Fall 2023: The Final 2 weeks: Memphis, Kentucky, West Virginia, and......HOME

 Friday, 10/27:  314 miles, Sunrise RV Park, Texarkana, Arkansas

US 59 to I-30 

Site B-5.

We beat the forecasted rain most of the way today, but did have to set up camp in a slight drizzle.  Sunrise RV Park, right off I-40 is a convenient stop for a night.  The overnight sites are pull thru with full hookups and located on coarse gravel.  There are a couple of nearby grassy fields to walk the dogs, and diesel is easily available at 2 stations by the campground entrance.  The are many seasonal sites located in the back of the campground.  

Saturday, 10/28:  274 miles, parked at Tom Sawyer RV Park, West Memphis, AR

I-30 to Little Rock, and then I-40.

It was a terrible drive in very heavy rain today.  Several times required us, and others, to slow down and put our 4 way flashers on.  Tom Sawyer is one of our favorite parks.  However, it is not fancy.  There is no pool, no playground, no landscaping, and no privacy at the sites.  So why do we like it so much?  It park sets right on the banks of the Mississippi River.  And there lots of room to walk the dogs.

Site 91.

Sunset over the camper.

A drone view of the park from the campground FB page.

The the Mississippi river traffic is fascinating to watch from the campground.  Barges, and the occasional river cruise ship run the river 24 hours a day.  In fact, I read that about 60% of all grain products exported are barged down the river to ports in New Orleans.  There are barges of many shapes, sizes and colors.  Some even had loads of coal.   It seemed like most were going down river, although we saw a few going against the current up river.  The common commodities include cotton, grain, soybeans, corn, lumber as well as fertilizer, coal, construction materials, metals, sand and gravel.

As you can see, I became obsessed with barge photos.  When we first arrived, the river was dreary and foggy.  By the time we left 4 days later, the sun was shining.

So, how much do barges carry?  Well, for example, one 15 barge tow can haul the same amount of grain as 1,050 semi-truck trailers or 216 rail cars.  A tow of 15, 3 barges wide by 5 long, is standard for the upper river where they must transition locks.  The lower river, which is lock free, can tow twice as much with tows of 30 to 40 barges.

The Arkansas-Tennessee border does not make sense when you look at a map.  In places it follows the river, and in other places it makes weird jogs.  Humm??  Well, the border was determined, by court order, by the path of the Mississippi in 1836, and cannot be changed.  Likewise, the Missouri-Tennessee border is determined by when Missouri became a state in 1821. 

Wild !  Notice where state lines and the river don't match.

The campground lies on a bend in the river.  Thus the far side has vast sand bars that show up well when the river is low.  Conversely, the campground side of the river, where the flow is faster, is reinforced with flexible concrete sea walls to protect the bank from erosion.

This shows how high above the river the campground is.

Many, if not most, years the Mississippi is susceptible to the always changing weather patterns.  Heavy winter snowfall in the upper midwest usually means spring flooding.  A dry winter and summer can lead to extremely low water limiting shipping.  Right now, the water is low.  However, in about 7 out of 10 springs, this campground will flood.  This year, the river came within about 6 inches of flooding.  The record was in 2011 when the campground was covered with about 10 feet of water.  HERE is a really interesting article about the history of this park.  Check it out.  It's a great read.

We want  to visit the Memphis music and food scene in Tennessee some time, but the weather was cold and rainy this trip.  Maybe in April when we make a return trip this way.

Finally on the last day, we got some sunshine.  35 degree morning, but at least sunshine!  We caught a beautiful sunrise over Memphis with Venus shining brightly.

Tuesday 10/31:  237 miles, parked at Grand Ole RV Resort, Goodlettsville, Tennessee

I-40 to Nashville, then I-65 North to Exit 97, Goodlettsville.

Crossing the Mississippi.....

.....and on into Tennessee.

It was a smooth drive today, with the only major traffic congestion being in Nashville.

Site 20.

Grand Ole RV Resort is a nice park of about 100 sites.  We would stay here again.

