December 1, 2004

December 1, 2004

Memphis, Tennessee to Lake Enid, Mississippi

DAY 167

 

Finally ... a day of sunshine. The temperature is still a little low, and my cold isn't any better, but at least I didn't get wet repeatedly today.

We took a long time to get ready to leave this morning. Joanne did most of the hitch up work that I usually do, but I needed to start pampering this cold or I'm never going to start feeling better. We pulled out of the RV Park heading south on Elvis Presley Boulevard which became Hwy. 51 as it left Memphis. Hwy. 51 is the old highway running parallel to the Interstate, and we wanted to explore off the Interstate for awhile. Just after it crossed into Mississippi, we went back onto the Interstate, to stop at the Travel Information Centre for a highway map, campground book, etc..

At Batesville, Mississippi, we stopped at Wal-Mart to buy groceries and diesel, and have lunch. As I approached the deli counter, the woman behind the counter said "Hep ya ?". It's becoming increasingly difficult to understand what people are saying. When we came out of Wal-Mart with our groceries, there was a motor home parked beside us. The front license plate said it belonged to Larry and Jan Kirby. What a coincidence ! I chatted with Mr. Kirby for awhile while he waited for his wife to finish her shopping. He suggested we consider stopping for the night at the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Park ( HUH ? ) they were headed to. They had been here before and thought it was very nice. So ... that’s where we are tonight. The U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers Park at Lake Enid. A very nice camp ground on a very nice lake.

The lake is actually a reservoir created by a dam on a river. We picked up a booklet at the office that sort of explains the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers. They manage water ! Water conservation, hydro-electric power, water supply, etc.. There are many of their projects that have recreational parks adjacent.

Teddy likes Mississippi. It has grass to eat ! Stupid cat ! I carried him around outside for awhile at the Travel Information Centre while Joanne was inside getting maps and stuff. I put him down on the ground while I snapped a picture, and in 2 seconds he was munching grass. He’s been somewhat “clingy” since Toby died. I guess he misses snuggling up against Toby. He’s back to travelling in the truck with us during the day instead of staying in the trailer while we drive.

Mississippi has such a rich musical heritage. It is the birth place of much of the music, and the musicians, of our time ; Elvis Presley, B. B. King, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis. It's interesting to drive by places that are embedded in songs. Today as we drove over it, I threatened to throw Teddy "off the Tallahatchie Bridge, up on Choctaw Ridge" ( Carly Simon's "Ode To Billy Joe" ).

DSK