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Atlanta to Columbia, MO
I need to make a trip to Columbia, Missouri where my sister was being treated for complications of chemo therapy treatment for colon cancer. Instead of flying I decided to ride.
The trip to Columbia was interstate in 13 hours; 740 miles. However the trip home was sort of back roads and was quite enjoyable on roads I've never been on. The trip was Columbia to Poplar Bluff. I ran into some road construction that delayed the traffic a couple times. Also I took refuge under a service station cover during a brief down-pour.The roads were definitely two-lane rural roads. I decided to spend the night at the Confort Inn, Poplar Bluff. I had a Mexican dinner at the Maya Restaurant that I recommend. I pulled out at 5 am to take advantage of the cool weather. From Poplar Bluff I headed to Dyerburg, TN, to Jackson, TN, Gasden, AL, to Newnan, Ga, then onto Hampton, GA.
I didn't write down all the roads I took, however, I took state highways instead of interstates. Leaving Poplar Bluff provided riding through some great farmland of America. The roads are curvy and terrific. Southeastern, Missouri has some great roads. Passing over the Mississippi River into Tennessee was also farmland and beautiful roads. The scenery provides a look at rual America because you are up close and personal , unlike the interstate scene. As I passed into Mississippi, although the roads were not in disrepair, the the road surface was not smooth. It was one step above wash boarding. Also, the clean looking farms turned into a scene of miniature junkyards. It's like people drive a vehicle into the ground, and where it stops that where it stays. Alabama was very similar. I still enjoyed riding on roads that gave me and up close and personal look at rural America. Passing into north west Georgia puts into the trailing edges of the Smokies and was beautiful. Not much to say about Georgia south of Interstate 20 because you are now into the Atlanta suburbs, but very rural.
My whole point of this post, go to a map, select a route that iliminates the interstate and take off. Amazing what you will see along the way.
Originally Posted by Rick Kay
