Weary and Weather

Exhaustion seems to be a common theme tonight, so this blog will be short.

We started the day at 3:30 and were on the road by 4:04 a.m. Rick drove first since we had to drive through Nashville.  While the weather gave us problems last time, our navigation systems gave us problems this time.  Before we left Wisconsin, Rick uploaded the latest maps on Victoria (our Garmin system).  In doing so, however, he erased her "memory"of the route that we like to take to get to Florida.  In Nashville, Victoria kept trying to take us on an eastern route so we would go through Atlanta. She "recalculated" so much that we finally unplugged her. While going through Georgia is the shortest way to get to Florida, we have been told by numerous people, including our friend Paula who used to live in that fair city, to avoid Atlanta at all costs.  In the middle of Nashville we got mixed messages and the physical AAA maps did not go far enough to give me clear answers.  Rick's demands of needing an answer on which way to turn two seconds before we needed to take a turn resulted in a minor melt-down on my part and a very, very, very crumpled map of Alabama.  Eventually Rick's sense of direction got us turned around and back on the main route, but our trip through Nashville is far more stress than anyone wants or needs before 4:45 a.m.

After Nashville, we changed drivers for a little while, but I was not feeling well, so Rick took over again and navigated through most of the state of Alabama.  Once again the weather was beautiful, although watching the sunrise through the bug-splattered windshield of a truck is not my idea of a perfect way to begin the day.

We did a quick diesel fuel stop in Dothan, AL, and then crossed into Florida.  We ate lunch at the Florida Welcome Center, and I took over the driving.  I actually enjoy driving Highway 10.  It is flat, straight, and  not overwhelmingly boring. Ironically, after a trip with wonderful weather, today is relatively cool (high 70's) and the only time true rain threatened is when we entered the "Sunshine State"! The rain fell before we arrived as evidenced by the puddles we see everywhere here in Lake City, but none has fallen since we arrived here.

Sadly, the weather is not promising for tomorrow when we make the last 3 1/2 hour journey to Gladys. Due to storms over the unusually warm Gulf of Mexico, rain is predicted for Pinellas County for the next 10 days.  Thank heavens we have a garage door that actually works this year.  We can, if need be, back the trailer up to the garage and unload the goods into the house through the garage.

After dinner at Steak and Shake this evening, we went for a short walk and then returned to the hotel room.  We turned on TV, and both of us promptly fell asleep.  I can hardly keep my eyes open, so I apologize for this rather bland entry.  With what energy I have left, I feel excited to finish this last leg of the journey so we can reunite with Gladys before noon tomorrow.