Our intention this morning was to take a long walk in the Lewis Vinter Botanical Garden in Richmond before heading back out on the road. Alas the temperature was in the low 40's and there was a light rain falling from a decidedly gray sky. Not exactly garden strolling weather. So we just got in the car and headed further south on Interstate 95.
At one point we came across this AMC Pacer (1975-1979) that had been meticulously restored. We thought it was rather cute, but Time magazine judged is this way:
A recent poll by Hagerty Insurance asked enthusiasts to name the worst car design of all time: This glassine bolus of dorkiness is the pathetic winner. Remember Richard Teague, designer of the amputated Gremlin? Him again. But, come on, the Pacer, it's Wayne and Garth's Mirth-mobile, for Heaven's sake! You can't hate on that. Indeed, my family owned a dark green Pacer with that Navajo-blanket upholstery, and it worked just fine until I drove it through a ditch, after which the heavy doors hung off their hinges like beagle ears. What I remember of this car is that, in the summer, it was like being an ant under a mean kid's magnifying glass. The air conditioning was non-existent. You could actually see fumes of volatile petrochemicals out-gassing from the plastic dash. Wayne, I feel woozy.
NEX
Once we got going we did exactly what we said we would not do and drove 8 hours to Charleston. The temperature when we arrived was a mild 64 degrees.
We arrived in time for a nice walk in the twilight before dinner.
Sometimes the memory of a particular meal does not hold up when you go back to the same place and order the same dish. The Shrimp and Cheese Grits at Hyman's Seafood lived up to its reputation tonight. The Shrimp Scampi with Fried Okra and Hush Puppies wasn't too shabby either. Yum!
Finally, for all of you sports fans, this looks like a very nice place to watch a game.