A South Bound Holiday, Day 1

The plan initially was very simple and seemed quite reasonable (for us): pack car, drive south.
The destination, Key West, Florida by way of Champaign, Evansville, Apalachicola and Atlanta and all points in between. Have no particular schedule since it is, after all, a vacation. Meet up with friends & Jeff's cousins at intervals, take in a lot of American scenery and drop by whatever sights look interesting. Book a place to stay 36 hours (or 3-6 hrs) prior to arriving because after all, that's the fun part. (And i-phones make trip planning in the car possible.)
We did check the weather, but as the last post indicates and anyone knows, the weather doesn't check with us. So today we logged fewer miles than anticipated, but yesterday was stellar.

It all started with a pancake breakfast with the Fathers Charles & Tony in Champaign. (well, I had Swedish pancakes with lingonberries.) That necessitated an early start. I was congratulating myself that we had only left half an hour later than intended - with all dishes and clothes washed, trash out, and a fine array of snacks, drinks, and "just in case" items such as camping gear - when it occurred to me I hadn't asked anyone to pick up the mail and any sleeping in said camping venture would be pillow-less.
I can only say it was all by 7:30am (only slightly off schedule).

So the remainder of the day went, very happily and a bit humorously. We lingered awhile at the Slot & Wing hobby shop, and I left a better educated wife of a model airplane and train enthusiast. Then we sped downstate and arrive in Evansville, Indiana, just in time for dinner with our friends Steve and Alma... Only to realize we had an hour to spare! I have yet to find the Eastern Time Zone line with any accuracy on this trip.
No worries! Our gracious hosts at Cool Breeze B&B gave us a little tour of the spacious 1906 home and pointed us in the direction of the Ohio Riverwalk a few blocks away. A foot tour was welcomed by both of us, and my sciatic nerves in particular (being unaccustomed to prolonged sitting!). We found that the historic district restoration is going slowly but surely, and the past-time of old house-looking is always enjoyable. (See the pics.)
Dinner with Steve and Alma did take a place - our first grill out / outdoor dinner of the season. Great food, wonderful company and conversation, and delicious Southern Illinois wine - in honor of how we met on our last vacation to the Shawnee wine country.

We slept well, in our McGuffey Scottish Room, rather oblivious to the thunderstorm warnings.