Tag: Delta

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Blogging Driving Geography Internet Music Travel

My American Splendor Cruise – Part 1

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. For 6 weeks – I wrote about “The Bluegrass State” (June 25TH), “The Hoosier State” (July 02ND), “The Buckeye State” (July 09TH), “The Mountain State” (July 16TH), “The Keystone State” (July 23RD), and “My Ohio River Cruise” (July 30TH) – that was unfortunately cancelled.

So I rebooked a replacement cruise, and for the next 10 weeks I wrote about “My Replacement Cruise” (August 06TH), “The Volunteer State” (August 13TH), “The Yellowhammer State” (August 20TH), “The Bluegrass State” (August 27TH), “The Scenic City” (September 03RD), “The River City & The Rocket City” (September 10TH), “The Renaissance City” (September 17TH), “Catfish Capital Of The World” (September 24TH), “Village Between The Lakes” (October 01ST), and finally “Music City U.S.A.” (October 08TH).

And of course last week I revealed that I had returned back home from Nashville and that replacement cruise. A few of you close to me knew that I was away, but most of you found out last #TravelThursday – after the fact. For those of you on Social Media (which is all of you, since you’re reading this blog) – you never ever want to announce to the whole world that you’re away on vacation. Wait until after you’ve returned, and then reveal it to the masses, and then of course tell us all about it, or as much as you wish to share. That’s what I plan to do starting with this edition and probably continuing every Thursday through the end of the year.

So let’s get started. My journey began at 6:50 AM on Tuesday September 29TH 2026 when I began my drive to my favorite airport – Sarasota-Bradenton (#SRQ). Of course my patience was tested early on in my journey leaving Avon Park on Florida State Road 64. I was trapped behind a slow truck carrying a giant boat on a trailer (from U.S. 27 to U.S. 17). How ironic since I’d be enjoying a cruise on a giant boat in a little over 24 hours. After the truck / boat combo pulled off – a school bus making multiple stops to pick-up Hardee County kids took its place – followed by a small fuel truck. Of course I was tailgated by multiple different vehicles while being trapped behind all three slower-moving vehicles.

Finding a parking space in the main long-term lot at #SRQ was easy. Check-in was a breeze (as always), and I was inside the terminal sitting at my gate a little over 15 minutes after shutting off my car in the parking lot. As always – #SRQ was catering to their most common demographics by playing the greatest radio hits of the 1970s loudly over their sound system. As usual – I was lip-syncing and subtly dancing in my chair.

The Delta flights from #SRQ to #ATL, and from #ATL to #CHA were uneventful. They each took off and landed early. The baggage carousel in Chattanooga gets started with the sound of a choo-choo train approaching. It took a while for my Uber to arrive. I didn’t order it until after I retrieved my luggage. I should’ve ordered it as I was walking off the plane. The Uber ride along I-75, I-24, and U.S. 27 was somewhat terrifying, but I arrived safely and securely at the pre-cruise hotel within 25 minutes.

Fun Facts: That was only my 2ND time ever using Uber. My first time was 8½ years ago after a previous (Disney) cruise out of Miami with my brother, sister-in-law, and nieces.

Tomorrow on Facebook (#FollowUpFriday) I’ll write about my hotel and dinner in downtown Chattanooga, and next #TravelThursday I’ll finally board the American Splendor cruise ship on the Tennessee River. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2026 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging Driving Geography History Travel

Mississippi

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about my trek eastward along U.S. 82 and my overnight stay in El Dorado (pronounced “el-duh-RAY-doh”) Arkansas. I also wrote about my wonderful morning visit to the historic (built in 1859) Lakeport Plantation on the Arkansas Delta.

Back on Day 3 of my April retirement road-trip I drove westward across southern Mississippi – mostly along U.S. 98 and U.S. 84. I spent the night in Natchez. This is Day 15 of my trek, and I drove eastward across north-central Mississippi – mostly along U.S. 82.

I crossed the Greenville Bridge – about 140 miles upstream (north) from my crossing westward on the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge. I actually drove non-stop eastward across Mississippi. There were no stops for food or gas. (I had filled-up with both in Arkansas.)

As I drove eastward away from the Mighty Mississippi and its Delta – the land got more hilly and even mini-mountainous. Elevations in the north-central part of the state exceed 200 meters (over 650 feet) above sea level. It’s a noticeable change compared to the Mississippi Delta region. It’s very scenic. Mississippi is such a beautiful state along the old U.S. highways. I especially loved seeing the several giant white crosses along my trek.

