As you know whenever possible we travel with a flexible
schedule and we were doing exactly that last week. We had points of interest picked for several
days ahead and penciled them onto our calendar. Looking at the calendar we were
reminded of the Windsor Gate community yard sale. Millie had worked very hard preparing
for this event and we didn’t want to miss it. We decided to keep our travel
plans for the next two days and then head home in time for the sale.
Sunday Sept 15th we departed The Crater of Diamonds
State Park and cruised up to Little Rock, the
capital of Arkansas
and the location of the President Billy Bob Clinton Library. We set up camp in
an RV park on the Arkansas River directly
across the Library. We walked across an old railroad bridge that has been
converted into a pedestrian walkway and goes straight to the library.
Now you know Billy Bob was a two term president during prosperous
economic times. Luck that his tenure fell on a high cycle or skilled leadership
is open to debate as the true economic stimulus but Billy Bob wants y’all to
believe it was his doing. Indeed many good things happened during the Clinton
Presidency but we just couldn’t get excited about the presentation. Maybe there
was just too much horn tooting; Bill did this, bill saved that, Bill world
peace, Bill blah, Bill Blah blah!
After the Billy Bob show we went several blocks down to the
revitalized downtown waterfront, yes Bill took credit for that too. We had
dinner in a sports bar, the food was good but it was very loud. But then all
sports bars are loud.
Monday Sept 16th we drove to Memphis
Tennessee, home of Elvis’s Graceland
and legendary Beale Street.
Elvis often visited the predominately black music venues on Beale Street, their music known as The
Blues was a big influence on Elvis and early Rock and Roll.
We stayed at the RV Park directly across the street from Graceland. The RV Park, a hotel, several exhibit
buildings and the welcome center are all part of the tourist attraction or to
many, the shrine to the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.
Entering the home I noticed that it is treated with reverence,
visitors spoke in hushed tones and spent time in quiet reflection as we passed
through the rooms. The Elvis Company is also respectful of the King, no one
rushed us through the home, and there are no gift shops in the home. (There are
many gift shops across the street)
For me and I think for Millie also, touring Graceland made Elvis more of a person. There is no doubt
he was a talented performer, but the image they project is that he was also a
regular guy who never forgot his humble background.
It’s sad that he died so young but maybe it was the best way
for the king of rock and Roll to exit. So many aging celebrities just don’t
know when to retire. Anyhow, Elvis has left the building!
Tuesday Sept 17th we headed for home driving
400+/- miles to Georgia.
We stayed overnight at a wonderful little state park named for the vice
president of the Confederacy, A. H. Stephens. On Wednesday we drove the rest of
the way home a distance of 250 miles.
Thursday and Friday we worked harder than the King of
Paradise and his bride should have too, but we got everything staged and on
Saturday we had a very successful day during the community yard sale.
Sunday I had planned on doing the blog but was too tired to
think. Monday we went back to work, Millie worked in the motorhome (BTW, it now
has a name, The Bus) and Doug and I are working on another project, this one in
his home. So this was scribbled together late last night and very early this
morning.
The adventure continues, see you down the road.
Larry and Millie
No comments:
Post a Comment