Part Five- The Tortuous Journey Home
I had no more CW related stops after Fort Donelson I'm afraid, but a conclusion to any story is just as important as how it began. After leaving Dover we headed westward, and stopping in a small town, I think it may have been Paris, we stopped by an antique shop, (there were wagons outside) and talking to the proprietor we learned things had gotten worse in Memphis, far worse than the news said. Apparently he had a brother attacked and his semi looted. No mention of that in the news I might add that was saying it was peaceful now.
It looked like to us though, we either had risk ourselves and our treasure by going through Memphis, or go south to Mississippi and hope it hadn't erupted at those bridge crossings. Considering it costs, and strategy wise, we elected to take the risk in Memphis and charge on through.
That's when things got bad. Real bad...
When we got to Humboldt, TN I noticed a screeching sound from our pretty new Dodge Duelie, and it was getting worse. We called around and backtracked from the back roads to Jackson, TN and called a diesel shop who agreed to get us in first thing and the morning and do all they could to help us get back to Texas. (They actually stopped all their other work and worked all the next day, from 7am to 6pm to get us on the road. Integrity Diesel in Jackson, TN, y'all remember them. Dang good folks, and the head man who got us in is a veteran whom I thanked for his help and service.)
Spending the night in a hotel before getting to the shop, I'm going to share an odd experience and caution everyone to leave it at that. I noticed the hotel full up, unusual in these times, and how most all the cars were newer make, being driven by kids, ranging 17 to 20, without parents and the like, and a lot of folks who frankly didn't look they could afford such vehicles. After noticing how every time I stepped outside our room to smoke, and seeing doors open all along the line looking out to see what the noise was, and every one of them looking over their shoulders when they'd pass like they were expecting trouble. It didn't take me long to realize we were camped right in the middle of a traveling rioter group! One looking to keep a real low profile till they got to they're destination.
After spending a whole day getting the truck fixed, (new water pump, new idler, and lot of parts replaced in the transmission), at 6:30 we made a beeline for Memphis and freedom across the Mississippi. On nearing Memphis we learned they were shutting down the Interstate and bridge at 8:00 on the dot and put the pedal to the metal to get through as fast as we could alongside police cars and SWAT trucks running to and fro, the city looking halfway like a warzone with all the police and State Trooper activity, and managed to cross the bridge at 7:58 just as they were getting ready to shut her down.
We continued through the night to Texas, with Little Rock looking the same as Memphis, only to after finally getting back to Texas to get rammed in Atlanta by a truck driven by a driver, under the influence of something, who I managed to catch and keep from fleeing after he abandoned his truck, (and I assume his wife). The truck was able to keep going so we made it home. With no injuries.
I'm mainly sharing all this to warn folks against doing what I did in these saddening and tragic times. We set out for business, got trapped for a spell on the wrong side of the Mississippi, and all profit from the trip lost, and taking a hefty dint in finances in general. We set out to make money, but lost it instead, and came closer to danger than anyone in their right mind ought to care to be. (I know some have come to conclusion I might not be in my right mind sometimes with my risk taking behavior.)
So that's the conclusion, I thank y'all for bearing with me, and I hope the story kept y'all entertained and enlightened. So until next time, God Bless and Safer travels than me!
(
This has been a public service announcement to warn you against traveling with Rusk County Avengers. He is out of his mind and will say "Let's Go!!!" at the absolute worst time to see a Civil War battlefield, museum or site.)