I'm passing by town...

[bjornolf]

Hey, Ozzie, I saw you mentioned Smithfield's in both a PM and the Durham Bulls thread. Is that place really good too? Is it near I-95? Would you be willing to meet for lunch there on Friday, then get together for the Bulls thing on Saturday? That's assuming, of course, that the Bulls thing actually happens on August 15th. ;)

[bjornolf]

Is Smithfield closer to you than Wilson, and wherever Sami's is, Ozzie?

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Hey, Ozzie, I saw you mentioned Smithfield's in both a PM and the Durham Bulls thread. Is that place really good too? Is it near I-95? Would you be willing to meet for lunch there on Friday, then get together for the Bulls thing on Saturday? That's assuming, of course, that the Bulls thing actually happens on August 15th. ;)

I live in Smithfield. The Smithfield's BBQ is 1.7 miles from my house. Sami's, in Selma (I-95 exit 97) is 3 miles from my house.

[Ben63]

From exit 107 (Kenly) to exit 79 (Benson) is the most heavily patrolled section of Interstate highway in NC. Watch your speed. The limit drops from 70 to 65 just north of exit 107. Forewarned is forearmed.

Oz - you know way too much about all the hotels along 95!

Joe - also watch just south of Emporia, VA (Greensville County, VA), as you head down 95S, this is VA's hottest spot for tickets (MAJOR SPEED TRAP, all down hill, but doesn't look like it when you going south), but you can definitely see it when coming back 95N, the state boys, the county boys are always there!!!!!! Got my first ticket in over 20 years going thru there, Glad I didn't have that woman with me from the CB&B's story in the Joke thread!!!! ;)

Just got a speeding ticket in that general area on Friday. Watch out!!!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

From exit 107 (Kenly) to exit 79 (Benson) is the most heavily patrolled section of Interstate highway in NC. Watch your speed. The limit drops from 70 to 65 just north of exit 107. Forewarned is forearmed.

Oz - you know way too much about all the hotels along 95!

Joe - also watch just south of Emporia, VA (Greensville County, VA), as you head down 95S, this is VA's hottest spot for tickets (MAJOR SPEED TRAP, all down hill, but doesn't look like it when you going south), but you can definitely see it when coming back 95N, the state boys, the county boys are always there!!!!!! Got my first ticket in over 20 years going thru there, Glad I didn't have that woman with me from the CB&B's story in the Joke thread!!!! ;)

Just got a speeding ticket in that general area on Friday. Watch out!!!

Which one?

[bjornolf]

Okay, Ozzie, where's this Smithfield BBQ you want to meet at on Friday? How do I get there from I-95? Unfortunately, my GPS probably won't be working, as the cigarette lighter in my car is broken, so I'll only have a little charge.

And is anybody else interested in lunch there?

[devildeac]

Okay, Ozzie, where's this Smithfield BBQ you want to meet at on Friday? How do I get there from I-95? Unfortunately, my GPS probably won't be working, as the cigarette lighter in my car is broken, so I'll only have a little charge.

And is anybody else interested in lunch there?

I have to be in the office until about 4 PM Friday so I'm out.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Okay, Ozzie, where's this Smithfield BBQ you want to meet at on Friday? How do I get there from I-95? Unfortunately, my GPS probably won't be working, as the cigarette lighter in my car is broken, so I'll only have a little charge.

And is anybody else interested in lunch there?

Driving south on I-95, take exit #97 (US Hwy 70) at Selma. Turn right onto 70, go 3/8 mile over the overpass and turn left (south) at the next light, on to Hwy 301/Brightleaf Blvd. Go ~ 1 mile (past WalMart on right, then past big Auto dealer on right). Pass Wilco/Hess gas station on left, go another ~200 yards and look for Smithfield's BBQ on the left - it has a redish sign. It is a smallish stand-alone building. If you get to the hospital on the right, you've gone way too far - turn around! I think the Hess station is at the fourth light you'll pass on 301.

[bjornolf]

Cool, thanks. I'm PLANNING on being there around noon on Friday, August 14th. According to google, it's 242 miles from my house, and is supposed to take 3 hours, 51 minutes. However, traffic down I-95 from my house to about Richmond can be iffy on Saturdays during the summer (a lot of traffic peels off there to go to VA beach/Williamsburg), so I'll have to see what traffic does. If you want me to be able to update my ETA based on traffic, you might want to PM me your cell number.

