Are you or do you know someone who is going through menopause? I received a book to review called “Womenopause–Stop Pausing Start Living” . To see the review, go here.
I LOVE A Challenge! Winner
The I LOVE A Challenge give away is now closed. There were 31 comments with some really good suggestions from you all. Thanks! The winner, with comment number 23, is Valancia. I’ll be contacting her to let her know she has won. Thank you all so much for playing along with me.
Going To Alabama X
We woke up in West Memphis to rain again yesterday morning, but after looking at the radar map online, we decided that we should leave. We said goodbye to the Mississippi River and were on our way:
We crossed over the Mississippi Bridge into Tennesse:
And though they didn’t welcome us, a few miles down the road, we were in Mississippi. Three states in twenty minutes is somewhat of a record for us:
I knew I was back in the south when I spotted that first Kudzu vine on Hwy 78, the Future I-22 Corridor:
Rain rain rain all day long. I really hate traveling in the rain:
We finally arrived in the Talledega National Forest about 3:00 p.m
We got parked and got the trailer set up, while the rain still poured down. I was so glad to get inside where it was dry! This morning, the sun was shining. It is so nice to be back in Alabama!
Going To Alabama IX
We may get to Alabama eventually, but for today we just stayed put at Tom Sawyer RV Park. The weather map looked like it was going to rain buckets and we don’t like to travel in weather like that.
I made breakfast at home, but when lunch time rolled around, we decided to go to a place we passed on the way to the campground. Willie Mae’s Rib Haus in West Memphis:
For as long as I have known FabGrandpa, when we have traveled, we have eaten at the local places whenever possible. He’ll look at me and say “are you scared” and I’ll reply “no!” This place was by far nowhere near the finest or the cleanest of places we’ve been, but oh! my! gosh! was it ever delicious!
He had a pork shoulder barbecue sandwich–it so big there was no way he could pick it up to eat it. I had a barbecue rib plate. Both of our selections came with two sides–a choice of fries, baked beans, or slaw. We also ordered one fried catfish fillet to share. Needless to say, I’m NOT cooking dinner tonight. Lunch was enough for the rest of the day. The bill came to just under $17. If you ever find yourself in West Memphis, Arkansas, take yourself there for lunch. It’s right on Hwy 70 west of downtown.
Swap Out Your Sweetner Challenge
I am swapping out my sweetner to Truvia for 30 days. To learn more about this, click here!
Going To Alabama VIII
Today was a resting day. We slept late, then went out to breakfast. On the way home, we stopped in to the local independently owned grocery store. Going to the grocery store in a new location is one of my favorite things to do–you never know what you’ll see in there in there. While the basics are the same in every part of the country because everyone eats eggs, bacon, bread, and tomatoes, it’s the local or regional things I like to see. They had chicken feet and pigs feet in this one, as well as fresh catfish and buffalo, a local fish.
In Utah, I couldn’t find turnip greens of any description–not frozen, canned, or fresh. And okra? In Flagstaff, they had some but it was $6.99 a pound, and the produce guy told me it was a “gourmet item”! When I asked for pimento cheese spread in Kanab, they looked at me like I was crazy. When I went it the Gene Stimson’s Big Star in West Memphis, Arkansas today, I found all of these, plus some in store made pork sausage, and some mustard greens. I was in Southern Girl heaven!
I brought my purchases home and cooked up a big pot of greens. I put in the turnip greens, mustard greens, the lacinato kale that I bought in Flagstaff, a bunch of fresh parsley, a bunch of green onions, a jalapeno pepper, two yellow onions, and some garlic salt and pepper. A big hunk of salt pork for seasoning, then let it simmer all afternoon. With fried okra and a pan of cornbread, it was a most tasty meal to eat on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Going To Alabama VII
We got up this morning and headed out to Memphis. We have passed through several times, but have never taken the time to go and actually see Memphis until today. The first stop was at the Arcade Restaurant. It is the oldest restaurant in Memphis, being in business since 1919.
It was jam packed on a Sunday morning. There were lots of Japanese tourists there–apparently the Japanese are big fans of blues and Elvis. Scenes from “The Mystery Train”, one of my favorite movies, were filmed here!
Breakfast was the ususal two eggs over medium, hash browns, and bacon with coffee, but the atmosphere was great! Loved it! And of course, we sat at the counter. For some reason I just love sitting at the counter for breakfast.
