Day 28 Memphis, TN to Midwest City, OK 467 miles

church in Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas River in Oklahoma

Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma

U.S. Air Force AWACS

Left Memphis this morning in 40 degree weather and pouring rain on Interstate 40.  And I do mean pouring--couldn't see the road ahead of us a couple times!!  Arrived in Midwest City this afternoon with blue skies and 62 degree temperatures. 

The trip was good and we stopped about 30 miles from our destination to have a late lunch, early dinner at Cracker Barrel, our new favorite place!  We ate at one for the first time in Williamsburg, Virginia after seeing many, many of them on the road.  We enjoyed it so much we went back again the next night.  I think we have one or two more shots at them before we return to California, so I'm sure we'll stop again.

Midwest City is the home of Tinker Air Force Base and on our way in, I was able to get a picture of the Airborne Warning And Control System plan on it's final approach to the air base.  Not the best picture, but quite a sight!  No plans for tonight but resting and a workout for me in the workout room.  A long day tomorrow-553 miles to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Day 27 Afton to Memphis, TN

love these old barns

Nashville on a foggy day

pool at our hotel

Elvis pics over the bed!

our dinner spot

Had a long but beautiful today on Interstate 40.  Tennessee is truly a gorgeous state, I can see why these folks are so proud of it.  We left our friends this morning at 9 and arrived here today at 3.  Sounds like 6 hours, but due to the change from eastern to central time, it was actually 7.  Very little traffic and all in all a smooth trip.

Our motel is just across the street from Graceland and the whole area is all about Elvis and Graceland, including the music blasting from the speakers in the lobby and hallways!!!  They also have 3 Elvis only movie channels on the TV.  We opted not to go to Graceland as it's a little pricey and we're not die hard Elvis fans.  Fun to see all the stuff, though.

We ate dinner at a great spot recommended by the lady at the front desk.  It's a local landmark and if you want, they'll come pick you up in a pink Cadillac limo!  Marlow's makes the best pork dinners around these parts according to her.  She's right, the ribs were awesome!  On to Oklahoma tomorrow. 

 

Day 26 Williamsburg to Afton, TN 494 miles

rest stop color

beautiful countrside

more beautiful countryside

an old barn

Didn't post a note last night as we were having too much fun with David & Gina Cates!!  Thought about it a couple of times and thought about taking pictures of them and their beautiful house to, but just sat and talked with them instead.

Went to dinner at a great local place called The Farmer's Daughter.  Family style dining at it's best.  You order two meat dishes, we had fried chicken and fish and then they bring at least 8 side dishes (creamed corn, cornbread salad, green beans, cole slaw, carrot casserole, melon, mashed potatoes, gravy and fried squash) and this is after they start you with corn bread and biscuits and then when you're stuffed, bring dessert!  I shoulda walked home!

They took us on a quick tour of the area as it was getting dark and we could see why they like it so much--it's beautiful and very peaceful.  Greenville, the town next to Afton, and the closest larger town was the home of President Andrew Johnson (he became President after Lincoln was shot).  There is a lot of history in the area as well as a National Cemetery.  Wish we would of had more time.  We're going to have to come back.

Day 25 Williamsburg

Swords in the Governor's Mansion

food preparation-colonial style

authentic apothecary jars

kitchen for Wetherburn's Tavern

Another beautiful day here in Virginia.  Spent a couple hours this morning at an antique mall--quite a large one at that.  Lots of fun stuff to look at but nothing I couldn't live without.

We spent the rest of the day at Colonial Williamsburg again.  Really had a great time.  With it being a Saturday and beautiful weather the place was quite busy.  Glad we had a slower pace and less people to share it all with yesterday.

The Governor's Mansion was quite spectacular.  Well appointed and had all the luxuries of the time.  Not quite as luxurious as mansions in Europe but quite nice for the colonies at this point in time.

We also spent time watching cobblers, a cook, had hot chocolate in the Coffeehouse (a gathering spot for the colonists), lunch at Raleigh Tavern, and enjoyed tours of the local Parish Church and Wetherburn's Tavern as well as the apothecary.  All work is done in true colonial style with authentic tools and materials.  A walk back in time that we enjoyed very much.

Pointing the truck in a new direction tomorrow--west!  On to Tennessee.

Day 24 Colonial Williamsburg

Gunsmith's house

Blacksmith shop

Color Guard

"Benedict Arnold"

Fife & Drum Corp

What an amazing and fun day.  Colonial Williamsburg is a real treat.  The entire town is a living reenactment.  They actually make guns and ammunition in the gunsmith shop, nails, hardware and other necessities in the blacksmith shop and do all the these things the same way they did them 200 years ago. 

They were building an outdoor kitchen behind one of the houses and they had hand milled all their own lumber and were framing it the same way they would have back then.  Very interesting to watch and everyone was willing to explain what they were doing and why.

The day ended with a 2 hour reenactment of different times in the 8 year war for independence.  It began with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and continued in different parts of the town with all of us walking to these locations for each of 7 reenactments.

There were probably 300 people there today watching all of this with us.  I can only imagine what it must be like during the summer when the place is jammed with tourists.  Our weather was perfect and we had plenty of time to see things and ask questions.  We were also fortunate in that the War for Independence is only reenacted 2 days a week and today was one of the days!

We bought a 2 day pass and are looking forward to returning tomorrow.  We are also hoping to make it to Jamestown. 

Day 23 Philadelphia to Williamsburg, Virginia 300 miles

Susquehanna River north of Baltimore

Virginia - gorgeous!

view from our condo

view from our condo

Had a beautiful drive today.  A real chamber of commerce day.  Blue skies, only a couple of traffic slowdowns, and mild temperatures.  The high was 63.  We spent the bulk of the day on the famous I 95 corridor and the Washington Beltway.  We were never close enough to Washington DC to get any pictures, hence the ones you see.

Someday we intend to come back and do Washington.  Fly in and spend a week seeing all there is to see.  Probably not enough time, but better than trying to find a place to park today and see one or two things.

The historic Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown triangle that we are staying in looks like it's going to be great fun.  Lots and lots of places to go and lots of reenactments to see.  We're going to get an early start and take lots of pictures.

Day 22 Philadelphia

National Constitution Museum

Benjamin Franklin in bronze

Philadelphia skyline

Chinatown

Philadelphia Hard Rock Cafe

A second great day in Philadelphia!  The weather started out gray and windy but ended up blue and beautiful.  We went to the National Constitution Museum this morning and enjoyed their special exhibit entitled The Art of the American Soldier.  It was amazing!  Such talent and dedication as well as bravery on the part of the artists.  (Justin Manning, if you are ever close to this exhibit you NEED to see it.  I thought of you and your amazing talent all morning.)

We enjoyed a great lunch at The Reading Market.  It is very similar to the Pike Place Market in Seattle and the Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston.  There must have been 30 to 40 places to choose from.   Tough to choose, but we managed.  They have great cookies too!

After lunch we walked to Antiques Row.  Fun places to look at, but nothing I couldn't live without.

We ate dinner at the Hard Rock, one of our favorite places if they have one in the city we are visiting.  Nothing compares with the very first one in London, but all are great.   On to Williamsburg Virginia tomorrow.