Griswold 2010 - Day 9

We began the day at the Vicksburg National Military Park in Vicksburg, MS. We learned a lot about the siege of Vicksburg, but what we enjoyed the most was the recovered U.S.S. Cairo ironclad, most of which is on display under a large tent in the park.

Much of what you see here is original, including the iron on the front and side of the ship. The ship was sunk during the Vicksburg siege with a makeshift mine in the water. It was recovered in modern times though when it was raised from the silt on the river floor. It was very impressive to see up close.

From the park, we headed into the town of Vicksburg, where we visited the Biedenharn Candy Co. This was the first place that Coca-Cola was ever bottled. Prior to this bottling, it had only been dispensed via soda fountains. Here we learned about both the bottling process and the soda fountain dispensing process.

From there, we walked downhill towards the river, where we checked out some impressive murals, which were painted over a few year span on a flood wall near the river itself. The murals were about the history of Vicksburg, from early times to more recent times.

Here you can see some of the murals beyond this park.

After Vicksburg, we headed south towards New Orleans. On the way, we crossed over the 24-mile bridge that spans Lake Pontchartrain. We never quite lost sight of land, either behind us or in front of us, but it was a long bridge.

Today...New Orleans and beyond.

Griswold 2010 - Day 8 - Arkansas

We began the day with a drive to Mount Ida, AR, which is a little ways outside of Hot Springs. It was a rainy morning, so we weren't sure that we were going to be able to do what we'd planned, but by the time we got to Mount Ida, it was only a drizzle. We went ahead and braved the drizzle for some horseback riding. (Of course we didn't take pictures during the ride to keep the camera dry!) We all mounted up and then our guides took us on a trail for about an hour round trip. It was a beautiful ride and we all had a good time. This was the first time horseback riding for Anne, Rebecca and Erik. (Erik rode "Henry", Rebecca rode "Joey", Anne rode "Flash" and Steve rode "Lefty".)

From Mount Ida, we headed to Hot Springs itself and toured the Fordyce Bath House, which is run by the National Park Service. It gave us a really good sense of how the old bathhouses of the time worked. Below, Anne and Rebecca relax in one of the "Cooling Off" rooms.

There were even some springs in town that were exposed, like this one.

We didn't put our hands very far into the water though, because it comes out of the ground at 143 degrees. Even though it was in the low 80's when we took this picture, the water was far too hot to stay in it for more than a moment.

We had a picnic lunch on a hill overlooking Hot Springs and then headed out of town towards Vicksburg, MS, where we're spending the night. On the way here, we drove through some of the northeast corner of Louisiana, so everyone now has 46 states. We'll hit Georgia in a few days, which will get everyone up to 47 states, which is where we'll be at the end of the trip. That will only leave California, Alaska and Hawaii.

Griswold 2010 - Day 7 - Memphis

We began the day at Graceland, where we toured the house and immediate grounds, ending with the memorial garden where Elvis is buried.

Then later in the day, it was on to Sun Records/Sun Studios to see where people like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis began their careers.

We finished the day in Arkansas, where we'll continue to do things for another day.

Griswold 2010 - Day 6 (July 5)

We began the day at the Shiloh Civil War battlefield in TN. Here, Erik and Anne model confederate and union outfits.

From Shiloh, we drove to Memphis, where we began our visit by going to the National Civil Rights Museum at the old Lorraine Hotel/Motel, which was the place where Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated.

The museum was very interesting and we learned a lot about the civil rights struggle over the years.

We also saw the room where King was staying when he was killed, which has been reset to the way it was at the time.

From the Lorraine, we drove a short distance to downtown Memphis, to the Peabody Hotel, which is famous for its resident ducks and their twice a day elevator journey through the lobby of the hotel. When we arrived, we found the ducks where they spend the day, in a fountain inside of the hotel.

Erik and Anne posed with the Duckmaster, who is charged with wrangling the ducks.

The Duckmaster told us more about the tradition and how it works.

Then it was time for the ducks to make their way out of the fountain...

...through the crowd...

...and onto the elevator.

