2018 Aug 6-8, Metro Streetcar Ride in Little Rock, Arkansas (3 days)

Hubby and I had an enjoyable visit to Little Rock, Arkansas
The people were friendly, and the food was good.
We stayed two nights at the Wyndham Hotel in North Little Rock, which included breakfast.
Our room was on the ground floor, offering a good view of downtown and the Arkansas River bridges. 

The day after we checked in, we rode to the downtown area to find a place to have lunch. David's Burger was closing for the day, so we walked down the block to Big Whiskey's.

Big Whiskey's, where I enjoyed a plate of Hot wings

We walked around downtown, stopping at the Arkansas Studies Institute, where we spoke with the curator.
The building had a vault that, in its heyday, was used to store spices.
Our next stop was the Arkansas Historical Museum, where we saw a collection of Bowie knives, a children's gallery, and contemporary art.
The Pioneer Village had closed up shop for the day.

Bowie Knives

We stopped at General McArthur's Park, where we saw several war markers.
The museum was closed.
We rode behind the museum, where we saw several families of ducklings.

Duckings

We rode to the Arkansas Capitol Grounds, where we saw the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Purple Heart recipients' plaques, a Civil War memorial, and the Firefighters Memorial.
It was getting late as the sun slowly drifted out of sight.
I don't think I could walk another step after all the sightseeing.
We stopped at Wendy's for a quick bite and retired for the day.

Little Rock's Capitol Building 

On the first day, we drove everywhere, and parking cost $1.50 for one hour. To avoid this, we purchased a Metro Streetcar pass for $2.00 each, which allowed us to ride the Metro Streetcar all day. (We bought the tickets at the Historic Arkansas Museum.)

To catch the Streetcar, we had to walk a couple of blocks.  
The drivers were knowledgeable about the area, and the Metro Streetcar was air-conditioned and ran every 20 minutes.

Metro Streetcar

Our first stop was the William J. Clinton Presidential Library, where we saw his 1993 Cadillac Fleetwood limousine, a life-size replica of the Oval Office, and the Cabinet Room as they appeared during Clinton's tenure. 

Oval Office

We stopped outside the Clinton School of Public Service to take a few pictures, and then we walked to the nearby Heifer International Building. 

We were greeted at the door by a curator at the Heifner building.
The curator provided us with a brief description of the Heifer Company and its origins, which began with just a cup of milk.
At the Heifer International village and farm, we visited their vegetable garden and saw the farm animals. 
At Cafe Heifer, we ordered oatmeal raisins,  macadamia cookies, and water.
We saw several turtles in the wetlands, and the gardeners were pulling up plants that had stopped bearing vegetables. 

Heifer Garden 

We took the Metro Streetcar to the 1836 Old State House Museum, which is free to visit. The museum features three levels of artifacts, including hand-stitched African quilts and American Indian relics. 

Old State House

We took the Metro Streetcar to the River Market District, got off, and walked to David's Burgers, where we enjoyed a dressed hamburger and all the fries you can eat for lunch. (They are only open for lunch).

River Market 

Just a few blocks away was the Museum of Discovery, where we explored the physics and chemistry of the natural phenomenon that was Little Rock's 1999 twister in Tornado Alley.

Little Rock, 1999, Twister in Tornado Alley.

On the Streetcar, we met an older man who was treating four of his eleven grandchildren to a ride.
It was extremely hot, so it was nice to hop on a cool Metro Streetcar instead of a hot car.
Storms were brewing throughout Arkansas in the late evening, and we even received some rain. 

Storm Clouds over the Arkansas River 

Woke to thunder and rain this morning.
I hope we miss the bad weather on the way home.

2018 Aug 22, Kermits Outlaw Kitchen & Sites Tupelo, MS.

Hubby and I rode south on Natchez Trace, stopping at Pharr Mounds, where we saw three markers overlooking the Indian Mounds. Trade from Afar, Objects and Ideas, and Coming Home. 

Pharr Mounds 

Pharr Mounds Rest Area

We stopped at the Natchez Trace Visitor Center in Saltillo, near Tupelo, which is part of the National Park Service. 

The ranger gave me a map of the Trail of Tears. I also picked up Explore the Natchez Trace, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee: A Unique Journey from Natchez to Nashville, and a book about Natchez, Mississippi (I hope to visit Natchez shortly).

There were signs throughout the center: Natchez Trace Parkway Center, The Heyday of the Old Trace, Transition, Who Traveled the Old Trace, The Old Southwest, The Mission to Remember, Traces of Tribes, and a bust of Meriwether Lewis. 

