POST 1073; 03/07/2013; WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

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POST 1073; MARCH 07, 2013; WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA

Alternate routing via Atlanta – Wilmington pulled off OK this morning, arriving at 10:00am.

Ron picked me up at the airport and drove directly to his office/warehouse where SAM has been stored. Got immediately to work removing SAM’s batteries and front wheel 36 volt DC motor... Left all SAM’s electrical wiring installed. Also kept both solar panels.

Spent the next three hours packing up SAM for our journey. Left Ron’s at 2:00pm, and began walking and rolling north on US 17 towards Columbia, North Carolina.

SAM is rolling right along, but is still much too heavy.

Stopped in at SUBWAY, where two ladies – mother and daughter – paid for my lunch. Spent some time chatting with them…mentioning I was looking for a motel for this evening…but there are none within many miles of SUBWAY. They suggested setting up camp at KOA, where they are staying at the moment. Decided that was a good idea as I certainly do not remember out to set up the tent…would be good practice.

KOA cost is $25.00 for bare bones camping spot. Add water and electricity for $6.00.

Took the $31.00 camp spot, which has electricity on the site…also have the restrooms and showers only 75 feet from the tent.

Took some time to remember how to set up the tent, but finally got it.

Spent the next hour opening up all of SAM’s items. Will sleep on it for tonight…and in the morning, will cull out all items I don’t absolutely need.

My new waterproof shoes are a failure…there are small “friction” knobs on the bottom of the sole. Walking while pushing SAM – we covered about 4 miles -, caused the knobs to pain the bottoms of my feet.

Have changed to the new NIKE shoes. Will still use the waterproof shoes on days when it rains.

Hope to complete purging SAM’s provisions and be back on the road by 9:00 am in the morning.

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