The Captain and I started our day with Relatives and Friends at the Famous Cracker Barrel in Powdersville, South Carolina.

What a Time of Fellowship and Camaraderie! Great southern cuisine was enjoyed by all. I was so happy to be able to share my opened chow chow with my sweet cousin, instead of having to toss. No refrigeration in vehicle for our 2700 mile plus road trip back to Oregon.

The service was great at Cracker Barrel! Expertly prepared entrees were served.

We had such wonderful gravy, grits, meatloaf, pintos, chicken, biscuits, greens, sweet and unsweet tea, eggs, hash brown casserole…it goes on and on…

A highlight was to see cousins and a friend of my sister, who had fostered a 35+ year friendship. Here is another special friend of us all! Permission to post from her. J…., thanks for the gifts, smiles, and always Goodwill. Those intangible gifts CANNOT BE PURCHASED! We ended our hoopla and soiree’ with shared photos, texts, and phone numbers. Thank you ladies for the big S.C. welcome home!

MOVING RIGHT ALONG, FOLKS! Let’s visit Waffle House N. Pleasantburg for our Supper!

A sweet husband and wife team did not miss a note, as they cooked and served a well-prepared breakfast for supper, yum. For their great service, I put $5 in the jukebox, and entertained us all.

Hey you all, someone SAMPLED MY SUPPER! Maybe, they will give me the rest (pretty please). Long story short, I got to eat the rest!

Their coffee, tea, and other drinks, are fresh and thirst-quenching. Thanks Bobby Joe! What a team!

Looking Ahead, Meeting with Sister and Hubby at Waffle House in Travelers Rest on Last Visit Day…Traveling on to Knoxville

Join us tomorrow for more fun, and by the way, enjoy the beauty of Crepe Myrtles still in bloom!

Backing up a bit, while at Waffle House tonight, I also saw someone order a waffle, they wanted it crunchy and brown! So delectable and appetizing! Maybe I can have one with my special sister in the am, yum!

Goodnight! Pleasant dreams.

FROM THE CAPTAIN AND NAVIGATOR

We met with my sister and friends at Big Boy’s of Greer, S.C., specializing in southern fare. Lots of veggies, beautiful salad bar, many entree’s, including my chicken gizzards, chicken livers, beautiful pork chops and roast chicken, meat loaf, you name it, most would be there. Many varieties of lovely cakes, plus beverages.

Lots of laughter, reminiscing, and telling of tales!

A special little place, actually has the best hot dogs, barbecue, and fried pies. Unpretentious and welcoming. Down the road past Walmart on State Park Road, Travelers Rest.

We met students from Taylors S.C., and ice cream treats were shared. The students were all excited to have their ice cream, and the owner looks forward to their trips there. It was inspirational to see the dedication that Mr. Wilson and staff have! They had been to a farm. Kudos to you all at Hidden Treasure!

Little Texas Grocery is famous for their food in this neck of the woods! You all stop by, you hear! Take time to share an ice cream with a great bunch of students if you’re lucky. You will be rewarded beyond measure.😇

HERE WE ARE AGAIN AT SISTER’S!

Ate pinto beans, sauerkraut with weiners, corn bread, honey, sliced tomatoes/cucumbers, and apple crisp.

What fun and fellowship! They have treated us SO WELL!

Well folks, don’t forget to Bless your meals, Love Thy Neighbor, and Please join me again!

I lost my blog, so here I am doing it on Wednesday to catch up from Friday, September 15, 2023 to September 20.

Sept. 15, 2023

We started out, and since I missed LaQuinta breakfast, Whopper Junior minus mayo with sufficed real good 😋

A Blessed event occurs this afternoon, MEETING MY SISTER AND BROTHER-IN-LAW FOR A MEAL

The first time in 4 years and 5 months😇.

We will meet them at S and S cafeteria today at four p m in Greenville, South Carolina.

Journeying through Friday, we passed Smokey Mountain National Park and Parkway turnoff.

Great Smokies or the Smokies, western segment of the high Appalachian Mountains in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina, U.S. The Great Smokies lie between Knoxville, Tennessee (just to the west), and Asheville, North Carolina (just to the east), blending into the Blue Ridge …

Turnip Greens with ham at Cracker Barrel one day. Good food is synonymous with South Carolina!

We met with cousins for some famous chili dogs this week. No, they do not have beans in chili, like Tex-Mex! A hot dog all the way, means it has all the condiments on it… It is beyond yummy! We also cannot forget the Waffle House, a southern tradition. I got some grits, and I was so excited! And no, they do not taste like cream of wheat.

One day this past week we ate with her at a Silver Bay restaurant. Hush puppies were great, plus deep fried grouper was beyond good! We were all good and kept away from the luscious cakes.

I also enjoyed cooking with my sister. Wonderful fellowship. Enjoying laughing about the small things. She, of course, gave me lots of clothes, which I really love.

We also went to church with her at Praise Cathedral in Greer, S.C., a wonderful sermon on Grace. Pastor Jerry is a dynamic speaker!

We must include Krispy Kreme donuts in our blog, the ultimate decadence!

Until next time we meet, take time to feast your eyes on my no sugar added cherry crisp, and please take the time to greet a stranger!

Nashville, Music City.

Knoxville, almost 200,000 or more, traffic can compete with California at times. Captain’s big pick-up bumper deters those little cars from zipping around everyone. Navigator’s phone ran out of power in the middle of this, remember, I am GPS!

Dolly Parton was prominent at a rest stop display Lancaster, TN.

Tough Times for both sides. FREEDOM FOR ALL IS PRECIOUS!

