Saturday - Drive to Joe's Family Mountain Cabin

Pam and I were up and ready to go by about 10am, as per the plan. Joe and Elizabeth were going to meet us at Pam's place, we'd transfer their luggage into Pam's car, and the four of us would drive off for Joe's family cabin in the mountains.

Pam checked her voice-mail messages, and sure enough Joe had called earlier that morning. He said that Elizabeth had threatened death at the idea of waking up so early, so we were on an hour delay. Pam and I futzed around for stuff to do while waiting. We made sure we'd gotten everything we wanted/needed. We packed most of our stuff into her car. Joe called an hour later to extend the delay a little longer. Pam was doing a good job keeping low-key, but she had to give it a little effort. I was fine with it. Been married 20 years to a woman who was *always* late getting out for a trip. I'd learned well not to get overly upset at delays starting a pleasure trip. So I conveyed this attitude to Pam, and hoped it was helpful. Seemed like it was.

Finally 11:30 or so, Joe and Elizabeth arrived. I had a small suitcase, two pillows, and a fold-up chair. Pam had a couple bags, a fold-up chair, and a large cooler with lots of food-stuff (including the breakfast fruit I had brought). Joe and Elizabeth had rather quite a bit of luggage as well. And with all seats in Pam's car spoken for, most of it all had to squeeze into her trunk. Joe and I set to optimizing the trunk packing, and did rather an amazing job (wish I had a photo of it :). We had to put a fair amount of stuff in the passenger compartment, most of it soft stuff going between Joe and Elizabeth, and a little of it at my feet.

Climbed into the car, stopped off at a quick-mart for an OJ on the way out, and by Noon, we were on our way! Stopped off at a McDonald's near Greensboro an hour later, for a bathroom break and simple lunch. Pam and Elizabeth talked it up all through the drive and I joined in here and there, while Joe dozed on and off.
Cut North from I-40 just after Winston-Salem for 20 minutes, and then Northwest out towards the northwest NC/VA border. Crossed the Blueridge Parkway, and 10 minutes later, we were solemn-ing down a country road, with Pam's Mario Andretti-like race car driving, to the cabin.