We left Macomb on Sat morning, Dec, 20. It was icy and cold, but very beautiful, as each tree branch was encased in crystal ice, and pretty icicles hung off the gazebo. We loaded up the minivan and headed out. The street was a sheet of ice, but once off Indian Trail Rd, the roads were rater clear.
Heading south and east, we watched the landscape change. First no ice on the trees, then no snow on the fields, then gradually, more green. the outdoor temp reading on the minivan also changed as we went. Starting out at 27* and rising as we headed south. I relaxed a bit when it was over 33, because I knew we wouldn't have ice on the road.
We stopped for gas every 300 miles because the fuel indicator is broken, so we never know when we're really out of gas. I just reset the trip odometer every fill up. It works. When we stopped for gas, we'd use the bathroom & get soda or candy. But mostly we ate what we brought in the cooler, fixing sandwiches on our laps, or eating hardboiled eggs, apples & pretzels, and carrots & celery. We're frugal travelers that way.
We left Illinois, Into Kentucky, then Tenn. It was a long, boring trip. We listened to the iPod, Hank had collected old time radio shows and books on tape to help pass the time. The kids read or played video games. We heard Alice in wonderland, the Shadow, Perry Mason, Flibber McGee and Molly, the Green Hornet, Sherlock Holmes, and a Perot book. the old radio shows were often laughed at because of the wild crecendos of organ playing.
We stopped at first at the Travel Inn which boasted $25/night rooms, but when we told them how many people were staying, it was $40, but it was so foggy we said ok, that is, until we got to the rooms which were so smelly! The wallpaper was peeling, the sink was rusty, there were suspicious stains on the floor, the bedspread had cigarette burns. We got our money back and left! That was the most disgusting room I have ever been in.
We stayed overnight in Chatanooga. We got one room. Left in the morning, Sunday Dec. 21, going through Georgia, down to Florida, and finally getting to Sunrise at 9:30pm. Our roomkeys were waiting for us at the desk, and the in-law having the room next door, came home at 10, and we lit Hannuka candles and had a great reunion. Will stayed in their room with them, and Michael & Larry stayed with me & Hank.
On Monday, Dec 22, In the morning, we cleared out the car, although it still needed vacuuming, because of egg shells on the floor. We saw Hank's Aunt Sydell & Uncle Hy in the afternoon & did some laundry at their condo. Then after dinner at the diner, my cousin Charlie & his wife Sandrus came to visit, and we went out for ice cream.
