Day 4

"Onward, ever onward," was something that the saints chanted as they trekked across the plains, and let me tell you a little known fact: they didn't even have cars... or music... Today was just a travel day as we were wanting to get to Grandpa Joe's as early as possible on Sunday. We listened to a few conference talks for our spiritual quiet time in the morning, and drove, and drove, as it seems we always do, into the afternoon. The truck is hauling heavy but like a pristine machine averaging 8 MPG, so fuel stops are common and frequent. We were in 3 states today, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Now let me tell you something about the landscape here.
As we were driving across ole' flat Texas, (Glen would mention that you could throw a golf ball and it would meander bouncing to and fro for about 200 miles before it stopped it was so flat) our hopes weren't to high as to the potential beauty of the scenery. As we came in Arkansas it didn't get much better, but as we neared, and then crossed the State-line into Tennessee, the lushness and shimmering emeralds of the engulfing forests became nothing short of never-ending. All the way up into Kentucky the natural splendor nature's eye candy didn't dim a bit. We all agree now that things won't change much on this side of the "Mighty Mississippi." But with the presence of enveloping shrubbery comes with one of the West Coast's unfavorable traits: intense humidity. The temperature may have dropped 20 degrees from where it was in the New Mexico-Texas area, the the humidity rose exponentially. Glen and Benn almost dropped the diesel nozzle a few times cause of the oily slipperiness that happens to cover everything.
Although today's trek wasn't was strenuously long as was yesterday's, but it was still about 9 1/2 hours that brought us to the rainy surprises of Grandpa Joe's doorstep, in Shepherdsville, KY. We had the privilege to eat pizza from a local joint called Bearno's Pizza. In Megan's own words, "It was Divine." Many thanks go to Grandpa Joe and Barbara's gracious hospitality and generosity for letting us stay here for the night. Tune in tomorrow for another episode of The Cole Chronicles: "Our Trip to Boston."