2025 Big Truck across the Southeast, day 1

We are back and better than ever. This year's trip was planned during a Michigan winter, which might help explain why in the heart of July we are headed straight south, through Nashville to Atlanta and then to the Atlantic shore. Sounded great at the time. Now? 90+ degrees, 120% humidity. Quite refreshing. Either way, we're committed and it's going to be great. It comes at the perfect time - both Kimberly and I have been swamped at work, Jordan is in her final summer of high school (turning 18 this fall!!), so we're going to give the southeast US everything we've got. We have a loose plan as always, and plan to ad lib in few spots along the way. The loose plan:

Fairly modest compared to some prior years, but some great stops along the way. Today started a bit rough. After checking everything over and over last night and finding no red flags, I did the preflight checklist and found an intermittent connection in the tow harness, so the Jeep brake lights/turn signals were operable roughly 10% of the time. Not ideal, but we'll figure it out. 20 minutes into the drive, this was the scene inside the Big Truck.

All was fairly quiet and uneventful. Found a Camping World just south of Indianapolis, stopped to grab a replacement tow harness, and when we got back out to the Big Truck, the lights miraculously started working. Rewiring the new harness would wait for another day. Kimberly was working as we crossed into Louisville.

We decided we should probably find a bourbon store nearby. We did - opting for convenience (just off an exit) over selection. They at least had a nice bottle of the Colonel that we picked up, significantly less expensive than this bait.

Back on the road, we beelined for the campground, eager to get outside for a few seconds before hunkering down in some A/C. Kimberly guided us into our spot with Cleetus McFarland level accuracy, resulting in this real world Tetris.

While admiring our handiwork, I noticed the Jeep had taken an absolute beating while doing nothing but hitching a free ride. Apparently a 12 hour drive with roughly 11.9 of those hours through active construction zones does a number on this pristine paint.

While the Beute ladies cranked up the A/C, I took to one of my favorite activities. Exploring, while adding several entries into the infinite 'Bike leaning on stuff in cool locations' category.

Next it was off too the Lucky Rooster - a classic southern Roadhouse pub, that just so happened to be serving ice cold Yuengling.

This place had all of the character, great food, and quality people watching. Jordan was excited to eat, but more excited to get back and relax.

If I may indulge in a quick aside (isn't that what this whole thing is?), I noticed the bartender wearing a shirt with UNDEAD across the back of her shoulders. As I was pondering "I wonder if that's related to the creatively titled Undead by Hollywood Undead that I just made Kimberly and Jordan listen to like hostages 2 days ago", I realized that the pattern on this shirt was actually the words Hollywood Undead. Now I assure you that, other than their parents, I have always assumed that I am the only person who knows this band exists.

If you don't know their work, think Slipknot meets POD with a dash of Crazytown (no cheater hyperlinks for you, if you can't piece that together I can't help you). Just the Pontiac Aztec of their genre. I can only assume the bartender is a relative. Either way, a glorius, highly unexpected moment.

The closer for the evening was quite appropriate. You could hear the strains of a house band rocking some live cheesy covers echoing across the tiny waves lapping on shore. If this is how day 1 turns out, we are going to be A OK. Tomorrow - a day in Nashville, possibily meeting up with a couple of locals we know well.