We left Birmingham bright and early at 8:00 a.m., after a late night of story writing and picture uploading (see the things I do for you?). Our first stop — Cracker Barrel for some delicious down-home cooking. While waiting for our food, I showed Robert, our 11-year-old, how to play the peg jumping game.

On Robert’s second try, he won! And on the third try, and the fourth and fifth.

We’re not speaking any more. Smart aleck.

After woofing-down my strawberry pancakes, I spent some time sulking in the gift shop, spotting my childhood favorites, Moon Pies.

Meanwhile, back on the road (and still sulking), we started catching some of the slower cars and trucks — like this early ’60s Chevy hauling a spare engine.

Strange thing, though — that motor appears to be a Chrysler Hemi, and since it has a generator, it must be a ’50s vintage. I’ll give ’em $50 for it.

After leaving the interstate in Montgomery, the birthplace of civil rights, we encountered our all-too-often trafffic jam. We were fortunate to have the windows closed and A/C on because we were downwind of these feet sticking out of this Trans Am.

Thanks to a lucky break in traffic, we shot past the feet and the early Super Duty it was running with.

State Highway 231 runs the full width of Alabama, giving us plenty of opportunity to check out the monster fins on this Chrysler Imperial,

before being surrounded by more traffic both front,

and rear.

Just as I thought, too, gas is much less expensive in the South.

Just think, I’ll be able to tell my grandchildren, “I remember when gas was only $1.99 a gallon. It was back in ’05, and we were...”

Should you ever have some spare time on your hands, head for the National Peanut Festival.

I'm sure it’s a rip roaring time.

Finally, we made Florida, the state of my birth some years ago. (Okay, it was actually alot of years ago.) With the sky blackening, some smart Tourers declared an emergency.

What was the emergency?

Serious rain, that’s what!

As bad as we felt for our Touring buddies in their rods, it was nothing compared to this poor guy on his motorcycle.

Yeah, it feels good to have the wind in your face. But it doesn’t feel good to have sharp needles of water piercing your leathers at 70 miles per hour.

Finally, Tallahassee, the state capitol and our destination. With the rain gone (temporarily, we were to soon discover) these folks decided to arrive in style, sans their top.

The North Florida Fairgrounds was the place to be today. We had it all — cool cars, hot temps, humidity too high to measure, and winged wonders.

Normally, I’d show a picture here of a Daytona or Superbird, but this time, it was truly a winged wonder:

I’m still wondering why it didn’t fly away with all the noise.

Jim pulled a Tom Sawyer — but instead of talking others into whitewashing the fence, he showed Tyler the Aggie Fan how to dry the El Camino.

He did a great job, even for an Aggie fan.

Our Road Divas, Thelma and Louise, have made quite an impact on the crowd. It was one thing for the guys to get into it,

but it was another for my own daughter, Pamela, to declare allegiance to the Road Divas.

Yep, that’s my 13-year-old hanging out with two women in a borrowed Bentley, tiara and all.

Maybe she can swing me a chance to drive the Bentley.

After once again making a fool of myself on the stage, handing-out swell Mothers products, I came back to the trailer and a fellow Tourer showing off his Craftsman toolbox computer. Yep, that’s right — a full PC in a tool box.

Remember the cubic inch contest from the other day? Well, how about deciding which shaker you’d prefer to be sitting behind?

or...

Personally, I’d like to find a way to afford both.

After all these years, I thought I had seen it all. But today I saw a 1970 Monte Carlo convertible, complete with owner’s manual showing how to care for the top.

It’s news to me. Each Power Tour is full of surprises!

Looking off to the south, we saw dark clouds headed our way.

Oh, great. More rain.

It sure is great to be back home. But like I said, I don’t seem to remember this much rain from back when I was a kid.

Running for the car, we found our ultimate irony of the day.

Would that make it Howdy’s Doody?