Milepost 595   Greenville, Illinois,  Temp: 36*

We surprised ourselves by getting an early start yesterday.  We were due to stay at our daughter’s place near Detroit the first night but found out there was flu in the house.  We opted to drive instead and made it 200 miles almost to the Indiana state line where we stayed at a hotel for the night.

We covered 395 miles today as we watched the outdoor temperature rise on that little digital thermometer that’s imbedded in the rearview mirror.  Coldwater, Michigan, 14 degrees; Fort Wayne, Indiana, 24, degrees; Indianapolis, 32 degrees, Greenville, Illinois, 39 degrees.  That’s what I’m talking about.  Getting out of the frigid north.

The other thing that we watched changing by degrees was the southern accents at all the fuel stops and restaurants where we talked to people, finally reaching Greenville, Illinois, where we checked in at the Super 8 and went next door for supper at Huddle House.

“Ya’ll enjoy!” said our server, Jarod, as he served our supper.  I never thought of Illinois as the South, but the accent is definitely here.  I think it will become even more evident as we continue toward Oklahoma city tomorrow.

Because travel in the US is not just about seeing the sights.  It is a cultural thing as well.

See ya’all later!