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 Well, that was a quick but really nice trip!  Would have liked another couple days in the sun but weather not cooperative. 

We awoke to find it was nearly 9:00!  Could not believe it.  This Sleep Inn on Bush Road in Columbia was in a fairly quiet area.  Not too many hotels and restaurants nearby.  I was not impressed at first view; but it was clean, quiet, and certainly had everything you needed for a nice short stop.  Best part was as we left they said - well your bill is $0.   We paid partial for the night in Savannah but the entire stay in Fernandina Beach and here in Columbia were points from our Choice Hotel program.  Certainly can't beat that!  

We were on the road by 10 stopping at a McDonalds and looking for a gas station.  Stopped at a small exit about 15 miles out of Columbia towards Spartanburg.  First station had no Diesel but when we moved on the the second station at the same exit they had some so we filled up - did not need to but thought best to get it while we could.

Then back on the road headed towards Asheville.  We stopped at the Farmer's Market buying some corn and Poblano Peppers that looked great.  Then we headed over to the Garden Center and poked around.  Looked for a plant that Robin wanted but no luck.  They had some very pretty begonias but not the special one she was looking for....bought some deer repellant that we will try along with our human hair and red pepper to protect our plants! We had lunch at the restaurant there at the Farmer's Market.  I do not recall having been there but Ben thinks we ate there years ago.   Jane had a huge hamburger - could not eat it all and Ben had chicken and dumplings.  Fairly good food but no photos.

We were home about 2:30 to find the house and garden doing fine.  Everything seems a bit dry but with a little water and mowing the grass we will be back to normal!

This was a nice escape and it is obvious things are on the way back to normal regarding the pandemic.  The masks when necessary and using hand sanitizer and hand washing we felt fine the entire time.  The active case numbers for Covid here at home have decreased by nearly 50% in the week we have been gone.  Most places we stopped had mask signs still in place and they were for the most part being followed - in all the states.  FL, GA, SC, NC, and then back in TN.  

The Scott's Strawberry wagon was finally open but we had almost no cash so headed home to get some dollars and then back to get some strawberries - by then they were sold out!  Will be going back out today for our first strawberries of the season.  

Cooked some creamed corn from the Farmer's Market- wilted lettuce from our garden, and chicken with a spicy orange sauce bought at Wegemans in Durham....pretty good dinner.