Oct.2014 Tennesse/ North Carolina

We left Ark. and headed into Tennessee. Our first stop was Memphis. Although we have been here before we did other things this time. We crossed the bridge into Tennesee and stopped at the Visitors Center to pick up info on things to do. We decided to stay at the Agri Fair grounds and stayed a couple of days.

 

Crossing bridge into Memphis

 

 

Memphis home of Elvis and the Blues

 

One of the things we did was to go to the Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was assainated. This was a nice and very well done museum. It told of the civil rights movement from the very beginning. Well worth going to see.

 

 

 

Where Dr. King stood in front of his room when shot.

 

 

Rosa Parks refused to go to the back of the bus.

 

That night we went to Beale St. for some BBQ and to listen to some Blues.We went to the Rendovous in a alley for great ribs and stopped in one of the clubs and listened to some great blues. Later walking down the street we stopped at a park and there was a band playing,we ended up staying a couple of hours. We really enjoyed Memphis.

 

 

 

Next stop Knoxville.

 

After leaving Memphis we stopped at Raccoon Valley SKP park for a few days and went to the Smoky Mts. to visit Cades Cove. To get to Cades Cove you drive a 11 mile one way road passing historic sights and beautiful views.

 

 

This is the Primitive Baptist Church established in1827 in Cades Cove. During the Civil War the church was closed because of the rebellion and they were union people and there were rebels in the area.

 

This is the Methodist Church. You'll notice this church has 2 doors .In a lot of traditions one door was for men and the other for women. This was not the intention of this church as they borrowed the building plans from another church that did practice that custom.

 

 

Changing colors

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Oliver house was built before the Civil War and they had to build everything for their needs. A cantilever barn, gristmill, corncrib, blacksmith shop. They were very self sufficient.Ihe weather was great and we enjoyed the day in the Smokies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct.2014 Arkansas Part 2

While at Ken and Vickie's the 4 of us decided to go to Branson for a couple of days. We rented a lovely 2 bedroom house close to Table Rock Lake in the woods. While there we went to see The Texas Tenors from America's Got Talent. Ken didn't want to go so the 3 of us went and what a fantastic show. They are great singers and totally entertained us.

 

                                       Here's a few photos of Table Rock Lake and the Branson Belle.

                                                                        

 

 

Before leaving Branson we stopped by Bass Pro Resort and drove around the place. Wow what a nice resort. Too bad they didn't have a campground.

 

 

 

 

We stopped at Eureka Springs for some good ole BBQ and stopped to see Throwncrown Chapel. This is a beautiful chapel made of glass and wood. A perfect view out of all the beautiful glass windows. Picture perfect.

 

After a wonderful 3 days we got back to Bella Vista and left Ken and Vickie's to head back to the RV. Just before we got to the rv the winds and rain started and the radio said to take cover a Tornado in the area.We headed to Walmart and everyone was taken to the back of the store until it passed.One of the scariest moments in my life. There's no way we would live in this area of the states. Finally back t the RV safe and sound. Next stop Tenneesse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct.2014 Arkansas Part 1

We left Texas and headed to Arkansas to visit friends Ken and Vickie King. They're Escapees and we met them in Benson Az. some years ago.

Vickie has a brother with a lot of property near Bella Vista so we were able to stay there during our stay. That was very generous of them and we really appreciated it. One day we went to Bentonville to tour Walmart's Sam Walton Museum. It was interesting and how it grew over the years.

                                                           
                                                  Walton's first 5 and dime store.

                                    
                                                                    Bentonville Town Square

                                                     

                                                   Sam Walton's office
                                                   
After visiting the Walton museum we went to Crystal Bridges Museum of America Art .This museum was founded by Alice Walton and opened in 2011.This is a enormous place with all kinds of art and sculpture along with walking trails. They have great lunches there as well.

                                                      

 

 

Painting by Audubon

 

 

Tunnel made of Afghans

 

It was a wonderful day with friends.

Sept.- Oct.2014 Wyoming to Texas

We left Wyoming headed for Texas to visit friends and do some sightseeing along way. The first stop was Fort Bridger. Fort Bridger was originally a fur trading outpost established in 1842 by Jim Bridger. It was later used as a supply point
for wagon trains heading to Ore.,Calif. and Utah. Eventually the Mormans ran Jim Bridger off and took over the fort. Later battles ensued between the Mormans and Army and after all the dust had settled Wm. Carter and his family took over the fort and became the 1st millionaire in Wy.                                                        

 

Original Ft. Bridger

 

 

 

 

Views of rocks along the way

 

 

 

Next stop was Bent's Old Fort in Colorado. It was called the Castle of the Plains, reconstructed in1840 of adobe. The fort was a fur trading on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail. This is where traders, trappers, travelers, Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes came together for peaceful trade and Buffalo robes. Bent's Fort was the only place on the Santa Fe Trail where wagons could be repaired and supplies replenished.

 

 

 

 

Our next stop was in Texas where stopped for 2 nights to visit friends we met on a cruise. We went down to see the Stockyards and had a nice Mexican dinner.

 

 

Friends Pam and Fred Wendt

 

 

Sam and I

 

 

 

After leaving Ft. Worth we were on our way 2 hours east to see a very special friend for a couple of weeks. Neva and I have known each other over 50 years. We were roomates and in each others wedding. We have lots of memories of our times together. Her husband passed on in April. While we were there she and I did a lot of shopping and ate out a lot. It was so good to see our very special friend.Here's a photo of her and Sam at AJ's. lots of catfish and shrimp.

 

 

Sam and Neva at AJ's Fish House

 

That's all for now. Next stop Arkansas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sept. 3-6 2014 Jackson Greys River

On the 3rd friends Ken and Carolyn had a Thanksgiving in Sept. pot luck party. They had about 30 people and and everyone brought side dishes. Ken had a trash can turkey he cooked and it was so tender and good.

 

 

A good time was had by all.

 

On the 5th Sam and I drove to Jackson along the Grey's river and met friends in Jackson for dinner and a play. We went to see Paint You Wagon. The scenery along the way is so pretty. I could stay in this area for the whole summer.

 

 

 

 

 

Antler arch Jackson Wy.

 

 

This is the theater where we went to see Paint Your Wagon.

We had a great time in Wyoming visiting friends and seeing places we've never been before.

Next stop Texas