Thursday August 5, 2010 Clinton Mississippi

Hi Kids and Grands....We left Lafayette by 9 am and had breakfast at a Waffle House which are popular here in the south. We only ate at this chain one other time years ago and it was terrible, but we decided to give it another try and low and behold...they redeemed themselves. We had a lovely waitress and a great breakfast. It was pouring so hard on the route into Baton Rouge that we almost had to pull over to the side of the road and stop because dad couldn't see to drive as the windshield wipers couldn't clear the windshield fast enough. I mean POURING!!!!! It was 93 when we left and then all of a sudden it was 73 and raining. When we got out to go to the restaurant, we got soaked but dried off in no time. The Natchez Trace Parkway is really beautiful...sort of reminds us of the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway in Virginia. Much history here and a lot of stops and things to see along the way. BUT when you get out, OHMYGOSH....MUGGY MUGGY MUGGY. The only saving grace is that when we got out it was only 75 degrees, not 100 like it has been. We were toodling along minding our own business, listening to Elvis on Sirius Radio when all of a sudden we saw a light on our left and the radio went haywire and there came an urgent notice on the GPS screen that we weren't supposed to be messing with the radio and GPS while we were driving. Well, we hadn't been. We know better, besides which it doesn't work when you're driving. We think we got struck by lightening as it was pouring, thundering and lightening off in the distance. Luckily, the times we got out to look at the road stops and play Farkel, it was behaving and we could stand the temperature for a half hour or so. The humidity will kill you. I called and talked to an old co-worker last evening, Lucille Sterling who worked with us for years at LMCH. She now lives in Louisiana and loves it. I didn't tell her, she is welcome to it...I'll take California any day. If one was smart though, they earn their money in California and come to the south to spend it. Tonight we are in a beautiful new Econo Lodge with a king size bed, free WIFI, coffee, microwave and refrig in room, breakfast will be served from 6-9 a.m. for $54.00. We ate at a Shoney's for $8.99 each for a rib and chicken buffet which would have cost $13.95 easily in California. Very reasonable. We are tired tonight...so nighty night...We love you all. Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, GGPA, GGMA