was to be their colony and stepping on the rock, was December 21.
Funny how those quad-centennials sneak up on you. I’ll keep that in mind for my Christmas outing — if there is one.
Here’s an idea for your next book or a magazine article: “Travelin’ with the “V.”
I think I’ll let someone else do that. I have taken a few pictures with the idea of illustrating a virus related comment but decided not to use them when the time came.
Hopefully you had some BBQ in Lexington, N.C., which is considered to be the capital of Western Carolina ‘cue.
Good stuff, but I prefer the Eastern Carolina ‘cue.
Sadly, I did not. I wasn’t thinking of food when I was there around 10:00 and I believe just about every place was closed for Thanksgiving anyway. But I really like that town and will make an effort to get back.
And, remember, Lexington is fairly close to Andy Griffith’s town of Mt. Airy, N.C., and that means Snappy Lunch and those deeeliicious porkchop sandwiches.
All that Civil War history. I’m jealous. As you know, the only thing I’m into more than old roads is that war. Sadly, it will be awhile before I get anywhere near Richmond, Virginia. I’m kind of mad at that town.
Welcome back home.
That stretch of the National Road between Zanesville and Cambridge is one of my absolute favorite “old road” drives.
Maybe one of these days we can plan to go on a War of 1812 cruise in Ohio. I believe there is enough stuff to keep us busy for at least several days or more.
Retracing ancestors’ trips is something few people get a chance to do, so you are one of the fortunate ones.
Yes, I always enjoy Ohio’s National Road (even in the rain:-) with its S-bridges, milestones, and other historic bits. I’ve been to a few 1812 sites (e.g., Fort Meigs) but never thought of seriously seeking them out. Makes sense, though.
And I definitely realize how lucky I am to have access to those 1920 letters from the road.