After the walk was done, we went out to the roof to check out their evening lodging.

We found them inside of their well-appointed "Duck Palace", ready to relax for the evening. It was time for us to relax for the evening as well. We got some excellent barbacue at a place called Corky's and then we headed back to our room for the night with very full bellies.

Tomorrow morning, we'll begin with Graceland and then go on from there.

GRISWOLD Y'ALL - DAY 5 - SUNDAY, JULY 4

Happy 4th of July! We began the day at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. This place has a lot of space stuff, including rockets and movies about space, not to mention a few attractions.

Steve and Rebecca rode this ride, the "Space Shot", three times.

The ride jolted us upwards, went into a bit of a free fall and then bounced us around a bit before coming down. IT WAS GREAT!

Did I say that there were a lot of rockets there?

Rebecca and Erik climbed a rock wall.

Steve wasn't going to be outdone!

Anne and Erik checked out the inside of a space capsule.

When we left the space center, we did what all of the natives were doing. We crowded into a fireworks store and purchased some fireworks, which are perfectly legal in Alabama. (Though they are limited within the city limits of some towns.)

Then we went to the town of Florence, AL, which is near our hotel, to see the well known (in this area) 4th of July fireworks display.

From there, we drove to a large parking lot next to our hotel to fire off our own fireworks. Steve oversaw the process, working from his years of firing off contraband in various states. (Which will remain nameless!)

Here Steve supervises Erik's lighting of a bottle rocket.

We also took turns shooting off roman candles. Anne even joined in the fun.

We finally lit off our last bottle rocket and then we called it quits for the evening!

Tomorrow we're heading back into Tennessee. Goodnight!

Day 04 - Saturday, July 3

We began the day on a trip down memory lane, starting in Brentwood, TN, which is now loaded with extremely gaudy mansions. (To the point of looking ridiculous!) We did go by the old house though, which looked relatively unchanged, except perhaps for 30 years or so of tree growth.

Then we went by Steve's old high school, which has grown dramatically!

Then we went by our old church on Granny White Pike, which has changed names, but looks the same otherwise.

Then it was down to Centennial Park, to see the life-size Parthenon replica. We also toured the art museum inside of the Parthenon.

Then we headed over to Steve's old college, which was Belmont College, but is now Belmont University. It's grown a lot in the past 30 years, but Steve's old dorm is still there.

Then we headed into Nashville where amongst other things, we toured Ryman Auditorium.

Then at night, it was time for the Grand Ole Opry itself, where we saw people like Emmylou Harris...

...and the headliner, Wynonna Judd. Say what you want about Wynonna, including her often rather bizarre public personna, but the woman can sing and she did. Her vocal power was awesome and the incredible acoustics of the Ryman really let you hear her well. It was a great ending to a fun show!

Griswold 2010 - Day 3

We began day 3 by paying our respects to Col. Harlan Sanders at an elaborate cemetary in Louisville.

Then we were off to the Louisville Slugger plant, to see where baseball bats are made. To keep their production secrets secure, we weren't able to take pictures on the tour, but it was a great tour.

Afterwards, we took some whacks in the batting cages.

While in Louisville, we visited this house with a yard filled with junk, that somehow doesn't look too junky. The stuff this guy had collected was amazing. He came out after a while and chatted with us. He didn't let us leave empty-handed though. He gave each of us an unused, empty can of Billy Beer.

Then we were off to Hodgenville, KY for the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace. We weren't able to see the cabin that's supposed to be a representation of the place where he was born since the building that surrounds it is going through renovations, but we got to see the land and physical landmarks on the property.

From there, we went to the Knob Creek Farm where Abe spent his early years. Here we saw a representation of the cabin that his family lived in as well as the creek where it's reported that he nearly died as a child.

Before the end of the day, we tracked down another Stonehenge, this one in the small town of Munfordville.

Next up...day 4, which will end with a performance of the Grand Ole Opry at its temporary location of the old Ryman Hall. It will be there until the Opry House itself is cleaned up from the devastating floods that recently ravaged Nashville.