I left Elkton yesterday morning, and after getting to the bank, I was off at 9:30AM. Driving down I81, which can be a nightmare, was actually not bad, and there was no construction for once! I just put Matilda on cruise control at 70 MPH. The sky was robin's egg blue. As I moved south, mare's tails began to appear, and then in great profusion. Know what mare's tails are - well our mother always called the feathery clouds that looked like a horse's tail when it is flying across the field, "mare's tails;" She told us that those clouds were an indication there was going to be a change in the weather. Sure enough, clouds were piling up, as well as contrails from jets. I stopped for gas when my gauge showed 308 miles. 25 1/2 miles per gallon. Not bad, I say, for my little Kiwi Green 4WD Honda Element.

Into Tennessee, still on 81, it really clouded up, and I figured this may be the ends of the storm that hit Texas and Oklahoma with rain and tornadoes. But there were only a few sprinkles along the way. Not enough to even use my windshield wipers.

As I81 dissolved into I40, I continued west, noting that the maple trees were starting to change color. Isn't it a little too early for the southern trees to be changing? I thought so. Perhaps it could be from little rain, but didn't Tennessee get tons of rain not long ago. I remember that Nashville had serious flooding last month. Oh, well it is curious, indeed. I spotted two young deer - probably teenagers - down in a ravine playing. Stay down there, I silently prayed.

Passing through Nashville at rush hour, and a time change also, was slower, but moving. The major snag was just getting to my hotel off I40, just outside the city. Major construction is going on exactly at the intersection, and there were major tie ups. When I finally was able to edge Matilda over to the right hand side, and also with the courtesy of other drivers, I was able to turn right into the Best Western Belle Meade Inn. Matilda and I had driven 550 miles today.

I had asked for a HP room, and was delighted when I got to it, that it had an open shower, no tub, and I had my first real shower in over a month! What a wonderful feeling that was. The desk clerk helped me get my backpack and some other stuff out of the car, and into my room.

It is now 8AM, and I am going down the hall for coffee and breakfast, then get myself packed up, and head out. By that time rush hour should be over. Next stop I think, will be Van Buren, Arkansas, right on the edge of Arkansas and Oklahoma - slightly under 500 miles from here.

More later,
Adios, Adieu, Mahalo,
I love you all,
Sally