Day Two dawned early. The motel didn't have a proper breakfast so we packed and left. This day was to have it's own obstacles like Day One.
We left Marion VA headed toward Tuscaloosa Alabama. But first a pitstop at Mickey D's for breakfast on the run before we hit the interstate.
We headed southwest down I-81 into Tennessee. Hubs dreaded traveling through Knoxville but I wasn't looking forward to going through Chattanooga. Too much traffic in both but at least it wasn't tourist season. We got through TN and passed into the Northwest corner of Georgia briefly. We got off the road for gas and to hit Mickey's for lunch, to take to the first rest stop in Alabama ahead to eat and let the dogs potty and walkabout. Hubs was so sleep deprived and rattled he paid for his meal and then drove right past the pick-up window without picking up his food. I'm sure the employees there had a few laughs over their ditzy customer. Luckily I had gotten 2 sandwiches(BOGO 1¢ Deal on my app)so once we got to the Alabama welcome center I shared with Hubs.
Then it was back on the road toward Gadsden and then Birmingham. Oh Birmingham. A word of advice about driving around B'ham....be very defensive! Evidently not all Birmingham residents are aware that cars now come with blinkers(aka turn signals). And driving at 80 MPH is the norm and weaving in and out(and on the shoulders too)at high rates of speed are everyday practices. Somebody needs to tell Governor Meemaw a PSA is needed. *snort* Just craziness on the Interstate there.
So we got clear of B'ham headed for Tuscaloosa and made good time. Got to the motel and Hubs went inside to check-in. And I waited......and waited....and waited in the car. So I went to the lobby window and Hubs was on his phone and I gave him the "WTF?!?" look. He gives me a "wait" signal so I wait some more. Hubs comes outside a bit later to tell me what was going on.
Seems Priceline, whom we booked through, took our money and made our reservation but neglected to inform the motel we had a reservation! So it was an hour of having to get in touch with them and luckily the motel manager was still there even though it was after 5pm. We couldn't hand the phone over to the manager but Priceline had to contact the manager through their system to give the confirmation code and the motel's system timed out since they were taking so long to respond. ugh.
We finally got the room keys and hauled the dogs and their and our stuff into the room. Again, no dinner for us but thankful to be out of the car after 9 hours and in the bed.
Day Three coming up.
Sluggy
We go through that kind of traffic every time we get onto the interstate and sometimes on smaller roads. It is terrifying. Tommy is not very aware. I am glad you made it through safely. What a day!
ReplyDeleteWe live and drive in Alabama, mostly Birmingham.
DeleteSounds exhausting. Hope Day 3 turned out to be better. Safe travels!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I live in Tuscaloosa, otherwise known as ttown, on weekends! Yes, Birmingham is terrible for driving, at least for me, I travel country roads in South Alabama for work. I just have to dodge deer… lol. Cindy in the South
ReplyDeleteThats the last thing you need after all day in the car - glad it got sorted & you didn't have to find a different motel.
ReplyDeleteHad the same problems. I just bite the bullet and book through the hotel websites.
ReplyDeleteAll I can say is at least it's over.
ReplyDeleteHow do you expect drivers to use their cell phones AND then have to use their blinkers? 😏 Too many idiots on the roads these days. Glad you safely navigated through TN & AL!
ReplyDeleteOh wow. My daughter said the Atlanta traffic is horrible. Driving thru Chicago is just as bad, if not worse. Sounds like day two was tougher than day one.
ReplyDeleteYes, Atlanta is the worst. We almost never go through without sitting in the same place for 2 hours or more. Going through at night is the only safe time. We drive it regularly because we are on one side and grandkids are on the other.
DeleteTurn signals are optional in AL. We learned that one quickly.
ReplyDeleteYou must have slept soundly after a nine hour car trip. 💤
ReplyDeleteDH and I are no strangers to metro traffic areas, having spent many, many years in a major northeast city, and southwest city, both notorious for its traffic and type of motorist. The WORST and most aggressive driving we ever saw, though, was during tourist season in our Panhandle place, and the offenders almost ALWAYS had AL license plates.
ReplyDeleteMeg,
ReplyDeleteI saw a woman using her turn signal. I came behind her as she was making a left turn with her blinker on. Then, after she turned left, she turned on her right blinker. I followed, expecting her to turn right. Well, she did, three-quarters of a mile later. I call it an "eventual right." She was an Hispanic woman who probably did not want to draw attention to herself...lol. Well, she did signal and kept me on alert.
A Hispanic woman who didn’t want to draw attention to herself? Why exactly. Take this racist comment down pls!!!!!
DeleteJre I love the Drury Inns, we don’t have them in the Midwest. The little higher price is so worth it. A free evening buffet and three free drinks per person, great breakfasts and also very nice rooms!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a few very full days!! All worth it in the end though!
ReplyDeleteI also took offence to that Hispanic driver comment — as a Hispanic woman driver. I assure you I don’t worry about being Botticelli anymore than a white male. Wtf was that about???
This is fun reading; I thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a crappy way to end a long day of driving. Glad it all worked out for you.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
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