Our last motel was a Comfort Inn - exercise room, pool and HOT breakfast- hey for a few bucks more, why not. Well we didn’t use the exercise room, though very nicely equipped, we just didn’t use it. The pool, was under repair and in fairness the registration clerk did mention that fact while we were signing in. The HOT breakfast was nice, scrambled eggs, sausage, 3 choices of juice, bagels, bran muffins, toast, 4 choices of cold cereal, oatmeal and waffles. We gassed up and proceeded to Atlanta.
On I 85 a tanker truck accident had closed the road for 2 hours but by the time we arrived it was only a 24 minute delay. I tried to take pictures as we rolled by but they did not come out too well. We pulled off at a pizza place that hit the spot and arrived in Atlanta a little after 2 PM, I think.
Bernie was in the middle of preparing a crab dip for us. Very nice. We settled in to our rooms (no purple this time) and the children, Jason and Jessica, arrived later on. Jessica seems to really like her job with babies. Can you believe they do IEP’s for 6 month olds and do report cards with parent teacher conferences. Different from when I was pre-school. Jason is about keeping the computer network running at Emory, Will, my nephew, does the same thing for Villanova. We went to a local spot called O’Charlies for dinner, which we all enjoyed even if some of us did not put dressing on the salad.
A good nights sleep and on the road to Manassas. The GPS, around Danville, suddenly added 2 hours to the arrival time. It was as if the “Great Leader in the Sky” had called all GPS’s to summon every one to Harpers Ferry (any reports of missing people?). Den check the route we had been assigned and realized it was not quite right. We started from scratch (GSP) with the destination of ‘Babs’ and the time adjusted back to 6PM or so. We arrived safe and sound. Had dinner of tuna casserole, talked a bit, said our good byes and turned in. Before I could catch Den, he was gone. I realized I had left my sunglasses in the car so in the morning I drove over to retrieve them. In trying to call Den I called my sister, which was nice to talk to her, but did get Den eventually. Goodbyes again and home I went.
All for this road trip, next year is “Ring of Fire” the casinos surrounding Vegas.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Biloxi to Montgomery
Biloxi is a nice place to sleep after a nights work. I guess the gulf air and quiet contribute to the sense of well being. I slept well. While getting ready for bed the night before I found a $5 chip in my pocket. In the morning Den insisted we return to Ilse to cash it in. Since we were at that end of the casino row and I had $5 extra, we went to the Grand Casino where I was fortunate enough to earn lunch.
On our last visit to Biloxi we had made a deposit at the Boomtown casino. It was time to make a withdrawal. Boomtown is on the island but the mainland side, in the shadow of a rather large Casino hotel called IP. We passed through the shadow and into the Boomtown parking lot. There were only 2 $5 dollar Blackjack tables and neither one really called out to me. I strolled around as Den went to work. I resigned for the Boomtown card and then heard the siren call of the Roulette table. I have been know to play and the time seemed right. I was the only player and was therefore able to ask 'silly' questions about the game and betting options. I bet my numbers 1, 4, 10 & 24. To complete the bet on the 'inside' I needed another number but decided to play the 12 bottom numbers instead. This is a significantly lower pay out but covers a lot more numbers. It proved successful as I did hit my basic numbers and the 12 high one enough to 'color up' at $3.50 more than I sat down with.
I had won lunch earlier so we went to the buffet which, on Wednesdays, is half price to seniors. I was able to get off cheap. Neither one of us filled up but did have wonderful ice cream for desert. Den had plain, I added chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
Returned to I10 heading for Alabama. Some of the roadway to Mobile is built over water. From the angle we approached the bridge over the Mobile river it looks like an M. I tried to catch the shot on the camera, we'll see. On hard ground I10 is like many I routes. Strip malls, motels, car dealers etc.. I was reminded of US90 the night before where all that was left of a small strip mall was the two pillar steel poles with signs announcing the business that had been there prior to Katrina.
I10 continues east, I65 heads north to Montgomery. We heard reports of 'Smokey' activity at mile tick 33 but when we arrived it was clear. Hang on there champ, in the high thirties, low forties there were many marked, unmarked light tan SVUs pulling over lots of four wheelers. Maybe I65 is an Alabama profit center?
Unknown to us Alabama does have casinos. We passed one on the way north. The motel clerk told us that there is another on the north side of Montgomery on I85, our route to Atlanta. We'll see.
