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Open Road: Destination=Clover, South Carolina

By on April 11, 2015 in U.S. Travel with 7 Comments

Road Trip Maps“Sometimes a girl just needs wide open spaces.” – therebelchick.com

When I was a kid, I was not a huge fan of hopping into the family car and driving. I have always loved traveling, but I just wanted to reach my destination. When I drove from Massachusetts to California, that changed. I realized how magical road trips can be. I will forever appreciate the freedom, adventure, and growth the open road provides.

Gina Pacelli & Myhanh, Empire Executive Offices, Fort Lauderdale, FloridaLast week, I spent my final night in South Florida at an Empire Executive Offices party in downtown Fort Lauderdale with Myhanh. When we got home, I was wired and spent some time organizing myself for my big move from Florida to Massachusetts. I hit the sheets at 1:00 a.m.

At 5:00 a.m., I was woken from a deep sleep by an unexpected text. When I finally got up, I was cranky. I had a minimum of 10 hours of driving ahead of me. I had been looking forward to my trip, but all I wanted to do was crawl under the covers and shut my eyes.

Off I went. I had a few things to wrap up in Florida, and I was moving at a snail’s pace. I listened to “mediation music” to balance me after getting off to a late start.

As I drove, I read the signs. Some gave me warm, fuzzy feelings as I reminisced about previous trips; others gave me goose bumps as I realized there was still so much more to explore. I made a mental note of where my future travels to the sunshine state could take me.

I stopped for gas, and the creepy stares I received propelled me to keep my head held high, skip the bathroom, and leave as quickly as possible.

Back on the road. More signs. More memories. More dreams.

Florida is a HUGE state, so a wave of excitement surged through my body when I crossed the border. I switched my tunes, and music from my college days soothed my soul. I was finally relaxed and happy.

“With the right music, you either forget everything or you remember everything.” – Spirit Science

As I got closer to South Carolina, the itch to explore grew strong. I kept thinking about Charleston. I had been advised by many not to spend too much time driving in one shot. I wanted to make decent timing, and I was already behind schedule. But…

I remembered a conversation I had with Leann. She said, “what was so wonderful and special about [me] was [my] lack of stress and fear in life.” She said worrying would hold me back and I need to stop listening to people. I knew she was right, but I was stuck in the pattern.

I knew Brian, a fellow adventurer, would not care if I got in late. I knew I had the energy to add a few more hours to my trip. What was holding me back? What did I want to do? Why did I care so much about what others thought?

I knew what I wanted. I knew what I needed. I discarded the advice I was given, even though the intentions were good. I knew this decision would be a turning point in my life. I knew I would get back the carefree, fearless attitude I once had.

Off to Charleston I went. I did not have a plan. I had a good navigation system and a great network I could tap into via Facebook.

ProhibitionI asked, “Depending on time, I may stop in Charleston, South Carolina for a quick dinner. Any suggestions on where to eat?” The options I received were Fish, The Macintosh, Union Provisions, Prohibition, The Grocery, and Hyman’s. I chose Prohibition because of the ease of getting out of town, the great bar I could eat at, and the killer food. Parking was easy, and the area was safe. What more could I ask for? (Thanks, Katherine!)

The place was extremely cute and inviting. I sat at the bar, and a friendly bartender came over to help me. He recommended the fried, green tomatoes with shrimp, cheese, and jalapenos. The dish was oral heaven.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Did I add a lot of extra time to my drive to Clover? Yes. Was I happy with my decision? Absolutely. After all, what is a road trip without a little bit of adventure? The beauty of doing a solo road trip is having the freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. What did I lose? Nothing. What did I gain? A sense of joy knowing I was true to myself, a little adventure I will always remember, and a little piece of the fearless girl I once was. I felt alive and free.

What have you learned from your road trip? Share your story below.

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There Are 7 Brilliant Comments

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  1. Proof says:

    Inspiring! glad I came to mind! you listened to yourself. Btw- dinner looks and sounds incredible! And so glad you had fun in clover. Perfect way/people to get you to where you once were.

  2. Brenda Elizabeth says:

    Enjoyed your blog as always! Fried green tomatoes look yummy! Glad you are feeding your adventurous soul 🙂

    • ginapacelli says:

      Thanks, B! I really had a great time on my road trip. We will create some new adventures together soon. 🙂

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