Up at 6:30 and getting ready to get on the road. I pulled my Diet Coke out of the fridge, opened it and it exploded all over me and the truck.  After cleaning me and the truck, I poured what was left of the slushie Diet Coke in my plastic jug and immediately knocked it over.  What a way to start the day.   I don’t think I’m quite awake yet.  Glad I’m not driving!  DG: me too.

Around Duncan, South Carolina a lady who works at the Pilot told us to be sure and stop at the Pilot in Commerce Georgia to eat.   She said the restaurant had been taken over by an individual and that the food was good old fashioned comfort food.  So we decided to stop when we went through.   Needless to say, it didn’t live up to the hype.  Greg had the catfish special which was dry and over cooked.   I ordered the open faced turkey sandwich with mashed potatoes and gravy.  The turkey was right out of the package slices of turkey you buy in the deli at the grocery store.   It was awful.  After two bites I sent it back.   I wanted actual turkey.   Oh well.  Won’t stop there again.

Getting around Atlanta was a treat again.  It doesn’t matter which way you come from or what time of day the roads are a crowded mess.  I am so glad I don’t have to drive in bar every day.

Sweet Home Alabama.   Stopped at a rest area and saw this.  Awesome!

We went through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and in to Mississippi today.    That’s probably a record for us for most states in a day.   Going to finish going through Mississippi tomorrow then Louisiana and in to Texas.   This makes a total of 22 states so far just in 80 days.   Now we need some new ones!!   The route today was supposed to go north back to Nashville and then Arkansas, and Oklahoma and then down in to Texas but we wanted to see something other than Tennessee again so we headed south.   Works out great since we haven’t been through Mississippi or Louisiana in a long time.

We have stopped for the night in Forest, Mississippi.  I thought we were southern but the girl at the restaurant tonight kept asking if yeeeaaawww doing okay?   It goes beyond y’all.   Good place to eat.  I had the barbecue ribs since me and fish don’t get along.  Tonight was the seafood buffet of all things.

Well, going to turn in.   Getting up about 6:30 or so.   Need to be in Mount Vernon, Texas by 3 pm.   Goodnight, y’all.

DG:  Sorry about yesterday and not writing.  I was tired, but not from driving. I was wore out from the stress.  Couldn’t get a load.  Then they wanted me to take the trailer to Thermo King to get the refer repaired. The company thought I would be able to leave the trailer there and bobtail to pick up another.  Well, they should have checked with the shop first because when I mentioned leaving the trailer I was told they had no room.  Guess what, we had to wait for it to be repaired.  Another two hours out of my driving time.  We made the best of it though by going to fuel and get supplies at a truck stop nearby. Next a wash out, then to Stanley for a truck load of power tools going to Lowes.

We try to go as far as we can each day with what time we have as determined by the Department of Transportation that august body of bureaucrats who in their infinite wisdom have determined the limits and capabilities of all truck drivers regardless of age, physical condition or stamina.  Annie uses her trucking app to find rest areas and truck stops near our outer limit of travel based on speed limits and time remaining on our DOT clocks. We try to cut as close as possible leaving ourselves about 30 minutes to spare. Well sometimes you have to push it as the distance between rest areas or truck stops are such that the closer one may leave you with an hour or more on your clock, safe but not good enough, and the next one is right at the limit of getting there in time without speeding.  Well, without getting caught.  “Seriously officer, if the government is going to set limits on how far I can go they should at least give me a break on how fast I get there”.  Yea, I don’t see that argument flying.

Long story short we pulled into an unmarked, on the app anyway, truck stop with 6, count ’em “SIX” minutes to spare. Way to go babe. That’s my girl. Keeping things interesting.

We got an added surprise as there is a restaurant, Penn’s, right behind the truck stop.  Parking lot was full, which is a good sign, so we went in. I know I had catfish for lunch but the catfish and shrimp dinner here was so much better.  See below.

Yes that is mayonnaise by the fries. A taste I acquired while stationed in Germany.

One more thought before I close. I figured out why so many people cut in front of my truck while I’m barreling down the highway.  These are unmarked cars driven by DOT officials testing my breaks and reaction time.

Hope you all are well. Good night and God bless

PS:   We wanted to say a big thank you to the guardian angels tonight who were with Gregory today when he fell off the truck while working with a pallet loader.   That could have been a lot worse than a sprained hand.   Thank you Angels!