Travels with Mollie

For those who may be expecting some insightful commentary on the depth and breadth of the American experience here, forget about it. That would take a Steinbeck, and I am no John Steinbeck. Instead, here are just some random musings about quirky sights on the road.

** Traveling through Chattanooga on I-24W, we passed the "Tennessee Alabama Fireworks and Apparel Store." I wondered whether the management would give away free bottle rockets with every tie purchased.

** I have decided that speed limits are generally ignored as well as the "no-passing on the right" laws. I knew that was the case in Atlanta, but it has been true in every city and town we have hit.

** On one stretch of I-64W in Illinois and on another stretch of I-70W in Missouri, I decided to conduct a decidedly unscientific experiment. For 10 miles, I counted the number of tractor-trailer rigs passing by on the other part of the interstate. On I-64, I counted 57. On I-70, the total was 61. As I saw the prices for Diesel gas knocking at $5 a gallon, I had to wonder how transporting items using this method contributed to the cost of things we buy.

I have more to say, but we have taken a break in KC with our sons and daughter-in-law. We are heading for dinner now.