Southern Road trip 1

On the 23rd of November we headed out to explore the south of the USA. Our goal was to meet up with our former bridesmaid who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. Sylvie drove the whole way about 1020 miles (1642Km). The roads were superb. We went Bloomington to Evansville on Thanksgiving Day Eve with hardly a car on the road - and cross the Ohio River there. We stopped the night in Clarksville, TN where we had rain; and then the next day went through Nashville to Birmingham. South of Nashville you could see a line of clouds and beyond was clear blue sky. As we approached we got into a parched land. The south and southeast has been in drought for 4 months. We passed through areas of smoke and wildfires. We stopped at a couple of places along the freeway to get a break from the trucks and driving. Always near you, every 1 kilometer are trucks hauling all manner of goods. Some are of impressive length and it is an unnerving experience to have the Hyundai Sante Fe Sports AWD sandwiched in a lane between them. Got hit up for a donation at a Starbucks at Athens (north of Birmingham) - there are people who will come up to you for money and spin a story of woe. What could I do? It was Thanksgiving Day after all.

Nashville is spaghetti freeway junction. Sylvie was on the driving and I was navigating with the Google Maps - Ute was on music. The online map was absolutely necessary. You need it to navigate the numerous and rapidly presenting off ramps to this place or that. Then there are exits that are I-64A and this is different from I-64 etc. A good idea too, is to stay in the middle lanes as right or left lanes can evaporate or become exit ways you can't get out of easily. Still we got there. Indy500 here we come.

Birmingham is known for its iron industry and the evidence of it is all around. It was hot, still, sunny and dry as a chip. All grass dead and trees in different stages of dropping leaves or dying. We had Thanksgiving dinner outside at our friend Ellen's place - just plain lovely. Thanks Ellen. Thanks Dean.

Ellen and Dean, Birmingham

Ute getting ready for Thanksgiving Dinner