Final Week in NC + Car Trouble

My stay in Rougemont, NC was coming to an end, and exciting and fabulous end. Although I did get used to the living arrangements, I could not wait to move elsewhere. Somewhere with more light and fewer insects. The last week did not go as planned, yet was not as bad as it could. 

I helped the host to revise the Airbnb listing as hers was so outdated and poorly written. In exchange, she fed me delicious shrimp and poured amazing red wine. I would say, fair exchange. She was the representation of a future that I don't want to follow. A heavy smoker, independent, yet physically unable to do much due to multiple heath conditions and age, hence in need to hire help; a hoarder who was addicted to buying new things. The QVC channel was her go-to entertainment and the online shop where she bought everything. And by everything I mean multiple packages coming to her door every day. At the same time, she complained that she didn't have enough money for anything and was supporting herself with just Airbnb income. Indeed, as I mentioned before, this was the most expensive rental in my short digital nomad adventure. I felt bad for her. Her cooking was good, but she got complacent and started to drop hairs in her food. I could not say "no" to taking it. She had no friends (her words) and no family, nobody to care for besides her little dog and a history of success running three restaurants. The Airbnb itself was filed with memorabilia about her successful businesses, yet she found herself with little money left due to her lavish lifestyle. I don't want to judge, yet I do for my own sake. I want to be independent, but I don't want to be isolated like her.

Speaking of independency, after a nice hike in Occonechee Mountain State Natural Area I stopped by Weaver Street Market for the last time and picked up a delicious hazelnut pastry at Hillsborough Bakeshop & Pasta (my second one!), I decided to drop off a donation at the local pet supply store only to have found it closed. In the parking lot, I saw that my front tire was low and used my compressor to inflate it. That was after the "check engine" light came on this morning diagnosed with P0498 code.

Delicious hazelnut custard filing

...aaaaand a "check engine" light code

I considered going home first and deal with the flat tire the following day, but then found Hillsborough Tire Shop on the way home and decided to stop by to see if they could repair it. Within 15 minutes, the car was back upfront with my tire fixed for $19. A small needle penetrated it causing deflation. It was fixed in no time, and I was on my way home, happy, with just a "check engine" light that I would deal with at the next location. 

The hike was wonderful though. I found even more diverse mushrooms than before.

At Weaver Street Market, I picked up their hummus with a baguette the weekend before that was absolutely amazing, so I got hummus again.

I also used up my vegetables in the fridge to make a delicious breakfast and took the last photo of the area outside of my cottage.

I was ready to go. The morning of the move, I had everything packed up, stopped by the host's house who graciously gave me a bottle of pinot noir (she already knew what I liked) and some snacks. I decided not to write a review on Airbnb. I would not be honest if I wrote that I liked the place. I didn't. But it was a very unique experience, an experience that I was ready to be over. 

On the way to Pickens, SC, a 5-hour drive, I stopped by my favorite bakery in Greensboro and got a quiche, whole wheat bread and some pastries - the last goodbye to this area for a while. I will be back...