Visitor Center Natchez Trace, Mississippi

Visitor Center Natchez Trace, Mississippi

We stopped at the Tupelo Automobile Museum, where we saw over 100 various restored cars from the turn of the century to the present day.  

The tour begins with a brief history of the museum and its founder, Frank Spain.
We saw a 1976 Lincoln Mark IV owned by Elvis Presley, Liberace's Barrister, one used in the movie The Great Race (New York to Paris), Richard Petty's #23 NASCAR, BB King's Rolls-Royce, & a Chevy El Camino. We saw the 1948 Tucker, the 1920 Cord L-29, the 1937 Lagonda, and the 1929 Duesenberg, among others.

Liberace's 1982 black "Barrister" Corvette was one of only seven made by California customizer George Barris. The extended body, multiple side pipes, and golden radiator grill were common to all seven, but the full-size candelabra bolted to the trunk is exclusively Liberace.

Richard Petty #43 NASCAR HE won his 200th and final race in Daytona

Elvis Presley 1976 Royal Blue Lincoln Mark IV
This car was given to a policeman who oversaw Elvis's security.

BB King 1978 Rolls Royce 

We stopped at the newly remodeled Tupelo Welcome Center, where Tupelo's Elvis Story is on display. Welcome to Tupelo and Elvis's Musical influence in Gospel, Country, Blues, and Modern Music. 

Elvis influenced Music in the gospel, Blues, Country, and Modern genres. 

In Dallas' Fair Park stands a statue of Elvis Presley, holding a microphone and extending his hand to welcome his fans. 

On October 3, 1945, a ten-year-old Elvis performed for his first crowd on these grounds and took fifth place in a talent show.

We also saw a plaque with a picture of Elvis holding a guitar, along with guitars displayed throughout Tupelo.

The Elvis Presley statue stands on the site of the old fairgrounds where the concert took place, created by Mississippi sculptor Bill Beckwith.

We were told that Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen has the best food in town. 

So, we each ordered a fully loaded hamburger and fries.

Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen purchases its food from local farmers. The food was delicious. (One of the best hamburgers that I have eaten in a long time.)

Outside Kermits's was a pile of wood and a raccoon holding a shotgun. 

Inside, hanging on the wall, was the outlaw Willie Nelson. 

Outlaw Burger 

Kermit's Outlaw Kitchen
KOK is a wood-fired grill that uses the freshest meats produced from local farms.

2018 Aug 16, Road to Southaven, MS

Sometimes we plan trips, and sometimes we just go with the flow. Today was a wing-it day.
Hubby had a heart test at 10:30 A.M., which did not take very long.
He said Have you been to the Train Bridge and seen the mural that is being painted?
I said I had been to the Train Bridge many times, but I hadn't been lately.
So off we go to check out the new mural of a train, which I was told is not finished.

Train Bridge Mural


My Hubby said, 'I do not want to go home.' Have you heard of Southaven, MS? I said we have been through there.

My Hubby said, 'I want to go look at an Entegra Class A diesel, and we can get lunch along the way.'

You know, we traveled this same route last week when we went to Little Rock, Arkansas.
We stopped in Corinth, Mississippi, at Cracker Barrel for lunch.

Cracker Barrel Corinth, MS 

Checker Board at Cracker Barrel 

Lunch Shrimp, Fried Apples with Cornbread! YUM!!

Hubby is eating Pinto Beans, Fried Apples, Cornbread, and Roast Beef.

We traveled west on US 72 to 385, then south on I-55 to Southaven, which is just a short distance from Memphis. We saw countless jets overhead taking off from the Memphis Airport.
We stopped at America's Largest Indoor RV/Marine Showroom at Southaven's RVs.
We looked at two of the Entegra Class A diesel models.
https://www.southavenrv.com/rv/southaven+ms/entegra+classadiesel/4844/entegra+cornerstone+45b

Sitting on display were a couple of Travel Trailers, and I said we have come a long way since the beginning of travel. Hubby and I were watching the Travel Channel, and it said that it was not until the 1960s that the name Travel Trail came to be called RVs.

We usually do not do a lot of shopping, but today was a wing-it day.
Across the highway was the Tanger Outlet, so off we went in that direction.
Mississippi is just as hot in the summer as Alabama. Hubby parked, and we began our journey through the outlets.
I said I would love to have something cold, so Hubby sat down, took out his cell phone, and began looking for restaurants.
In the meantime, I have spotted Blues Markers and guitars dotted throughout the shopping area, and off I go, taking pictures.

