OKRoads.com -- Florida Trip -- Trip Summaries (Days 1-5)

This was the day the Florida Trip began. I began by taking Interstate 44 West to Wichita Falls to clinch that interstate. From there, I took U.S. 287 south to Fort Worth, took Interstate 820 West to Interstate 30, then Interstate 30 west to its western end, then Interstate 20 East, and ended up in Terrell, Texas. Only 362 miles were driven on this day.

Day One Trip Log:
Departed Oklahoma City, OK - 8:55 AM; mile 50,246
Murphy USA (Oklahoma City, OK) - Gas - 8:58 AM; mile 50.247
Love's (Medicine Park, OK) - Break - 10:11 AM; mile 50,320
Braum's (Burkburnett, TX) - Lunch - 11:17-11:32 AM; mile 50,380
TA Travel Center (Dallas, TX) - Gas - 2:15 PM; mile 50,578
Arrived Motel 6 (Terrell, TX) - 3:02 PM; mile 50,608

DAY TWO SUMMARY
Friday, December 12, 2003

On this day, I drove from Terrell, Texas, to Alexandria, Louisiana. There were a few light sprinkles for the first hour and a half, but after that, the skies were just cloudy for the remainder of the day. I learned that Interstate 220 is a good bypass of Shreveport (70 mph speed limit for all but the first mile), and that Interstate 49 is one of the most boring non-desert interstates I have ever been on! At least there were trees, unlike some other highways I'm familiar with. I drove 359 miles on this day, which put the total miles driven thus far at 721 miles. Just 3,779 more to go!

Day Two Trip Log:
Departed Motel 6 (Terrell, TX) - 9:05 AM; mile 50,609
McDonald's (Terrell, TX) - Breakfast - 9:08-9:25 AM; mile 50,609
Chevron (Marshall, TX) - Break - 11:08 AM; mile 50,728
Louisiana Welcome Center - 11:32 AM; mile 50,751
Pilot/Arby's (Houghton, LA) - Lunch - 12:33-12:47 PM; mile 50,812
Citgo (Natchitoches, LA) - Gas - 2:18 PM; mile 50,912
Arrived Motel 6 (Alexandria, LA) - 3:18 PM; mile 50,968

DAY THREE SUMMARY
Saturday, December 13, 2003

The cloudiness continued and the rain prevailed for most of this day. I clinched Interstate 49, then headed east on Interstate 10, and conditions deteriorated from there. Besides a traffic jam in New Orleans, though, there weren't any major problems. Just before 4 pm, I entered the state of Florida for the first time in my life, and I was in Pensacola 20 minutes later. I also got to enjoy some complimentary Florida orange juice at the Florida Welcome Center. Only in Florida! I drove 431 miles on this day, which brings the current trip total to 1,152 miles.

Day Three Trip Log:
Departed Motel 6 (Alexandria, LA) - 8:45 AM; mile 50,969
Burger King (Alexandria, LA) - Breakfast - 8:48-9:02 AM; mile 50,970
Citgo (Lafayette, LA) - Break - 10:19 AM; mile 51,058
McDonald's (La Place, LA) - Lunch - 12:03-12:21 PM; mile 51,172
Flying J (Gulfport, MS) - Gas - 1:59 PM; mile 51,271
Florida Welcome Center - 3:49 PM; mile 51,391
Arrived Motel 6 (Pensacola, FL) - 4:08 PM; mile 51,400

DAY FOUR SUMMARY
Sunday, December 14, 2003

It was yet another cloudy day of driving. The precipitation was limited to a few sprinkles here and there, though. It was even partly cloudy for about 40 miles, and I got to see blue sky for the first time since Day One! I think every other exit on Interstate 75 has a McDonald's, Wendy's, and Taco Bell. Anyways, I drove 475 miles on this day.

Day Four Trip Log:
Departed Motel 6 (Pensacola, FL) - 8:05 AM; mile 51,401
McDonald's (Pensacola, FL) - Breakfast - 8:09-8:22 AM; mile 51,402
Flying J (Midway, FL) - Gas - 11:55 AM EST; mile 51,586
Wendy's (Lake City, FL) - Lunch - 1:38-1:55 PM; mile 51,702
Arrived Motel 6 (Tampa, FL) - 4:16 PM; mile 51,876

DAY FIVE SUMMARY
Monday, December 15, 2003

The Sunshine State finally lived up to its name on this day. It was an absolutely gorgeous day for driving. I went south on Interstate 75 to its southern end near Miami, then I went south on FL 826 to FL 836, took that east to Interstate 95, saw the southern end of I-95, then went back up north, and ended up at the Motel 6 of Palm Bay, Florida. I drove 478 miles on this day, bringing the total number of miles driven so far up to 2,147.

Day Five Trip Log:
Departed Motel 6 (Tampa, FL) - 8:02 AM; mile 51,905
Burger King (Sun City Center, FL) - Breakfast - 8:31-8:42 AM; mile 51,931
Chevron (Sun City Center, FL) - Gas - 8:45 AM; mile 51,931
RaceTrac (Naples, FL) - Break - 10:42 AM; mile 52,069
Subway (Pompano Beach, FL) - Lunch - 1:29-1:48 PM; mile 52,241
Mobil (West Palm Beach, FL) - Gas - 2:32 PM; mile 52,277
Arrived Motel 6 (Palm Bay, FL) - 4:11 PM; mile 52,383