You Can Go Home Again!

 Day 65 - September 17, 2022

Avinger Station TX 

Having arrived to Avinger in Northeast Texas, we are greeted by David Simpson, owner of Avinger Station RV Park, who has reserved a special site for us near his office and across the highway from the main campus.  He demonstrates how the picnic table converts from a park bench.  We have never seen an amazing table such as this.

The picnic table also has a very comfortable seat, which is a 'plus' in a campground, and we look forward to having a meal outside in the beautiful scenery.

We take a late afternoon stroll to see the rest of the RV park and admire the site planning and landscaping.   David has also built some cabins to rent.  Each site has a fire pit and cover in case of rain.

Avinger was home to us for many years when we owned the blueberry farm, and this evening we are privileged to again dine at the Catfish & More restaurant, owned by Sterling and Cindy Corbett.  It's great to visit with guests who were once our neighbors.  Children play outside while their parents are waiting to be called in for their reservation.  The restaurant also takes walk-ins.

When the sun begins to get low in the sky, Herb and I return to Sweet Georgia Brown.  In the distance we see Stark Outdoor Advertising billboards, now belonging to a new owner, who has retained our name.  In the foreground of the second photo is a banner for the Avinger Wine Festival, typically held in September.  

This area tugs at our heartstrings as we think of heading south tomorrow toward Sweet Georgia Brown's home in Livingston.  

Thank you, David, for a pleasant stay.  Soon we will begin planning our 2023 Summer Get-Away!

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Saturday, September 17, 2022

Paula, Are You Listening?

 Day 64 - Friday, September 16, 2022

North Little Rock, AR to Avinger Station, TX

Herb and I are quite surprised to hear a bugle early this morning and later learn where the street we are on gets its name - Camp Robinson Road.  Camp Joseph T Robinson is home of the Arkansas National Guard and sits on 32,000 acres.  From the active camp down the road a ways, we hear Reveille early in the morning, and also the neighbors' dogs barking in response.

So it seems we should wake up and get on with our day.

From where Sweet Georgia Brown is parked, we have a good view of the goat pen. Three goats seem to be having a discussion, and the lone white beauty appears to be the 'King of the Hill,' even as he is guarded by the faithful 'guard dog.'

As mentioned in the previous post, St. Joseph's Home is now a member of Harvest Hosts, which requests that we patronize the host's store.  We are very happy to do that, and find several items that we could use -- plus a perfect gift for a special friend.  I can't believe when I see it -- a bar of goat soap!  I literally begin to laugh when I see it.  I show it to Herb and tell him we definitely need to get it for our friend.  Giftee or recipient, you know who you are!  Friends lovingly call her 'the goat lady' because she believes in the value of goats, and there may be an inside joke along these lines.  But some people call her Paula.  Everyone loves her, and we can't wait to give her the bar of goat soap!!!

I was too excited to remember to take a piture of it, but I did photograph some of the other items for sale.  Pickles, Jelly n' jam, soup mix, and biscuit mix.  

Besides those displayed they also have meat, mushrooms, cheese (goat cheese?), eggs (from their chickens?), ice cream, milk, elderberry syrup and Mullen syrup.  There is a scale for weighing produce and a sign inviting us to pick our own flowers that are for sale in the yard using the basket provided.

We could spend much more time here, but the time has come to get on the road again for our next special destination.  We leave at 11:35a and take I-30 West out of North Little Rock, Arkansas.  As we near the city of Texarkana we recall that it sits in two states:  Arkansas and Texas.  State Line Avenue is the border separating Texarkana AR from Texarkana TX.  Confusing?  Not if you are from the area.

Texas invites us to drive friendly, but it looks like from the guardrail damage that someone didn't.

At 4:40p  we happily (and safely) arrive  to Avinger Station RV Park to a special site we have reserved.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Friday, September 16, 2022

Of Chickens and Goats

 Day 63 - Thursday, September 15, 2022

It is 58 degrees and clear in Jackson TN early in the morning, and I'm wondering what temperature we will see when we return to Texas in a very few days.  Since Sweet Georgia Brown is parked just behind the Cracker Barrel, we have only a few steps to walk into the restaurant for breakfast.  After a hearty meal, we get on the road heading west toward Memphis at 10:40a.

It's not long before it begins to get hot as we travel, and the air conditioner in the dash of the motor home cannot keep us cool.  So Herb turns on the generator to run the house ACs. Welcome to warmer weather!

As Jackson is in the western part of the state, we soon cross the Mississippi River and find ourselves in the great state of Arkansas. 

The Mississippi River Delta is excellent farming country, and we see evidence of some of their crops along the highway.  

Our destination is St. Joseph's Center in North Little Rock, which is a non-profit organization with a mission to preserve the historic 63 acre property through farming by volunteers. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, and has served as an orphanage, a school, nursing home, day care and a retreat run by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica.

It is also a Harvest Host site, which gives us parking at no charge, and asks that we patronize their store.  

