After saying goodbye to Todd, Andrea and their sons, Grant and Bryce, we left the St. Louis area and traveled east and then south toward Nashville, Tennessee where we planned to meet up with Tim and Kathy (Tom's brother and wife) for a couple days of sightseeing and visiting.
Hello Tennessee!!
We actually were staying in Franklin, Tn., just south of Nashville. It was late afternoon (actually evening) by the time we arrived there and we were a little tired (road weary) so we had a low-key evening. There was a Cracker Barrel Restaurant next door to the La Quinta Inn where we were staying, so we walked next door and had dinner while reminiscing and catching up on all the latest news from each other and then retired to our hotel room where we sort of reconfigured the furniture layout so we could have a game table/chairs where we could play cards/dominoes with Tim and Kathy. Fun, fun!
Thursday, June 4
This morning Tim, Tom, and I began our day with a walk in Franklin's City Park. They have a very nice, very well-maintained path, with a side path leading into town for historical points of interest and another side path leading to a historical Civil War battleground.
Brothers, Tom and Tim
Later, we walked and explored the downtown area a bit, stopping in at the Visitor's Center and picked up some brochures.
Tim and Kathy pose next to a monument on the downtown square.
A lot of the businesses downtown had gorgeous pots and baskets of flowers.
Tom pushes on the large columns at the historic courthouse....
We then drove out to the Carnton Plantation. Since Tim and Kathy had previously toured the historic home a few years ago, and Tom and I weren't interested in the home tour, we checked out their gift shop......
....before walking up the hill to the McGavock Family Cemetery....
Next we went on a tour of the Carter House. The Carter House, built in 1830 by Fountain Branch Carter, was caught in the midst of one of the bloodiest conflicts of the American Civil War. The home was used as a command post for Federal General Jacob D. Cox during the Battle of Franklin, which was fought on November 30, 1864. During the battle the Carter family sought refuge in the cellar as horrific fighting raged all around the house.
We decided to have a late lunch at the famous historic Puckett's General Store, a very popular and busy place in downtown Franklin.
Then it was back to our hotel for relaxation (hot tub/swimming pool) and more card/domino games.
Friday, June 5
Once again Tim, Tom and I started the day off with a morning walk in Franklin's City Park. We make looong shadows!
On the way back to the car, we had crazy long shadows!
Today we are having lunch on the General Jackson Riverboat while cruising on the Cumberland River through Nashville.
...Tim makes his Nashville debut as one of the entertainers snags him to help him sing...FUN!
We enjoyed the awesome views of downtown Nashville as we glided along.
There was lots of deck space to sit and enjoy the ambience of the city and the river.
Saturday, June 6
Our last morning with Tim and Kathy before we and they head our separate ways to home.
As usual Tim, Tom and I got up early and headed to the City Park for our morning walk. There were all sorts of exercise equipment along the pathway and Tim and Tom couldn't resist testing their strength.
Afterward we had a good breakfast at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant next door to our hotel. We then had to say goodbye to Tim and Kathy. We always enjoy our time together!
Tom and I decided to drive a little east of Nashville to visit the Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson.
Expansive grounds with many grand tress surround the historic home.
My favorite was the extensive flower gardens!
We followed the path back to the Spring House, the family's water source....
But, we are so ready to go home. No place like home. So we head west on I-40, thinking we will go as far as we can before dark.
All was good until we got close to Memphis, and the closer we came to Memphis, the traffic got heavier and heavier, mostly 18-wheelers. What with road construction, and so many vehicles and large trucks, traffic slowed to almost stopping and then finally stop and go, more stop than go!
By the time we finally got to the point where I-40 peels off to go around the north side of Memphis, we had been sitting in this traffic jam for so long that we decided to try going straight thru town and catching the interstate on the west side of town. Another adventure! As we followed old U.S. Hwy.70 ,we wound around thru some nice older home neighborhood and also some rather seedy neighborhoods and were not able to follow U.S.70 totally thru town, however we did finally make it to the west side of Memphis, picking us I-240 By-Pass. Yea! We made it back to I-40 and guess what....the same traffic jam that we were in on the east side of Memphis. Argh.... Hundreds of 18-wheelers, bumper to bumper, stop and go, for miles....finally came to a burned 18-wheeler off on the shoulder of the road. Finally after making it past that, we were actually able to make a little time, even though there was still a lot of traffic!
By this time it was late afternoon/early evening, and we were very road weary from all the traffic problems, so once we made it to Little Rock, got past the I-30/I-40 split we found a hotel and called it a day! Yea!
Sunday, June 7
We awoke refreshed and ready to make it home this morning. Thankfully we made it home safe and sound!
There is no place like home!
