Memphis

Roger here... It was our first morning at the Tom Sawyer Mississippi River RV Park.  I stumbled out of bed.  Brewing a pot of coffee was uppermost in my mind.  At that point I squinted at the view through our windshield, and lunged for the camera.  Sunrise over the muddy Mississippi --- not the view I expected.  Where is the muddy water?  It looks pink and purple to me.

The day before we departed Paducah, as I was planning our travel, it looked as if the Memphis area would be a logical place to stop for one night.  I was all set for a stay south of town in one of those easy-off, easy-on RV parks.  Before turning off the computer, on a whim, I decided to see if there were any places to stay in West Memphis, Arkansas.  I discovered that the Tom Sawyer RV Park was only a couple miles off the highway.  I had heard of it.  It might be fun to spend a little time on the river and a little time on Beale Street.  We ended up making reservations for three nights.  What luck we had in finding this place.

After the spectacular sunrise, we walked the dogs, gave them breakfast and treats, and drove for fifteen minutes to cross the river.  We entered the city and followed the river to the north.  I wanted to see the pyramid, so we drove there first.  There was not really anything to do there other than snap a picture.  However, by next summer it will be an operating Bass Pro Shop with all kinds of activities.  We will have to come back.

Our next destination was Beale Street, the home of the blues and ribs.  I wanted to experience both.  But first, we found a parking garage that was only a block away, snapped this picture, walked past Beale Street, to find the Peabody Hotel, two blocks away.

I wanted to see the ducks.  Yes, the ducks.  Every day since the 1930s a duck master, yes a duck master, marches five mallard ducks from the rooftop of the hotel into an elevator.  The elevator descends to the lobby level where the ducks waddle on a red carpet to an Italian marble fountain and pool in the middle of the lobby, where they stay until 5:00 p.m.  I kid you not.  No one could make up a story like this.  Much to Dianne's chagrin, we arrived twenty minutes early, but a crowd was already gathering and jockeying for the best position to view the spectacle.

Oh, the excitement!  The mood of the crowd was palpable.  The lady at the left looks like she is about to have an aneurism.  

Ten minutes prior to the march, the duck master moved to the fountain.  He spent some time extolling the truly impressive history of the Peabody Hotel and its famous patrons and guests:  presidents, Justin Timberlake, BB King, and of course Elvis.  Before strolling to the elevator to get the ducks, he let everyone know that the lobby of the Peabody Hotel is the official entrance to the Mississippi River Delta.  We watched the numbers on the elevator as it ascended to the rooftop.  A few minutes later the numbers descended.  Then....

What a hoot!  It really was kinda funny.  We followed the ducks down the red carpet to get a picture of them in their opulent daytime digs.

Here's a link if you'd like to read more about the Peabody Hotel Ducks and their history:
Peabody Hotel Ducks

Back to Beale Street...
Lunchtime is really not party time on Beale Street, but we could still get the flavor of the place.  Right?

Music blared into the street from the BB King Blues Club.  However, I am sure it was recorded and not live.  

I loved all the neon signs.  They were even impressive in full daylight.  Very cool.  

Love, Peace and Chicken Grease.

Dianne is not necessarily a fan of honky tonk places.  She really does not care for New Orleans, so she was a little underwhelmed at Memphis.  I  like it, as expected.  It would be fun to visit again with a group of friends at night.  (If only we could stay awake that long....D).

We were both hungry and it was lunchtime. For us it felt like mid-afternoon because of the recent daylight saving time change and crossing into the Central Time Zone.  It was lunchtime for us, but early for Memphis.  The live music was not playing at Alfred's, but we were hoping for some of the great food.  I was especially hoping for some Memphis ribs.

We were the only customers in the joint.  No ribs that early in the day.  I am not sure how Dianne picked the right minute to snap this picture.  I have a history of very bad photos at restaurants taken by family members.  My girls can all tell you about the infamous photo on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.  (And the hysterical laughter that ensued among the four females in the group -- D.)

