The Road Back to the River

Day 162  |  Richmond (VA) to Florence (AL)   |  12 Hours  |  709 Miles  |  1 Time Zone Change

Morning arrived and we loaded our little red rental car for the ride back to Alabama. Thankfully, it was not as full as when we came home, granting us a bit more visibility. A final goodbye was shared with Glenda and Jaxon, and we smiled while recalling all we did in six amazing days. We've reset our countdown timers for a short seven weeks until our next visit at Christmas. We pulled out just after 7:30 and jumped on I-64 West. The foliage was shining brightly against the blue sky and the miles flew by with the help of a driver change or two.

The Tennessee Welcome Center provided a much-needed opportunity to get out and stretch our legs. We spent what seemed to be hours yo-yoing with the Little Debbie truck, initially hoping it would dump its contents, then just wishing for separation. We raced through Knoxville where we once again bypassed the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. Signs beckoned us to explore multiple sights in Gatlinberg. Hopefully we'll do so in the future. Traffic was again heavy through Chattanooga. Then we saw the sign "Welcome to Sweet Home Alabama." We were getting close. The sun set perfectly in the middle of the road (and windshield), making the final stretch through Huntsville a tough and stressful drive.

Persistence paid off and we were rewarded with an amazing sunset.

Finally back in Florence after 12 hours, we grabbed some dinner at Rosie's Mexican restaurant and then hit Walmart for a half gallon of milk. We unlocked Crossroads, turned on the heat, and unloaded the car in three trips. Most of the unpacking will wait until tomorrow morning. It has been a long day and sleep calls.