If anybody else wants to come, feel free!

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Cool, thanks. I'm PLANNING on being there around noon on Friday, August 14th. According to google, it's 242 miles from my house, and is supposed to take 3 hours, 51 minutes. However, traffic down I-95 from my house to about Richmond can be iffy on Saturdays during the summer (a lot of traffic peels off there to go to VA beach/Williamsburg), so I'll have to see what traffic does. If you want me to be able to update my ETA based on traffic, you might want to PM me your cell number.

If anybody else wants to come, feel free!

Done.

[captmojo]

Cool, thanks. I'm PLANNING on being there around noon on Friday, August 14th. According to google, it's 242 miles from my house, and is supposed to take 3 hours, 51 minutes. However, traffic down I-95 from my house to about Richmond can be iffy on Saturdays during the summer (a lot of traffic peels off there to go to VA beach/Williamsburg), so I'll have to see what traffic does. If you want me to be able to update my ETA based on traffic, you might want to PM me your cell number.

If anybody else wants to come, feel free!

A safe bet, is to plan on that you will cover 55 miles per hour, throughout a 65 mph speed zone.
The formula reduces to 50 miles over any two lane highway travel or speed limits involving 55 for the majority of the trip.
This slack will account for unknowns, such as, rest stops, construction slow-downs, heavy traffic areas. If you do better, all the better.

[TillyGalore]

Cool, thanks. I'm PLANNING on being there around noon on Friday, August 14th. According to google, it's 242 miles from my house, and is supposed to take 3 hours, 51 minutes. However, traffic down I-95 from my house to about Richmond can be iffy on Saturdays during the summer (a lot of traffic peels off there to go to VA beach/Williamsburg), so I'll have to see what traffic does. If you want me to be able to update my ETA based on traffic, you might want to PM me your cell number.

If anybody else wants to come, feel free!

Or, take 17 to 301 (I think that's right), to the loop outside Richmond, which will take you to 95. You'll miss all that traffic between DC and Kings Dominion.

[bjornolf]

Cool, thanks. I'm PLANNING on being there around noon on Friday, August 14th. According to google, it's 242 miles from my house, and is supposed to take 3 hours, 51 minutes. However, traffic down I-95 from my house to about Richmond can be iffy on Saturdays during the summer (a lot of traffic peels off there to go to VA beach/Williamsburg), so I'll have to see what traffic does. If you want me to be able to update my ETA based on traffic, you might want to PM me your cell number.

If anybody else wants to come, feel free!

Or, take 17 to 301 (I think that's right), to the loop outside Richmond, which will take you to 95. You'll miss all that traffic between DC and Kings Dominion.

That's a good idea, if there's traffic. If there isn't, though, wouldn't that take me WAY out of the way? I'm not too familiar with that route. I've been on 17 and 301, but never for that purpose.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

I've been on 17 and 301, but never for that purpose.

Isn't it odd that your lunch destination is on 301!

[TillyGalore]

Cool, thanks. I'm PLANNING on being there around noon on Friday, August 14th. According to google, it's 242 miles from my house, and is supposed to take 3 hours, 51 minutes. However, traffic down I-95 from my house to about Richmond can be iffy on Saturdays during the summer (a lot of traffic peels off there to go to VA beach/Williamsburg), so I'll have to see what traffic does. If you want me to be able to update my ETA based on traffic, you might want to PM me your cell number.

If anybody else wants to come, feel free!

Or, take 17 to 301 (I think that's right), to the loop outside Richmond, which will take you to 95. You'll miss all that traffic between DC and Kings Dominion.

That's a good idea, if there's traffic. If there isn't, though, wouldn't that take me WAY out of the way? I'm not too familiar with that route. I've been on 17 and 301, but never for that purpose.

Yes, it will take you out of the way, but only ever so slightly. The drive is really nice, hardly any cars on the road. I hate driving 95 after Richmond up to NOVA and into Maryland, thus I take 301 all the time. Doesn't matter what time of day I'm traveling, I take 301.

[bjornolf]

So, some people have asked, so I'll post a little on me meeting with my long lost bro.

IT WAS AWESOME

I was very surprised by how quickly we gelled. One of the ladies at SotB even asked us if we were brothers, since we kind of bagged on each other like bros after just a few hours together. It was kinda weird. We said, "yea", but that we'd only met like ten hours before, and had chosen their location for our "reunion", reunion being kind of a misnomer.

