Thursday, July 24, 2008

Journey to the End of the Night, 1982


[The final installment of Linda's notes from our Trans-America tour, 1982. Since I began in the West heading East, at some point I'll transcribe the first half, going East to West. September 1982:]

Going home by way of Newberry[, South Carolina] (Joe Johnston/trains) to Columbia and old U.S. #1.

Darkness fell in Columbia -- mad rushing streams of hurrying Southerners Labor Day hurdling their ways south on 26 to Charleston. We fled to 20 West and then the thought of sanctuary, old U.S. 1.

Darkness on desolation as the road fell from our eyes on the snaking blacktop. Rain. Fire. Lightning. Crawling to Camden for [brief stop] ($3.50 or so) and pushing on to the great Cheraw over vast gulfs of darkness.

The lights did appear . . . [and we finally made it back to North Carolina].

We made sure not to go to Old Sneedsboro, but almost joined the ghosts around 11:15 p.m. False security after we crossed into N.C. outside Rockingham.* Drunks zapping by carousing, careening white truck into our headlights, tailgate like a slapping fishtail on the sea (near death experience).

Long trail home. Whispering pines to Sanford's nice road to the beacon Chapel Hill and then home! [Arrived at 2:45 a.m., September 4, 1982, the day before our parents' 29th wedding anniversary].

*[Home of Rockingham Speedway or "The Rock," which featured NASCAR races from 1965 to 2004.]

[I was already on the road again the following February, heading back to New Orleans and Mardi Gras . . . but that's another story . . .]

Today's Rune: Protection.

1 comment:

Charles Gramlich said...

"Darkness on desolation" "mad rush of southerners." Very nice phrasing. I've enjoyed this series. Great writing throughout.