We pulled in the driveway at about 8:15 yesterday evening and I stepped out of the car and cried. It was so quiet and sweet smelling, I was overwhelmed. I never realized how much traffic noise 24 hours a day affected me. The park my dad and Nancy live in is about 50 yards from a six lane interstate highway and the roar of semis, motorcycles, cars and emergency vehicles never ceases. Here in the north woods of Georgia, it is calm, with only the soothing chirp of a bird or buzz of the frogs. At night, we hear crickets, frogs and whirring katydids, with the occasional coyote in the woods.Sitting on the porch outside...no mosquitoes, only the blinking of fireflies. Honestly, I cried. Then I fixed myself a stiff drink and took Penny for a run in the backyard. Everyone is happy here.
Day one: Sunrise in Texas
Penny enjoying the scenery with her tongue lolling around.
On the trip there were some hiccups with traffic and weather. In Louisiana, the traffic was backed up for miles and miles because of a huge accident. We said at the time how lucky we were that it was on the other side of the highway...until our side came to a halt and crawled forward at a jerky snail's pace! There was another wreck on the bridge going into Baton Rouge, our home for the night.
Yikes!
At first it looked bad...
then, it looked really bad!
Just a few miles onto the Achalafaya Basin Bridge, the weather turned nasty and this is what we saw. The bridge is 18.2 miles long with no turning back, once you're on it. We drove about five miles per hour until we reached the other end.
After the rain came the bridge wreck that held us up even longer.
Trust me, I had a big drink at the hotel, too.
Penny made herself at home in the hotel room while Mr Wazoo and I ate salads from Wendys.
Day two started at 6:00AM.
There were some things that were lovely along the way. We stopped at a rest area in Mississippi that was absolutely beautiful. Big stands of live oak trees, a lake and a wonderful visitor's center.
Several areas had stands of these trees, shading the picnic tables.
Looking back at the visitor's center from the dog walk area.
Mahi-mahi swimming across the lobby
A stingray in front of the ladies room
Mr Turtle at the information desk
And a giant octopus on the way out!
There were lots of other fish tiled into the floor, but I had to get back on the road!
Somewhere in Alabama, the traffic was diverted off the highway by Highway Patrol, so we scrambled to see how to get back on track. We had a nice tour of the Alabamabackroads before finding our way back to the intended route.
It was already a long day when we were on the approach to Atlanta. Unfortunately for us, it was 5:00. Rush hour. Driving at any time of the day in Atlanta is hair raising, but rush hour takes the fear to a new level. Mr Wazoo did his best negotiating the gauntlet, but missed both exits to get out of the city and on the way home. By the time we found a way out, we had to take a route that criss crossed the countryside until we got to Highway 19 and the trip over Blood Mountain. We're used to that road, even though it is winding and steep.
We were home by 8:15.
I will Never live in Atlanta
Getting closer to the exit...
I took this picture the day before we left. Home never looked so good as when we returned!
Now, to see if an old lady with a broken back can still quilt!
On Monday I see the doctor and then try out the longarm.