He called me his "brother from another mother" when we met, a phrase I've always loved, and when we realized it was actually TRUE with us, we started using it constantly. ;)

We checked into the hotel and talked for a while about my books and his internet computer game he's designing. Then we went to see District 9, which is an AWESOME guy movie, at the big new, stadium seating, theater in Florence, SC. Then we got dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse about a block away, and talked for a while about various stuff. Drank a couple Blue Moons while we were there.

Then we headed back to the hotel room and looked at family pictures 'til about 2 am. Then he went back to his hotel room and we got back together at 8am. Got some breakfast at Pedro's Diner, then went back to the hotel and played some PS3, Resistance: Fall of Man, until checkout time at noon, which was even more fun for the fact that neither of us had ever played so we sucked BIG TIME. After checkout, we shopped at all the tourist traps at SotB for some fun, cheesy gifts for the kids (I have six nieces and nephews now. 11 if you count the ones my wife has through her half sisters, but we never see them either). We took a few pictures, had a few laughs. He taught me about "real" fire works at the fire works mart, since here in NoVA, they only allow the baby ones. He said the prices there were actually REALLY good, and he liked that they had ALL the manufacturers. He said most stores just have one or two down where he lives in Florida.

It was SO much fun. Unfortunately, I've forgotten how to use crappy disposable cameras so I didn't use the flash. Here are some pix that actually turned out, including scary land shark and giant alligator attacks. Crikey!

[TillyGalore]

So, some people have asked, so I'll post a little on me meeting with my long lost bro.

IT WAS AWESOME

I was very surprised by how quickly we gelled. One of the ladies at SotB even asked us if we were brothers, since we kind of bagged on each other like bros after just a few hours together. It was kinda weird. We said, "yea", but that we'd only met like ten hours before, and had chosen their location for our "reunion", reunion being kind of a misnomer.

He called me his "brother from another mother" when we met, a phrase I've always loved, and when we realized it was actually TRUE with us, we started using it constantly. ;)

We checked into the hotel and talked for a while about my books and his internet computer game he's designing. Then we went to see District 9, which is an AWESOME guy movie, at the big new, stadium seating, theater in Florence, SC. Then we got dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse about a block away, and talked for a while about various stuff. Drank a couple Blue Moons while we were there.

Then we headed back to the hotel room and looked at family pictures 'til about 2 am. Then he went back to his hotel room and we got back together at 8am. Got some breakfast at Pedro's Diner, then went back to the hotel and played some PS3, Resistance: Fall of Man, until checkout time at noon, which was even more fun for the fact that neither of us had ever played so we sucked BIG TIME. After checkout, we shopped at all the tourist traps at SotB for some fun, cheesy gifts for the kids (I have six nieces and nephews now. 11 if you count the ones my wife has through her half sisters, but we never see them either). We took a few pictures, had a few laughs. He taught me about "real" fire works at the fire works mart, since here in NoVA, they only allow the baby ones. He said the prices there were actually REALLY good, and he liked that they had ALL the manufacturers. He said most stores just have one or two down where he lives in Florida.

It was SO much fun. Unfortunately, I've forgotten how to use crappy disposable cameras so I didn't use the flash. Here are some pix that actually turned out, including scary land shark and giant alligator attacks. Crikey!

Awesome!! I can't imagine what it would be like to be told I had a brother or another sister at this point in my life.

BTW, how come you didn't bring your new camera?

[DukieInKansas]

Sounds like a great time was had by all. I hope you keep in touch. Family, even discovered belatedly, is a wonderful thing!

[wilson]

So, some people have asked, so I'll post a little on me meeting with my long lost bro.
IT WAS AWESOME

All of this really is just the coolest, man. It's so good to hear that y'all hit it off so well. And he's one of those guys that, whether or not this is fair (it's probably not), just looks like a fun, cool dude.
It's also really cool that y'all immediately had brother-ish chemistry. My brother and I took nearly 20 years to discover any semblance of that.
So do you think y'all will now make a point of getting together regularly?

[bjornolf]

He is a pretty fun, cool dude, at least as far as I've been able to tell so far. Here's a picture he sent me of his family, so you can see my new sister in law and all the nephews and nieces I suddenly have: