...Arkansas, I Do Love My Ma and Pa

As promised we are sharing today's excursion.  By the time we were leaving (7:45 a.m.), Daisy had adapted to the idea of getting on and off the elevator without coaxing and dragging...and finally carrying.  We were torn between staying in an hotel or heading straight to our first destination...which would have included camping.  We decided we were not up for all the work of setting up camp for just one night. So hotel it was.

Our first destination--Loretta Lynn's Ranch!!!!!  Why?  Part of our path is to check out as many "documented" haunted locations as we travel as possible.  As an extra, as big music fans, we also want to include significant music history locations.  We were looking forward to staying at the ranch...so a special trip will be in order.

We were looking forward to staying at the ranch...so a special trip will be in order to join in the future events there.  They even are having their first yoga weekend.  Even better lots of music contacts with karaoke and open mic opportunities for our singing girl.

 

The river next to the mill at Loretta Lynn's.  We are collecting rocks from all of our stops and this water was full of treasures.

The Mill.

Her Haunted Home from the mill side. Our guide hasn't been there long and didn't believe any of the stories but it didn't take him long to have his own experience. He has become a quick friend to Loretta and is looking forward to her coming home from recovering from a recent stroke.  This weekend she had to cancel her upcoming concert at the ranch and I hear she looks forward to her summer concert.

We toured the house and were very excited to sit on her front porch and play with many of her ten cats.  It was very special to be in her home and see the inner workings of her life. From her Crisco kitchen and collectibles to her family photographs.  She seems to be a very sincere woman with nothing but love to share.

Replica of her childhood home.

I think we should all have our name on our water bottles.

I know some of you have been looking for our youngest daughter...here is a peek.

As we headed towards our next destination this fun tune came on the radio.  "I left my home in Norfolk Virginia California on my mind..." This song follows our path quite closely.

Speaking of Elvis.

Our trips to West Tennessee never seem long enough...so when we come back to stay at Loretta's Ranch we will certainly be making some day trips.  Some unusual stops to add to our list will be The Tina Turner Museum and Casey Jones Home. Who knew such places existed?  The Tina Turner one is actually in the two room school house that she attended.  Why is Casey Jones a music stop?  Well not only did the Grateful Dead title a song after him...the music world along with many other pop culture mediums have embraced his story.  Including one of our favorite bands AC/DC "What's Next to the Moon".

Obviously on our return we will spend some time at Graceland and The Johnny Cash Museum.  If you know of some other unusual locations please send them our way.

There is this unusual and new towering Bass Pro Shop Pyramid that encloses not only an outdoor shopping experience but also a lodge.  For sure strange.

...and then there was Arkansas.  We were serenaded from the back seat with one of our family's favorite songs...which happens to include Arkansas. 

What does Arkansas bring?  Fear that a storm is not just a storm.  It was over quickly but left a 25 degree temperature drop.

If you recall yesterday we celebrated clear travels...thankful for Arkansas traffic jam that lasted less than two minutes.

With 1,080 miles between us and home we look forward to what tomorrow brings.  I would give you a clue but we haven't mapped it out yet.  See you on the other side of Arkansas.