The trip across the Mississippi - Day Three

Day three we depart Memphis and head west on I-40, its not long after we start that we can view Memphis sites from afar, the Memphis Pyramid certainly catches your eye.  Bass Pro sure knows how to get customers!  It is then that you really start realizing the multitude of the flooding to the area.  As we cross over the Mississippi, which is huge and wide anytime, seeing it out of its banks is scary and devastating to so many who live near the banks.  We noticed as we drove miles into Arkansas that at no time did we NOT see water, it seemed to be everywhere.  There was evidence where it had been over roads in several places.

We didn't realize at this point how much the flooding would affect our plans.  I always try to plan a few stops ahead, and have a couple of options as plans change.  Well the next campground I had planned on us staying at was closed due to high water.  Maybe during other times of the year this wouldn't be as much of a problem, but during winter so many campgrounds in colder climates close for the season, so you are already limited.  As it was already getting dark, as it seems to do so early in the winter, we were running out of options.  Not wanting to travel past dark, we started looking for a good place to stay the night.  We pulled into the I-40 Travel Center and found us a nice corner spot away from truck traffic.  Luckily, we could put out our slides on one side, and running a generator was no problem due to other truck noise and we were warm and settled for the night.  I didn't mention they had a restaurant on site so our dinner was taken care of as well!  Not a bad night at all!  Oh I failed to mention this was New Years Eve!  What a wild and crazy way to start the New Year!