While we were in Pensacola the temps were in the mid-70s during the day so it was a delightful stay. As we pushed north toward Birmingham, AL and Nashville, TN, the temps steadily dropped and then a cold front caught us to produce freezing temps at night. Only 200 miles north of Pensacola and we have about another 500 miles north to travel. Sigh.
On the way north from Pensacola, we drove across the alluvial plane into the rolling hills and then significantly rolling hills into northern AL and TN. The roads cut out of the ridges showed the layers of limestone, sandstone, and other rock types created by undersea sediment.
As we rolled across TN and into VA, we were inundated with truck traffic along I40 and I81. Probably because of holiday traffic, there were a lot of autos but I don’t believe there was a single empty space in line for any more trucks. We got to see all of them since we were the slow white-headed guys in the right lane. Although the truck is quite happy to drive at the speed limit, the mileage increases about 20-25% if I drive a steady 60 mph vs 65 mph. So, all the cars and trucks just wash over us like a following sea.
The terrain also made some significant changes as we crossed from Alabama through Tennessee into VA. We climbed about a 1,000 ft and the rock formations exposed by the roads cut out of the ridgelines with layers of sandstone, shale, and limestone were pointing up at an angle instead of flowing along with the curves of the earth like alluvial planes. This means that these foothills for the Appalachian Mountains were pushed up. Pretty cool!!
We stayed at the Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville. They have nice u-shaped pull-through sites with full hookups and lots of good dog walking paths. This park complex consists of 1,500 acres in the midst of much, much development in the area. It’s a bit of a haul from here to Reston and Fredericksburg for visitation but it’s well worth it.
We visited Paul, Amy, Diana, and Veronica in Reston on Christmas Eve and Day. Had a great time hanging out with them.
We visited my sister, Ann, on Monday and talked ourselves silly – at least Ann and I did. Once two Speeds get cranked up it’s hard for anyone else to get a word in edgewise. We took our two Shelties with us so Ann showed us her dog that doesn’t shed, bark or have accidents in the house.
