After some much-enjoyed sleep, we started out on the trek from Memphis to Birmingham. First things first, a stop at a Waffle House in northern Alabama for coffee, bacon, eggs, grits, and of course…waffles – 

We loved the staff here!

Not to mention this fellow diner, who looks pretty good behind the wheel:

After filling up, the 250 mile journey began. We made do with natural air-conditioning via Mother Nature and the speed of The Bus. There is a lot of time on the road to contemplate, listen to the hum of the engine, and talk to your fellow travelers.

We also spent time enjoying other Power Tour participants –

Gotta stop when you see people broken down if they need help – people have sure done it for us –

During Power Tour, a regular stop at a gas station to fill up (which we had to do every 80-100 miles) becomes a mini car show –

We were so glad to see the Laid Back wagon and the guys in it – check out their stuff here. 

These guys, we liked. We even scored some calendars from them! Check them out here.

A couple more shots of their “ratty” ride –

Main stop this day was at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. It wasn’t as hot as Memphis but the sun was still in full force.

On the way in –

AND we were so excited to see a bus buddy! Love the bear – the owner’s wife picked it up at a swap meet and its been with the bus ever since. He looks pretty “cool.”

Then we found the batmobile parked nonchalantly under a row of shade trees…oh wait it’s actually the Polaris Slingshot (click here to learn more about this vehicle).

And then, the Roadkill team’s Draguar (a ’74 Jaguar XJ12…with a giant blower) up close and personal, rear tires still embedded with asphalt from burning out the previous day. Watch the initial story here. The dyno-tuning here. And then the engine swap & upgrades here. Still want more? How about some racing? – click here.

We’ll wrap it up for today. Next up – we met Mark Fisher from Minford, OH at a refuel stop, and we were excited that his custom ’33 truck shared the same birth year as The Bus!

More to come on his ride in the coming post.