Atlanta, Here We Come

Leaving Nashville, we set the old GPS on Woodstock, Georgia, home of Larry's sister, Mary, her husband, George and their daughter, lovely Jennifer.  Not much excitement on the way, but fun to see more of Tennessee, which has such beautiful mountains and trees and again a first for me, driving thru Kentucky, another beautiful state and hopefully sometime I will see more of it, especially Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby. 

We have many places to visit in and near Atlanta so will be busy here for a few days.  Looking forward to the Coca Cola tour, Centennial Olympic Park, CNN, Margaret Mitchell home, etc. etc.  We are so fortunate to be with George, Mary and Jennifer as they are the host and hostess' with the mostest!!!

More about all of this at a later time.  The CTS is a great ride and we are enjoying it thoroughly.  Happy Trails to Us.

Addendum to Nashville

Hope I won't have as many mistakes in this message as I did the last two!!!  Just wanted to mention that on the morning we left Nashville we decided to drive down town and see the original Grand Old Oprey, which is the Ryman building.  Also, the street where so many entertainers had played and maybe became famous, is there also.  So off we go with the GPS giving us the directions.  Well, believe it or not, but the Titans, the football team of Nashville was having a home game and the streets were a mess.  Their stadium is very close to the down town area and all of the parking garages were closed and the parking meters were covered so you could not use them.  Many of the corner lots were set up for parking but it cost a whopping $20 and the Titan fans were happy to pay.  All we wanted was about 60 minutes at the most, so after driving around the block a few times we decided that Ron and Bernice would hop out of the car and take some pictures and I would drive around the block until they were finished.  So, amongst the Titan fans and a few Raider fans, Ron and Bernice jumped out of the car and took off for a picture taking adventure.  I drove around and around, wishing a parking place would come available, but no such luck.  After a few spins Ron and Bernice got back in the car and we left town, heading to Atlanta.  Probably not the best way to see Nashville, but at least it wasn't a total loss.

Sorry For the rMessed Up Message

Pictures of Larry's brother, Ron and his wife, Bernice and also me, with a rental car.  Larry thought we would not be comfortable in the Blazer and said we should get a more comfortable vehicle.  Pretty snazzy, don't you think?  First day we drove to Bloomington, IL, just because that was as far as we wanted to go and then the next day into to Memphis,  TN.  Thought we would get a picture of the Grand Old Opry even though it is not open yet since the flood in May,  but no such luck.  You cannot get close to it until they are ready to reopen.  How lucky can one be?  Did drive to downtown Nashville and saw the Titan's stadium and some of city center but that was about it.  Saw the area where the big flood happened but you cannot get close to the buildings.  But it was fun driving thru Wisconsin, a first for me, into Illinois, then Kentucky and then Tennessee another first for me.  Got pretty tired of corn and soy bean fields but the scenery in Tennessee is much nicer, many trees and some hills.

Tomorrow we will drive to Woodstock, Georgia, to visit Larry's sister, Mary, her husband George and daughter, Jennifer.  Will be fun to see them and spend time in their home.

For a chuckle, think of three over 70 year olds in a bright red Cadillac CTS, cruising down the freeway listening to 50's music on the satellite radio!  Should keep you entertained for a while.

HERE WE GO

Leaving Minnea

Ravine Lake, a Little History Lesson

Evelyn and I drove to Ravine Lake to see what had been the old bathhouse.  It is now a restaurant and ice cream store.  As you can see, Evelyn enjoyed a big dish of butter brickle ice cream.  There are old pictures displayed at the bathhouse and she is holding a picture of her sons, Ron and Larry, taken at the lake in 1948  That was a fun day for Evelyn.

I spent 2-1/2 days with Evelyn and we had a great time, talking about her past and her family.  She forgets things but then all of the sudden it will come back.  She also invited me to eat with her at her table in the nursing home.  It was important for her to have me see her routine and meet the other ladies at the table.  Can't say much for the food but it was enjoyable to see her daily life in the dining room. Regretfully, I had to say goodbye to my dear mother-in-law and head further east.  She is a wonderful lady and I feel so privileged to be part of her life.

Not much interesting from Huron to Minneapolis.  Lots of corn fields but I have always enjoyed seeing all of the silos on the farms, different sizes; some fat, some skinny, some short, some tall.  But, let me tell you, corn field after corn field can become pretty boring.  But now I am at Ron (Larry's brother) and Bernice's home in Minneapolis and we are preparing to leave on Friday and head to Larry's sister, Mary's, home near Atlanta.

Have only been in the Atlanta airport so looking forward to seeing the city.  Coca Cola here we come!!

Happy Trails to us!!

Lovely Evelyn

Evelyn Friese who was 95 years young in January.  She lives in a nursing home in Huron, SD and loves to go for rides around town and see how the town has changed over the years.

Very Unusual Place

If you have never been to Mt Rushmore you should make a point of visiting there.  Unless you are there in person you cannot experience the feeling of patriotism you feel when seeing those four faces chiseled in the rock.  I was there 36 years ago and this time was just as awe inspiring.  All of the flags of each state are flying as you walk toward the mountain and it gave me the chills.  So beautiful.

Leaving Mt. Rushmore I continued my drive toward Huron, SD, Larry's hometown.  On the way you have to stop at Wall Drug.  Where the hell is Wall Drug?  Out in the middle of no where is a huge western looking store that sells everything-- food, drinks, donuts, clothing, postcards, key chains, coffee mugs, guns, trinkets, jewelry and would you believe, even drugs!!!  Well worth the stop just for a milkshake made with homemade ice cream.