On our last visit to Biloxi we had made a deposit at the Boomtown casino. It was time to make a withdrawal. Boomtown is on the island but the mainland side, in the shadow of a rather large Casino hotel called IP. We passed through the shadow and into the Boomtown parking lot. There were only 2 $5 dollar Blackjack tables and neither one really called out to me. I strolled around as Den went to work. I resigned for the Boomtown card and then heard the siren call of the Roulette table. I have been know to play and the time seemed right. I was the only player and was therefore able to ask 'silly' questions about the game and betting options. I bet my numbers 1, 4, 10 & 24. To complete the bet on the 'inside' I needed another number but decided to play the 12 bottom numbers instead. This is a significantly lower pay out but covers a lot more numbers. It proved successful as I did hit my basic numbers and the 12 high one enough to 'color up' at $3.50 more than I sat down with.
I had won lunch earlier so we went to the buffet which, on Wednesdays, is half price to seniors. I was able to get off cheap. Neither one of us filled up but did have wonderful ice cream for desert. Den had plain, I added chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
Returned to I10 heading for Alabama. Some of the roadway to Mobile is built over water. From the angle we approached the bridge over the Mobile river it looks like an M. I tried to catch the shot on the camera, we'll see. On hard ground I10 is like many I routes. Strip malls, motels, car dealers etc.. I was reminded of US90 the night before where all that was left of a small strip mall was the two pillar steel poles with signs announcing the business that had been there prior to Katrina.
I10 continues east, I65 heads north to Montgomery. We heard reports of 'Smokey' activity at mile tick 33 but when we arrived it was clear. Hang on there champ, in the high thirties, low forties there were many marked, unmarked light tan SVUs pulling over lots of four wheelers. Maybe I65 is an Alabama profit center?
Unknown to us Alabama does have casinos. We passed one on the way north. The motel clerk told us that there is another on the north side of Montgomery on I85, our route to Atlanta. We'll see.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Baton Rouge to Big Easy to Biloxi
Woke, Monday March 22, up at the Hollywood, while not the bait and switch bargain offered across the street, it was a nice room and they had a hot tub and pool. I swam in the morning while Den reviewed items on the computer. We packed,left under an overcast and foggy sky that turned to cloudy, partly cloudy, partly sunny, sunny, clear, sunny, mostly sunny to partly sunny and headed for the Great River Road (aka US61). We could not locate the Delta Blues Museum on the GPS but when we arrived in Clarksdale there were plenty of signs.
We took pictures outside. I was allowed to enter at the senior rate but Den paid full price, well worth the entry fee. The museum seems to have been updated since visiting it last year. The Muddy Waters film is far more professional this year. There is also an entire section devoted to Charlie Musselwhite, blues harmonica player. They also seem to have replaced some of the original guitars. Last year there were more Kenmore guitars. Some of the added guitars were made of metal or gas cans. We both picked up hand bills about a festival in April that we used to send postal cards home and had them hand canceled at the Clarksdale MS post office.
The Great River Road in upper Mississippi is straight as an arrow and flat. The Delta is FLAT! There is a sign in the museum explaining how the Great River has always done what it wants but only in the past hundred years or so have humans tried to tame her. We stopped in Cleveland MS at the Southern Grill, a local hangout. Nothing but pickups and our four wheeler in the parking lot. They feature a small buffet lunch but we have had enough of buffets for awhile. We had Chili, too bad it was from a can. Back to the Great River Road.
US61/US278 is mostly four lanes, divided and limited access in most of Northern Mississippi but through Port Gibson it is single lane through a developed section of town. There are signs on every house's lawn, “Save Church Street” (aka Great River Road aka US61/US278). Every denomination, it appears, has a building along the road. Many look like architectural treasures and I assume the project to widen this main thoroughfare would destroy some of them. If I may, let me put in a plug for Port Gibson and hope they are successful in detouring the road around Church Street. Just think is we asked our Representative to divert just 30 cents of our tax dollars for every person in the country Port Gibson would have the money to build a bypass and the historic Church Street will be saved. We continued toward the Louisiana border and Baton Rouge.
Too bad, we arrived after the Welcome Center closed and had to select a motel without benefit of coupon book. The master negotiator selected a Super 8, go figure, and received a more than fair price, We ventured out to find vittles stopping first at Cash's diner Casino but then moved on. Several closed restaurants later we returned to Cash's for a fine meal and six pack for the motel. I puffed on a cigar in the courtyard of the Super 8 prior to turning in for the night.
Tuesday morning we set out to tour the city. The Docent does not arrive at the Old Governor's Mansion until 10:00 AM but a nice lady pointed us in the direction of the State Capitol complex. We did the walking tour, Huey's grave, Pentagon Barracks, site of first US Air Mail delivery, and more. We then decided to go to work.
