Road Trip to Richmond

I'm behind posting on my road trip. I didn't get away from Memphis until Thursday afternoon. Before leaving I learned my mother-in-law — who is 90 and in poor health — took a turn for the worse. I headed pretty much straight home rather than wandering back roads.

The motel Thursday night didn't have an internet connection and I got home so late on Friday I didn't post last night.

Friday, May 8

Day 2 — Crossville to Richmond

Crossing the Cumberland Plateau in Eastern Tennesse

This was my view for the first 200 miles. At times the rain was so heavy and fog so thick that driving faster than 25 miles per hour wasn't wise.

I-81 Southwest Virginia

At one stop I came across this "Waterless" urinal in the men's room. In my travels across the globe, I've used a number of "waterless" facilities. They are generally a hole in the floor or a pit in the ground. I find it fascinating that here in the U.S. we take a hole or a pit, find a way to mount it on the wall and charge a lot of money for it. What a country!

Troutville, Va.

The coffee roaster at Mill Mountain Coffee outside Troutville, Va. The aroma is wonderful ... and the coffee good.

I also like the way Mill Mountain sells its various coffees, scooping them from a bin into a bag.

I-81 in Southwest Virginia

As much of an aversion as I have to interstate highways, the route along I-40, I-81 and I-64 from the Tennessee River to Charlottesville, Va., can be spectacular. This was shot from the pumps at a gasoline stop. There are more spectacular views than this, but I didn't stop for them on this trip.

I-81/64 near Greenville, Va.

Tony and Linda are fellow crosscountry road trippers. We met at a gasoline stop. They left Southwest Michigan on Tuesday, dropped south through Indiana to the Ohio River, followed it on riverside roads nearly to Pittsburgh, Pa., then crossed West Virginia into Virginia. I suggested the Blue Ridge Parkway from here. The last I saw of them, they were headed north on it, uncertain where they would go next. 

Somewhere along I-81/64 in Virginia

Most of my trip through Virginia was like this, a pleasant change from rain earlier in the day.

Short Pump, Va.

Home at last. With Dianne for a late supper at Short Pump Mall ... 

... where we meet, left to right, Shawn, Alison and Jenine, pictured, and Sam and Feris, out of the frame,  for the evening meal.

Shawn, 15, will graduate early from high school in a few weeks.

Road Trip to Richmond

Thursday, May 7

Day 1 — Memphis to Crossville

Memphis, Tenn.

I love the old Osage Orange tree in my daughter and son-in-law's side yard. I posted an image of its trunk earlier in the week. Here is the entire tree. It is the largest of the species I have ever seen.

Before leaving town I visit my parent's grave. We lived in Memphis for eight years 20 years ago. Since we had their only grandchildren, my parents followed us here. They were great years, both for them and us. It's time I'm glad our daughters had with them.

This Canada Goose seems to stand guard near my parent's grave. My father would be pleased. He looked forward the return each winter of Canadas that settled into rafts of thousands on the Chesapeake Bay near our waterside home outside of Annapolis, Md. 

He or she is a beautiful creature. They mate for life. If you ever see a lone Canada, you know something has happened to its mate. I once saw one follow his dying mate as she faltered all the way to the ground, only heading off alone once he realized she would not be returning to the air.

Somerville, Tenn.

Four-car accident along U.S. 62 near Somerville, Tenn. The pickup seems to have gotten the worst of it. The other three cars apparently careened off of it and had relatively minor damage.

Near Gordonsville, Tenn.

There was a lot of rain in West Tennessee this past week and many streams were over their banks. Here Cedar Creek creeps into a pasture.

Roby, Tenn.

This sign on Highway 100 outside Roby, Tenn., is somewhat perplexing. There is no office or store nearby — other than the old building in the background. Hopefully the travel agent isn't operating out of it and one must be a local to know where the office is.

Leipers Fork, Tenn.

The end of the day at Puckett's Grocery in Leipers Fork, Tenn. The old men gather to talk. I returned to the store for dinner and to exchange a t-shirt I bought here on the outbound trip that was too tight for one with a better fit.

Road trip to Richmond (well, almost)

Memphis breakdown

The day began with promise enough, stopping by my daughter Sherianne and son-in-law Casey's house to have breakfast with Sherianne before hitting the road. 

Two of my favorite dogs greeted me. Rufus, left, and Gertrude, right, were all over me. We often bring Sadie with us for Christmas. The three dogs play continuously the week we are there. It takes all three dogs several days to rest up after the visit. Sadie sleeps most of the 15-hour trip trip back to Richmond.

Gertie begs Sherianne to go with us as we head out the door for ...

... Barksdale's, site of one of the best breakfasts in America. William Least Heat Moon would call it a legendary three-calendar cafe. Yes, all that food in front of Sherianne is hers. In her defense, she didn't have dinner last night and left much of it behind.

