Minnesota at Last

TripPix.

We thought Tuesday would be an easy day, and it certainly started off that way. We felt we were home when we crossed the border into Wisconsin, not far from Illinois.

The morning was chilly but we really weren't prepared for the sleet when we stopped for lunch near Menomonie. The sleet got worse but turned to a cold rain by the time we crossed the St. Croix River into Minnesota in the early afternoon.

We picked up our mail and were soon in our own garage. Unpacking most of our stuff was fairly easy and we were both happy to be home. Sunshine briefly graced the sky at the end of another great day.

I ♥ Minnesota.

Practice Safe Text in Tennessee

TripPix.

Monday was another long driving day, starting in Decatur, Alabama, through Tennessee, part of Kentucky and almost the entire length of Illinois to Rockford. As we approached Nashville, I kept seeing a very catchy sign: Practice Safe Text. Don't Do It While Driving. Turns out the electronic billboard must have been the winner in a contest: great idea and even better message. In the morning, we entered our home central time zone and thereby gave ourselves another hour on the road.

During the long drive through Illinois, as the weather changed from spring in the south to near winter in the north, I thought about the strain of political campaigning in a large state like this one. The culture changes from southern to midwestern in only a few hours, and it must be difficult to spin an honest, effective message on the campaign trail.

We were both quite "shredded" by the time the day ended at about 6:30 p.m. An error in judgment led us to another Comfort Inn, lodging that must be the absolute worst in that hotel row just off I39. The full dumpster behind the hotel gave me a bad feeling, as did the old carpeting and decades old furniture. I was surprised that the WiFi worked quite well and TV wasn't bad either. Nevertheless, I felt we -- or at least I -- deserved better and immediately decided that I would splurge on my hair as soon as we got home.

Bob correctly noted that it was clean and the bed was very comfortable. He also liked the smell of cleaning products in the hallways and the fact that the desk clerk walked around the breakfast room with a disinfectant bottle, cleaning tables with what looked like a clean rag.

I couldn't wait to leave Rockford on Tuesday morning.

Sweet Home Alabama

TripPix.

We were on the road before 6:00 a.m. Sunday and spent the morning in Florida. We entered the Central time zone and crossed into Alabama almost concurrently. The Welcome Center is knew, and Bob noted right away that the parking area is badly designed, but I thought the entire area was just fine. Until we went through Alabama a month ago, I thought Sweet Home Alabama was the name of a movie. I didn’t realize it’s a phrase used everywhere at taken seriously by everyone. Unfortunately, the photo I took of the Sweet Home Alabama sign was ruined by my thumb print.

My first – and ongoing – impression is that the people are so courteous. The ladies behind the counter in the Welcome Center put me and my sometimes fake Minnesota Nice personality to shame. They greeted me warmly with what seemed like the utmost sincerity.

Later on, a little boy of about five held the door for me and another child at a gas station greeted me with a sweet “Hello Ma’am”. I think I need to work on my manners, and I know I'd like to return to Alabama for a real visit sometime.

We drove into the parking lot at the Comfort Inn in Decatur, Alabama shortly before 5:00 p.m. I’m ashamed to admit that somewhere along the way I’ve become a fussy snob. The hotel was perfectly fine, and for $65 (with a coupon I got at the Welcome Center), it was a bargain. After all, we were at the hotel for only a couple of hours, but I ungratefully think we should have held out for something a little more upscale.

I’ve stayed in my share of real dumps, and this place was a palace compared to many of them. I kicked up my feet to watch a little TV and slept like a (good) baby. The next morning's breakfast was excellent and we were on the road by 8:00 a.m.