An unscheduled stop:
Ooh! Ooh! Check out that
growth of kudzu! I was still in the mountains when I saw this
great roadside display of kudzu (Pueraria montana). This
non-native species was introduced in the early 1900s for roadside
stabilization purposes. Since then, it has turned into a crazy weed
that is infamous for its fast growth. Here is a tree that has been
covered by kudzu. Deprived of light, the tree is dying.
Hey, I forgot to tell you about the rental car I got.
I had reserved a compact. When I arrived at the rental
agency, they said they didn't have any compacts left, so instead gave
me (at no additional charge) a honkin' huge
Chrysler "Town & Country!" This thing is a monster
that seats about eight people! Oh, for heaven's sake, there was just
one of me, but I was driving around a thing fit for a soccer team.
