Mississippi River ride on the Memphis Queen III

This afternoon we took a riverboat ride up and down the big muddy past Memphis.  We parked about 50 miles away and it was a hot walk over very uneven cobblestone sloping down to the river. 
Well, it wasn't quite that bad but it was bad.  The narrator did an excellent job and we learned a few things.  The cobblestones were ballast from Britain and Ireland used in 18th and 19th century sailing ships that was dumped in US ports.  They were installed by Memphis prisoners.  The tugboat crews work 30 days on and either 15 or 30 off.  A captain makes about $1000 a day.  Each has a crew of 12 to operate 24x7.  Because it's so expensive to operate a tub and barges food and supplies are brought to them as they travel by other supply boats.  Memphis has the largest cargo airport in the US (maybe the world?) thanks to being the home of Fed Ex.

This was our chariot, the Memphis Queen III.  That's downtown Memphis in the background.  You can see the sloping cobblestone I mentioned above.  We ended up going up the steps to the street sidewalk.  The truck is parked way way down there.

Here's a little history on or chariot's mama, the Memphis Queen II.
When we were here in 2009 we went to Mud Island to see the WWII B29, Memphis Bell but it was removed as the city neglected it and it was taken to Wright Patterson AFB in Ohio, we got to go by Mud Island again on today's ride.

Here's all of downtown Memphis.  The are no tall skyscrapers because the city is built on mud.

 The last time here the third largest pyramid in the world was empty (largest is one of the 3 on Egypt, second is the Luxor in Las Veges).

On the Mississippi River

It was a short 135 mile day to West Memphis, AR and Tom Sawyer RV Park on the Mississippi.  We were here in 2009 and Judy enjoys watching the tug boats and barges going up and down the river.

This is Judy with Flat Stanley.  She has been taking pictures with him and sending them to Brianna so she can share the pics with her classmates.

Here's a small tug with barges going downriver and a much larger one with 19 or 2 barges going up river. 

Here's just the large one going upriver toward Memphis.

Scott, Arkansas

We made the 160 mile trip to Willow Beach COE park just south of Little Rock.  We are backed in near water (name??) and under some nice shade trees with the front of the HitchHiker open so we get a good satellite connection.

This is an excellent COE park for $9.50 a night!  We spent a couple hours mapping and planning stops from here to Onsted trying to take into consideration a wet forecast in several days for several days.  We ate supper in as there's not too much near here.   

  

Travel day to Arkansas

Today we made the 230 mile trip to Ashdown, Arkansas escaping Texas after over a month there.  We are in a membership ROD park called Millwood Landing.  We currently plan to spend 4 nights here resting up and head to West Memphis to watch the Mississippi and some tugboats and barges.

 

Camo cat & Ennin, TX

Well,  I blew it!  Again.  At 6 last night we went to a restaurant to meet Haleigh and Dallas.  This is the first time we have met Dallas, Haleigh's fiancee.  She moved to Texas last fall to be with him.  They seem to be very much in love and a happy couple.  It has been quite awhile since we have seen Haleigh also.  Judy and I had an enjoyable visit!  I blew it because I forgot to get some pictures!! 

Yesterday evening we were outside enjoying the weather and water, Patches wanted out and there is nothing around us so out she went.  She wandered over to the edge of the lake and after awhile decided to lay low.  See her above?

Here's a closer look.  Beware, she's on duty.

Today we made a short 130 mile drive to Ennis, TX and another COE park for one night.

I like the view here a bit better than the last couple days.  I'm glad no one was around, after getting into one site OK we discovered the water didn't work so returned to the off ice for a different site, this one took many many unsuccessful attempts before I finally got backed in.

NORTHBOUND! Devyn & Randy here we come!

Time to head north for Randy's pasture and Devyn!

We made the short 163 mile trip to Union Grove Corp of Engineers park in Salado, TX on Stillhouse Hollow Lake.  The place is almost empty, last night there were two other RVs we could see in the loop we are in, this morning they are gone and no one else to be seen.  Judy said we could run around the campground naked and no one would know, even jump in the lake 20 feet behind us.  She wants to block more tires when we hook up so our home doesn't roll into the lake.  The temps have really dropped, it  was only 58 at 3:30 pm with 25 mph winds out of the north.  It looks and feels like winter and snow.  Judy nuked some chili for lunch and the heat pumps are pumping.  For supper she warmed up leftover mac and cheese and ham and we had the last of her home made applesauce.  In the morning the sun was out and it's still 58 and windy but sunny!  

On Wednesday we went to a great little German restaurant for lunch, Opa's Schnitzel Hut.  This was the best schnitzel we have had since we have been on the road!

 I think our traveling home is larger than the restaurant.

And that's the truth!

Last pot luck and last trip to Classic Burger

Here's a couple of the locals here at the campground.

Here's the last 10 of us at yesterdays last potluck dinner.

Today we had to return to Classic Burger one more time before we leave in the morning.