15 Jun 2011 - Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee

How does that saying go? If this is Wednesday, this must be Tennessee? Or something like that. :-)

I spent most of Sunday in Texas, I spent Monday in Louisiana, Tuesday I was driving through Arkansas, and today I’ve driven through Tennessee. I’m covering ground as fast as I am, because I’m trying to get someplace cooler. It’s been hot and muggy everywhere, until, finally, this afternoon. It’s still muggy, but cooler.

The high was around 100 on Monday when I was visiting my friend Peggy in Bossier City, Louisiana (near Shreveport). I had planned to spend another day or two there, but it was just too hot. I’m glad I got to see what her life is like when she’s not working for FEMA. We spent some time at a couple local casinos, and I finally won some money gambling. Not much. Only about $43, but that was something - more than I’ve won before. Peggy won more like $140, but who’s counting? Considering that I’m not much of a gambler at all, it’s interesting that I’ve happened to spend so much time in casinos in the past few years.

I started out driving Scenic Route 7 in Arkansas on Tuesday, but it wasn’t very scenic, and it was HOT. So I changed my plan, and decided to get on the Interstate, and cover ground as quickly as possible, getting further north faster. The high was in the mid-90s in Memphis, TN, yesterday. I arrived in the early evening, and spent the evening on Beale Street, which was a real treat for me. They close traffic off in the evenings, and everyone just carries their drinks from one bar to the next, listening to all the great local blues and jazz in each place. Beale Street is something I’ve wanted to experience for a long time, and I loved it. I had one of those famous Memphis pulled pork BBQ sandwiches. I also took the elevator to the top of the Peabody for a great view of the city down below (and a peek at the Peabody ducks’ night residence).

This morning, before I left Memphis, I went down to the Peabody Hotel, and saw the famous Peabody ducks (mallards) promenade through the hotel lobby (promptly at 11 am, as usual) to the fountain in the center of the lobby, where they spend their days. What fun!

I drove through a cold front this afternoon, which lowered the temp from the 80s or 90s to the 70s. Whew! Finally. I just sat for awhile outside of Nashville and waited for the front/thunderstorm to move on to the southeast, before I drove through town. It didn’t look good to me. You know, that greenish color. And ugly clouds. I decided I wasn’t interested in dealing with 60 mph winds, nor hail. So I just sat still for awhile and waited it out. Now that I’ve found some cooler weather, I plan to slow down some, though I will get to Kentucky tomorrow.