There's no place like home...there's no place like home...

Unlike Dorothy, we couldn't just click the heels of our ruby slippers three times. Instead, we drove. And drove. And drove. Twelve hours on Tuesday and about 10 on Wednesday.

It didn't really seem so bad, though. Other than hitting Chattanooga during morning rush hour...in a rainstorm. That got pretty hairy a time or two. We really can't complain, though...it's the only time we got rained on the whole time.

It got pretty damned chilly, too. It was 90 when we drove through Florida and the southern part of Georgia on Tuesday. We stopped for the night just outside of Atlanta at about 9:30 or so and it was still pretty nice, but by the time we got to Chattanooga on Wednesday morning, it was FIFTY FIVE FRIGGIN DEGREES! Talk about a shock.

We drove back through the Everglades on the way home and even managed to stop a time or two to watch the gators. Whatta thrill! To get to see these absolutely....prehistoric...lookin creatures in their natural habitat.

Here's a couple of photos especially for

Jimbo

, though he probably won't see 'em as he's gonna be in Austin this weekend. I know how simply fascinated he is with alligators.





The Smokies were breathtaking, as usual. 'Course, it's pretty darned flat in this area, so even the rolling hills of Kentucky seem breathtaking to me. But, they were especially pretty after the rain with the steam rising in the morning sun.



I couldn't help but notice all the blooming things along the way. There were several areas in the Smokies where they'd planted brilliant red poppies in the medians...gorgeous. Then, back home in Illinois, we noticed the almost-neon yellow of these bloomers in unplanted fields and in clusters along the road. I think they're weeds, but they're sure pretty.





And speaking of blooming things, does anyone know what that intoxicating scent is as you drive along the interstate in middle and northern Georgia? I noticed a lot of white, blooming bushes...kinda like a "bridal wreath" bush...but not sure if that's what's smells soooo good. It smells kinda like honeysuckle, but does that grow wild in that area? And if so, would it be blooming already?

At any rate, we had a great time and it was wonderful to be in the Keys again, but we're sure glad to be home. I suppose it's one of those 'you don't appreciate what you have until you don't have it anymore' things.

Geeze...it just occured to me. We must be gettin old when "having fun" takes a backseat to sleepin in our own bed. heh