Arley, Alabama, never heard of it, huh?

October 25, 1905, nothing of any import happened in Arley, Alabama.
Not sure of any other date, but we will check.
We will rest here in Arley for a few days. If any bad news is received we can make it home in a day. Hidden Cove is the name of this park. It is one of our membership parks. A few years ago we bought into a membership group. There are 8 or 9 parks we can stay without paying anything other than our yearly dues. Since we live full time in the RV we get more than our money’s worth. Two to three weeks in these parks pays for the dues, the rest is actually free. It is a good deal for us.

The only draw back to these membership parks is it is a life time commitment. If you get too old to drive and use the membership you must continue to pay. You can sell the membership, but sometime finding a buyer is hard. Anyway that is one thing you cross that bridge when you come to it.
On this trip we have met some folks on Blogger. I also am active under a pen name on another forum. We have also met some of the pen names on this trip. Stringbender, in Detroit. Roughrider, John and Kari-J in Missouri. Tonight we plan to take a guy and his wife out, he is under the name of Poimen. He is a student and a minister.
Anyway, the signal here is not good. I have already lost one entry. If you don’t hear from me in a couple days, DO NOT CALL 911, We might be practicing for our next anniversary.
Take care and thanks for coming by. Now I will see if this will post.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Some people hear voices, some folk see little green men ant ehn there are some folk with no imagination.
Buses travel twice as fast when you run after it than when you get in!!!

From Toad Suck to Tupelo, Mississippi

Okay, if you don't know Tupelo, Mississippi is Where ELVIS was born, well you just ain't an Elvis Fan.

The roads were rough most of the way today, but we did have some smooth roads. I am going to write the head of DOT's for OK, AR & MS a letter. Every bridge has a bump on both ends. no one seems to know how to miter in or smooth in a bridge. I said several 'bad' words today when caught by surprise. Ok not REAL BAD WORDS, I have heard 'good folk' say worse. HA! (but not my mama!)

On the way back we have crossed the Pecos River, Tucker Creek, The Arkansas River, the Mississippi AND the Tallachie River Bridge (remember that one? 'Was the 3rd of June another sleepy tale to tell today..... sang by Bobbie Gentry) I am still puzzled about what they threw off the bridge!

Instead of pushing further we stopped here. We have been to Graceland, but never stopped by Tupelo.


This is where it all started.



Down town they have these steel guitars scattered about.

At the house and museum I caught Sherry with a 13 yr old Elvis and his guitar.

The house is a two room house. You might know the type, Bed in one room and the other is the kitchen with a table. Vernon, his dad and uncle built the house.

Living room had a small fireplace.

Fireplace and churn.

No Southern house is complete without a porch swing.

The Church Elvis & family atttended was an Assembly of God. The church was a block or so away from the house, it was moved onto the museum property.
While attending the pastor, Rev. Smith, taught Elvis some cords on the guitar.

The church outhouse was moved too. Sherry said when you gotta, you gotta!

This is a view of the small house.

You probably knew Elvis was a twin, but his brother was still born. You may or may not know that Vernon forged a check and was sent to Parchment Prison for 3 yrs. He was paroled after 8 months. But during that time Gladys and Elvis lost the home and all their possessions of value. They spent weekends riding the bus to see Vernon in prison.

Just to think from those beginnings the world got to know Elvis Pressley. Like him or not you have to admit he had talent. Like him or not you must admit he was very generous. I really believe he was a good person, but got carried away with drugs. Drugs have ruined many rich and poor folk.

Anyway that is where we are tonight. This fast trip back East is a little too much on us we must stop and catch our breath. Somewhere in Alabama.

Thanks for coming to Elvis Birth place.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!



Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.

TOAD SUCK

Been a rough day today. Yesterday we waltzed across Texas, today we BOUNCED across Oklahoma and part ot Arkansas. Of the miles (over 9000) this trip I-40 was the worst. Sherry had to put the microwave on the bed, it was vibrating off the cabinets. So I begin to think,

Hey Baby, want to spend the night at Toad Suck? Okay she did look at me funny because she had already suggested it. We had bounced enough, so we followed the signs to 'Toad Suck' camp ground. Got messed up and took a wrong turn. The tow vehicle was in a bind and would not come loose.

Sherry got in the van to try to help loosen the tension. IT WOULD NOT START!!!

So out with the jumper cables and start it. Using thirty different tools I beat and banged the hitch loose. Then on to the park.

We are on the Arkansas River at the Dam called Toad Suck. Don't ask!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

Nite Shipslog

PS:

There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away. (I have tried to explain that to Sherry)

*******************

I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

*********************
Oh ho, Elsie Marie on the potty. Just seeing her makes the night better!!!!!

Waltzing Cross Texas with you!!!

We departed Albuquerque this morning and drove across Texas. Now that is a tall order, to drive across Texas in a day, unless you cros the panhandle, that is what we did, only about 176 miles across there. As we neared the Texas line we crossed Mesa land. Those are the pictures taht did not show up here. This is the slowest the system has been. I don't know if I will get this on.
A couple days ago someone got on my BLOG, yeah someone hacked into my site here and put a nasty entry on about sunglasses. WEEELLLLL that guy had not driven into the South West Morning Sunshine heading East in a long time. Any fool would know you need sunglasses, shades, blinders and anything else to fight that sun.

Now I am the kind of guy who is always willing to admit a mistake. If I had written that entry I would gladly claim it. If I had written it, I would never put this picture on (that Sherry forced me to). hahahhaha!! I am pretty cool in sunglasses. hahahahahaha!

