Left Charlotte at 10am. Wanted to get pix of downtown Charlotte. Pretty hazy day, so the shots aren't  that great:

 

Kind of got lost getting out of Charlotte - lots of turns. Buddy got an itsy bitsy sick. Only water and part of a leaf.

Went south on I-85 to Spartanburg, SC.

Stopped for a bathroom break at the SC Welcome Center. On the way back to the car, I noticed something hanging from underneath the center front of the car. Figured it could wait till back in HP.

Had to get a pic of Gaffney, SC's peach water tower:



On the way to the tower, saw this old school:



Back on the highway. Started hearing that metal scrape across the road. Sounded like h nails on a chalkboard. Stopped at the first Truck Stop I could find - luckily, they had a garage.

It was just a metal cover to something. Guy removed it for me for free!

While waiting, got to hang out with Trucker Larry. Hello to his wife of 30 years and their 6 children who are "always on the computer."

 

Larry's driven his rig 1/2 billion miles -- like going around the equator 20 times.

Thanks for the photos Larry!

Then went up Hwy 26 West to Asheville.

I don't recommend taking photos while driving up a mountain hwy:

  

Saw signs for Carl Sandburg's Historic Home. Pulled off the highway, and en route, came across Highland Resort:

 

Made it to Sandburg's Home in Flat Rock, NC (Founded in 1804). 1/2 mile trek up a mountain to his house. Buddy's a great hiking dog:

   
   
   


A 2 hour drive ended up taking me 4 hours.

Now in downtown Asheville at Bistro 1896. Buncombe County has free wireless web.  How progressive!!