Stopped in Crossville for sustenance at Waffle House, GREAT SERVICE! Eggs scrambled perfectly, grits divine, lean sausage, fresh sliced tomatoes, etc. Below is Captain’s Ham Patty Melt. Their Hash Browns are not greasy, either.

The end of daylight is nearing when back on road…

Made it to La Quinta in Knoxville, and we had our last time change-whew!

I get to see my Sister tomorrow in South Carolina😇

Tomorrow. We will have made it across this GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS! ALMOST 2,800 MILES. Now, to visit, and drive back.

The Captain had a challenging day. The GPS lady likewise, plus found a little picture and blog time😁.

The Navigator has to work off those grits on the treadmill now. Captain is taking a quick nap, or maybe down for the count😴

SEE YOU ALL TOMORROW, YOU HEAR. Sweet Dreams. Go take a nap at the park, or go to Cracker Barrel!

We had our stop at Family Dollar for gallons of spring water and bottles. Snuck some mini-bars of chocolate in bag, Captain’s favorites!

Have not had one in years! Bought large ones for cat-watchers in Oregon, a family of 8 kids, two adults. Simba the cat is eating well! The 11 year old twins feed him daily. Finding neat homemade stuff for all of them, out of love for their service.

KEEP UP THE FAITH! TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT AND KINDNESS!

We are having so much fun trying to make a difference, as we cross this great country😇

Passed the Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Majestic bodies!

The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. It is approximately 652 miles long and is located in the southeastern United States in the Tennessee Valley.

Everyone appears to be in a real hurry this beautiful day, in Kentucky USA!

70 MPH speed limit.

I had my favorite bacon, egg, cheese biscuit as a treat this am at Mickey D’s (McDonald”s)

Captain having his for lunch.

Keeping on the Southern route to my Sister and other friends and relatives. 400+- to go!

Thought I’d give you a little exercise in turning your phone sideways😁

The Captain and Navigator are Marching on..

The Trusty Tundra is doing a good job!

Southern Bound!

Our LA Quinta last evening was another fixer’upper, formerly Baymont. Wyndham moving in to renovate and upgrade.

Stopped at Wendy’s to supplement High Carb breakfast offered.

We are enjoying observance of work ethics in various hotels and businesses.

This Wendy’s off of Bernadette is really on the ball! GREAT JUNIOR CHEESEBURGER! Manager there since 1985!

Heading toward St. Louis and more traffic and driving challenges, after another rest! Missouri is so beautiful with great schools.

Home of location of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn series!

University of Missouri here.

Everything’s so beautiful here, not brown, like on our acreage in Oregon.

Now heading towards Saint Louis, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, and great barbecue!

We are so delighted that you continue to join us, on our second across country tour!

Staying at quaint hotel in Vienna, Illinois tonight. The Captain and Navigator persevere eastward, last two legs of journey tomorrow, and Friday to Travelers Rest, S.C., via LA Quinta Greenville.

Barreling on down 1-29. Wendy’s filled up Captain’s coffee cup, so he’s ready to go!

Got 2 luscious burgers also, to not have to hunt food in Kansas City. Forget the fries, all “fried out!”

Great beds and happy sleeping at Super 8 in Percival, Iowa, Wyndham has upgraded. La Quinta for tonight. Lots of sunflowers in Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri.

Wonderful meal at Apple Crate at Sapp’s.

Ambling on, speed here is 75 MPH, see you all later!

Good news, evidence of construction here, after flooding devastation last year.

Made it past Kansas City!

Now in Concordia, Missouri.

Fancy rest stops here! Trees even. Nice to see those after Sagebrush and low country.

There is the Navigator finding something to post, and trying to make of interest.

I hope that Captain is not contemplating logistics of tree to take a climb🥰

See you all later!

Let us never forget the cost of FREEDOM! Lives were given for us, we honor fallen heroes today, and forever!

ONE NATION UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, REQUIRED; LET’S NOT LOSE IT! 😇

Since it opened in the year 2000, the Archway has stood as an enduring tribute to the adventurers who traveled the Great Platte River Road though Nebraska and helped to build America. Over the years, we have welcomed and inspired over 1.5 million visitors with our story.

The archway is at Kearney, Nebraska.

Some of breakfast offerings this am leaving North Platt at LA Quinta.

Dinner in room last eve. Light and refreshing!

After today, 1,046 miles to go.

Traveling East on I-80. I-77 coming next.

Beautiful sunflowers Kearney Rest Stop.

Taking our time, posted speed 75 MPH. People sure in a hurry!

CATCH YOU LATER FOLKS!

Lincoln is the capitol of Nebraska, since territory became state. Omaha was territorial capitol. Moving right along into Nebraska City, then into Iowa.

SEE YOU ALL LATER!

Thunderstorms and lightning today, not a choice time to be on the road. It is passing over us, but I had forgotten good old lightning storms.

The weather is supposed to be much improved, as we move on in to Iowa tomorrow. At least, there are no blizzards like 2019 when we crossed the country.

It is rare that we both just relax. We will definitely do it today. There is a little gym here at the hotel, and a food store right across from us. Of course, I always have my traveling food, and a great restaurant close. If we run out of things to do, there’s always a television, or reading a good book.

I might just watch the food channel, and think of what I might eat tomorrow:)

A juicy burger sounds good, what do you think? This one is from Nancy Jo’s in Oregon, one of 7 places she has.

Why don’t you all take time to relax, and enjoy God’s Blessings for what he has done. Isn’t that a lovely idea? One of our blessings today is being able to stay in the same room and not move. The young lady at the front desk did some rearranging of rooms, so that we could do that. Give the Wyndham hotel chain a chance also. Good folks.

Have a great rest of the day!