Was this a trip that you’d been planning for a long time?  Kind of a “once in a lifetime” experience?

Been meaning to make it back to this post for a while. Thanks to all for the kind words. To ScreamingChicken: I’d done week-long trips thru Mississippi and Cajun country, but a good ten years ago. So, yes, this mega-trip was one I’d been hoping to do for quite a while. With the time and means to travel a bit right now, I just decided to gas up the car and do it. Very glad I did.