We had a great time, a good breakfast, and lots of the spirit of Memphis by eating here.
And doesn’t he look soooo happy? That is priceless!
After breakfast, we drove over to Beale Street. That area is best experienced at night, but we were too tired last night to go. Our first real date was at the Blues Harbor Cafe in Underground Atlanta. That club is no longer there, but we had such a wonderful time there. And we discovered that we both enjoy blues music there. Being on Beale street like going back in time (sort of).
We walked from one end to the other, enjoying every moment of it.  There is no way to tell you about all the smells and sights we saw. There were lots of restaurants, serving up soul food, seafood, barbecue, steaks, tamales–you could find just about anything you want to eat on that one street! And someone singing or playing the blues in every restaruant.
Loved this sign: “First Chance For a Drink–next chance 25 feet”
OK, so we only had a little bit of time, so about 2 and a half hours after breakfast, we ate again at The King’s Palace Cafe. We both ordered the King’s Specialty Shrimp–shrimp stuffed with jack cheese, wrapped in bacon, and baked. It came with sauteed squash and rice pilaf. And it was delicious!
This was so delicious, it tasted like heaven on a plate. I may have to recreate it at home. What’s not to love about shrimp and bacon?
Love the lobby of the Daisy Theater–just look at that gorgeous red and gold domed ceiling!
The Walk of Fame on Beale Street–this one is for Sam and Dave! How many times did I dance to their tunes when I was a young girl??
Find all your old tunes on CD here–it was a trip back in time to walk in there!
The King of Blues! BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street. We went in there and stayed a couple of hours. It was great! We were treated to some blues music by Morris Moore. A Japanese woman sitting next to me told me she was here on a tour, and was so happy to see him playing here, because he is very famous in Japan. Here’s your RV minute for today:
FabGrandpa bought one of their CD’s, and the band all signed it for him.
After a couple of sets, we had to go, but not before we ordered a rack of barbecued ribs to go, to take home for dinner. And I have to tell you, that even though we pigged out today, those ribs were finger licking good!
Going To Alabama VI
While we were getting ready to leave the KOA in Sallisaw this morning, our neighbor on the next sit struck up a conversation with FabGrandpa. The guy asked where we were headed, and FG said “Memphis.” The neighbor guy told us about a campground right on the river in West Memphis, saying it was a very nice park and he recommended it. So, I called Tom Sawyer RV Park and made a reservation. I was excited about it all day! Imagine having the Mississippi River in your back yard!
The scenery changed again as we crossed into Arkansas. From the gently rolling hills of Oklahoma, it transitioned into hazy mountains off in the distance.
In some places the vegetation looked more like our home state of Georgia, with oaks and pines along the sides of the highway.
No more wind farms here–they use steam power to generate their electricity here.
That’s probably because there is a lot more water here than we have seen in days. The farther east you go, the more water there is. We crossed several lakes and rivers today.
Little Rock was nothing like Oklahoma City! This is the extent of the traffic we saw there today.
Part of my job in the truck is to keep the driver entertained, comfortable, and happy. Looks like I accomplished that today!
Once we got past Little Rock, the landscape became mostly flat farm land again. Looks like they grow a lot of corn, soybeans, cotton, and sorghum around here.
After days in the truck, you do get a little bored from time to time. Here, I was messing with different settings on the camera to come up with this interesting photo of the road ahead.
Those people passed up flying! The trailer was swaying side to side like crazy. I know they must have been going about 85 miles an hour. We try to keep it under 65. That trailer is just like ours.
We got off I-40 at exit 271, and took US 70 east to S 8th Street in West Memphis. This is the entrance road to Tom Sawyer RV Park.
They aren’t kidding about being right on the river! this is looking out my kitchen window! This is so great!
The sites along the river have level concrete pads–full hook ups and free laundry facilities for $33 per night. We’re staying 3 nights here.They do Good Sam discounts, too.
I took my camera and tri-pod to the river bank and sat on the bench there. This is view of where I-40 crossed over the Mississippi about 12 miles away. While this is not a very clear shot, I think it is pretty dang good for the cheap camera I have.
And here is our trailer, all set up, on the Mississippi River in Arkansas. I love this life!