Traveling between Savannah and Macon on Route 16 is one of those trips that I've always thought honestly to be a little boring - it seems about seventy-five percent of the traffic along this route is tractor trailer rigs hauling shipping containers to and from the seaport in Savannah. Taking this route will add time to my trip if I'm only look at the mileage, but my agenda is to try and avoid I-75 at all cost, experience has shown using that route negatively impacts the schedule being it's filled with lots traffic and delays caused for a multitude of reasons including construction delays and accidents. The trip between my home and Atlanta is a little over 450 miles and doesn't usually call for a fuel stop if I'm driving one of my daily drivers, but at 7.5 mpg the RV usually requires a stop being I don't like to go much lower than a quarter of a tank when traveling. At just under fifty-five feet with the Fiat in tow finding a fueling island to accommodate the RV without blocking traffic or putting it in a position that complicates exiting can be a little challenging since backing up an RV with a "toad" attached isn't recommended.
After sitting in the seat a few hours longer than I wanted too the Grady Truck-stop sign was a welcoming sight - a chance to stretch my legs and an opportunity to fill up this girl gave me just the excuse I was looking for to take a break. A slight drizzle started just as I took the exit and climbed the hill to pull into Grady's, I was happy to see the large canopy covering the fuel islands as well as the well thought out entrance and exit configuration making it perfect so there'd be no need to plan a strategy to get back on the highway. I was a little taken back when I noticed the old school pumps that requires you to fill up before going inside to pay (for those of you that aren't aware, there was a time when there weren't "pay at the pump" options and you had to interact with a real person to do business I think we could use a little more of this). This baby hold more than a hundred gallons so when I latched the nozzle I knew it would take awhile.
As the gallons clicked off I noticed an old trucker next to the entrance hitting a blunt, he nodded hello and I acknowledged it will a nod of my own - he proceeded to make small talk as the rain poured from the awning making the conversation a little one sided as the water crashed onto the concrete drowning out much of what came from his mouth. A porter came out with a push broom and guided the standing water away from the entrance just as the familiar sound of the pump shutting down at just over ninety bucks. The interior of the place was simple but ample, staffed and stocked with lots of necessities if you're a truck driver or live right down the road I guess - lots of chrome, cords and electronics on one wall, a few aisles filled with junk food, snacks in the middle and some essentials of course. The bulletin boards are always interesting, this one had a few thank you cards and odd job request and maybe a lost pet or two. The back of the property sets the grille, only a few tables and a kitchen in plain view. The employees were as friendly as family and thanked me for stopping in. It seems a lot of the big brand truck-stops could learn a thing or two from Grady but I doubt improving their staffs lives takes a precedence over profits. I definitely would stop in here again I don't think there's a better option on this stretch of highway... read more