When Amy and I take trips, we usually opt for the US and state highways rather than the interstate highways. There's a lot more to see and when you feel like pulling over and taking a break, you don't have to wait to get to an exit or a rest area, since you usually pass through plenty of small towns and along country stores dotting the smaller highways.

Sure, you can't travel at 80 mph very well on those smaller highways, but then, what's the point in doing 80 mph rather than 55-65 mph, other than adding to the plenty of stress you already have daily?

We've done the interstate thing plenty of times and discovered that by going on the interstate highways, you not only miss out on all kinds of things, but you also end up usually taking more time than by taking the smaller highways, you use up more gasoline, and when you arrive at your destination, you're so stressed out that you need to pop another one of those prescription happy pills.

Of course, you run into some really, really slow drivers every once in a while (the ones that are doing 40 mph or less), but then usually those folks are just going into the next town just up ahead and if you have a little bit of patience, they'll make that left turn sometime soon. Then you can do the Mazda thing and zoom zoom once more, or just relax and take in all the stuff around you and drive at a much less stressful speed of about 55-65 mph.

We went to Savannah over Thanksgiving weekend. We drove through interesting little towns, such as Harlem, GA. where Oliver Hardy (of Laurel & Hardy fame). was born. We stopped at a convenience store at a crossroads, where I was going to get a snack and the convenience store had a little cafeteria inside it. While I was looking at some snacks, I noticed a number of folks coming in, getting food and eating it there or taking it out, so I looked at the items on the menu and the food looked great. I went back to the car empty-handed and told Amy we could stop and have lunch there.

Amy and I each got a baked chicken thigh and green beans. She also got mashed potatoes, while I got fried okra instead. And we each got a couple of "ho cakes" (cornbread that looks like pancakes). Great country cooking, and both meals, including tea for each of us, was under $9. You rarely find anything like that along the fast-moving interstates.
With us stopping for lunch, we made it to Savannah in 4.5 hrs. On the way back, I took the interstate system, and it took us 6 hrs to get back home, and that's because I got off on exits 3 times before getting stuck in accident traffic. Had I gone interstate all the way, I imagine it would have taken us 9 or more hours to get home.

And the next day I may have needed to see a physician to get a prescription for some happy pills.


Plain.
Simple.
Common Sense.

Capt. Leonardo Ortiz (USMM)