Up bright and early. Charlotte, Heather, and Hope are flying back to Colorado. They had to be downstairs and ready to board the Airport Shuttle at 6:15 am.

It took a number of trips out to the van (which was parked on the street just 1/2 block from the Hyatt) to get everything loaded up. First we loaded Charlotte's and my bikes (smaller frames) inside the cargo area, then Heather and I helped Sherri to get her bike up onto the rack on top of the van. Next we loaded 5 sets of suitcases, helmets, bike gear, etc. Into the van, and lastly put Hope's and Heather's bikes on the external bike rack. What a sight!

Devon was still asleep, and didn't see Gary to say goodbye. Hugs, goodbyes, and we were off! Sherri used her GPS to get us up onto the I-10 West out of Jacksonville to the I-75. Stopped at a McDonald's for breakfast, since neither Sherri nor I like to eat breakfast first thing in the morning. The I-75 took us North through Atlanta GA and Chattanooga TN where we got on the I-24 to Nashville. Independently, Sherri and I began to notice the large number of Nissan vehicles on the Interstate. My guess was that there must be a Nissan assembly plant there. (Later, we found out that there is one in Smyrna, a suburb of Nashville.) We found one Firestone Service Center open but they couldn't fit us in, so they called another Firestone place up the road about five miles, which said they could do the work. So we got the oil changed and the tires rotated on the van. The Firestone computerized system linked up with the place in Grand Junction where we take the van. Very nice. The men at Firestone were very interested in the ride, and gave us a real discount on the services they performed. Yea Firestone!!!

Using Sherri's GPS we found Becky Fishers house quite easily, since it is just about 1 1/2 miles off of the I-24. Becky is a dear friend whom Charlotte and I met 11 years ago at the HD Convention in Columbus OH. She is gene positive but not symptomatic. Becky and her husband Glen hosted me and a friend Florence last year when we flew to Nashville for a Bible Study Conference. Becky is an excellent cook and hostess. She had dinner all ready for us! There was a chicken casserole, a broccoli salad, a warm pineapple dish, and of course her famous peanut butter pie! Sherri took a picture of it, and sent it to Charlotte. She was very jealous!

We got filled in on their daughter Cynthia's family (1 boy, 3 girls) and their son Nathan, who is hiking the entire Appalachian Trail in one season. What an endeavor! Glen and Becky plan to drive to Maine to greet him at the end of the trail.

Originally Sherri and I had planned to tour Nashville on Monday, but due to Sherri's son Dustin's health issues (he had been hospitalized twice since she left Idaho) we felt it best to forgo the touring, so she could get home quicker. Glen and Becky took us on a whirlwind tour of Nashville, though (in their black Nissan sedan), including the gardens at the Gaylord Hotel, downtown driving by many of the sights (Ryman Auditorium, Country Music Hall of Fame, the Titans football stadium, the Cumberland River which flooded 3 years ago, the State Capitol, etc. I fell asleep towards the end. At least Sherri got to see a little of Nashville.

Drove 635 miles, through Florida, Georgia a bit of Kentucky, and Tennessee (a four state day). Just 2 1/2 more days to go.

With love from Nashville,
Marie