We left Spencerport 90 minutes later than planned, due to our SUV battery dying overnight. Apparently I had left the back hatch ajar which drained the battery. AAA saved the day and Jan and I began the journey to Alabama, staying one night in Franklin, Kentucky on the way.
Our Hampton Inn was great, but there wasn't a lot of choices for where to run, so the next morning we did laps on the roads around three or four motels nearby. The three mile run made eating the large waffles from the hotel breakfast bar seem okay. Hampton Inn's are definitely our favorite hotel to stay in at this time.
We arrived at Andrea's home in Clanton, Alabama around 3pm on Sunday. 97 degrees and 74 degrees dew point, a bit sticky. We ran with Andrea two mornings, around 40 minutes each time. It was cool at 8:30am, only 80 or so. (insert sarcasm here).
Some tips for driving on Interstates, especially in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama.
1. The posted limit of 70mph can be ignored. My 75-78 was slow. I really believe there is no speed limit anymore, as long as a cop is not around most people go how ever fast they want to.
2. Watching movies while driving is okay.
3. Texting at 80mph is the norm.
4. Most people still haven't heard of hands free cell phone use.
5. Tractor Trailer drivers sometimes weave across the the line, usually because they are eating dinner while driving a 20 ton truck. This is a bit disconcerting.
6. Every state but NY has a beautiful welcome center when you cross the state line. Alabama's is still the nicest one I have ever been at. NY makes you wait 50 miles before you come to a mediocre rest area.
7. NY was the only state with toll roads on our 1,000 mile trip.
8. The entire road system in the USA is under construction.
9. Posted speed limits in construction areas are mostly meaningless, despite the increased risk to drivers and workers.
10. The most expensive gasoline is NY, averaging 3.72/gallon, the cheapest was Alabama at 3.41. The average price once you leave NY is 3.55.
Hotels seem to think an exercise room is 1 treadmill, 1 stairstepper and, if lucky, 1 stationary bike. Rarely are there any weights. This might be okay if only one person in your party runs, but if a couple wants to run, you are out of luck.
Some perspective from a trip to Minneapolis this past weekend:
ReplyDeleteNY thruway, Leroy to Depew ($2.00/40 miles) and Lackawanna to PA line ($3.15/60 miles) ~ 5 cents/mile.
Ohio Turnpike, just west of Cleveland to IN line ($9.00/150 miles) ~ 6 cents/mile.
Indiana toll road, OH line to Gary, IN ($7.50/150 miles) ~ 5 cents/mile.
Illinois, IN line to about 30 miles north of Chicago ($6 in 80 cent or 1 dollar chunks).
Gas (along 90/94): NY: paid $3.72 leaving Spencerport. PA, OH: $3.55, though a little more in Cleveland area. IN: $3.80. IL: $4.05. WI south of Madison: 3.70. WI north of Madison to Minneapolis: $3.90
So the answer is to only travel south or run and ride bikes across the country.
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