Matthew's First Road Trip

As a busy Friday evening, my alarm went off at 4:35 am Saturday morning. M was already dressed and downstairs. We left shortly after 5 am and headed out on a road trip to Charlotte. Stopped in Anderson for Bojangles and QT drinks. Made good time and arrived at Drew Kelly's niece's apartment before 9:30.

Test drove her grandparent's 1996 Buick Park Avenue, which rode well. Only 90,000 miles. Buying any car is a risk, especially a used car. Especially an older used car. I could be wrong, but I have a list of reasons why this is the right car for Matthew.

I drove the Buick on the first leg back. Stopped in Gaffney for cheap South Carolina gas, plus my 27 cent BP Card discount. Filled up the Buick and topped off the CRV, though three troublesome pumps made it a time-consuming task. Then we stopped down the street for a photo opp at the peach water tower. M drove the Buick the rest of the way home.

For lunch we hit the famous Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, arriving just before a family on vacation from Indiana. We'd been to the Beacon several years ago on the way to Jefferson. The NFC Champion Carolina Panthers are about to open preseason camp around the corner at Wofford.

Went inside and ordered. Not really knowing how the Beacon lingo matched up with what came out on the plate, I decided to go for it and order a burger "a-plenty." This is what I was given:

There's a burger underneath all those rings and fries. Only ate half of it.

Stopped south of Greenville for Advil for M and in Lavonia for coffee. Then a bad thunderstorm hit, and we slogged south at 35 MPH. Arrived home at five. The Buick averaged 25.5 MPG. Not bad. A memorable first road trip for Matthew.