Car Move Trip – and detour with Shane

Although we have now have the Scion Xbox licensed, insured and stored at our cabin in Cadiz – it does present one major problem – there is no public transportation to Cadiz. Closest airport is Nashville – about 90 miles away – so it presents some technical difficulties. So over the winter I searched for another option – and in December I found a solution. A small 16 foot long space in a storage lot close to the Cincinnati Airport ($10 cab ride). I leased it right away as the Cincinnati airport was cheaper to get into than Nashville and ended the need of having to rent cars and find a way of shuttling it back. The Downside – it is about 4 1/2 hours from the cabin – the upside – is that I have to travel through Bourbon Country to get there.

So I set a time to move the car to the new new storage area – but now needed a way of getting to Cadiz to pick it up. Enter Shane – an acquaintance from work – who had express a love of Southern Bar B Q , Blues and a willingness to travel with me.

Thus starts another adventure road trip adventure in the South –

Friday, April 8, 2016

Flight from Calgary into Nashville Metropolitan Airport (BNA). Get in at 9:30 pm – with enough time get the rental car from Budget before Shane’s flight arrived from Vancouver. Drove about 30 minutes out of Nashville to the little town of Joelton and the Days Inn.

After checking in went in search of food and ended up at a little roadside bar (Mike’s Place). A lot of regulars in the place – all seeming to have their usual seats and cues at the pool tables. The bar was smokey (a bit to get used to after years of being in smoke free environments), and we were served by a very expecting bartender. They unfortunately the grill was off and they had no food so we decided to have one beer and continue our search – and then someone bought a round for the bar – so we ended up having another. By the time we left and went in search of food again – everything was closed. The gas station beside the motel was in the process of shutting down – so we got their remaining chicken pieces and potato wedges, bag of chips and a couple of more cold drinks and called it a night. I am sure Shane was impressed as to how great a host I was 🙁

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Up early the next morning – and continued our drive to the cabin at Cadiz, with stops at Jefferson Davis monument and the Cherokee Trail Of Tears Commemorative Park in Hopkinsville. Did a quick check around the cabin – grabbed the battery off the solar charger and installed it in the Scion and it fired right up. Drove in a two car procession (Shane in the Scion / Pat in the rental) south to Memphis via the Woodland Trace – and dropped the rental car at the airport. Checked into the Super 8 motel in across the river in West Memphis. Long busy day – and figured I owed Shane a better meal than the previous night – so headed to Rendezvous Ribs. From there – toured some of the night spots – listing to music in a number of the venues.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Today was a tour Memphis day –

Back across the bridge over the Mississippi (and the Arkansas / Tennessee border) into Memphis and swung immediately into the Bass Pro Pyramid and then the visitor centre. Left the car there and hiked across the tramway to Mud Island. After “traversing” the Mississippi, moved up to Beale Street – and spent some time walking the street – and having lunch Kings Palace. From there moved down to the Lorraine Motel – site of Martin Luther Kings assassination and the National Civil Rights Museum. Finished off the afternoon walking around the National Ornamental Metal Museum and enjoying the view from the cliffs over the Mississippi before heading back across the river and our Motel for the night.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Up the next morning – to an overcast and darkening sky. Headed down route 61 (the Blues Hwy). By the time we got to Tunica – into a major down pour. On the up side – this meant there were very few people around, but we got a wee bit wet going into the Visitor Centre.

Next stop was the crossroads (Route 61 & 49) made famous by Robert Johnson (and where legend has it he sold his soul to the devil to learn to play blues guitar). From there we spend a couple of hours walking around the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale – learning and hearing of the many of the Delta. From there it was a short walk across the parking lot to Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero Blues Club (being early in the day – we did not stop for a drink – as they were busy cleaning out the evidence of last night activities.

From Clarksdale – we turn East and travel through Oxford (home of the University of Mississippi – Ole Miss). A quick tour through the beautiful campus before continuing on to Tupelo and joining the Natchez Trace.

Ended up spending the night in Kosciusko – the birthplace of Oprah Winfrey. Despite several efforts, Shane wanted no part of going to see anything to do with Oprah (although it only amounts to a sign in indicating where the house she first lived in was).

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Continued down the Natchez Trace – with stops at the Cypress Swamp (nice to see that the juvenile alligator we saw last time we were here had a buddy with him in this little protected area). Detour off the Trace into Vicksburg and the National Military Park where we spent a couple of hours touring around. Have been here a couple of times – but learn something new each time.

Back to the Trace and then a side trip to Windsor Ruins near Alcorn State Universtity outside of Port Gibson. The ruins are of an old antebellum mansion destroyed by fire and what remains is 23 large Corinthian columns. While touring around and taking pictures – could hear a bore routing around in the thick underbrush – and decided that it was better to leave.

Continued south to Natchez’s with stops at Emerald Mound, and the private little cementary close to the terminus of the Trace (Brandon Hall Cemetery) that I seem to be drawn to several times over the 12 years.

Toured around all of the Antebellum homes in Natchez – and noticed all the for sale signs – that were not here the last time. Drove down to “Under the Hill” area – that seemed to be still doing well, and then turned the corner and noticed that the old river boat casino was gone (Isle of Capri). Wonder if that is part of the reason for so many of the homes for sale? Spent the night just outside of Natchez.

Throughout the last couple of days Shane had been texting with a friend who had been forwarding snippets of our trip on to a State Senator from Mississippi – who they had both met at a conference. The Senator seemed to be impressed with our itineray and knowledge of Mississippi. She invited us up to Jackson to see the capital – but were were already past there and did not feel we had appropriate things to wear. Jokingly said that when we retired we would operate the mowers on the Trace – for a small stipend, a place to stay and a daily ration of bourbon.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The next morning found us driving south out of Mississippi into Louisiana. At a point close to the border – saw a motel, saloon, men’s club and several atco style trailers – that seemed to be renting by the hour. Probably a good thing we decided to stop early the previous night.

Down through Baton Rouge and then west to Lafayette for lunch at Prejeans and then a boudin order at Don’s. South to Avery Island – for a tour around the Jungle Gardens. Finished it off with a quick stop at the Tabasco store. Stopped for the night at Gonzales, – just north of Boyle Bayou (very small – but makes the map).

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Into New Orleans and parked the Scion and hit to the streets. Stops included a brew at Lafittes – (oldest structure used as a bar in the US), a wander through Frenchman Street and Jackson Square and of course Bourbon Street. When time came to check into our hotel – we drove up to the area across from the Superdome. This is the one time that Shane started to get a little nervous at my rule on accommodation costs – and the hotel. It was not just the dilapidated neighbourhood, or the fact that the building next door had been burnt to the ground – or the lovely little motel had barb had a chain link fence with barb wire around the perimeter, Shane stated that it was probably too far to walk back and forth to Bourbon street. Therefore at his insistence – and his cost – as I had already paid for the other one – we moved to the Holiday Inn Express – for twice the amount – plus $32 a day for parking. (It was also probably the smallest room that we had during the entire trip – but it did include breakfast).

After getting unpacked – headed back down to Bourbon Street for the evening. Walked around watching the entertainment and street performers. Ended up finishing the night up in the Bayou Club at Tropical Isle on Bourbon. The band that was playing was from Thibodaux, Louisiana, and were a mixture of guys that were involved in a new brewery (Mudbug Beer) and probation officer. Great music and lots of fun. The Bayou Club does have a live streaming web cam – so we were on our best behaviour.

Friday, April 15, 2016

Went to leave the motel the next morning and warning lights on the scion came on. Drove to a dealership outside of Slidell – and had the car looked at. Problem is a sensor leaking – and they did not have in stock and the report would be about $1500. On the other hand – with the exception of a slight drop in gas mileage – there would be no harm to resetting and continuing to drive – which is what they did.

