It’s been a day of roadworks, with a long delay through Nashville that kept us short of our destination hotel in Knoxville – but no reservation to worry about so slipped into a dog-friendly Quality Inn in Crosseville. It seems that every other town east of Nashville is a ‘ville’ of some name or another, and assume there is some perverse pattern to it that we haven’t yet figured out. Que sera! After all, we’all are only passing through.
Slow going on the road at least gave us the opportunity to admire mile after mile of crape myrtle and dogwood in full bloom along the carriageway – so Texas wildflowers yesterday, Tennessee trees today. Tomorrow we hit the Appalachian Trail so undoubtedly more flora will present itself for comment.
Sadly, today, not one Starbucks, although we did stop at what must have been the world’s biggest Walmart. No end to the daily excitement!!! Now, I confess that I’m not a fan of Walmart – no siree! But, we decided some rolls and cheese would go down well for lunch. But, although there was an in-store bakery, everything was pre-packaged (in plastic, of course). I also needed a bottle of deodorizing enzyme spray as Pip, our English springer spaniel, now 12 years old, is suffering from the same aging condition as many of us – urinary retention. So, she pees when she’s taken for a walk, then five minutes later dribbles!!! However, I refuse to force her to suffer diaper indignity by making her wear doggie Depends. Do we care that the dog beds where they both travel just behind our seats are starting to smell a little strange. Do we heck! We thought about using the guest laundry in the hotel, but the embarrassment of clogging the washer with dog hair would have been too much to bear, so onward with slightly smelly dog beds, although hopefully less so after their overnight enzyme dousing.
All in all, an uneventful day, for which we are grateful as we’re both feeling the effects of the past weeks in selling our house (which had more than its fair share of frustrations and challenges), the sudden departure and, finally, the realization that we’re on our way ‘home’.
Of course, leaving Ajijic was also bittersweet as we have left behind so many friends who have become like family…. But, far too many people to mention, and the fear that I’ll miss someone’s name.
I promise I’ll try harder with posting more photos in the coming days but, in the meantime, I’m leaving this blog short and sweet so I can finally crash and wake with renewed energy for the days ahead.
Hasta mañana or, as French Canadians would say, à demain.