Wednesday 11/1:  225 miles, parked at Fort Boonesborough SP, Richmond, Kentucky

I-65 to Cumberland Parkway to I-75

It was smooth driving today with light traffic.  The drive was only about 4 hours, but we had to add an hour coming back into the Eastern Time Zone, so 5 hours on the clock.  We even went by a Buc-ee's on I-75 near Richmond.  While they originated in Texas, Buc-ee's are starting to show up everywhere.  In addition to a huge number of fuel pumps, the shopping store is becoming a tourist destination.  They advertise the cleanest bathrooms you will ever see, and you can buy every snack and trinket under the sun.  Even if you don't need fuel, they are worth a stop at least once in your lifetime.    

We have been to this park a couple times before.  The sites are large, with cement pads.  The water connections are a bit weird because you share with a neighbor, and you usually need at least 50 feet of hose.  While the campground is roomy, and there is lots of grass to roam with the dog, I am a bit disappointed by the amount of trash littering the grounds, such as candy wrappers and can tabs.  Too bad.

Site 78, Water and Electric only.

Thursday morning was COLD.  It was 26 degrees when I got up.  We were advised to unhook our water hoses last night and leave the water spigots dripping.  Good thing we did!  

After lunch we drove to see friends, Dennis and Lisa, who only live about 6 miles from the campground.  One of the joys of traveling is meeting new people.  We first met them at Carrabelle Beach Resort back in April when walking Parker.  As we were walking the loops, we came across another Golden Retriever puppy.  Turns out that "River" was only a month older than Parker.  Parker and River enjoyed a couple of play dates at the dog park, and we promised to stay in touch with Dennis and Lisa.  We texted occasionally and Judy and I arranged to camp at Fort Boonesborough on this trip.  They had a huge fenced in paddock where the pups played and played, until they were played out and dropped.  We took Zoey the Malamute along for the ride today, but at 13 she is too frail to put up with frisky puppies.   She just snoozed instead.

So now we have 2 wonderful new friends, all because of 2 Golden Retriever puppies meeting at a campground.  Without Parker and River, we would have probably just waved, said hello, and walked on.  I have always found dogs to be a "social lubricant" and this was a perfect example!

We later met up with Dennis and Lisa again for dinner at nearby Hall's on the River.  I'm sure we will connect next Spring when we travel south again.

Hall's has a history of flooding.
Look at the actual heights of the flood waters!!

Friday 11/3:  304 miles, parked in the driveway of Matt and Jaime, Shinnston, WV

Interstate 64 to Interstate 79.

At slightly over 300 miles, it was a long drive today, especially with a sick dog.  Zoey was ill with diarrhea, so we had to make emergency stops a couple times.  And then to be safe, we stopped once for fuel, although the computer said we had enough.  

Matt and Jaime's driveway makes a very nice campsite with water and electric, and is "free".  As parents with school age children, they are on the go constantly, especially weekends with sports games and practices.  Living so far from home, we only get to see them a couple times a year.  And the grandchildren grow up soooo fast.

Matt coming in from a  morning bow hunt on their property.

Saturday, 11/6:  259 miles, parked at Westfield/Lake Erie KOA, Westfield, NY

I-79 north to I-90 east.

The Westfield KOA was officially closed, but I called and they were gracious enough to let us stay for the night.  They could not guarantee that the water would be on.  But when we arrived, the water was working.  The campground is right next to a vineyard.  They grow grapes for the nearby Welch's Grape Juice plant.  The vines were loaded with very ripe grapes.

Site 15.

Tuesday 11/7:  311 miles and HOME!!

I-79 north, to I-90 east, to I-81 north, to US11north.

While we were packing up to leave this morning, they started harvesting the grapes next door.  I ran over to grab a couple photos.

We had just about a 5 hour drive today, leaving Westfield at 9:00 and arriving home shortly after 2:00.  It rained off and on all the way, but finally letting up for us to set up back home in our driveway.  The dogs went crazy when we backed in the driveway.  They were excited to be home too!

Home Sweet Home.

So, after 71 days and 9,000 miles we are back to where we started on August 31st.  Now to winterize the camper, finish up fall yard chores around the house, get ready for the Holidays and hunker down for winter.  We hope to be back on the road come March for another adventure.  Be well and stay tuned....