Just west of Starkville – Google Maps recommended that I leave U.S. 82 – and take Mississippi Highway 182 (former U.S. 82) right through the heart of downtown (which seemed very weird to me). But it seems like when I deviate from Google Maps – weird things happen, so I decided to allow Google to be weird on my behalf.

From Highway 182 – Google routed me onto Alternate U.S. 45 southward. Now she wanted me to completely avoid Columbus Mississippi. I went along with it. I then followed Google onto Mississippi Highway 388 eastward for 16 miles – which became State Route 86 at the Alabama State Line. That came up on me suddenly. I wasn’t expecting it, but there she was – Sweet Home Alabama.

Fun Fact: I was born in Sweet Home Alabama exactly 57 years ago as of a few hours ago of this published blog post (late on June 05TH). Happy Birthday to me !

But not so fast on Alabama, for this blog post is about my afternoon crossing Mississippi. Back to Starkville. It’s a young college town with about half of its residents under the age of 25. It’s the home of Mississippi State University (founded in 1878). Go Bulldogs ! I drove right by one of the main entrances. About 25,000 residents live within the city limits of Starkville, and over 50,000 residents live in the metro area (including the city and all of Oktibbeha County).

Mississippi is known as “The Magnolia State” – as well as “The Hospitality State”. There is so much to this state that I haven’t seen – and I want to see. As long as my family lives in North Texas – I’ll be driving through Mississippi to and from there every year. I’d like to spend more time exploring Hattiesburg and Natchez to the south – and museums along the U.S. 82 corridor to the north. And perhaps next time – I won’t bypass Columbus Mississippi. It may even be an overnight stop. I see some intriguing places there that I wish to visit.

Next #TravelThursday – Sweet Home Alabama – where the skies are so blue. Sweet Home Alabama – Lord I’m comin’ home to you ! Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp

Categories
Blogging Driving Geography History Travel

Arkansas

Welcome back to #TravelThursday. Last week I wrote about my trek eastward along U.S. 82 across the southern part of Arkansas. It was my first such trip in this part of Arkansas (east of Texarkana) in my life.

As I wrote last week – Arkansas has a nice and well-maintained U.S. 82 that was recently modernized, repaved, and restriped.

I made it to El Dorado (from Wichita Falls Texas) on the afternoon of Day 14 – having driven 366 miles. It was my most-driven day of my 18-day retirement road-trip between South Central Florida and North Texas. I checked-in to my hotel for the night along U.S. 82 Business. (It was the original alignment of U.S. 82 when it went right through the middle of the city up until 1982. U.S. 82 now bypasses the city to the south.)

Some interesting facts about El Dorado: First of all – it’s pronounced “el-duh-RAY-doh”. I was mispronouncing it (en Español) up until the moment a fellow docent at a museum corrected me. El Dorado is a principal city in its television market (which it shares with Monroe Louisiana). I found that out by watching the news. Finally – my new favorite gas station at home and nationwide is Murphy USA, and its corporate headquarters – is in El Dorado.

It’s Day 15 of my retirement road-trip, and I’m heading out of El Dorado along U.S. 82. Before leaving “The Natural State” Arkansas – I made a final pitstop on one of the last turns you can possibly make before reaching the Mighty Mississippi River. That’s Arkansas Highway 142 in Chicot County, and it’s a narrow two-lane road that leads straight to the historic (built in 1859) Lakeport Plantation.

What a hidden treasure this house is. I got there a bit too late for the guided tour that starts on the hour, so I opted for the self-guided tour of the house. I ended-up spending well over an hour slowly touring the house (both floors) and its adjacent grounds, as one of the docents remained in the house on the ground floor near the main entrance. She was there to answer any questions that I had (and I had a few). She was also there for security purposes – to ensure that I didn’t steal anything from the historic house. That is the proper way to manage a museum. When you’re in charge of a museum – you never want to leave it unattended when it’s open for visitors.

I enjoyed a very productive conversation with both of the docents on duty at the time back at the standalone Visitor’s Center / Main Office – which also serves as a sort of museum annex to the main house. (It’s also where you pay admission to tour the house.) We talked docent-to-docents for a little while. I appreciated the time that they spent sharing and talking with me about museum operations and processes.

I headed back to U.S. 82, and I immediately crossed the Greenville Bridge; thus, leaving Arkansas and entering Mississippi. It was about 140 miles upstream (north) from my crossing westward on the Natchez-Vidalia Bridge 11 days earlier.

Next #TravelThursday – I’ll drive across Mississippi, navigate up and down mini-mountains and around curves, and take some back roads into Sweet Home Alabama – where I was born 57 years ago. Let’s keep traveling together.

All rights reserved (c) 2024 Christopher M. Day, CountUp