What a bust at the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge after a great tour. So dusting off our shoes we set out for the Big Easy. The posted picture is of me with a local street performer. The hat is a 'PIMP' hat and Den walked the distance of Bourbon Street, with me in the hat, back to the car near Harrah's. Oh, I forgot, Den cleaned up at Harrah's which, was good because it meant he bought lunch. We then walked to the ferry dock, took the Thomas Jefferson to Algeria and back. A four minute ride each way (not including docking, un docking). We walked to St Louis IX cathedral. There is a statue of Andrew Jackson out front with the inscription “The Union Must and Shall Be Preserved.” Back to I10.
Instead of I10 we choose US90 as our route to Biloxi. The Super 8 accepted our cheap coupon and also gave us a comp 2 for 1 at the Isle of Capri Casino. Even though that casino is 5 miles away, you can't just turn down a comp. I did well at the Black Jack table and Den was trying a system modification (chalked his poor performance to 'training'). We returned to the motel driving along US90 which follows the Gulf coast. A beautiful ride in darkness or daylight. The daylight ride did reveal some buildings that were still severely damaged by Katrina but for the most part the areas we saw are coming back strong.
We took pictures outside. I was allowed to enter at the senior rate but Den paid full price, well worth the entry fee. The museum seems to have been updated since visiting it last year. The Muddy Waters film is far more professional this year. There is also an entire section devoted to Charlie Musselwhite, blues harmonica player. They also seem to have replaced some of the original guitars. Last year there were more Kenmore guitars. Some of the added guitars were made of metal or gas cans. We both picked up hand bills about a festival in April that we used to send postal cards home and had them hand canceled at the Clarksdale MS post office.
The Great River Road in upper Mississippi is straight as an arrow and flat. The Delta is FLAT! There is a sign in the museum explaining how the Great River has always done what it wants but only in the past hundred years or so have humans tried to tame her. We stopped in Cleveland MS at the Southern Grill, a local hangout. Nothing but pickups and our four wheeler in the parking lot. They feature a small buffet lunch but we have had enough of buffets for awhile. We had Chili, too bad it was from a can. Back to the Great River Road.
US61/US278 is mostly four lanes, divided and limited access in most of Northern Mississippi but through Port Gibson it is single lane through a developed section of town. There are signs on every house's lawn, “Save Church Street” (aka Great River Road aka US61/US278). Every denomination, it appears, has a building along the road. Many look like architectural treasures and I assume the project to widen this main thoroughfare would destroy some of them. If I may, let me put in a plug for Port Gibson and hope they are successful in detouring the road around Church Street. Just think is we asked our Representative to divert just 30 cents of our tax dollars for every person in the country Port Gibson would have the money to build a bypass and the historic Church Street will be saved. We continued toward the Louisiana border and Baton Rouge.
Too bad, we arrived after the Welcome Center closed and had to select a motel without benefit of coupon book. The master negotiator selected a Super 8, go figure, and received a more than fair price, We ventured out to find vittles stopping first at Cash's diner Casino but then moved on. Several closed restaurants later we returned to Cash's for a fine meal and six pack for the motel. I puffed on a cigar in the courtyard of the Super 8 prior to turning in for the night.
Tuesday morning we set out to tour the city. The Docent does not arrive at the Old Governor's Mansion until 10:00 AM but a nice lady pointed us in the direction of the State Capitol complex. We did the walking tour, Huey's grave, Pentagon Barracks, site of first US Air Mail delivery, and more. We then decided to go to work.
What a bust at the Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge after a great tour. So dusting off our shoes we set out for the Big Easy. The posted picture is of me with a local street performer. The hat is a 'PIMP' hat and Den walked the distance of Bourbon Street, with me in the hat, back to the car near Harrah's. Oh, I forgot, Den cleaned up at Harrah's which, was good because it meant he bought lunch. We then walked to the ferry dock, took the Thomas Jefferson to Algeria and back. A four minute ride each way (not including docking, un docking). We walked to St Louis IX cathedral. There is a statue of Andrew Jackson out front with the inscription “The Union Must and Shall Be Preserved.” Back to I10.
Instead of I10 we choose US90 as our route to Biloxi. The Super 8 accepted our cheap coupon and also gave us a comp 2 for 1 at the Isle of Capri Casino. Even though that casino is 5 miles away, you can't just turn down a comp. I did well at the Black Jack table and Den was trying a system modification (chalked his poor performance to 'training'). We returned to the motel driving along US90 which follows the Gulf coast. A beautiful ride in darkness or daylight. The daylight ride did reveal some buildings that were still severely damaged by Katrina but for the most part the areas we saw are coming back strong.
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