Working our way to the end of May and taking care of our last appointments (as you get older there seems to be more), so we thought maybe time to hit the road. We made a couple of plans and started to pack. We put some things in place, started cleaning refrigerators, and got the luggage out.

We prepared the condo’s and decided to leave on a Thursday. The weather looked OK, and off we went. The morning was spent with last minute cleaning and packing the car. So no hurry to get started, and then off to Gainsville Florida. There were lot’s of large bugs in the air, so the various rain storms were welcome to clean off the windshield. In Gainsville there is a Fairfield Inn we have enjoyed before and it happens to be a few minutes from Swamphead brewery. Everyone had great food and we found some good things to drink.

From Gainsville breakfast; then we are heading north to get beyond Atlanta. A good breakfast was a positive in the day, and it was good for a number of hours until about 50 miles south of Atlanta when the traffic stopped. GPS said there was construction, which we never saw. But the GPS had already calculated in the extra 30 minutes, and we still made it to Cumberland on the north side of Atlanta close to the planned GPS time, which is pretty amazing.

We were very close to Truist field where the Braves play, which were luckily out of town. The battery district is around the ballpark, and has a host of restaurants and bars. My guess is it is one of the areas Mark Murphy looked at when designing the Lambeau field district. It is fun and busy on an off night. We went to a Yard House and all had great meals and good drinks! The hotel was a positive, so it was a good stop.

The next morning was breakfast in the hotel and then on the road. Going north from Atlanta into northern Georgia brings you into rolling hills then mountains, into Tennessee and the Great Smokey Mountains. Marie thought we were in the largest national park because she saw trees for hours. It is pretty country and you realize when you cross this country that most of it still looks uninhabited. Into Tennessee and then into Kentucky with the rolling hills, special semi truck lanes for slow going up the mountains, and lots of scenic views. Our goal for the day was Harrodsburg KY, to a bed and breakfast we have stayed at before. On the way it just so happened that we passed by my favorite bourbon distillery, Wilderness Trail. So we made a side trip for a couple of tastings. Beaumont Inn is full of history, and runs a restaurant and great bourbon bar on property. That is so convenient. The food is great, everyone welcoming, so a wonderful way to end the day. https://www.beaumontinn.com/ The next day on to Illinois, the land of enchantment.

It was a pretty easy ride, over to Louisville, then north to Indianapolis, then west to Champaign IL. Last summer we stayed at the I Hotel on campus and liked it, so we went back again. We went into Central time zone and the rooms were not ready when we arrived, so we went to a local tap house for a beverage and appetizer. We sat next to a couple that when our conversation started, knew bars here in Oshkosh and Milwaukee. They live in Illinois but love Wisconsin. Fun time.

Then the next morning breakfast and on to Oshkosh. We usually choose Champaign to stay and then head to Madison and home, avoiding Chicago. But this morning the GPS added about 45 minutes to the west route because of construction. So we bite the bullet and took the recommended route through Chicago. I worked out fine, even though there was traffic and construction around Chicago as usual, it moved along just fine. So back in Oshkosh we are. The 3 of us are trying to settle in, which will take a few days. But things are good, sunny and temperatures in the upper 70’s. Life is good.