The King Has Left This Building

April 9, 2008

Day 5 - Nashville TN to Meridian MS

We had NO mechanical problems yesterday. Do you think it was because we were parked all day?

This morning we woke up to ominous, threatening skies. Somehow the heavens know to open up as soon as we get on the Interstate. Fortunately, we didn't have far to go before we exited on to the Natchez Trace Parkway. We entered it at it's northernmost point and drove on it to Tupelo, Mississippi

It winds south, southwest through hardwood forests and later pastures. The beginning was hilly and windy, but NOT like the mountains of Sunday's drive. Soon after entering the Trace, as it's called, we observed our first glimpse of wildlife in the open, grassy border on the side of the road...a wild turkey! A few twists and turns later and there were more, this time a flock of seven! Every turn brought more and more and more. The last time I saw that many turkeys I was leaning over the Butterball freezer in the supermarket. After 50 miles or so it was, “Look, another stupid turkey...”

We stopped for lunch at one of the many turn-outs along the way. My 'City Kid' husband never can relax when we're out in the woods. He can't stop looking all around. Says, you never know who is out there. I told him that we were much safer here than at home. When he protested, I asked him how many murders did he think had occurred out in the middle or nowhere, lately? Case closed.

Further on down the road we encountered the first of two detours.

Detours are scary.

Tom Tom the navigational device was very upset too. Actually, we should have listened to Tom Tom...But, noooooo, we assumed the the nice, 'detour' people would have put a sign up to tell us the detour was finished and to get back on the highway 'this way, and maybe an arrow would have been nice! Tom Tom continued to beg at every county road so we relented followed Tom Tom's suggestions and for a few miles took one of the skinniest roads that the RV has ever been on. We traveled through farms and saw cows, chickens, ducks, geese, sheep, goats and other animals...and that was only in people's front yards! A slice of rural America that we'd never have witnessed if it wasn't for the nice 'detour' people.

Late afternoon, we jumped off the Natchez Trace (it continues on) in favor of 'real' roads with things like traffic, crazy drivers, scenic industrial parks and tandem semi's zooming by and to visit Tupelo's most famous tourist attraction – The birthplace of the 'King'! Actually, it's a nice little stop. The two room house has a little museum behind it with some of the ACTUAL TACKY CLOTHES that Elvis wore...among other priceless memorabilia like this car that may or not have carried Elvis to Nashville

We had a three hour drive down to Meridian. By this time, I was getting a little antsy so I pulled my Ipod out and 'sang' my favorite songs to Jim. Jeff and Lori know what a treat for the ears that is! Maybe that's why he looked so frazzled when we finally got to the KOA Campground near Meridian, in a place I can't pronounce...Toomsuba. Hah, spell check wants to change it to 'subatomic'! The ad for the KOA ad said it had cable, NOT and Internet..(note to self, make sure future campgrounds say 'wifi' ) because the 'internet' here is a modem in the office...which was CLOSED when he got here a little after 7:00 pm.! Phooey.

I made a nice dinner in about 20 minutes...getting really good at fast and healthy. Thin, lean pork chops, boiled tiny potatoes, Steamfresh peas(no clean-up) and single serving unsweetened applesauce. Nice because it needs no refrigeration and there's no waste.

We're running out of a few things. Need to visit WalMart tomorrow, I'm sure there are a few thousand around here...we're in Mississippi after all.Hopefully, I can upload this in the morning.

I'll try like hell to blog every night, but that will depend on getting a connection daily. Even when I can't upload, I'll be writing a travel journal document so I can just copy it and update the blog while it's fresh in my memory...and that 'ain't what it used to be!

*Put gas in TWICE today...ouch!