Roads

Janet and I just completed a great get-away!  It was pretty typical for us in that there was almost no radio, no smart phones, almost no TV, no ear buds, and very little computer time.

It was typical in that it was not planned out to the minute – at least the back side of the trip was not tightly planned.  We sorta wandered and wound up finding each day worked out well.

Also, it was a typical trip in that we did some cemeteries.  We stopped at the resting place of Meriwether Lewis of Lewis and Clark fame who died just three years after the trek to the Pacific (1803-1806).

On Saturday, July 21, we rented a car which cost us about $1.28 an hour for the nine days.  They upgraded us three times so we had a Chevrolet Impala (the clerk noted a rental shortage thus the upgrades and noted that there were no rental cars available in Omaha until Tuesday noon, 7/24).  The car had auto stop technology of which we were unaware so you can imagine our response at the first stop light when the car died!  Yikes!  It took some getting used to.

Janet and I traversed a variety of American roads over the nine days.  On Saturday, July 21, we traveled across Iowa using Highway 34.  Two times I got lost or confused which is really unusual for me.  My excuse – signage!  Iowa just doesn’t post as well as Nebraska!

Then driving into Illinois was like entering another country – the roads were bad – at times horrible!  I think maybe the head of the roads department might need to be in jail along with some of the former governors already there.  There were miles of slow down for construction with barrels and cones and NO workers and almost NO equipment (Peter verifies this condition is true even on weekdays).

Kentucky roads, at least the ones we traveled, were good.  I saw two highway patrol all the way to NC.  One was in the median south of Lexington, KY with three lanes of vehicles on either side all driving fast.  I have no idea what good he was seeking to accomplish.  In that same stretch, a patrolman passed me in a gaggle of cars all speeding.  He must have been going for donuts.

The traffic south of I-40 on Highway 441 SE of Knoxville, TN, was thick!  It was a slow go for most of those miles.

Going to the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC, was an adventure in that I had three  “back seat drivers” – Jill on her smart phone, Janet on a Garmin and Michael using his printed out directions. All three were jabbering at me and not always agreeing.  Boy!  We found some narrow, back roads not well marked and inhabited by people who live a much poorer and slower lifestyle.  It was an experience!

I-840 south of Nashville was littered badly.  I was amazed, no, dismayed and even at times shocked.  Were we in a third world country?

We traveled the Natchez Trace Parkway SW of Nashville (a natural travel area from the Gulf into the heart of the nation that was used by Indians, pioneers and settlers).  It forbade trucks, had a speed limit of 50, and had no shoulders but grass up to within a foot of the white line.  It was a very different type of roadway.

We encountered a number of hard rains, but nothing like yesterday morning heading into Fayetteville, AR, for church.  It was worse than a gully washer – it was a canyon maker!  Thank you, Lord, again for traveling mercies!

Yesterday, traveling from Fayetteville to KC, was “depressing”.  The Chevy was evidently underpowered for I was passed by almost everything – I did pass a couple of pickups.  Overall, we passed few compared to the number that passed us.  People in a scurry looking for that pot of gold at the end of the trip (rainbow!).

We travelled 2,877 miles and were in 11 states and yet found time to play cards with friends, fellowship with old acquaintances, touch base with others, and meet new folk. It was a blessing!  (We are aware we were within striking distance of other friends, but you know the routine: many miles, restricted hours and limited budget mean not all can be done!  Sorry!)

Thanks for your support and prayers.  We now need to sort out the pictures, receipts, memorabilia and reflect on God’s great creation and those He has put in our path that help make life great!