Travel Trailer

Travel Trailer

Tanger Outlets 

Flowers at Tanger Outlets

Birthplace of America's Music Blues. Notice the tarps over the walking areas. 

I take over a hundred pictures when I get a call saying Where are you?
By this time, it is hot, so I stop at a vending machine for a Coke.

Children's Play Area Tanger Outlets 

Splash Pad at Tanger Outlets 

We headed back to the car and began our trip home. It was around 4:30, and traffic was getting heavy.
The GPS bypasses Interstate traffic.
We stop at Jack's in Corinth for dinner, Mapco for gas, and Walgreens
We arrive home around 8:30 P.M.

🚗2018 July 31, Adventures trails that lead to Pulaski, Tennessee

Hubby and I rode north along the 101 highway and took Highway 64 east in Lexington. 

We turned left onto Alabama County Road 89, which took us into Tennessee. 

In Tennessee, we followed County Road 98, also called Rabbit Trail Road.

We turned left at Bonnertown Deli, Gas Station, and Lottery Store onto Appleton Road. 

Bonnertown Deli, Gas Station, and Lottery Store

We stopped at the Big Red Store (closed except for 4 days a year) to take pictures. 

This is where we saw a historic marker telling about the Confederate leader Forrest and his troops that camped along Sugar Creek in Giles County, preparing for a Federal attack. 

We continued on Appleton Road, which dead-ended at Sugar Creek. 

We took Blooming Grove Road, a narrow, two-lane, rough, snake road for several miles. Along the way, we passed the Appleton Church of Christ, as well as goats, turkeys, horses, cows, and a flock of vultures. 

Once again, we encountered Sugar Creek, where we saw a family with two little boys wearing life jackets and two girls swimming.

They scurried out of the creek as we proceeded to cross.

The cross-over was concreted with water flowing over the top. 

Nestled on top of a hill across Sugar Creek stood Mount Zion Cemetery and Church, with Sugar Creek flowing from two sides. 

We continued along Blooming Grover Road, where we saw fields of Corn, Black-eyed Susan, and a barn full of hay.

We saw a John Deere mailbox at 8125 waiting for the mail carrier. 

We stopped in front of a white wooden farmhouse that had a red tin roof. In the front yard was a row of pink Lilies in full bloom. 

After many turns and twists, we arrived at Minor Hill Highway. 

Narrow Roads

Farm House

The Yellow Deli, with its beautiful garden, caught my eye, so we decided to stop for lunch.  

I took pictures of the garden as we approached the entrance.

We were greeted by the owner, who informed us that the upstairs area was closed.

The owner said you are welcome to go upstairs and look around while you are waiting for your food. 

I ordered the Cranberry Cashew Salad with Mixed greens, cashews, craisins, Havarti cheese, peppers, and tomatoes, served with house dressing, and cranberry bread.

My Hubby ordered a Deli Rose Roast Beef Sandwich with Pepper Jack Cheese, Provolone Cheese, Onions, Tomatoes, Mayo, Mustard, and special sauce on an onion roll, served with chips and a pickle.

We finished the meal with Carrot Cake topped with Cream Cheese icing and nuts.

Cranberry Cashew Salad 

The Inside of the Deli was as beautiful as the outside. Murals dotted the walls, and Common Sense Soaps and Body Care lined the entranceway, leading to the hosted area, cashier, and bar. 

Plants were everywhere, including the window seals, and the windows were dressed in tied-back yellow and white check curtains.

Half-bushel baskets were used as light fixtures.

Wooden Tables, iron-backed chairs, and wooden booths were located throughout the lower and upper levels of the deli. 

The top level had an enclosed garden where you could enjoy dining outside. 

This beautiful building, constructed around 1900, is known as the HGH Gladish Heritage House. 

Inside The Yellow Deli 

Inside The Yellow Deli 

Outside the Yellow Deli 

We rode to the Trail of Tears Interpretive Center. The museum was closed

We walked around outside, looking at the markers, benches, statues, dog fountains, and beautiful plants. 

We stopped by Home Depot to pick up a few items.

We encountered a patch of rain while traveling home. 

The day's adventure included traveling on narrow, winding back roads, with one a dead end. 

Traveling across water-covered roadways along Sugar Creek, people are enjoying a swim. 

Enjoyed lunch at The Yellow Deli and Gardens and a stop at the Trail of Tears Interpretive Center. 

Sugar Creek