Traveling Home

We could drive the entire way home from the Alabama Coast in one long day - but why have one long day when you can have two pleasant short ones!  We started north on US 59 and followed it to Interstate 65 where we headed north towards Birmingham. Somewhere along the way I think around Montgomery we saw a huge Hyundi Plant - maybe Jeff and Robin's was made there!  Several huge car manufacturing plants in Alabama.  We skirted around Birmingham and found our Comfort Inn in Trussville on the northside of the city.  Pleasant day with not too much traffic but nothing extraordinary about the day.  We stopped near Greeneville where we spent the night going south for a quick lunch.

Hyundi Plant

We reviewed all the restaurants nearby and chose Konomi -  a highly rated Japanese restaurant planning to have Tempura and a noodle dish.  We did just that - certainly not a 4 or 5 star Japanese restaurant in our book but of course we are picky.  The Tempura was cooked well and was good - but the Tempura Sauce which is supposed to be made with Saki - not so good.  The noodle dish we split was fine and we got plenty to eat but it was definitely did not meet the 4 1/2 star rating it was given on TripAdvisor. 

Veggie and Shrimp Tempura

After a good nights sleep we headed north again on I 59 across the rest of AL and into GA.  Again not an exciting trip but the traffic was not too heavy and the miles clipped by.  We were soon in TN and headed north on I 75.  The news had reported a concrete barrier had fallen from an overpass near the I 24 and I 75 intersection.  It was unclear exactly where the damage occurred but reports showed the northbound lanes traveling OK.  This was true but the southbound side was down to one lane and backed up for probably 5 miles.  We were glad we were headed north!  

I 75 North Traffic Backup

We were back in redbud territory and they were in full bloom.  Definitely not much else in bloom so we get to enjoy spring all over again as we near home.  Arriving home late afternoon we were pleased to see Jane's Carolina Jasmine blooming as well as the jonquils and pansies planted last fall in hopes they would all bloom together...and they waited for us.  Guess the cold spell while we were gone kept them from blooming because they were in full bud when we left.

Red Bud

Our greeting upon arrival at home!

Good to be home! Really struggled to have photos for today!