Montgomery, Alabama to Slidell, Louisiana 11/30/2013

NOVEMBER 30, 2013 (Saturday)

 

 

Woke up early and were out the door by 8:00 AM. It was a pretty miserable night’s sleep – between the noise, the light coming through everywhere, and the feeling of being surrounded by dirt – pretty miserable. Anyway, we hit the road. The GPS said it was about 250 miles (approximately 4 hours). 

A Hyundai assembly plant out side Montgomery Alabama.
A Hyundai assembly plant outside Montgomery, Alabama.
I 65 South.  Newly paved, not too heavily traveled, a very pleasant drive.
I 65 South. Newly paved, not too heavily traveled, a very pleasant drive.
When traveling through the south, I look at the fields and imagine how it must have been in the Civil War, hiding in the trees, dying in the fields.
When traveling through the South, I look at the fields and imagine how it must have been in the Civil War, hiding in the trees, dying in the fields.
I liked this horse decal on the back of a mini van.  Lex thought it not pretty.
I liked this horse decal on the back of a mini van. Lex thought it not pretty.

We stopped for gas ($3.25 gallon), then later on we stopped to get something to eat before we got into Slidell, Louisiana. We stopped at the Cracker Barrel. While there we also got another book on tape. It’s been awhile since we’ve been in a Cracker Barrel. Always fun looking at all they have.

Filled up at a Chevron.
Filled up at a Chevron.
A long bridge in Alabama and the trees took on a ghost like appearance.
A long bridge in Alabama and the trees took on a ghost like appearance.
As we head south we get into lots of bridges and water.
As we head South we get into lots of bridges and water.

 

Many miles long bridges over water.
Many miles long bridges over water.

 

Bridges, long and tall.
Bridges, long and tall.
Winter forest seen from the bridge.
Winter forest seen from the bridge.
Nice welcome center in Mississippi.  The ones in the south are so nice compared to the ones in the west.
Nice welcome center in Mississippi. The ones in the South are so nice compared to the ones in the West.
Long bridges.
Long bridges.

 

My lunch, grilled chicken salad at Cracker Barrel.
My lunch, grilled chicken salad at Cracker Barrel.

 

Lex's cake and ice cream.
Lex’s cake and ice cream.
Edie's peach cobbler and ice cream.
Edie’s peach cobbler and ice cream.

 

Welcome to Louisiana sign.
Welcome to Louisiana sign.
Louisiana welcome center is nice as well.
Louisiana welcome center is nice as well.

We drove through Alabama, part of Mississippi, and then into Louisiana. We got into Slidell around 2:00 PM. Our niece, Tiffany, and her family (husband TJ, daughters Blade, Machaira, and son Gladius) had gone to a gun show with Pat. Sharon and Falcata stayed home to wait for us. Was so nice seeing them. Falcata is 7 now and has grown so much. She, of course, had to show off all the animals they have now (two dogs and three cats). She’s a little corker.

We made the horrible mistake of giving sister Sharon a can of silly string in her birthday bag.  She covered us all.
We made the horrible mistake of giving sister Sharon a can of silly string in her birthday bag. She covered us all.
Grumpy old man finally found a friend.
Grumpy old man finally found a friend.

 

Falcata with her rag doll cat.
Falcata with her rag doll cat.
Lex's turn with Snickers.
Lex’s turn with Snickers.
This dog is a love.
This dog is a love.

At around 4:00 PM, Tiff, TJ, Pat, Gladius, Blade and Machaira came home. They said they want to go back tomorrow and that they enjoyed it. Pat even managed to find something that he had been looking for, so that’s a good thing. Got in lots of hugs and lots of laughs. The family has grown so much in two years. Blade is very tall and gorgeous (a Freshman in high school), Machaira is lovely (7th grade), and Gladius is just a joy (middle school). Falcata is a pistol and sharp as a whip. 

Great niece and nephew.
Great niece and nephew.
Lex with uncle Pat.
Lex with uncle Pat.
Niece and nephew in law arrive.  So good to see them after two years.  The kids are unrecognizable.
Niece and nephew in law arrive. So good to see them after two years. The kids are unrecognizable.

 

Back yard trampoline.
Back yard trampoline.

Around 6:00 PM, we were all tired. Pat and Sharon headed out and we were right behind them. We’ll get there tomorrow morning and have all day to visit with them.  We headed to Pearl River, Louisiana, about a ten mile drive, and checked into our home for two nights – the Microtel Inn (part of Wyndham).  It’s so much nicer than last night.  Feels clean, bigger beds, nicer curtains, cleaner towels, etc.

A lot nicer than last night.
A lot nicer than last night.
Nice beds.
Nice beds.
Everything but a stove, sink, and utensils, pots, pans, etc....  But still nice.
Everything but a stove, sink, and utensils, pots, pans, etc…. But still nice.

That was our day. Hope yours was great!