We're in Alabama and have had only a taste of the sea winds from the storm, which weakened quite a bit before reaching land. Hope Gustav hasn't been too severe on those still remaining.

Driving north on 55 in Mississippi on Saturday, we were part of a great flow of vehicles with Louisiana plates. Cars filled with people, trucks packed with belongings, campers and Winnebagos caravaning in the right-hand lane.

Many stopped in Jackson as their destination. Our first night was farther north in Memphis, Tennessee. Even there, motel parking lots were filled, and trains could be heard through the night. We were told the extra trains were part of the New Orleans evacuation effort.

People, both evacuees and hosts, were very nice. Restaurant and motel workers with full houses went out of their way to be accomodating to stressed travelers, including helping the lost, and offering use of an empty restaurant office to keep a puppy safe and out of the Memphis heat during a meal.

Other evacuees, in the parking lots, in the foyers and halls, asked, you, too? And we nodded.