Moving Adventures

The first U-Haul didn't start.

Monday morning began with hopes of getting the U-Haul truck packed by noon. The pick-up point was a beauty salon parking lot in Gadsden, AL, and they didn't open until 9:00 AM. After I learned that I could pick it up remotely using the app, Dale drove me there at 8:30 AM. Juggling to see in the bright sun, and trying to answer all the questions I thought I had already answered, I finally got a code to the lock box, retrieved the key, and hopped into the truck.

There's a hopeless feeling that envelopes you when you turn a key and get this sound, "Whirr, whirr, whirr, plughck."

I tried several times, but it would not start.

A helpful and empathetic U-Haul representative quickly found me another truck in Rainbow City. The owner of the gas station asked me to wait until noon to pick it up and offered me, at a very reasonable price, the services of two men who could help load it up. I agreed on both.

I waited.

We had a showing of our house and took the dogs to Nocallula Falls while they toured the property.

They didn't want our house.

Dale drove us to Rainbow city.

I waited.

Cars got gas.

I waited.

People bought drinks.

I waited.

Finally, I was given keys but the gas station guy couldn't get in touch with any of the helpers.

Dale drove away.

I drove away and parked in front of the house. We started loading and after about twenty minutes, two men showed up to the rescue. We had way more stuff than we imagined.

With their help, it took an hour and some minutes to load it all. Then I spent the rest of the evening filling in holes where I saw them. I wasn't satisfied the truck was 100% full, but there wasn't anything else ready to put in it. I shoved one of our old bookshelves against the mattress and squeezed the door shut.

Tuesday, I drove away at 5:55 AM (Whoops, I forgot the parking brake.) Make that 5:56, when me and my pile of boxes drove away.

The drive from Gadsden to the interchange of US 431S and I20 E went smoothly. But when I turned onto I20E, the sun blinded me. You never really know how dirty your windshield is until you are facing the sun at 6:30 AM.

Somehow I made it onto the highway without hitting anything. From Oxford to Atlanta the sun played havoc with visibility. Even the truckers drove at 55 mph. The portions with shade helped break up the tension, but driving proved difficult. Why don't they make visors longer. I know there is a contraption you can add to a visor for that, but I didn't have one. I used my hand instead.

The drive from east of Atlanta to west of Atlanta was like trudging through mud. I think the fastest I went was 7 MPH Atlanta in the rearview mirror is a glorious sight.

Google maps offers two ways to get to Fuquay-Varina. I85 through Spartanburg, past Charlotte, up to Chapel HIll, then south to Fuquay-Varina is one way. For this trip, Google maps took me from I20 through SC and, when you get to Florence, SC, you go up I95.

The I20 portion of this is easy. Some construction cause slowdowns, some places had lower speed limits, but the drive was uneventful. I sopped at every rest stop and parked in the truck side. I did not want to back up that U-Haul.

When I hit I95, I swear I turned into a mouse. With the construction starting south of Fayetteville just past Lumberton, and lasting 80 miles to Benson, it was like driving in a Habitrail. The Jersey barriers (those concrete dividers that they put up to keep you off the shoulder) seemed so close to my driving space. I feared one small turn of the wheel to the right and the fat U-Haul would scrape them off the highway. One small turn to the left, and I'd smash into one of the semi-trucks barreling past me at 90 MPH. (While I went the posted 60 MPH)

But I made it to my house.

We had packed the mattress near the door so that I could set up the bed in the small bedroom, but forgot that I can't do that until the floors in the bedrooms are redone. I did not want to sleep on the air mattress again, so I emptied up to the bed and knocked on the neighbor's door. Nobody home.

With determination, I flipped that mattress end to end and up the front steps and into the dining room where I slept most comfortably.

Through the U-Haul site, I had hired two guys to come help me unload. Our start time was 9:00 AM, but one texted me to say he had a flat tire and their ETA would be 9:30 AM. At this point, I wasn't sure what day I would fly back to B'ham, and with this news, I figured I'd be leaving the next day.

What a surprise that the three of us managed to empty that truck in only 1 hour and 15 min. I turned off all the lights (I hope) and put the AC on the "Away" mode, and locked all the doors (I think) and drove the U-Haul 2 days early to the drop of point. In the parking lot, while the nice gentleman logged the return of the truck, I booked an Uber to the airport.

On the way to the airport I booked a flight that flew away at 1:42 PM. (Only 1.25 hours from my departure time.) I've only been through RDU security four times, and it never was crowded. But on this day, every cow chute was full. There must have been 60 people in front of me. I chose to not get crazy and started a conversation with a lovely lady in front of me who said, "If it helps, you can go in front of me." So sweet.

About ten minutes later, one of the guards came up to the last of us in line and directed us to a new terminal so I went from 60th in line to 5th in line. A lucky break, wouldn't you say?

I stuffed a few croissants down my throat and boarded the plane. My phone battery wasn't charging and I had 14% left. I sat next to a lovely lady who said she had a super charger. And, sure enough, it charged up to 60% by the time we got to Atlanta airspace.

As we approached Atlanta, I readied myself for the inevitable dash from terminal A to wherever on the other side of the airport my connecting flight would be. But... another lottery win. We landed at gate B4 and my connecting flight left out of B2. BINGO! I WIN.

My loving hubby picked me up in B'ham and I made it home.

Will I ever do this again...NOPE...was it fun and challenging...YEP!

We still have a bunch of furniture to move and Dale has his Allen Organ. But, as far as I'm concerned, everything left in the house is replaceable. :) (I wouldn't mind a new sofa or kitchen chairs....hint, hint.)