Memphis II - Exodus
Trip Start
Jul 2008
1
6
13
Trip End
Ongoing
Memphis,
Tennessee,
United States
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
You know what the best thing about Memphis is?
Making it out alive! ha ha haa....
Really, folks. Heh.
Memphis was a doll. A well-loved, dragged along-the-ground-and-then-thenderly-chewed-on, crusty-about-the-edges kind of doll. Everyone we spoke with was sweet, well-intentioned, perhaps a little worn down, but with their heart in the right place.
A few of them told us what not to do if we wanted to survive memphis. Like not ride our bicycles to Beal street, lest they disappear from under our noses. Or, should we desire to make it out alive, to stay near people!
All that said, we were treated very well, ate a wonderful meal, and had a really decent night on the town. This morning brought us back across the muddy mississippi, mother to all things in this part of the country. (on a side note, when asked what the relationship was like between the citizens of Memphis and the great river, one of said citizens responded, "We don't do much with it. We're the only major city on the river that hasn't really taken advantage of it." All the tourists visit Mud Island, though...)
Support (Nuclear) Reprocessing.
Support non-destructive(non-ethanol) alt-fuel
So we crossed the mighty Mississippi, like the Shenandoah before, and the Arkansas after, and drove onwards, through hills, and heat, and dry, flat, cow country. Today's wildlife was mostly defunct. Moths passed on. Deer ceased to be. Possums expired. A rat bereft of life. Flies and things pushin' up the daisies. A gopher what's shuffled of this mortal coil, run down the curtain, and joined the bleedin' choir invisible. And two ex-armadillos.
Support Caitlin's Twizzler Habit.
Support Oklahoma. Build a water park.
Caitlin, adorable as she is, found us a spot of internet access, while I rustled us up some free cookies, and we established temporary residence for the evening, at a motel in Witchita, KS. Seems they took out everything between the K and the S. Says our hotel receptionist, "Even the locals think it's boring here." The room did come with free bowling, though...
Support the Jesus.
Sleep tight,
Chris
Comments
hi friends
there is a difference between 'making out alive' and 'making it out alive' ..!
that said, i talked to tiffani on the phone today and she lives in san francisco and if you wind up there or want to go there within two weeks or so then give her or me a call
awesome possum! keep on travellin'
hugs, katie
Left Behind
Hey Chris--though you've probably figured it out by now--but you left yur mom's big brimmed hat back here. Given its wide brim I gave it one tremendous fling westward, like a frizbee, so keep you peepers peeled, or at some unxpected moment it may just drop on yur noggin. Happy Trails
Historic Birthplace???
It's quite a kick to watch your map and see the latest dot pulsing away, indicating your progress. I vaguely remember that Chris' most senior Bellingham uncle was born in Witchita, but which Witchita? I think there is one in Texas and one in Kansas. It was during WWII and Chris' Grandfather was training there (in Witchita)to join the army, his bride expecting their first born. Long story short: the bride and newborn stayed with relatives in Bellingham during the war. Chris' Grandfather eventually returned home from the war and Chris' various uncles, aunt, and mother were born.
Call me
Hey Chris!
I hope that as you make your way north to Bham you're going to stop in Eugene. I'll actually be kind of hurt if you don't. We'll feed you, house you, let you play with Mom's dogs. Love you.
Your cousin,
Kelsie
Re: Call me
Dear My Cousin Kelsey,
Unfortunately, it is not in the cards for us to visit you on this leg of our journey. Some good friends are getting married, and our route will, for expediency's sake, take us through northern Idaho into Washington.
We'd be glad to stop by in September, on our way to California, though.
Will you still be around?
Love,
Chris