Wednesday April 29, 2009 -
We went to the National Battlefield Park at Vicksburg, Mississippi. It was free because I had my one time purchase senior pass for National Parks. Our arrival coincided with the start of the film at the visitors center. At the conclusion of the film we walked through a small museum and gift shop, then toured the grounds.
It is a 16 mile car ride about the battlefield. There are many, many monuments to both individuals and units. They are placed where the unit was positioned during the campaign. I believe every state, N&S, who had units there, also had a major state monument. Illinois had the grandest, in my opinion. Pennsylvania's was impressive with four bronze faces on the granite. There was a separate pedestal with the bust of the governor atop. Mississippi's was one of the last erected and the posted sign spoke of the difficulty in the state legislature in passing the approval for its construction.
Recreated battlefields are always too peaceful. Birds chirp, the lawns are well manicured, all is bright and shinny with crisp signs indicating where troops were at the particular time, who attacked who, who won, who lost, and the casualty rate. There are no scared hands, no bits of bodies, no smell of death and wounds, no screams of fear or pain, no clouds of powder or roar of guns. The battlefield is now a place of peace, a place for picnics, a place where kids play soldier and shot with their thumb and forefinger at an unseen enemy.
I was glad we took the tour. I thought of Mel.
Our decision was to drive straight through to Memphis, catching Crossroads and Tunica on Thursday. Tonight, Wednesday, we would visit AutoZone field and see the minor league Red Birds. We arrived in Memphis with an hour to spare for the 7:05 start But it appears the Red Birds is for Thursday, not tonight.
There was some sort of festival on Beale street. Two blocks were only open to pedestrians. We were enticed by a hostess into Pigs on Beale. It turned out to be an outstanding choice.. We followed her suggestion, selecting a full rack with two sides, onion rings and beans. Since Den was driving he had the 12 oz and I the 32 oz beer. Our waitress took our picture we returned to the Knights Inn (the low end of Super 8). But that is a later story.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Purple Haze
Our arrival at the Hunter's in Tucker did not go without preparation by Bernice and her crew. After unloading the car we were accompanied to our guest quarters. I was to stay in Jason's former bedroom and as I entered the room the glow of purple began to emanate from the room's decor. Sure enough the room had been entirely transformed into a purple palate. Bedspread, drapes, pillow case, balloons, streamers, lamp shades and even guest room purple chocolate candy was the new decor. This of course was designed to help me feel at home where my wife Lori likes to decorate the house in purple color schemes. So our two day stay was bathed in purple so much like Manassas I almost forgot I was on a road trip.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
The Ride to Atlanta - April 26, 2009
Sunday April 26, 2009
Bernice was up and about when I woke up. I showered, shaved and dressed. You know, since I've retired it takes me about 25 / 30 minutes to do all these things. When I was employed it took 11 minutes on a slow day.
I charged my batteries as Bernice prepared eggs over easy, bacon, English muffins, and coffee. A good start to the day.
Jessica was off to meet Fred and Tiffany for their Sunday morning touring and the three of us, Den, Bernice, and myself to CNN and the Cyclorama in Grant Park. We recommend both.The CNN tour guide, Jardon, mentioned that the current president of CNN had started as an intern page at CNN in 1981. Hey I guess there is hope for Kenneth Purcell.
Did you know in Atlanta City bus drivers will abandon their bus in the traffic lane and go about their business? True. As we egresses Grant Park and walked along Cherokee back to the car a city bus was stopped at a light (green). The driver exited the bus, with his lady friend, I saw only one passenger on the bus, and walked across the street. As we reached the end of the bus, the car behind the bus, which had been waiting since we were in front of the bus, was still waiting. I called out to the passenger in the car to let them know the drive was not in there. They decided to go around as did the cars beginning to back up behind the bus.
We returned to Castlehill for lunch and discuss the afternoon activities. Bernice's was to attend a meet and greet session but it was cancelled and Den and I were a bit worn out from the morning so we decided the Carter library could wait until another visit.
