And so we came to that day which is met with dread, joy, or some intermingling combination of the two, depending on the nature of one’s journey.
The morning started clear and still, once again offering no cloudiness upon which the approaching sun could cast rippling colors, but the moon in the sky welcomed us to the day.
A quick stop, then on the road.
This time, the unknown forces that pull at possible routes in the mapping app pointed toward the NW as the way out of town. Congestion near Atlanta, perhaps? Goblins in the eastern AL underpasses? Makes no difference, at that point. An extra half hour, when one has gone 14+ on the road (not counting essential … and unessential … stops) can make a huge difference to the back and legs.
The alternate pathway took us almost immediately up into NC, then across into TN. Along the way, though, we spent a good bit of time running parallel to the Ocoee River, through wonderful forest lands.
Yeah, you know what that means, don’t you?
Many parts are clearly held under threat of dam releases, but such beautiful country. If time had allowed, some exploration of tributaries would have been in order, to be sure. Eventually, we came to this spot…
We had to make it a very quick pass, as the signs all pointed to various areas being “Commercial Vehicles Only,” to the point that it was hard to tell where the rest of us could even stop, but I did manage a couple more pics.
…and…
There MUST be some beautiful fish in there…
After that…Chattanooga, angling down into AL and passing through Birmingham, then across until you get to Shreveport, LA.
Where the horrendous driving around you clearly points to the rapid approach of the Texas state line.
Some things I will never miss, when given the chance to escape them…
The mapper says 14hr 23 min, but with fuel, food, and photos, it ends up closer to 16hrs.
It’s always best to sleep in your own bed. To be somewhere you know and trust. To be “home.”
That said…home is where your heart is, isn’t it? Every time we make a trip like this, I am reminded that Home, as long as my lovely wife is with me, can be anywhere; and that some parts of “anywhere” are far more beautiful than others.
Until next time…
Tight lines…