VACATION CONTINUES TO MEMPHIS

On our way back home.







Train ride.






Rolling hills of somewhere out west.






Wheat fields of somewhere out west.






Daniel and David wollering on the sofa.






Mountain just outside of a town that started with a U., somewhere out west.






Interesting mountain formation, somewhere out west.





Pasture land somewhere out west.









Don't fence me in.






On the back of the train with Luke and Charlotte.











We left Colorado Springs on Thursday around mid morning. The weather was very nice when we left and we were ready to begin our trip south. As the day wore on the temps got higher and higher and the scenery became more monotonous. There were time that day I was sure my head was going to nod right through the side window. I had determined that I would not go to sleep while we were riding, because John was doing the driving and he always likes to tell everyone that I sleep while he drives. I would be fine with driving awhile, but I think he is terrified of me getting behind the wheel. Several years ago I was driving and he had just dosed off when I accidentally ran up on a curb. Since then no matter how many times I offer he will say " Oh no I fine right now". Well alright, how long are you going to hold that against my driving skills?









We drove that day until about 9:00PM. We took a state route just to the south of Topeka Kansas and drove to a little town just north of Burlington. ( I hope I got the names right). We found a little motel called the Wyatt Earp Motel and stayed there for the night. The next morning we headed east to Nevada Mo.. We stopped at Buzz's BBQ and had lunch. We stopped at a couple of yard sales then drove around Cottey College where the girls went to school. We headed south to Joplin. We bypassed most of Joplin, so we really didn't see any of the storm damage. At one point during the day I looked at the thermometer and it was 110 degrees. I licked my lip to catch the sweat that was running down my face and I swear I tasted like pure salt. At that point I understood how Lots wife could have turned into a pillar of salt.







By this time we were heading toward Little Rock and I had talked to Monica and told her that we wouldn't be in until Sunday. The traffic was not as bad as usual and we were making better time than we had anticipated. When we got almost to West Memphis AR., I said to John, "What do you think about riding on down to Tunica and having the last big fling of our vacation." To my surprise he said that he was thinking the same thing. I almost passed out. When we got across the Mississippi River we headed south again and drove down to Tunica. We were able to get a room ( another surprise on a Saturday night). We played the slots until 2:00 AM then headed back to the room. House keeping had turned the air down to 50 degrees and when we finally turned in for the night it was so cold we could hardly stand to undress for bed. I told John, if we didn't get pneumonia from the extreme temperature change (110-50) it would be a miracle. Another thing I was concerned about was whether the kids would have us both committed to rehab for excessive trips to the casinos. Three time in three weeks was more then we usually go in a year. Oh by the way we still didn't win anything.






As you can see by the time we got home all the scenery had started to look the same and I couldn't even begin to tell you where the pictures were taken. I do remember the kids names and faces and that was what the trip was all about. I realize I did make one big boo-boo when we got to Memphis. I totally forgot to take pictures of Andrew, Matthew and Aaron. Sorry guys.