Dianne was just a little too happy after she saw the picture of me that she had just snapped.  

Ok then.  I settled on barbecued pulled pork and a locally brewed Ghost River Golden Ale.  I rationalized that it was barbecued ribs, without the bones.  Now this is more like it.

The food was great and so was the beer.  Dianne had a Cajun catfish po-boy with sweet potato fries.  We both ate half our food and took the other half home for supper.

On the way back to the car we stopped at the A. Schwab general store.  Quite an interesting old place with lots of stuff, but nothing we could not live without.  Check out the toilet seats in the window display.  Too bad, we just bought a new one in Colorado.

Back at the RV Park.  Lots of time left in the day.  

We walked off a few calories on the campground trails behind Tom Sawyer's Treehouse.  The dogs were grateful for the hour-long hike.  The rest of the day was spent  watching and photographing the endless parade of barges on the river.  We took too many pictures.  Here are just a few.  

Two barges passing in front of us

Notice the Memphis Bridge and Pyramid above the tree line.

Turbulent wake from the tug boat

Barges at dusk...

Barges at night...

The barges run up and down the river all night long.  

After our full day yesterday, we woke up to cloudy skies and a full day of rain.  The first thing I noticed was that the river is not pink and purple.  It really is muddy brown.

BUT, this really is not too bad.  We can still watch the river traffic from our indoor recliners, and I have time to work on this post while I watch the Colts game that I taped.

The Colts still won, as the media reported.  

Tomorrow?  South to Jackson or Vicksburg, Mississippi.  It depends on how far I want to drive.

The pet picture of the day shows Dianne and the dogs on the hiking trail.

Points Southwest - a Dogs' (and Cat's Story)

Bandido, Tequila, and Big Chuck here...  

Big Chuck:  Ever since mom and dad picked up the changed motor home, it has been difficult to find a soft place to rest my weary feline bones.  As you can see, I am forced to share my soft pet bed with smelly Tequila, now that the couch is gone.  And, now it looks like Bandido is planning to push us both out.

Bandido:  You bet I am.  I need some place, other than the entire bed, to relax.  

Tequila:  Hey Chuck!  I am not smelly.  I just spent a week in a spa, got a brush and a bath, AND a pedicure.  I am a dainty little girl.  But, I do understand about the lack of lounging places in our house.  

Bandido:  I have another issue, actually TWO other issues:  1), after my buddies Sophie and Ranger left us at Clifty Falls, a storm shook the motor home.  I am terrified of storms, but at least there was not any thunder.   2), I am sick and tired of mom and dad driving the motor home to places where we have no place to run, chase balls, and wrestle.

Tequila:  Yeah,  we spent our first night in Central City, Kentucky (whereever that is).   Was there a dog park?  NOOOOOO!

Big Chuck:  Then mom and dad groaned about the Hughes Net modem transmission line not working.  Big deal!  So much drama!  What is that anyway?  They both seemed so upset about not getting internet.  They need to get a life and get the smelly dogs some place to relax, away from me!

Bandido here:  That's right, Big Chuck, except for the smelly dog stuff.  I got a treatment at the spa, too, and at the risk of questioning my masculinity, I feel fabulous.  Anyway, mom and dad said they needed to go a few miles out of the way to a place called Paducah where they could find a Verizon store to buy a FiOS internet hot spot.  The good news is that they found one and it seems to be working.  AND, the campground in Paducah (Duck Creek RV Park) had a HUGE dog park where I could chase my blue ball.  

Tequila here:  That's right, Bandido.  We got to spend a couple days at a great place. I love stealing your blue ball from you.  

Big Chuck here:  AND even better news, mom and dad found two comfy beds for you dogs, so I can have my private life back.

Big Chuck:  Hey Bandido, you just enjoy your comfy bed next to dad with your blue ball.  I am headed to the bedroom for some kitty peace and quiet.

