Best Laid Plans

Day 9

• Make a plan , adjust the plan, adjust the plan again... welcome to the world of travel I guess! Lol

The "plan" was to be on the road at sunrise. I was up and ready, but there was no sunrise. As the sky lightened at dawn there was nothing to see but fog. I could have taken a picture for you, but really you could just put on a gray mitten, hold it in front of your face, and you would have same thing! Welcome to the Smokey Mountains. They didn't get that name for nothing!
So...plan B, wait it out. What else can you do?
FINALLY, it is 9:20 and I can see my car in the parking lot at least. So I am making a run for it! As I am having breakfast I was launching Google Maps for my drive and get the message "can't find a way there".
Ummm...
..lol...well, you'd better! Good thing I have that good old fashioned paper map thing in my car!
Speaking of cars, a small car commercial here...I bought my Nissan Altima gently used four years ago now, but this is the first real road trip it has been on.  Except for a quick turn around to Colorado right after I bought it and several Sioux Falls trips, it hasn't been tested out in this way. It is AWESOME! Smooth comfortable ride, these mountains barely slow it down, and 40 miles to the gallon with the air on, with it only dropping to 37 or 38 miles per gallon here in the mountains and still with the air on! In short, if you need a car, get an Altima. I didn't know how I would feel about a bigger car, and I really drug my feet buying this because to me an Altima is big. However, I have not regretted this purchase at all, especially after this trip!
One more random thought, I wish crepe myrtles could thrive in Nebraska. They are such a beautiful tree!

Well, hoping this is the last of the problematic adventures for the day. As Tigger would say...ta ta for now!
Update: well, it wasn't. A grueling day of traffic delays and storms stretched that 14 hour trip into an 18 one. But, after 3200 miles I am home!!!
Thank you all for traveling with me. I can't wait to hear about your adventures.