Below is the original gate, now blocked off with signs directing traffic to the new entrance.  Near the building is a statue of St. Joseph with a child, and I would assume it was built during the time the facility functioned as an orphanage.

Elsewhere on the grounds is a statue of the Saint holding a basket of harvested vegetables, possibly dating to the beginning of their farming era.

Arriving late in the afternoon, we take a walk around some of the property and learn that their farming includes raising chickens, goats, flowers, vegetables and cattle.  They even have some bee hives, which reminds us of our days when we had bees to pollinate the blueberry blooms at our blueberry farm.  In the foreground of the first photo we see a 'guard' dog resting (but keeping watch) while the goats graze.

The world appreciates a little humor -- highly trained chickens?  The fine print says they are not responsible for injury or death.  I also see some ducks.

The horses must be used to pull the plows in tilling the soil, or they may be saddled and offered for rides.  There's quite a bit of hay for them in the beer shed.  Beer?

A shallow stream is quite convenient for watering thirsty animals.

And the other end of the stream becomes a lake, where we see the bee hives, or supers, as they are correctly called.

Another view of the chicken pen.  My camera just won't stop taking photos.

A sign proudly proclaims the Community Garden, the iniative of which is healthy eating and active living.  Beyond it are plants sitting by a sink for watering them before the planting.

This goat likes his high perch.

Another bit of chicken humor with the Lay-A-Way shed.  Signs:  

"Chickens are cheaper than therapy, and you get eggs."  

"The Chick - Inn.  Vacancy.  Daily Rate - 1 egg, Weekly - 5 eggs, Meals included."

"Fowl Moods will not be Tolerated."   

"Eat More Bacon."

"Hot Chicks Inside."

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

     and of Walldog and Willie

     Thursday, September 15, 2022

A 'Different' Kind of Restaurant in Tennessee

 Day 62 - Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Cracker Barrel Restaurant, Jackson TN

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the state of Tennessee is considered a to be a southern state, or said another way - it is in the South.  So I am not surprised to see a Moon Pie when we get to our destination this afternoon in Jackson, Tennessee.

Meanwhile, back to our leaving Heiskell:

While it is still hot down in the Houston area, this morning it is 59 degrees and cloudy when we leave Eastern Tennessee and head west toward Jackson.  It is so refreshing to travel up and down the hills in the Great Appalachian Valley.  The hills are so high and the valleys are so low that the road ahead just seems to disappear.

Our route turns a bit to the south and through Knoxville and Nashville.  Some of the hills take us down a 5% grade, but in the flat land cities we encounter the morning rush hour and traffic backing up.

One impressive site to me is the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant, also known as the Clinch River Power Plant.  The Clinch River is stocked with brown and rainbow trout, but we have no desire to stop and fish.  Maybe we will opt for a trout dinner tonight.

My map shows me that the Clinch River flows on to join the Tennessee River, and we cross the Kentucky Lake on the latter river.

Our reason for leaving so early in the morning was to arrive to the Cracker Barrel Restaurant shortly after noon because their complimentary parking lot is first come first served.  We arrive at 2 pm and are lucky enough to find a convenient spot with ample room for the Jeep to park in front of our motorhome, 'Sweet Georgia Brown.'

We plan to patronize the restaurant in return for our free parking, and head inside to make our reservation for dinner.  If you have never been to a Cracker Barrel restaurant, you need to take a look.  Their store is 'something else!'  So many things to buy - including trinkets, souvenirs, snacks, clothing, and many emotional purchases that you may later find you have no use for.

Finding the Moon Pie takes me back to my childhood, but I do find a suitable gift for Marty Waldie - an angel figurine.  

Later in the evening we are seated for dinner and find a Tricky Triangle Peg Game on the table to amuse ourselves as our meal is being prepared. 

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

     and of Walldog and Willie

     Wednesday, September 14, 2022

 

Snuffy Smith and his 'Band of Renown"

 Days 60 and 61 - Monday and Tuesday, September 12 and 13, 2022

Racoon Valley RV Park, Heiskell TN

This morning we remind ourselves of one reason we like to take a summer trip, which is to enjoy cooler temperatures.  But 55 degrees today, dropping to 51 about the time we head out for our morning walk?     Really?     Could this be a Halloween trick when it is still September?  The only places that are celebrating Halloween right now are Walmart and Kroger Grocery stores with their costumes to sell.

Okay, I did bring a warm jacket along.

We have come to our last couple of days in Raccoon Valley and realize there are only a couple of new areas to explore. We cross a cute little bridge to have a steaming cup of hot coffee under the pergola, where  Herb takes a couple of selfies.

I am impressed with the area of the bridge painted candy apple red in order to show where the level part turns to a slanted decline.  Great safety feature.

Afternoon finds us in the park's clubhouse, looking at all the pictures on the wall.  One remembers all the musicians who have stayed here, and we think of our Escapees friends, Tom and Jan, who both sing and play.  Turns out, they did stay here at one time.

A closer look shows Snuffy Smith's band, where the RV park staff has comically given the cartoon characters names of the staff.

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

     and of Walldog and Willie

     September 12 and 13, 2022