Arkansas — 2017 — The 21st Century Matriarch

After a good night’s rest in Carrollton, Texas we headed out for two long days of driving to get to Laurel, Maryland. Our first stop was still in Texas: a Love’s in Mt. Vernon, Texas. We both got morning caffeine: coffee for my daughter and a soft drink for me.

The next stop was a McDonald’s in Hope, Arkansas. I remembered to send a text to my husband that we were on the road. We bought French Fries and Chicken Nuggets which I ate while driving. I eat the French fries first from the container on my lap. Then my daughter hands me my portion of the McNuggets.

The next stop was a McDonalds in Cotton Plant, Arkansas. We felt a little guilty because we didn’t buy anything; just used the facilities and continued our drive.

I was in the passenger seat when we were crossing the Mississippi River to Memphis so was able to take some pictures.

We stopped at a very understaffed Exxon travel station in Arlington Tennessee. I bought another soft drink to keep me going.

The only real rest stop of the day was in Benton County Tennessee.

We got to our stop for the night, an EconoLodge in Lebanon, Tennessee, and managed to park in the shade while we ate dinner (so the tarantula and spider stayed cool enough) and were back to the hotel about sunset.

We had a large breakfast so didn’t stop until lunch time (it came a little earlier because of the time zone change). It was a McDonalds but I got a salad this time. I drove while my daughter ate.

We made a stop at a Sheetz for gasoline…and another soft drink for me.

I started eating my lunch and then took some pictures of the greenery in eastern Tennessee throught the windshield.

The next stop was the only rest stop of the day – in Virginia. There was a dogwood near the building’s entrance with fading blooms.

We were close enough to home that we went for 3 hours without another stop. The car was power washed by some rain showers along the way. The road was drying by the time we got home. We staggered out of the car. The tarantula was out of it burrow and seemed glad the vibrations were finally stopping.

It was good to be home again!

I started 2017 on a road trip to Texas. We (my daughter and I) left while it was still dark the morning of the 31^st from Maryland and arrived at our destination near Dallas on the 1^st. It was cloudy – misty – rainy both days. Fortunately, the temperature stayed well above freezing. We did see a dusting of snow on the hills as we drove the ups, downs, and curves of the Interstate in southwestern Virginia…the Appalachians.

The route was through the backbone of Tennessee on the Blue Star Highway: Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis. The rest stops in Tennessee are probably the best along the route.

My daughter drove as we crossed the Mississippi River at Memphis into Arkansas. It’s difficult to get a good view of the river with the high railings of the bridge….safety first rather than view.

We made good time both days. Most of the route was good highway and the construction areas were not active on the holiday weekend. Traffic was light to medium. We encountered one accident along the way that was on the other side of the highway. The flyovers on some the newer interstate connections approaching Dallas were almost too high for comfort; I focused on the road rather than the scenery!

And we arrived about when the nav system predicted.