Back In Texas
After we departed from Nashville the boring 200 miles down I-40 to the Memphis area was pretty boring. Although once we hit Memphis, rather than going to the Naval Support Activity on the north side of town we decided to head south on Highway 61 toward Vicksburg.
We had thought that trip would be more interesting than the interstate but we were wrong and 61 is a flat piece of highway without any scenic merit whatsoever.
Just after leaving Memphis to the south is a large casino area that we thought might be a good place to park for the night. All the major casinos are represented there and right on the Mississippi. Below is the Sam's Town casino growing out of the flat and parched cotton fields.
Rather than Sam's, which was very uninteresting, we went across the boulevard to the Hollywood casino. Both places had RV parks for $19.95 a night. The park was pretty new and well maintained but these casinos are obviously on hard times. As I went into the hotel to register it was pretty sad with the lack of patrons and the threadbare carpet and finishings ... I'd give these places along the river about a year before they are totally out of business ... somebody has lost a bunch of money here and that's not the customers.
Off on the morning of the 12th of October and as we finished up Highway 61 we found an Alligator .... no threat though.
For the night we picked another casino, this time the Ameristar one in Vicksburg, again about a 200 mile day and quite comfortable. This is a nice park with many pull thrus and about $30 a night. It's right on I-20 so the transition the next day was easy. Fuel for the last two days was about $2.49 a gallon and we've still averaged about 9mpg.
On the 13th then across the Mighty Mississippi where the water was at a pretty normal looking level and on through to Texas. Roads were very good and the weather perfect. We hadn't had a drop of rain since leaving Ontario and the temps were now rising to the 80's.
And finally, because we are having some engine problems and have been towed before, this was interesting. We have never seen a whole semi complete with trailer being towed down the road ... big tow truck!
We did spend the night in the Rusk KOA where we have been before. I is a really nice park in East Texas and home to a small gauge train that offers dinner trips. If you motor down from Shreveport and are headed to southern Texas this is not a bad place to rest for the night. Site #25 is 100 feet long and offers some spectacular sunsets from your porch.
We are now in Bryan Texas to visit with Bruce's Mom and Rich and Kerry and will be here till the 18th when we get finally up the Dallas area to see Leigh, Brooks, and grandson Ev.
