Weather: Clear and sunny 71 degrees. No rain.
 Hours: 6
 Miles: 420
 States: Kentucky, Tennesee and Alabama 
 University: of Alabama
 Restaurant: Cracker Barrel and Dreamland BBQ
 Hotel: Springhill Suites Tuscaloosa 
 Water Bottles: 5
 Movies: Star Wars (part of it)
 Car issues: None

We  are working our way down south one state at a time. Today, we left Kentucky, made our way through Tennesee and made it to Alabama in the late afternoon. Along the way we lunched at the good ol' Cracker Barrel. I still think there is more to the name. That darn store in the front is a love/hate relationship. You can't help but browse around but it rarely has anything you really want. I just wait for the dreaded words, "Mom! Come look at this!" This is secret code for "buy me this." Our lesson this year is to...BRING YOUR OWN MONEY! You, my precious offspring, are old enough to carry a wallet or purse. I am not your walking, talking bank account. Somehow they keep forgetting their money in the car. Except Matthew. Now he is their loan officer. He will give them money to borrow with a $1 fee. Smart boy. 

 On the way to Tuscaloosa, we met up with my nephew, Mitchell, who Is a sophomore at University of Alabama. He took us on a driving tour of the campus. What a nice campus. The buildings are really new. Paul thought it would be an older campus. I didn't have a thought. The fraternity and sorority houses are gorgeous mansions. I was impressed with the campus. 

Mitchell took us to a BBQ place called Dreamland. We filled the table with ribs, chicken wings, sausage, Cole slaw, Mac n Cheese. Delish. We didn't finish a lot of it so we boxed it up for Mitchell who gladly took it home for later eats. He took us to his fave "froyo" place for some frozen yogurt (in case you didn't know what "froyo" was like Paul and I). We took a walk along the Black Warrior river that runs along the campus. Paul wanted me to mention a moment he thought was funny. Bear with me. We were walking along eating our ice cream. I asked him to hold my cup for a second so I could put on my jacket or something. He resisted saying he thought I was just trying to dump my garbage on him. I promised, " I will take it back." We walked a little further and he tried to hand me both my cup and his. I refused. He said, "You said you'd take it back." I said, "I will take it back. I take back what I said." He thought it was funny. Yay! He kept my garbage. It was a really nice night with Mitchell.

Now we are at a Spring Hill suites for the night and off through Mississippi to New Orleans tomorrow. Loving the warm weather.