Back to Indy-- Part 26: Going Home

Well, considering that next Sunday this time I will be sitting way up those stairs at the Indy 500 race, I think I should finish this account of the 2021 race.  We sure had fun, but not as much as in the pre-Covid days.  Hopefully this year will be back more to the norm, especially Carb Day on Friday which was not held this year.

MONDAY, MAY 31ST

Leaving day.  Quite a few RVs remained at the Legion overnight, but it was mass-moving day on Monday.  The Legion itself was completely closed down.

Sue and Paul are old hands at packing things up, much of which was done last night.  My main job was to hold the leashes on the dogs.  This was made harder by the many little yipping dogs.

We left at 8:30 am. and we left, driving on Georgetown Road out to the interstate.

Closer to the IMS, we could see local groups out doing cleanup on the bigger parking fields.  And, there was a whole lot of garbage, and, of course, beer and pop cans.  A  good money-maker for them.

Next, we saw blocks and blocks of small homes, some of which were fully landscaped and pretty as a pin, but others looking straight of of the slums.  The  past few days, and especially Sunday, they had friends and regulars parking in their yards.

We hit I-65 and we're headed home after a stop near Lebanon to pump out the black water waste.  It is just $10 at the station, but $40 and more if you do it at the Legion.

Good to Have Been Back.  --RoadDog

2017 Indy 500-- Part 1: We're Off With the Sliders and Bumps

MAY 25, 2017, Thursday

Met Sue and Paul and later John, Paul's brother, at their place by Long Lake (Chicago Northwest suburbs) and left.  Made our prescribed stop at the Gurnee, Illinois, White Castle for a case of the good stuff (20 Sliders) and were on out interstate way at I-294 to I-65 in Indiana then on to the racetrack.

We go in Sue and Paul's RV who take turns driving.  But, it always seems that poor Sue gets the roughest driving stretches.

This section of I-65 has to be the worst for bumps, clatters and teeth-rattling anywhere in the U.S. (yes, even worse than the manhole covers on US-12 in Fox Lake).  Of course, RV suspensions aren't the best, but golly.

Gas in Lafayette, Indiana, was $2,26, in Indianapolis $2.18.  Always, the closer you are to expensive town Chicago, the more expensive the gas.

We have had a camping spot at the American Legion Post 500 in Speedway for the last several years and this is a prime spot as we are right across the street from the race track.  Makes getting back and forth mighty easy.  Just a short walk.

We are in a small grove of trees and in the past on grass, but most of our site now is asphalt.  There was a lot of standing water around as they have been hit the last few days with heavy rain.

Rattle Me Bones.  --RoadChatter

Warm Here We Come-- Part 5: The Shame of Louisville

JANUARY 31, WEDNESDAY

You have to pay $2 to cross the I-65 Bridge into Louisville, $4 if you don't have E-Z Pass as you will be mailed the bill.  There are no booths to collect your toll either.

Louisville is on my no visit list because they were one of the first cities to take down their Confederate monument.  I've written a lot about it in my Saw the Elephant Civil War blog, where I refer to the city as (l)ouisville in lower case for its shame.  I also will do no more at present than drive through it if necessary, but otherwise will boycott any and all things dealing with it.

And, that's too bad because I really like the Hot Brown sandwich (maybe I can get one elsewhere) and have always wanted to go to the Kentucky Derby.  Perhaps, though, at some time I will be able to forgive the city and University of Louisville (home of Rick Pitino) for their desecration at which time I will be able to visit.

As far as paying the toll, if I am sent the $4 bill, I am a lot more likely to tell them why I am not going to pay it and instead send my money (plus some) to Brandenburg, Kentucky, which stepped up, did the right thing and took the monument. have since put it up.

Some Things Just Aren't Right.  --RoadDog

Warm Here We Come-- Part 4: Indy Rush Hour and the "Trucks From Hell"

JANUARY 31, WEDNESDAY

Took I-74 southeast from Illinois.

Leaving as late as we did, that guaranteed we'd hit Indianapolis during rush hour (that along with losing the hour when we entered Eastern Time).  Normally, going to North Carolina, I take I-70 through the city, but since we were going to I-65 to Louisville, we took the bypass, I-465, around Indianapolis.

Traffic was heavy, but only once did we slow down to 20 mph.  The rest of the way it was fast running.  I use the term fast-running, because all interstates by Indy are 55 mph or less.  You'd only drive at that speed with a death wish as you'd get run over.

Heavy traffic once on I-65 heading south for awhile and then it opened up.  We made good time.

However, from about twenty miles north of Louisville, our lives were endangered by the antics of between twenty and twenty-five trucks in some sort of a convoy and going way over the speed limit.  I mean WAY over the speed limit.  They were also driving in the left lanes which they weren't supposed to be doing.  Nothing like looking into your rear view mirror and seeing nothing but truck grill.  They were riding that close.  At times they were three across all lanes.

Sure wish there'd been a cop around.

I call them the "Trucks From Hell."

Scared, But Survived.  --RoadDog

PCB 2017: The Horror That Is Nashville Traffic

MARCH 1, 2017

We had left Panama City Beach earlier this morning, driven through Alabama and now in Tennessee, approaching the horror that is the Nashville traffic, and at rush hour.  Not a good thing.

Surprisingly, no major tie-ups as we were going opposite rush hour, although big backups on the other side of I-65 going south out of town.  We went past the area where no matter what lane you're in, you're in the wrong lane, and still no big backups.