Bernice is the moderator for the local Freecycle group and had found a replacement rack for her dishwasher. I needed a free ATM and Den shoelaces. Bernice became the tour guide driving us thought the Vidal section of Atlanta. It was a very nice older section with neat lawns and attractive homes. Alas no racks were found at the appropriate home. We were close to Emory University, where Jason is a computer tech (go figure) and Jessica volunteers in the children's area of the University hospital. Like any good NYC taxi driver we took the long way through. We did make the quick stop at Target for the other items.
The next stop was at Jason's apartment. After negotiating past the tight security system we parked. Jason has a first floor bachelor pad with a very excellent very large flat screen TV which he hooks up to his PC and watches Netflix movies, way cool. (Note to Grandmother and Aunts - the apartment was neat and orderly, you should visit). Before we left we checked in with Jessica to meet up for dinner.
The Ted's Montana Grill was our choice. There were three 15 dollar meal deals and four burgers. Olivia, our waitress, attended to us. Apparently an onion ring had fallen off on of the dishes on the way to the table and two other waitresses brought a replacement. I'll bet they really did toss the fallen one out!
Next time - We go to work
Bernice was up and about when I woke up. I showered, shaved and dressed. You know, since I've retired it takes me about 25 / 30 minutes to do all these things. When I was employed it took 11 minutes on a slow day.
I charged my batteries as Bernice prepared eggs over easy, bacon, English muffins, and coffee. A good start to the day.
Jessica was off to meet Fred and Tiffany for their Sunday morning touring and the three of us, Den, Bernice, and myself to CNN and the Cyclorama in Grant Park. We recommend both.The CNN tour guide, Jardon, mentioned that the current president of CNN had started as an intern page at CNN in 1981. Hey I guess there is hope for Kenneth Purcell.
Did you know in Atlanta City bus drivers will abandon their bus in the traffic lane and go about their business? True. As we egresses Grant Park and walked along Cherokee back to the car a city bus was stopped at a light (green). The driver exited the bus, with his lady friend, I saw only one passenger on the bus, and walked across the street. As we reached the end of the bus, the car behind the bus, which had been waiting since we were in front of the bus, was still waiting. I called out to the passenger in the car to let them know the drive was not in there. They decided to go around as did the cars beginning to back up behind the bus.
We returned to Castlehill for lunch and discuss the afternoon activities. Bernice's was to attend a meet and greet session but it was cancelled and Den and I were a bit worn out from the morning so we decided the Carter library could wait until another visit.
Bernice is the moderator for the local Freecycle group and had found a replacement rack for her dishwasher. I needed a free ATM and Den shoelaces. Bernice became the tour guide driving us thought the Vidal section of Atlanta. It was a very nice older section with neat lawns and attractive homes. Alas no racks were found at the appropriate home. We were close to Emory University, where Jason is a computer tech (go figure) and Jessica volunteers in the children's area of the University hospital. Like any good NYC taxi driver we took the long way through. We did make the quick stop at Target for the other items.
The next stop was at Jason's apartment. After negotiating past the tight security system we parked. Jason has a first floor bachelor pad with a very excellent very large flat screen TV which he hooks up to his PC and watches Netflix movies, way cool. (Note to Grandmother and Aunts - the apartment was neat and orderly, you should visit). Before we left we checked in with Jessica to meet up for dinner.
The Ted's Montana Grill was our choice. There were three 15 dollar meal deals and four burgers. Olivia, our waitress, attended to us. Apparently an onion ring had fallen off on of the dishes on the way to the table and two other waitresses brought a replacement. I'll bet they really did toss the fallen one out!
Next time - We go to work
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday & Saturday 4/24, 25
And so we begin another Adventure:
Den and I drove from my mothers to Warminster so I might pay my respects to a friend from Prudential, Jack Callaghan, who was being laid to rest today, Friday April 24, 2009. Thanks Jack, you were a nice guy and you brought me back to visit with a few Pru friends.
Den, Julie and I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant in Manassas, Guapo's. We enjoyed, well at least I did.
Saturday 4/25/09 - At 705 we hit the road in search of a CVS with a free ATM. The CVS does not open until 0800 so we decided to push on to Atlanta.GPS estimates arrival about 4:30 PM.
