Heading West, 09/19/20

 Linda and I spent the last 3 days working as SP's (Standardized Patients) for Auburn University.  Linda for the Auburn School of Nursing and I worked with VCOM (Medical School).  We finished up Friday afternoon, packed for our trip Friday night, and left Wetumpka around 8:00 am on our drive to Wyoming.  

We traveled through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and stopped for the night in Russellville, Arkansas.  On the way we made a brief stop at the welcome center on Interstate 22 entering Mississippi.  We enjoyed reading about Tammy Wynette. I know you remember Tammy.  She was famous for her song "Stand by your Man". She stood by 5 husbands.

We continued our trip and stopped for a picnic lunch at the Wall Doxey State Park, outside of Holly Springs, MS.  This park is one of the original state parks built by the CCC in the 1930's.  Many of the original buildings still stand.  It was named in honor of Wall Doxey of Holly Springs.  Mr. Doxey served in both the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Senate. His terms of service spanned 1929 to 1947.

After lunch we continued our trip, arriving in Russellville, AR  around 5:15.  The valley where Russellville is located was originally inhabited by the Cherokee Indians.  After they were "relocated" to Oklahoma in 1828  the area became available for white settlement. The city was established in 1870 and is celebrating its 150 year anniversary in 2020. It is the home of Arkansas's only nuclear power plant.

 We had a very nice meal at Venzia's Italian Restaurant.  It is the #1 Italian restaurant in Russellville.  The residents say this is the best place for Italian cuisine outside of Italy.

1930 CCC Camp

Tomorrow we will continue our westward trek.  We will leave Arkansas, pass through Oklahoma and plan to stop in Hays, KS. Until then.....

a little taste of Italy

General Grant was here (Holly Springs)

They did not want to go to Okalahoma

Home of Tammy Wynette and Elvis

our ride to Yellostone

Resting at the rest stop