Long and Winding Road

On Thursday (September 1st) after about ten days in Ohio, especially for my 50th high school reunion, I journeyed back home to Mississippi. I took the bypasses around the five major cities - Columbus, Cincinnati, Louisville, Nashville, and Memphis. The whole trip totaled 979 miles. I left Ohio at 6 am, Central time and arrived home at 9:30 pm Central time, a total of 15 and a half hours total driving time.

Until dark, it was sunshine all the way. Avoiding the cities spared me most construction--in Columbus for sure. All in all, it was a great day for a drive and I had no accident delays either.

My total mileage for the 10-day trip was 2,252.1 miles. That was up to Ohio and back to Mississippi, a business trip to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, from Sebring, and any running around I had to do while there. On the trip home, I averaged 63.16 miles per hour, with stops, of course. Actually, I was running on Cruise at 72-73 miles per house most of the time. There was only one stop for gas and the photo shows I still have a range of 214 miles left in the tank. On the entire trip--all 2,252 miles, I averaged 46.5 miles per gallon--I have a great affection for my Honda Civic Hybrid!

So, what does one do on a 15 hours plus drive all alone? Well, this time, it was a lot of iTunes from the 60s and 70s (the greatest music), a couple phone conversations with friends, and a lot of reflection on the reunion, recalling the friendships renewed, the hugs exchanged, the kind words spoken, and the camaraderie of another time and place--which reminds me of the other long and winding road I have traveled--over the last 50 years.