Bandido:  Dad drove our motor home to a place called West Memphis today.  Is that in Egypt?  Dad says we are at the Tom Sawyer RV Park on the Mississippi River in Arkansas.  They are planning to walk up and down Beale Street in Memphis, TN tomorrow.

Tequila:  Oh, great!  Does that mean we will be alone for a few hours tomorrow?   I am ok with that (especially when they leave us with treats), but I know how you (Bandido) hate it.

Big Chuck:  Mom seems to think that she has the best view of the barges on the Mississippi River from her new recliner.  It looks to me as if the smelly canines have a better view.

Halloween at Clifty Falls

Roger here...  Better late than never.  We were supposed to meet our Indiana camping buddies at Clifty Falls State Park (on the Ohio River) on Thursday.  Due to a series of irritating, but not serious, setbacks (delay in finishing motor home, longer time needed to reload our stuff, trip to the grocery to put food in the empty fridge, and adding air to a couple of tires), we did not get there until late afternoon on Saturday.  

However, good times awaited us when we arrived.  Our friends were all there and enjoying each other's company.  I am not going to identify each person by picture, but Chuck, Cindy, Audrey, Pat, 

Jessica, Morgan, Kathy, Chris, Hannah, Linda, Linda and Linda were all there.  We had a great dinner of chili and hot dogs.

The dogs all had a great time, as well.  Lots of sniffing, wrestling, posing, and running.  Front to back:  Tequila, Bandido, Sophie, and Ranger (on the left).  Ranger and Bandido were so happy to have some off-leash ball chasing time.  Nice action-shot Dianne! (ball in the air, all four paws off the ground)

As the sun set, the jack-o-lanterns were lit.

And the costumes were donned.

Jessica with Ranger the Taxi

Audrey the Cereal Killer with Ranger

Sophie as a loofah sponge

Morgan and Jessica the illuminated stick people with Ranger (the photo hog)

Pat welcomed all the trick or treaters who wandered to the goodie table.  Pat cleans up well, does he not?

All of our friends left Sunday afternoon. 

Each of the rigs paid a visit at the "Chuck Gemmer Memorial Dump Station" on their way out of the campground.  Typically, facilities are not named after people during their lifetimes; however, I have a very distinct memory of this particular dump station and therefore reserve the right to name it after a living person.

This was the first place that I had ever dumped an rv's sewage tank.  It happened several years ago.  I had carefully studied the procedure.  I did not want to have a Robin Williams moment.  I was hoping that no one would pull up behind us because I did not want witnesses.  Then another rig pulled up.  Crap.  Then a car door opened and I heard, "Mr. Norris!"  Crap, someone who knows me.  Then I heard, "Look, it's my junior high principal!"  Crap, one of my students.  Soon I was shaking Chuck's hand and talking with his son, Brian, his wife, Cindy and their neighbors.  

Fortunately, the dumping proceeded without incident.  During the process we talked about spring break and months later ended up going to the same campground on the Florida panhandle.  Since then we have camped (and kayaked) together many times and the group expanded to include Pat and Audrey, Jessica and others.  

So, this particular dump station is much more than it appears to be.  It is a monument to the formation of our camping group. :-).

We had planned to stay at Clifty Falls a couple of more nights after our friends left, but when we discovered that severe storms were forecast for our probable destination in Tennessee, we decided to stay for two additional nights.  Dianne had fun burning the rest of the firewood that Pat and Chuck left behind.  Update... the storms hit north, south, east and west of us.  It was a long night, but we evidently made the right decision.  We are currently parked in western Kentucky, hoping to visit the Verizon store in Paducah tomorrow.  

I always told my kids and my students to never look directly into the sun.  I don't think that is a problem today.  It is time to begin the journey to south Texas where the sun is brighter and the temperatures warm.  Time to trade the maple and oak trees for palm trees.  

The pet picture of the day shows Tequila checking out our new digs as we watch the approaching rain on the Weather Channel.

The End