That desert sun is unmerciful. If I coud drive East in reverse, it wouldn't be so bad!!!

Out here you see these ranch houses off in the distance. These folks don't go to the store every day I bet.

Now we are into more cattle country instead of farm land, even though there s a good bit of that in the Panhandle.

I have to look up this grain again, something about sorgum I think.

We drove past the largest Cross in the Western Hemisphere. YOu have probably seen the internet entry about it. It has been around for awhile.

Something funny about this picture. Woter tanks ain't 'posed to lean!!!

We are less than a mile inside the Oklahoma border.

Glad you crossed the pan handle with us. WE are always amazed at the miles and miles of highway without much population. BTW, we are right on the Famous Route 66 still. We have followed for a few hundred miles now.

Nite Shipslog

PS: Iwill just be happy is this posts!!!!

Well today we said good by to Dianne and Charlie. We have enjoyed them so much. We had met neither Di or Charlie. Both proved to be a JOY! Oh yes they took Buddy, we already miss them. Buddy's dad was a handsome distinguished man. When I first saw buddy a few days ago my first impression was He has become his dad. (NOT AS HANDSOME MIND YOU, I COULD NEVER SAY THAT!)

Below are pictures of Di and Charlie. Charlie is a loving pet. Of course Di is too!!!! And I did find out. Buddy stole her from England, they still cry wanting her back. I see it in the news all the time about Princess Di.



We visited the Petroglyph National Monument. This is a beautiful desert flower, the Astor. (maybe)

We left Buddy back at the office talking to one of the local Rangers. I followed these two pretty.... girls (you thought I was gonna say rear ends! didn't you Mel (s))

Petroglyphs are symbols pecked into the surface of these lava rocks.

Di and I flound some more. They were put here between 200-300 years ago.

Sherry found some, among some more lava rocks.

More as we walked around. Very few are pointed out by the park service you search for them yourself.

More of them, no one knows exactly what they mean except me, and I am sworn to secrecy by the ancestrael ghosts of the Pueblo, Apache and Navajo who created them.

We found Buddy back at the office and we are discussing the sorry state of todays Politics.

As usual I got lost, but with Di's help we found Old Town Albuquerque. A very interesting area with a lot of history. Some smart aleck parked an antique Mercedes convertable down town. Looks to be about a 1950.

Many of the buildings are original with some being restored.

We sat and listened to this band on flutes(?) I even enjoyed it. My Sherry bought me a cone of BUTTER PECAN ICE CREAM, know what Buddy's favorite is? BUTTER PECAN! We both agree it beats Chocolate hands down. (and we are experts).

Below is San Felipe De Neri is the oldest church in Albuquerque and has served the area continously since 1706. hard to beat that record in the USA.

Restaurant "La Hacienda" on the corner of the square.

I finally got Sherry to buy a couple pieces of Turquoise. This is one of the vendors. A beautiful lady, but she sat on her legs constantly. It hurt mine to see it.

Well here we are at home, and Buddy is telling jokes. He spent four years in the Bayou country of Lousiana and can entertain using Cajun phraseology (which I dearly love) and stories he heard while living there. Besides PI work, Undercover work, and teaching law enforcement, he also played guitar in a band.

Tucker, He and I used to play mean trumpets, I didn't know he had took up the guitar and played professionally. He was full of surprises.

He ain't bad with a steak either. He and Di fixed supper for us and I had a delicious steak. We ate our Idaho potatoes also.

As I said, Di & Charlie took Buddy this morning and left. It was one great visit. We are already trying to arrange a get together with all three of us old guys.

We learned a lot. Buddy suffered a Heart attack early 2000's but has bounced back.

They seem so much in love, Di probably saved Buddy's life, without direction ain't no telling what would have been his end and undoing. LOL

Anyway we head out in the morning, change of plans. As always life cannot be predicted, my lovely SIL Ruth has had a heart attack and they don't expect her to live. According to what we find back there, we would like to resume our trip. We were looking forward to seeing Paula in San Antonio.

Thanks for coming by the log.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Don't worry about what people think, they don't do it very often.

Tram ride to Sandria, Albuquerque

We took a ride on Albuquerque's tram. It is a trip on the world’s longest aerial tramway transports you above deep canyons and breathtaking terrain a distance of 2.7 miles. See some of nature’s more dramatic beauty unfold before you. At sunset the desert skies would be very beautiful and your vantage point from the observation deck atop 10,378 foot Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest affords an 11,000 square-mile panoramic view of the Rio Grande Valley and the Land of Enchantment.

I took this picture before we boarded. I tried to get some of the traditional buildings on the side of the mountain, also to show I am not tooooo ignorant of flowers, these are roses!

I caught the love birds at the tram crossing.

Going up we were fortunate to get next to a window, that is Albuquerque.

At the top it was 46 degrees. I found this sweet lady to spend some time with.

You can see some of the terrain as I got a picture of an arriving tram.

Just to show the altitude.

Note the mountain the lines come over behind us. You are seeing the cables as they sag between mountains.

I got this tram departing.

Looking over some of the terrain to an Air Force Base, Kirtland.

We had a great day. With wonderful friends. We returned home. Buddy and Di had us over for Steaks, a delicious meal. This has been a good time, but it is coming to an end. Today Sherry called Vondale and put him on the line with Buddy. They seemed to have a ball. Buddy as usual carrying the conversation with truth, lies and jokes!!!!!

Thanks for going with us to Sandria.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

'If the enemy is in range, so are you.'
- Infantry Journal-

'It is generally inadvisable to eject directly over the area you just bombed.'
- US.Air Force Manual -