May 24th Miles: 514
Total Miles: 1149
The happiness chart best illustrate the day’s high and low points.
It was a beautiful start. I had a hearty sleep at the Best Value Inn in Lebanon, TN. After my morning routine, I was ready to continue on. Looking out of the motel window, I was pleased to find blue skies. Unlike the day before, I would make use of the Mustang’s convertible feature for most of today’s leg.
I generally cruise about 10 MPH over the speed limit. With a speedo error of 2 MPH, this usually puts me into the safe zone for not getting cop’s attention. I came into Nashville about 30 minutes into the drive. The speed limit moved down from 70, to 65, and then back to 70. Unfortunately, I did not realize it had dropped again, to 65, in the metro outskirts of the city.
So… I explained to the officer that my permanent license plate had not arrived and thus why I was driving with a temporary tag. He was more interested in why I was 15 MPH over the speed limit. Unfortunately, cops rarely have sympathy for not seeing the speed limit change. This cop had no sympathy.
Unphased, I did not let the $92 ticket that will likely raise my insurance affect me — for long. I was heading westward to Kentucky.
On my drive up Interstate 24 I kept seeing signs for attractions in Paducah, KY. With so many road signs touting the arts district and historic downtown, I surmised, there must be things worth seeing.
Paducah has an attractive downtown. It sits on the bank of the might Tennesse river, and large floodwall protects the city. On the wall is a small town masterpiece depicting, in very patriotic fashion, historic events and figures related to the town’s history. For such an old town, the buildings look uncharacteristically shiny and well kept. As I later discovered driving through the less-desirable parts, Paducah seems to be a town losing its industry and is trying to make up with revenue through tourism.
Southwestern kentucky is filled with lush, green, rolling hills, but I changed dramtically as I crossed over the Tennessee river into Missouri. There is something beautiful about fields of gold and green, as far as one can see. I think it’s the openness that made me feel completely free and unencumbered. With the convertible top down and radio up — for a few minutes — I no longer thought about worries that lie in the back of my mind.
Something I love about driving across the country is the surprising change of landscape. Today was no different, as I left the flatlands behind and again met up with filled forest and small mountains that made my ears pop. I finally left the Interstate behind and turned onto highway 160 in the southern-most part of Missouri.
The drive was an absolute thrill. I love roads where the speed limit is posted — and they mean it. The twists, turns, hills up and down were just hairy enough to give me white knuckles at times, but it also put a big smile on my face.
I was determine to camp for the night, especially after the previous two nights wussing it in a motel so I could enjoy the finale of American Idol. (Although, after seeing this in the middle of the road, I began to question my plans.) I searched fruitlessly for two campgrounds shown on the road atlas. I found only one. It was a private campground, the owners had gone to sleep, and a patron warned my not to stay unless I had reserved a spot on the grounds.
Frustrated, I headed West, and eventually made my stop for the night at a gas station parking lot just outside of Branson. I discovered my car seats do not recline very much. It made for a rough night of sleep. But I managed to sleep a bit — with earplugs, a washcloth over my face, and a towel as a blanket. It’s part of the adventure!
Posted by: The Big Cheese