Within about 200 yards from Dave and Terri's is a church pastored by Bill Carter, who was on the church staff with me in Tulsa 30 years ago. I couldn't be so close without stopping in to say "Hi". An added bonus was finding out his wife Norma was at the church office as well. Bill was a great guy to work with. His kids were in my care and he was a great encourager to a young, green youth pastor.
By 12:30 we were on the road again, traveling through NE Oklahoma to Ft. Smith, AR and eastward. I-40 in Arkansas starts with rolling hills, then takes you along the southern edge of the Ozarks, eventually leading to the low lands of the Mississippi. Along the way we stopped for dinner in Conway at The Whole Hog Cafe, a barbecue place recommended by friend Russell Stewart who rode his own hog" from Cabot to meet us there. It was very good...but we still like eastern NC bbq like this one better!
Gail took over the wheel from Conway and while I got some nap time drove us across the Mississippi into Memphis, TN, passing among other places the St. Jude's Children's Hospital and ultimately to Jackson (home of Casey Jones), where we're crashing for the night.
I was trying to think how many times I've driven this highway over the years. A bunch over the last 40 years. Tennessee is a long stretch on I-40, but we'll emerge tomorrow evening in NC and cross over the Smokies.
It's time to go home!
Gail here - I woke up this morning a little giddy, knowing that we were heading home. I have loved this trip, but am ready to get home, especially to see my kids and 2 babies.
[She was only slightly more giddy than when she saw the Elvis act at Disneyland. Anyone know what that pyramid is at the foot of the Mississippi River Bridge?]
Is it were thet keep the sand for the roads?They have something like it in Wi.So glad to see you are on your way home.Love you.
ReplyDeletePyramid Arena The sixth largest pyramid in the world.
ReplyDeleteHey this is in my hometown!!! They went bankrupt building this thing, but it's where they play basketball. Sad to say, I have never stepped foot in it. In Memphis some of us sorta make fun of the thing. It got so much promo when they were raising money to build it so the U of M team could play there instead of the outdated Coliseum. I wish you could have driven down Riverside Drive and seen the huge FedEx complex they have build downtown and ohmygosh, I wish I had told you in time to stop at the Peabody Hotel not too far from the bridge. The famous Peabody ducks make an entrance every morning from the elevator to the fountain in the lobby and then promptly at a certain time in the late afternoon, they cross the lobby and ride to their penthouse upstairs. There really is a lot more to Memphis than ducks, but there's not enough room (St. Jude Hospital, Stax Records, Elvis' place, Univ. of Memphis, Beale Street, lots of music, etc.)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see ya'll safely home. See you in a few months.
You forgot to mention ribs, Sheila.
ReplyDelete