OFF TO MYRTLE BEACH 2015

Bags are packed and loaded in the car .. a quick bowl of Cereal for Breakfast .. shut the water off .. turn the heat down .. lock the doors .. and we're off to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ..  9:08 am Tuesday, February 17, 2015!!!   

 The scene we left behind ..

 

 GPS says 943 miles to Caravelle Resort at Myrtle Beach.  13 hours plus .. WOW!!! 

Leaving Raintree Plantation!! 

First Rest Stop .. 10:36 .. after Ozore and before Cape.  The parking lot and sidewalk to the building was the most treacherous part of the trip so far!!!!! 

I'm all set up for taking notes along the way .. my IPAD .. a cute little board to sit it on .. and we're all set ..

Exit 95 at Cape Girardeau .. East 74 to HWY 146    turn right Shawnee Parkway .. becomes Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge .. Illinois is on the other side!!   

Mabel's ready for a fill-up .. Mobil Gas 2.14 a gallon.   It's been a while since that bowl of Cereal we had for Breakfast this monring .. how about splitting an Apple Fritter????  A couple of Cappuccino's would be great too .. mine is Butter Pecan .. Yummmmmm!!!    Now in Union County Illinois.  On Illinois Hwy 3 and it is very clear .. lots of snow in the fields but they did a great job on the road!!! 

Went through a small town named Anna, Illinois .. beautiful old houses .. 2 and 3 stories ..  lined both sides of the Main Street through town!!!  Vienna, Illinois is another neat old town .. Whoops .. is that an Antique Store?????  Driver says we'll stop there "next time" .. LOL!!!  Gas is 2.29 in Vienna .. good thing we filled up earlier!!! 

I 24 headed to Paducah KY .. and into Tennesse 12:03 .. highway clear so far!!!! 

  Rest stop in Metropolis was a bit treacherous getting into also .. but the parking lot was a bit better than the last one ..

I thought this big pile of snow would have made a great snowman .. too bad I didn't have a hat and some coal with me .. I'd have fixed him right up!!!! 

Considering how much snow they evidently got we have been greatly surprised at how clear the roads have been .. Thank You Lord!!!

Temp was 22 at home .. now 26.  Crossing the bridge into Kentucky .. 12:36.  If we had waited for a bathroom there is a welcome center just a few more miles up the road .. exit 7 .. Mayfield.

Crossing over the Ohio River!!

 

And we make it into Kentucky ..

1:30 .. stopped and had  lunch at McDonalds in Hopkinsville  KY. not crazy about McDonalds sandwiches but  wanted a place with WIFI to let kids know we were on our way and doing okay.      Filled Mabel up once again at the Exxon across the street for 2.09!!!

Still lots of snow at the sides of the roads but just look how clear the roads are!!

The bridge over the Tennessee River .. look to the right to see the Kentucky Dam .. Whoops .. Liz was playing with the IPAD and missed the dam .. Arrrggghhhh!!! 

Notice we are beginning to be able to see some bare ground here ..

2:39 .. Into Tennessee and seeing a lot less snow on the ground .. Yayyyyyyy!!! I missed getting a pic of the TENNESSEE sign .. Arrrggghhhhhh!!!!! 

We're now running into areas where there is ice on the tree branches but not on the roads ..

Nashville, Tennessee ..

Look at that view ahead .. could it be we are heading into the mountains??????

 
As you can see we are back to a bit heavier snow on the ground .. and the roads are clear but a little wet in some areas.  The window is getting just a bit messy and mushy ... LOL!!!

Ice on the trees  again ..

5:12 Time for a snack .. one of Ken's favorite things .. he buys one or two practically every time we go to Cracker Barrel ..

We started out thinking we would spend the night in Knoxville if we got that far .. but we decided to keep going until we got to  South Carolina  while the roads were so clear .. no telling what they would be like by morning!!!   We made it to Spartanburg, SC  about  10:00 ..sad to say I missed the welcome sign for South Carolina also .. and pulled into the parking lot of the first hotel we saw .. the Econolodge.     Got ourselves all settled in .. ready to relax and spend a little time on my laptop and let everybody know we had made it clear to South Carolina safely .. and  could not hook up to WIFI .. Arrrgghhhhh!!!!! I called the girl at the desk .. even ended up carrying my laptop down to the office but no luck .. she couldn't get it to hook up either .. BAH .. I was NOT happy!!!   No link to civilization .. Ohhhhhh Noooooo .. LOL!!!!

 

Needless to say .. after 12 hours on the road it didn't take long for our eyelids to slam shut once our heads hit the pillow .. we'll soon wake and see what adventures tomorrow holds!!!