Another good night’s sleep! We sadly pack up and go to breakfast – not too hungry as we know we are on the road soon. We say goodbye to our hotel clerk friend and head east. Every morning we try to watch the Weather Channel to see what might lie ahead or behind us. Today they are calling for storms to hit this area and move eastward as far as Tallahassee.
We gas up and get going; hoping to be ahead of the weather.
And we are in Alabama already. No rain yet but very overcast.
More rail traffic here as well.
Mobile, AL skyline. What is all that? Since Mobile is the only seaport in Alabama, perhaps it has to do with shipping.
The George Wallace Tunnel is 3,000 feet long and runs 40 feet underneath the Mobile River.
The USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park. We need to come back and check this out!
Loving the electronic speed limit signs!
Wish more highways had these signs allowing for different speeds for different situations.
Looking out a Mobile Bay – maybe the skies are clearing a bit? Missing the sunshine.
Back in Florida we stop at the Welcome Center and see this rendition of The Blue Angels.
Wow – Whataburger open 24 hours a day and in Florida. How are we missing sampling this burger?
Pensacola, FL – more construction but the skies are definitely clearing.
Seriously? No flamecutting or welding !What is this thing?
More pine trees here lining the road. Just like when we were on Route 98 closer to the beaches. It seems like a long ride through the panhandle. At Mile Marker 160 we finally change to Eastern Time.
A huge distribution center in Mariana, FL.
Making our way eastward – still in The Panhandle.
We are finally getting to a point of heading south.
Another “controlled burn” which seems like a lot of pollution. What are they burning?
Clearly tree farms with pines planted in rows. To make up for the burn????????
Stopping at Tallahassee, FL for a quick lunch at McDonald’s and a stop at Advanced Auto for new windshield wipers. It seems we have worn our current wipers out by trying to keep the bugs from smearing our view. The weather report is still calling for rain – better be safe. The young man who installs the wipers is really nice and we are on our way.
Maybe we will stay at that same hotel in Gainesville for the night?
We are making excellent time so we blow by Gainesville.
You can tell we are getting closer to Ocala with cattle and horse ranches and a few hills.
A good time to stop for the evening.
The hotel desk clerk recommends a little Italian restaurant for dinner and it is next to Publix Super Market right up the street in the Shops at Foxwood! Win – Win – maybe we can get Diet Pepsi with no caffeine.
Success at Publix – now dinner!
Roma’s is a small place with a pizza parlor in the front and the restaurant to the right. Both spaces are packed with customers. We order an antipasta not realizing a salad comes with the meal. New plan – eat the salad and pack up the antipasta for a later time. Dinner was fantastic! Perhaps one of the best Italian dinners! The lasagna was full of beef and sausage and the chicken parmesan was very lightly breaded and tender with just the right amount of cheese on top of what seems like a pound of pasta. YUM!!!!! And although there is no room for dessert we are out of cupcakes so we try the Limoncello.
Also fantastic! Too bad this place is so far from our house – we would be regulars!
Back to the hotel to get some rest and the Pepsi cooling.