We left Columbia at 3:30 pm, our latest start yet. We planned three travel days to get to New Orleans just so we wouldn't be rushed. As you may or may not know there are many Walmarts that allow overnight camping. It's just a parking lot but if you are in route somewhere and need just a place to crash it's pretty handy. It's smart on their end as well because inevitably you buy something, which of course I did. So if one were to be literal than it really isn't "free" parking.
After our night at Walmart, we had breakfast at the Waffle House. Apparently waffle and pancake houses are big in the south because we've seen a lot of them. Of course, I'm an excellent target for marketing (even though I realize what's happening) because I have been jonesing for pancakes or waffles....The experience was like walking on to the set of Alice - I was transported to Mel's Diner, without the Flo and Kissing of Grits. The cook station was right across from the breakfast bar where we sat and it was a show...It was busy and there were no visuals of tickets being passed to the cooks...what there was, was a lot of hollered out orders of smothered this and that...It was throughly entertaining.
Wilson also found that there were casinos who let you park overnight for "free" as well. We stopped at the Wind Creek Casino in Atmore, Alabama. Apparently Alabama doesn't allow regular gambling but they do allow Bingo. The casino only has slots and each one has electronic Bingo cards associated with it so that they can be technically playing that game while playing the slots. I'm not sure how that exactly works but it must be a giant loophole.
We promptly "paid" for our parking slots, as much as we were willing to lose, then went to the movies and dinner. All of which were here in the facility...I didn't even mention the arcade or bowling alley 😎. We each received a $10 food voucher for setting up a rewards account. We also will be able to get matching free play for our losses over $75 later this week. What a lure to get us back.
I again go back to marketing efforts...Within the casino the same songs seemed to keep playing..or at least the Electric Slide song was playing every other song...I'm sure there are studies that point out patterns and associatied responses to various stimuli etc...but I just felt like they were taking a page out of Ground Hog Day...repetition...listen to Electric Slide - put my quarter in - play the slot - repeat.
Our reservation in New Orleans is for 11/17 so we have another day of winging it. We will head toward the water and figure out our next night of lodging later. Until then....
Leave Columbia 3:25 pm
Rte. - I20 ►285S►85S
Gas - QT (Quick Trip) Exit 93 (I85) Covingtown, GA - $2.14/gal
Arrive - Newman, GA - Exit 47 (I85) - 8:05 pm
Miles travelled - 246
Leave Newman, GA 9:35 am
Rte. - 85S ►65S
NEW TIME ZONE - 10:25 am - Central Time - Mile Marker 74 (I85 in Alabama shortly after the Georgia border) - The magic of cell phones because they fell back an hour all on their own...It's like daylight savings time all over again.
Arrive Atmore, AL 12:50 pm (1:150 pm EST) - Exit 57
Miles travelled - 244
Bonnie Raitt and John Prine sing Angel in Montgomery - Wilson's choice as we pass Montgomery, AL today.
One thing to mention is that there are wild fires burning in the northern mountains of GA as well as in the Great Smokies in NC. While driving in GA and AL you could smell the smoke even though it was miles and miles away...Nature is a powerful thing - I know I've heard that they suspect arson, but if that is how it was started, it is nature that feeds it and is why they continue to burn.
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