US29 is a very pleasant ride almost likean I route. As we approached E on the fuel guage we decided to ask the GPS for information. It took us to Walton Mt (a TV series a while back) and museum. 7.5 miles in, 2 miles parallel, fuel, 7.5 miles back to US29. Within a mile on US29 we passed a fuel (same off brand as what we had purchased) station.
Lunch became an adventure too. We decided to GPS food and found BeeBop Inn listed. We think we found it in a small shopping center parking lot as a pad site. The building had been a restaurant of some kind but was no longer in business. Another option was O'Henry Bar B Q which, we found but there were no, none, zero cars in the parking lot. Back to US29 south.
Earlier in the ride we had done a search on the GPS for a fast food franchised restaurant called "Buiscuitville." No luck even when we tried "bis" and similar searches. We were currently transitioning from US29 to I85 and decided to stop after we reached I85 and stop at anything for lunch. As we approached the next exit there were eight food offerings, one of which was Biscuitville, God had directed us.
I, Mel, took over driving after lunch. As we came close to the end of NC, where gas is expensive and entered SC, where gas is cheap, I passed a series of $1.78 signs at 2 or 3 exits. I made a decision , the next exit is it! It turned out to be the first one with a Sunoco, my credit card,but also the one where the four gas stations posted $1.88. Oh well. We filled up at the expensive rate and pushed on. The next three exits, count them three, all boasted $1.78 regular unleaded.
We arrived at the Hunters about 6:30 without any problems. Jessica's friend from college, Tiffany and her husband, Fred O'Hara joined us for dinner.An extremely tasty chicken dinner called Bourbon Chicken (no booze) served over seasoned rice abd broccalli was enjoyed by all.
We chatted until 10:45, or so, and retired.
Den and I drove from my mothers to Warminster so I might pay my respects to a friend from Prudential, Jack Callaghan, who was being laid to rest today, Friday April 24, 2009. Thanks Jack, you were a nice guy and you brought me back to visit with a few Pru friends.
Den, Julie and I went to my favorite Mexican restaurant in Manassas, Guapo's. We enjoyed, well at least I did.
Saturday 4/25/09 - At 705 we hit the road in search of a CVS with a free ATM. The CVS does not open until 0800 so we decided to push on to Atlanta.GPS estimates arrival about 4:30 PM.
US29 is a very pleasant ride almost likean I route. As we approached E on the fuel guage we decided to ask the GPS for information. It took us to Walton Mt (a TV series a while back) and museum. 7.5 miles in, 2 miles parallel, fuel, 7.5 miles back to US29. Within a mile on US29 we passed a fuel (same off brand as what we had purchased) station.
Lunch became an adventure too. We decided to GPS food and found BeeBop Inn listed. We think we found it in a small shopping center parking lot as a pad site. The building had been a restaurant of some kind but was no longer in business. Another option was O'Henry Bar B Q which, we found but there were no, none, zero cars in the parking lot. Back to US29 south.
Earlier in the ride we had done a search on the GPS for a fast food franchised restaurant called "Buiscuitville." No luck even when we tried "bis" and similar searches. We were currently transitioning from US29 to I85 and decided to stop after we reached I85 and stop at anything for lunch. As we approached the next exit there were eight food offerings, one of which was Biscuitville, God had directed us.
I, Mel, took over driving after lunch. As we came close to the end of NC, where gas is expensive and entered SC, where gas is cheap, I passed a series of $1.78 signs at 2 or 3 exits. I made a decision , the next exit is it! It turned out to be the first one with a Sunoco, my credit card,but also the one where the four gas stations posted $1.88. Oh well. We filled up at the expensive rate and pushed on. The next three exits, count them three, all boasted $1.78 regular unleaded.
We arrived at the Hunters about 6:30 without any problems. Jessica's friend from college, Tiffany and her husband, Fred O'Hara joined us for dinner.An extremely tasty chicken dinner called Bourbon Chicken (no booze) served over seasoned rice abd broccalli was enjoyed by all.
We chatted until 10:45, or so, and retired.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)