Once were on our way, continued on through Mobile and into the Gulf Shores. Shane figures that this would be a great alternative to Phoenix for their annual golf vacation – and the beaches were all but deserted and it was t-shirt weather.

When we were originally planning this trip – Shane had one request – to go to the gas station that was part of the Top Gear episode (Series 9) where the lads were chased out of town by a bunch of the locals in pick-up trucks. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKcJ-0bAHB4). Pat was able to locate the gas station – and make it part of our itinerary. (State Line Pride – in Seminole, Alabama). The locals even describe it as having 1 gas station, 1 pawn shop, 1 porn store, and 3 firework stores. While I got gas in the Scion – Shane went out to get a picture of the gas station.

Continued on to the Day’s Inn in West Pensacola – for the night

Saturday, April 16, 2016

Up the next morning and a short backtrack to a geocache (so that Pat could claim one in Florida) prior to turning north. Travelled through Montgomery and Birmingham and arrived in Chattanooga in the early evening. Toured up Outlook Mountain for the view – before having a feast of wet ribs at Sugar’s.

Continued on to Ooltewah – a suburb of Chattanooga and spent the night at a Super 8 motel.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Up the next morning – with the intent of travelling up through the Smokey’s before turning south to Atlanta. However, Shane’s vision started to act up – and the windy roads were not helping, so terminated our trip early and headed to Atlanta. Found an airport close to the Atlanta Airport – and got Shane checked in – so he could get into a dark cool place and get some sleep in order to see if it would help him feel better. I headed out of town to a cheaper motel – at the edge of the Smokey’s but close enough that if Shane needed assistance I could be back in an hour. I took a bit of an evening hike – the weather was nice and cool – great for hiking.

Monday, April 18, 2016

Up early the next morning, and once confirmed that Shane was feeling better and would be taking his scheduled flight back home – I headed west towards Cadiz – to unpack some gear, purchases tarps and ropes to secure the Scion while in storage and complete an inventory of the gear at the cabin. After finishing up – headed to the Knights Inn (my usual hotel in Cadiz) – and then down to the local Mexican restaurateur for supper – (one of the few places in Cadiz that is licensed)

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Up the next morning and over to the Land Between the Lakes and north up the Woodland trace, to do some exploring. Stopped at Hematite Lake and hiked around the area – no one there – and very wonderful. Stopped and had lunch on a big rock and then laid down in the sun – and probably napped for a good hour. (May have had something to do with the few sips of bourbon I had at lunch). After hiking back to the car – continue north to the Moss Creek Day use area and wandered around the beach area.

At the north end of the Land Between the Lakes, turned east and proceeded via the Brownsville and Houchins Ferry into Mammouth Caves National Park. This is a great way to enter the park – far less busy and very quaint. Does not have all of the commercial tourist trappings of the other ways in – and you are into areas that are not as crowded. Poked my way through the Park with a couple of stops for walks. Stayed away from the main tourist hub on this trip. Proceeded on to Cave City and checked into the Days Inn for the night.

Wednesday, April 21, 2016

Up the next morning and proceed on Bardstown for late breakfast at Pat’s Place. The twins that own / manage the place were still there confusing first time customer. Then proceeded North to Erlanger (next to the Cincinnati Airport) and checked into the Econo Lodge. Convenient location with plenty of shopping and eating options close by. There was also a Quikstop on the corner so was able to get an oil change and service on the Scion before putting it into storage the next day.

Thursday, April 21, 2016

Spent the morning sorting through stuff to go into the Thule and the plastic storage trunk I purchases before tarping up the Scion. There are sleeping bags and tents and camping gear for up to 4 people should it be needed – as well basic cooking supplies and some dry goods until provisions can be bought. The American RV Storage facility is within easy sight of the airport – however with the road and fence – it will still require a short taxi right.

Caught the afternoon flight out of Cincinnati arriving in Calgary at 10:00 pm. Caught the shuttle to the Hotel Clique – where I had reservations and my car was parked. Spent the night in relative luxury – and headed home to Cranbrook the next morning.