Having decided to upgrade our camping sleeping gear we needed to try out the new digs. We went from a small 2-man tent and air mattress to a 6-man tent measuring 12ft x 7ft with a vestibule and cots. The first weekend of April was promising to be sunny and warm so we headed north to Reelfoot Lake. The lake was created during the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 when the ground subsided dramatically. Today it is home to great fishing, boating, scenery, and wildlife. This trip was during the wrong time of year, but the lake is best known for its large numbers of nesting bald eagles.
Unexpected Surprise…Covington, TN
We passed a store on Hwy 51 near Covington, TN called Stockdale’s with signage indicating it was “America’s Rural Outfitter”. We had to stop. This store was dog friendly so Dutch got to join us as we tooled around the aisles. There was lots of stuff for the farm and a whole section for horses. Not needing a saddle, we headed back up the road. It’s because of this stop, really, that we decided to check out the rest of Covington; after all it is the birth place of Isaac Hayes. It is also the site where the controversial Confederate cavalry leader Nathan Bedford Forrest made his last public address to the 7th Tennessee Cavalry in 1876. The Nature Center & Veteran’s Memorial (751 Bert Johnston Ave) has a plaque and canon commemorating that event.
We parked at the town square of Covington and found that it was full of cute shops that were actually open. When exploring rural areas you get used to seeing old courthouse squares surrounded by Monday through Friday business offices placed between long ago shut down storefronts. We grabbed Dutch and stepped out onto the street to find that the courthouse had music playing and the current selection was The Doors….odd.
He also owned a football team by the same name. |
We walked around snapping photos and happened upon an old “Clarence Saunders: Sole Owner of My Name” painted sign in a back alley of a shop that faces East Court Square. This was very exciting to us as Clarence Saunders was the founder of the modern grocery store with his first store in downtown Memphis not far from where we live. The store was called Piggly Wiggly!! When he went bankrupt he lost the rights to the store name. Deciding never again would he lose control of his brand he created another chain of stores called "Clarence Saunders Sole Owner of My Name Stores". Clarence Saunders was something of an eccentric genius worthy of further reading, and local Memphian Mike Freeman wrote “Clarence Saunders & the Founding of Piggly Wiggly: The Rise and Fall of a Memphis Maverick” that you can purchase directly on Mike’s website.
Around the next corner we encountered Bukaroo Hatters and were intrigued but did not step inside. Their website says that they make custom made cowboy and fedora hats. We did however step inside Upscale Resale with Dutch in arms. We always ask if it is okay to bring Dutch inside and most small private owned businesses are fine with it. The shop was full of resale antiques, newer restored furniture items, and crafts. A few more pictures of cool historic theaters and then we moved on towards Ripley Tennessee.
Between Covington and Ripley we passed through Henning. We had visited Henning on a previous road trip so we did not stop this time, but it is worth mentioning. You can visit the boyhood home of Alex Haley who was the author of Roots (200 South Church Street). The previous road trip to this area was due to a visit to Fort Pillow State Park which has lots of nice hiking trails. This is the site of an engagement during the Civil War that is still generating controversy today. Confederate forces under the command of Nathan Bedford Forrest reportedly massacred African American Union soldiers who had surrendered. It is amazing to walk around this park and see the large earthwork fortifications. It is difficult to comprehend how humans in 1861 were able to move so much earth to make this fort.
Ripley
The main purpose of a stop in Ripley is that a young teenager from Nutbush Tennessee named Anna Mae Bullock went to work for two years as a domestic in this town. We missed the short drive over to Nutbush to see Anna Mae’s original hometown. She later became better known as the fabulous Tina Turner. In Ripley there was a very well painted town square. The most interesting site was the art deco Lauderdale County Courthouse. We then quickly moved on towards Dyersburg because by this time we were all getting very hungry. Eighties beefcake stuntman turned actor Miles O’Keeffe was born here. He is probably most famous for his role as Tarzan or for his part in the MST3K spoofed “Cave Dwellers”. Joel asks ‘How much Keefe is in this movie anyway?’ to which Tom Servo answers “Miles O’Keeffe”.
Dyersburg
"You gonna eat that fry?" |
The first priority when entering Dyersburg was finding food. We quickly pulled out a phone app and started looking for options. We decided on BBQ and hit Hog Heaven (1320 Shelby Drive). We were not too impressed but we are picky about BBQ after living in Memphis and Kansas City the past 4 years. They did have very good sweet tea and very nice servers. No outdoor space so we copped a squat on the curb to eat outside with Dutch.
Shane was most excited about seeing the final resting place of General Strahl at the Old City Cemetery. We drove around trying to locate it for some time, and finally found it at the corner of Liberty Ave. and Court St. just east of Hwy 51. Shane actually had no idea who General Strahl was but just wanted to see the large cannon at his gravesite. It was cast in 1820 and was originally a main deck gun on the USS Independence during the Mexican American War. We were saddened by the obvious vandalism shown by gravestones that had been toppled over and the sign warning against this crime.
A short stop at the Kroger on Hwy 78 for camping supplies and then we moved on to our next stop. A brief detour on State Route 182 and a turn into the Lakewood subdivision we found the Lenox Bridge at its new home. The bridge was constructed in 1917 and is the last remaining hand-cranked swing span pony pratt bridge in the country. We aren’t sure what all that means except that, according to the plaque, when a steam boat sounded it’s whistle four men would rush out onto the bridge, and using a large key inserted into a receptacle, would begin cranking away. This action would swing open the bridge allowing the vessel to pass by. The bridge was relocated to this park for preservation in 1988.
Tiptonville
Remember theses prices?? |
Son of a sharecropper. |
On to a quiet night of camping by the lake…
Always have a backup plan. |
So much for 'rest and relaxation'. |
Campsite set up and fire going, we started on dinner. We had an upgraded tent and wanted to also upgrade dinner so we had steak and veggie kabobs. The new tent provided for a much better sleeping arrangement although Kevin still had difficulty due to the howling of some terrifying creatures in the night. At least Dutch and Shane were rested.
Reelfoot Lake is well known for its large number of nesting bald eagles that are best seen during January and February. We did at least see one bald eagle soaring high around the lake. If you aren’t into camping there are multiple cabin rentals around the lake that you can investigate.
After breaking camp we had a convenience store breakfast at a Little General Store with a sign reading "No Open Carry", (as in keep your gun concealed or in the car) on the window to make us feel safe. We then headed a tad west for a trip home via a different route for new small towns to explore.
The long road home...
We weren't brave enough to walk it. |
Take that Madison County |
Recessive genes in Tennessee
A case for false advertising. |
King of the Wild Frontier
Anachronism |
'Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three' |
I can’t drive, um, 31
Oddly specific. |
Leaving Trenton we headed toward Jackson, TN. The area around Jackson has several sites worthy of a stop, which he had done before, but we headed on home to Memphis. Besides it was getting late and Dutch was exhausted.
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