Have you . ever wondered how fate plays into your world. Here I am two days before the start of my grand adventure around the U.S. who should call but my best friend from years back, Conrad Johnson, from England where he resides in the village of Otttery St. Mary. To put things in perspective, Conrad, 42 years ago joined me on our round the world jaunt that ended in Australia in 1974. So jump forward to end of April 2015 and Conrad informs me he will be coming to Crossville, TN to spend time celebrating his mother's 90th birthday, and will arrive one day before the start of my trip.
Needless to say, I cancelled my first camping reservation at Corinth National Park in Alabama, and drove to Crossville on the first day of my trip, April 29th. Nothing like starting out with your best bud on the second adventure. After a wet start with help keeping me dry from Andrea (see pic)
The morning of the 30th, I left around 8AM and drove to Memphis, TN stopping in Jackson to purchase a new laptop, which I am typing on at the moment as my tablet's storage wasn't up to snuff when it came to downloading pics and sharing same. The Jackson, Best Buy didn't have stock of the Toshiba laptop with I5 processor I wanted so I drove into Memphis and purchased before heading out to Meeman-Shelby State Park. Beautiful forest area populated by oaks and maples, and enough mosquitos to carry you away. I set up the Go in 25 minutes and then headed to Memphis to see if I could connect with my reclusive cousin who I hadn't seen in 48 years! Alas, while I confirmed his home, he did not show, so after 2.5 hours waiting I shoved off back to the campsite, had a glass of wine and called it a night, after the park ranger questioned my reservation. Apparently, two people had reserved the campsite for the same night. Since I was there and set up first and showed him my reservation, I stayed, and bunked down by 9PM.
Next morning at 5:55AM I awoke, broke camp in 20 minutes as quietly as I could and then stopped by the camp bathroom and had a shower. I have attached pictures of the scenic bathroom and shower. Oh for the Prestige Stone shower I left in Sun City. In the dark with no glasses I selected what I thought was shampoo but did a nice job of washing my hair with body lotion. Needless to say the effect was more like the Brycream commercials of old, with that nice slick look:) Taking off from Meeman-Shelby I drove 12.5 hours to Salina, Kansas passing through Arkansas (first thing I see after crossing the Mississippi into Arkansas is a billboard stating " Do not commit Adultery", followed 50 miles later with a billboard with a cute Caucasian girl on it stating " Be proud of the white race - promoted by White Radio): interesting folks hereabouts. Then on to OK and into Kansas. Here is a pic of beautiful Henrietta, Oklahoma. Am currently ensconced in a modest America's Best Inn in Salinas, with a 8 hour drive to Boulder CO tomorrow. 
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