My journey home lasted only 394 feet. I drove the Jeep from one daughter's house to the other's— same street, same side of the street, six houses apart — and when I tried to restart it, the key wouldn't turn in the ignition. It was a good thing the breakdown happened here. The route I had planned would have taken me through country on little traveled roads with minimal mobile phone service. I spent most of the day with Mike, center, originally from Rapid City, S.D. He moved to Memphis and started in the towing business as a young man, spent 15 years in it, followed by 15 years as a long haul trucker. He's now been back in towing for another 15 years. Five hours later — after visiting three shops before finding one that could could fix the Jeep — we finally said goodbye.

Memphis, Tenn.

Max's first ball game of the season

The first night. The first time they pull on their uniforms. The first time they play as a team. Lots of firsts. Max waits anxiously for his first at bat.

Running the bases in practice.

The real deal. Max batted twice — and his grandfather missed the shot both times — had a single and a double, drove in three runs and scored twice. Not a bad first evening's outing.

Heading for third after his second time at bat.

Max, right, with his buddy Leo. They won 22-10. (I think. At this level of play sometimes it's hard to keep count.) Looks they have a team this year. It should be fun!

Memphis, Tenn.

Max's school

We spend the afternoon at Max's school. It has open classrooms where students progress at their own pace. Relationships, working together and helping each other learn are values.

Max reads while classmates work on other projects.

I gave an image presentation and talk to the students on different cultures. Evidently I had their attention. 

photo by guest bogger Dianne Bangham

Students play the beanbag march while others kept time with rhythm sticks. Max, right, and his friend Five, left, play off each other.

Max, rear, gets his turn in the beanbag march.

Dianne and Max caught with snacks in the Jeep.

Max at the end of the day waiting for dinner.

Memphis, Tenn.

Max's eighth birthday was a two-day event — friends the first night for a sleepover  and family the second night.

Max counting down the hours until his friends arrive and the party begins.

Ben arrives and the party is underway.

Homemade pizza for dinner, a trip to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream followed by a Star Wars movie and bed is the agenda for the evening. Max, center, gets the first selection while Ben, right, peers over the counter, tries to select his two scoops and two toppings.

Five — on left, so nicknamed because he is the fifth generation in his family to carry the name Robert — James, center, and Max, right, work over their cones. Inexplicably, James doesn't have a drip of ice cream on him, while Five and Max are smeared with it.

Four boys for a sleepover is an interesting experience — down late, up early. Sunday morning breakfast was a parade of waffles. The boys wolfed them down as fast as they were cooked, until there were no more to be had.

Sunday evening family time and Max's cousin Lily, right, defeats her granmother Beverly, left, and mother Amy, center, in a game of Old Maid. 

At last the cake with candles and a Pokeman symbol decorating the top.

Max, foreground right, opens presents while closely observed by his cousin Forrest, foreground left.

Their have been complaints that no dogs have been posted to this blog for more than a week. For those who have missed them, here is one of Max's dog Chi Chi.

Memphis, Tenn.

A mother robin nests in the security of Brian and Shannon's porch this year. She and her mate are sitting on their second clutch of eggs.

It is a rainy Saturday morning in Memphis ...

... but the Memphis Farmers Market is under roof. Valerie June, right, and Nathan McDaniel, on mandolin, perform in the midst of the market.

Valerie June, a folksinger, is an emerging star in the very active and robust Memphis music scene. She was recently featured on MTV.

Fresh cut flowers are among the offerings for sale, as well as fresh beef, goat cheese and milk, bake goods, and coffee beans.

Al Langlois brings unique bird houses for sale. He has been building them since retiring as a university professor. We bought a dog-trot bird house for our deck in Richmond.

The staple of any farmers market is produce. It is still a little early in the year for much, but a number of farmers are beginning to bring it in.

While in college, Clay Combs worked with me two summers as an intern. He's now has his own IT business. He is also the songwriter and lead singer for the Memphis band Kitchens and Bathrooms.

Our daughter, Shannon, with our grandson Max at the market.

Memphis, Tenn.

Max in his room working on a rubik's cube. The solution is yet beyond us, but we will find a way.

Guinness — named for his black and tan coloring — is one of the Dixon dogs. He has been a part of the family for 15 years, long before Max was born. When I saw him at Christmas I wondered if it would be for the last time. But he's is doing better, a little stiff yet still active and curious about things around him. Here he is more interested in my leaving him to his nap than anything.

Carolyn and I met at "Bronte, a Novel Bistro," in the Davis-Kidd Bookstore. She is a photographer who uses medium format cameras and recently returned from India.

The osage orange growing in the side yard of Shannon and Brian's home is stunning. The trunk at chest height must be 10 feet in circumference. I would love to know how old it is.