St Paul MN to central FL coast.
Sitting here with the US map in front of me, I just can't see the way. No sightseeing or detours. I need to get to FL in an efficient manner, and figure that driving about 400 - 450 miles a day, it will take me four or five days. That's fine by me, but there seem to be so many roads crisscrossing every which way, I keep getting lost.... and that's just on the map.
So I need a bit of guidance.
Out of St Paul I will take 94 to 39 and then ??????
Was thinking at the other end to go through Birmingham, Montgomery to I-10, I-95, mainly because I have driven that bit several times now and 'know' it.
It's that in between bit that I am struggling with, especially trying to avoid, as much as possible, the major urban centres.
Someone, please point me in the right direction. Leaving tomorrow morning - Thursday 1st May. I will get on the internet along the way to check. Thanks in anticipation.
Lifey
All those memories when all I was after was to get to FL.
This turned out to be a great leg of my trip. Even a trip'just to get there', can have wonderful surprises along the way. Much more than just a straight run down to FL.
I did of course strike all the construction in WI.... well, three sections. But this time I was more forgiving than that trip, half a decade ago. Having spent almost 10 days on the roads in MN, it was a sheer pleasure once I crossed the border. No more having to avoid the potholes, I could relax and enjoy the drive.
My first night spent in Peru IL - 395 miles. Having left St Paul quite late I did not feel like preparing something to eat for dinner. The sun had just disappeared over the horizon, and all I wanted was something to eat, and go to sleep. Chose the chain diner at the truck stop.
First surprise was the 'specials' board - Thursday, seniors 25% off anything on the menu. The fish looked nice, complete with sides and soup. I did so enjoy it. Brought some of my paper work up to date and went to the cashier to pay my bill. While she was still busy with another diner she looked at me and said "You're good to go". When I queried what she meant, she said my bill had been paid and I was 'good to go'. She was not at liberty to tell me who paid it, so I asked her to thank, whoever did. In my wildest imagination I can not see who it could be. I had not spoken to or interacted with a single person since I had stopped.
It was here also, when I asked if there were any restrictions on overnight parking, that I was told of the gent who works locally but lives a long way away. He sleeps there every weeknight in a campervan - "Even has a generator he runs all night".
Slept well that night.
The first (and last) place I stopped on day two was the rest area at Rend Lake IL - roughly mile post 88 on I-57 south bound. This is a large rest area with a staffed information booth, playground and ever so many picnic tables... lots of which were well used. The road goes a little ways along the lake, with ample parking to have a picnic by the lake. There were several travellers who had brought their fishing rods. I did not see anyone produce that night's dinner.
It was a great place to take a walk - even if it took me 10 mins for the short walk down to the lake. A rest area which is much more than a bathroom stop.
That night was in Oak Grove KY - 430 miles.
The next day it was down to Dothan AL - 440 miles. As is Michael's experience, there was no hassle at all going through Nashville, even though I was there at 8.30am.
The outstanding experience on day three was a procession of cars I encounted in Quincy. It was led by three police cars, one behind the other, all with their lights flashing as well as sirens from the front car. Then followed a long line of cars, two were black with dark windows (but they were not the front cars), and all had their headlights on. Another police car with lights flashing came up the rear. The vehicles in front of me pulled off the road, even though it was a divided road, and the procession was on the other side. I pulled off as well, not really knowing why.
None of the vehicles was a hearse, as I know it. At home funeral processions are the only ones where every car has its headlines on. Never before have I known traffic on the other side of the road to stop for such a procession. I'm still puzzled as to what it was. Maybe a funeral? Maybe a funeral of a law enforcement officer? Maybe those in front of me were locals and knew.
Maybe someone who reads this can tell me.
On the last day it was 231 to US90, and that to Tallahassee where I hopped onto I-10. I-75, route 40 and 17 then took me to De Leon Springs.
As I said, much more than a straight run, with lots of great memories.
Lifey