That all changed when we got to the I-24 exit off I-65, heading northwest.  We then had a major slowdown, but at least no complete stops.

Just Love That Nashville Traffic.  --RoadPanic

PCB 2017: Confusion in Montgomery, 'Cue in Cullman

As I mentioned in the last post, we got confused as to which way we were to go.  Did we take Southern Expressway Stoplights to I-65 or go to I-85 and then west to I-65.  It came up too fast to make a decision and we were unable to get over to head to I-85 so proceeded into Montgomery, hoping we weren't going to have to go through a bad area.

Turned out, it was a very pleasant drive until right before we got to the I-65 entrance ramp.

Traffic of I-65 was heavy all the way to Birmingham, I mean, VERY heavy.  Then, though it was about 2 in Birmingham had traffic as bad as a rush hour.

It was then that we started hitting a lot of rain.  It poured.  I was driving along looking for a place to get off and eat and saw a sign for a place called Sonny's BBQ in Cullman, Alabama, so got off.

It is about a mile from the interstate and well worth it.  They feature pulled pork and, as they say, "We'll serve no swine before its time."  Mighty tasty.

We'll Be Back.  --RoadDog

PCB 2017: Got Home

We arrived home about 6 p.m. on March 2nd after driving 2,178 miles over the last couple weeks.  We left February 15th.

Going down, we took Illinois-47 to I-74 to Indianapolis and then I-65 south (l)ouisville to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, the first day.  The second day it was I-65 through Nashville, Birmingham and Montgomery.  Then US-231 to Ala-167 to the Florida state line and Fla.-79 to Panama City Beach.

--RoadDog

Indy 500, 2016-- Part 2: Shaking, Rattling and Rolling Down I-65 in Indiana: "Hell Is Real" and We're Driving It!!

May 26, 2016, Thursday

I had read yesterday that all hotel rooms in Indianapolis had been sold out by March and that people were staying a hundred miles away.  We also heard on the way down that the race was a complete sell-out for the first time ever with an expected 350,000 fans in attendance.  Usually,there are around 250,000.

Well, we have out tickets and will have to exert a walk of about 100 yards to the race track from the American legion grounds.  Tough job, but somebody's got to do it.

There was, of course, lots of construction areas, many with no construction going on at all as usual.  However, Indiana really needs to improve I-65.  It is one big pothole and a motor home is not the thing you want to be in when dealing with them.  My brain was essentially rattled.

There was a big sign saying "Hell is Real."

I Know, I Am In a Motor Home Bouncing and rattling Along on I-65.  --RoadDog

Indy 500, 2016-- Part 1: Why Not Stay Another Day?

MAY 26, 2016, Thursday

Drove over to Round Lake and met Sue and Paul at their house.  Paul's brother John then arrived.  We packed our stuff into the motor home and then we were off for Indianapolis.  This is my 5th time and Sue and Paul's 16th.

Normally we go there on Friday, but decided to add one more day, Thursday since the parking at the Legion covers Thursday to Monday or Friday to Monday.  Why not stay another day.  We had some discussion on it last year and took a vote.  It ended up 3-1 with all the guys voting for the extra day.

We had to stop at the Round Lake Beach jewel store on the way out to get silver, well, plastic, ware.  And, I had bought a case of Lite yesterday, but left it in the truck because of the rain, and there it still sat the whole weekend.

Out of sight, out of mind, you know.

Clear sailing on the Tri-State to I-65 in Indiana.

--RoadDog

Indy Bound-- Part 1: Good Breakfast, Bad Rest Area

MAY 22ND, FRIDAY
  We drove to Sue and Paul's house in Long lake, Illinois, and I put my stuff on board their RV.  Paul's brother John arrived and we left for that big old race at 7:15 a.m..  We made a stop for gas at a Pilot station in Indiana along I-65.  I decided to have a go at a Wendy's breakfast (I didn't even know Wendy's served breakfast).  It is mighty good.

Along the way I saw a milk truck container with two cow statues on top and the words "We Got Milk & MOOORE.  Kind of liked that one.

We stopped to change drivers again at what probably has to rank as the rankest, worst rest area I've ever been to.  Certainly not a good reflection on the State of Indiana.  Sue had to navigate a series of potholes that make even those in Chicago after a long hard winter look small.

Then, the bathrooms were closed and they had some mighty smelly and gross port-a-potties lined up outside.  A lot of school kids were at the stop and their teachers were trying to get the girls to use those port-a-potties and those girls were surely grossed out.

Hey, Indiana, ya gotta clean 'em out once in awhile.  I had to go, so held my breath and tried not to look and managed to get out without gagging.

Not Exactly a Hoosier Welcome.  --RoadDog

Forget I-65 Through Nashville

May 6, 2015

The Nashville Horror.  It is never fun to drive through Nashville, especially during rush hour.  Yesterday, I we entered Tennessee from Alabama on I-65, we stopped at the welcome center for motel pamphlets and information and overheard the person there telling some people getting a hotel room in Franklin for the night, that if they were not on the road by 6 a.m. to wait until 9 a.m. to drive through Nashville.

We stopped for gas at Franklin at around 5:30 p.m. and did not even make it a mile towards Nashville when we hit sitting traffic.  Evidently, there was an accident or something ahead and traffic was at a standstill.

We ended up on some back roads and eventually US-70 and saw some of the most beautiful scenery ever before ending up at Clarksville, Tennessee, for the night.

--RoadDog