Run for the Border

  Dillon, South Carolina, United States
Thursday, October 16, 2008

Billboard

Yesterday my friend since high school, Mike drove in from Harrisburg.  This weekend, we will be heading to Hilton Head for another friend's wedding.  Our trip started early (5 am) because I reserved a tee time at 2:25 and it takes about 9 hours to drive to Hilton Head...yes I am that crazy about the game.  I packed the night before and only needed to shower before leaving.  I shoke Mike up from his deep slumber and we hit the road.  I drove the first leg to let Mike get a few more ZZZ.

Pedro and me

On the way down, I was checking the gas prices at the various stops to know where to stop for gas on the return trip.  So far the cheapest prices ($2.99 regular/gallon) were found at the border of VA and NC on the VA side.  For some reason the gas prices in North Carolina averaged 30 cents more...taxes maybe.  Unfortunately, the tank was dewindling and we were not sure whether we would make it across the NC and SC before needing to refuel.  Mike has never driven on I95 this far south and was getting a kick out of the Pedro's South of the Border billboards.  The car's Refuel light came on as we were taking the Dillon exit to stop at South of the Border.  I was floored when I saw the price for regular was $3.59!!!  We probably could/should have driven to the next exit, but since we were here, we tanked up.  Also since we were here, I took some pictures of the South of the Border sign and Pedro...I will never stop here again.

To make matters worst...we saw the price of gas decrease the further south we drove into South Carolina to about a minimum of $2.78/gallon.  Not making efficient use of our stops, we pulled over a couple miles from Dillon to get breakfast at McDonalds.  There were no McDonalds at South of the Border and I did not want to see how high the food prices are there.  Unfortunately, we just missed the breakfast menu.  I wanted to get 2 hashbrowns for $1 because it was the most cost effective way to get McDonald Monopoly game pieces.  I do not think the employees at this particular McDonalds understand the concept of "fast food".  When we finally got our meal, the fries were piping hot, so I guess they were the first patch from the deep fryer; however both Mike's quarter pounder and my Big Mac were cold.  I think they were leftover from last night.  To top it off...we got charged an extra $.99 for "eat in tax" on a drive through order.  Pressed for time...we continue on south. 

One additional warning, maintain the speed limit when driving through South Carolina.  We saw no state troopers on our drive through Virginia and North Carolina; however we saw about a dozen cops ticketing speeders in the Palmetto state.  And no we did not get stopped for speeding.