500 Mile Day

Started our day at 6 am, and by 6:30 we were on our way, coffee in hand, and breakfast coming later.

I-10 in Florida is a great section of Interstate.  Again, like US-19, lots of trees.  There are large sections of the road where the eastbound and westbound are separated by trees, like the picture above.  One thing I failed to mention yesterday is that we were on the western-side of where Hurricane Michael went through back in October of 2018.  Nearly two years later, and they are still cleaning up some of the mess.

A hundred miles into our ride today we go over the Blackwater River...this is a picture Marcia got out her window (facing north).

The Blackwater River is quickly followed by Escambia Bay, right before Pensacola.  Picture left is looking out over the Gulf of Mexico, the picture on the right is looking to the north.

Immediately after you cross into Alabama, there is a welcome center with a very large parking area for trucks and motorhome/RVs.  Well, today the Alabama State Police decided to use it for a Truck Weighing and Inspection station.  They allowed us into the area, but there were dozens of state police cars and officers and at least 50 18 wheel trucks (and other smaller ones) there.  At least 20 were pulled over to be inspected, while 30 or more were in line to be weighed and let back onto the Interstate, or pulled over if there was a problem.  In the picture above - right we saw an officer looking that truck over, even getting on a dolly looking under the entire truck and trailer.  While here, I cooked us up a quick breakfast (bacon, cheese, egg burritto on low-carb tortillas), and off we went.  The officer was looking over this truck to the right of us the entire time!

As we crossed over Mobile Bay, you can see the Battleship Alabama Museum, where the battleship USS ALABAMA, submarine USS DRUM and the Medal of Honor Aircraft Pavilion filled with some planes including a Red-Tail P-51 like the one used by the Tuskegee Airmen are located.  (This museum is now open following the COVID-19 lockdown.)

The City of Mobile.

The Mobile Tunnel which goes under the Mobile River.  The GPS always wants me to get off before the tunnel since we eventually will be taking US 98 to Hattiesburg Mississippi.  I prefer to go to I-65 and connect with US 98 on the other side of Mobile.

Between Mobile and Hattiesburg the highway, once into Mississippi, is great.  Almost Interstate quality except for cross traffic, which there is not much of until you get closer to Hattiesburg.  From Hattiesburg to Jackson is not so good.  Lots of construction, which has been taking place since 2011 when Marcia and I got married.  Numerous times I have driven this entire route we have been on since leaving Holiday.  Very surprised that the construction has not progressed further than it has.

Along this stretch of road I see the lowest gas prices on our trip so far...just $1.49 per gallon.  We have yet to pay over $1.95, and we have paid $1.75.

Finally we approach the Mississippi River, and drive into Louisiana.  Another 100 miles and we pass through Monroe, and fight through the road construction at exit 112 and enter the Pavilion RV Park.  We didn't make 500 miles, but it was close enough at 485.  There is a Cracker Barrel just an exit down the Interstate, and I unhooked the car and went down to pick up dinner for us...it has been a number of months since we have had Cracker Barrel.  Tomorrow we will stop at the Pilot just across the street, get gas and coffee, and drive a more reasonable 365 miles to Sunset, Texas.