Well, we made it to Memphis..........this will be a 2 day update
Dyersburg, TN - Millington, TN
You will recall from our most recent post that we were headed to Memphis. We started out with great intentions, but due to the weather.........it was hot.......and hotter..........and really hot and humid..........cooler heads prevailed in the name of David and we stopped in Millington, TN to recharge our batteries and then head into Memphis the next day. We have been making good time over the last 2 days. Mostly flat land with only some minor hills. I had been complaining to David and Rex that I was tired of seeing all the farm land and wanted to see some city/industrial areas. Well after our last 1 and 1/2 days, I am cured and am ready to get back into the farm lands. We have been on a nice state highway that has been a straight shot down the state. Saw lots of down and dirty industrial areas. Tough area to make a living. I did catch a nice picture of some harvesting of corn and it should be posted. Looks like the fall is coming as harvest season seems to have started in this part of the country. We had a nice stay in Millington at our favorite place, i.e. Holiday Inn Express, and of course Rex found the beer again............at Walmart.........tells you something about the region. Rex did get carded and was asked to take his CA drivers license out..........made him very happy as he thought they were asking him because he did not look 21.........turns out they ask everyone....We also met up with a friend of Rex's and David's, Mike Brooks, who worked with them in Sacramento and who recently took a job as a community college instructor at Dyersburg CC. We had a great chat and learned a lot about the history of the area from Mike. He gave us some tips on Memphis, and we may meet him tonight for some Blues, ribs, and beer. We took a little walk around Memphis and dodged the rain and heat. Had nice lunch at a little dive bar across the street from our hotel. Memphis has a lot of old history. Rain is forecast for the next couple of days so we are in the process of figuring out our options, and nearest spots to stay dry. We are looking for routes that will get us to Vicksburg, which will be our next way station and where we will take a day off to look at the battlefields. We are working on the logistics for the next leg of the trip, which will be from Memphis to Clarksdale, Miss.
Now for the stats and an editorial comment or two........here is David:
Thursday, day 16.
Today: 60 miles.
Avg: 10.8 mph
Total miles: 1040
Daily avg: 65 miles
We stopped 18 miles short of Memphis due to 100+heat and high humidity. A good choice. Mike caught up with us here. He only lived 6 miles away. We went right by his house earlier. His wife passed us toiling down the road.
Friday, day 17, Memphis.
Today: 18 miles
Avg: 11.2 mph
Total miles: 1058
Daily avg: 62.
Got a late start. Not quite as hot. A few uphills but mostly long down hills all the way into Memphis. Had an exciting crossing of a two lane bridge with traffic, past the St. Judes Childrens Hospital into town and Union St.
Our prior experience tells us that Mississippi from now on will be flat. It will be hot of course. Off to Clarksdale, Greenville, Vicksburg and Natchez.
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