Day 1 (Was it really just 1 day?)

I've been off and on about this trip since last fall.  It started as a simple trip to Fort Benning, GA for a reunion with my old army buddies-we had our first reunion last year.  It had been 43 years for me since I had seen any of the guys. This was to be our second "annual" reunion.

I didn't have any doubts about the reunion, and this isn't what this little story is about, but I just wanted to give a little background before starting the real story.

Anyway, like I said, I had been on and off about the trip for quite a while.  I finally decided I was going to just do it-I have always liked to travel, and this would be my chance.  I decided to leave home about ten days before the reunion, go to see a couple of places I've always wanted to go, but just never took the time to go see them.

The main question now-mode of travel-not a question of flying since it was so close, but rather, what to drive?
I had two options-the Jeep Cherokee with 108K miles, getting about 18 MPG, or the fifteen year old RV that I use for camping when I'm fishing.  This RV is old, with 103K miles, but I've gotten it into pretty good shape for it's age.  I knew the gas milage would be bad, but decided I could make up for it by spending my nights in it, cooking my own meals, and just generally living in it like I would at home.  All this is well and good until I made my first fuel stop. $110.00 filled it up, but the dang fuel gauge was sitting on half a tank when I stopped!  I decide I may be in trouble, but that wasn't even half the trouble I really got myself into.  I'll back up a few hours, and fill you in on the trip:

I had planned to leave at 8:00AM-didn't take me long to revise that to 8:30.  Actually got on the road at about 8:45-not bad, if I do say so myself:)

The Garmin performed flawlessly until I got to the end of the driveway-that's when the fun started.  I'm glad I know my way to Chattanooga-the Garmin gal wanted me to go toward Knoxville. Could be she has a thing for my grandson, Preston. Lots of ladies do you know:) But, I digress.

Anyway, after recalculating a couple of times, she pointed me toward Chattanooga.  As we got closer, she tried to get me to go to Highway 153-over the dam on the Tennessee river.  Now I've been to Chattanooga enough times to know that highway will get me to where I want to be, but I also know it has heavy traffic and enough red lights to make a New York Yankee proud!  I just held the wheel straight, stayed on Hwy 27 right through downtown without a single traffic light.  There was plenty of traffic, but I made it without killing anyone. I won't say I didn't make a few of those Chattanooga drivers a little nervous though.  They don't know that I can't see them in those big mirrors when they are right on my tail!

Anyway, I finally get on I-75 headed South to Atlanta.  After going through that congested traffic, you can't believe how bad I needed a pit stop!  It's one thing to carry your bathroom with you-it's another thing to find a spot to pull off and use it!

I finally got to a rest area-the welcome center in Georgia.  Whew, what a relief!  Then, back on the road to Atlanta.

Things went pretty smooth for a while, traffic, large trucks, cops, and my weaving all over the three lanes notwithstanding.  Not a bad couple of hours.

About the time I was beginning to feel the need for another pit stop I got to Atlanta.  This is where the fun begins.  The Garmin was telling me to keep right onto I-75 South.  Well yeah, that's where I want to go.  It has a pink line showing me the road I need to be on-every half mile telling me to keep right onto I-75.  Now I'm beginning to feel a little uneasy-I-75 South is on my left.  Nothing I can do though-6 lanes of traffic full of every vehicle in the state of Georgia.  In short order I'm headed to Birmingham-Garmin lady still telling me to keep right.  All of a sudden we go through a tunnel-then she starts her little "recalculating" bit.  Dammit, I knew I should have gone left!

I get to an exit, she tells me to take this exit.  OK.  I take it, turn right, and am suddenly on the back streets of downtown Atlanta.  I really don't want to be here!   I'm cruising along this little street just barely wide enough for the RV, cars whizzing by me like I'm sitting still.  I'm just hoping my door locks actually work!  Suddenly a cop pulls out behind me.  I wonder if he is gonna stop me for speeding, then notice I'm doing 20 MPH below the speed limit!  I'm glad he is there right now though :)

I finally see a sign to the interstate, Garmin lady tells me this is the way to go.  I wonder if she knows what she is talking about, but go there anyway.  Turns out to be a good move.

To shorten this up a little, I will spare you the details of the next couple of pit stops, trips into truck stops trying to find a place to spend the night, and just generally trying to fight fatigue after driving for over eight hours,

I finally saw a sign for an RV park, decided to take a chance, and found a great little place only .03 miles from the interstate.  They were closed, but a lady who turns out to own the campground was kind enough to open up and rent me a place for the night.  It's a great place, plenty of shade, restrooms, showers, free internet service, full hookups and a small camp store.  Very quiet-a nice place to spend the night.

In closing, I hope the rest of this long 20 day trip goes just like today! I love traveling when I don't have a deadline:)

Ps-after doing a lot of sightseeing, then the reunion that started this whole trip, I hope to get to see a bunch of you at Athens Twilight, where this whole trip will lead to, before going on back home.