Best I Figure 2010 Miles...

The best I can figure it from place to place of latest travel trip in our camper was 2010 miles over 11 days and that's not counting detours for fried catfish, the Moogsuem and thrift shopping. We visited family, Morgan, Ali and kids in South Carolina, Cathy's sister Margret in Kentucky (with a side trip for the rest of that crew in Evansville, In.) where we missed a visit with my cousin Carolyn because she was under the weather and the Jessie Mae Hemphill Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi and a final stop to see nephew Chase and HD in Shreveport. I don't think I've missed anything.  

Morgan and crew on Lake Harwell.   

Margret and Kevin's Lake house in Dunmor, Ky on Lake Malone. We camped in Lake Malone State Park just across the lake. This is Muhlenberg County of the famous John Prine song. The house is nice but no photos of the inside which is all torn up for renovation. This lake which is about the size of the old papermill lake back home looks like a great place to fish and hang and enjoy some old school lake time.  

Great scenery around the lake and though we are not big fall color people you could catch a breath of the changing season as we cruised around the lake. 

Our next stop for the Jessie Mae Hemphill Festival was the old Stovall Gin Company outside Clarksdale Mississippi. This is the exact location where folklorist Alan Lomax recorded blues singer Muddy Waters for the library of Congress in two session during 1941 and 42. It's still a working farm bt there are four camper hook ups for water and electric. No showers or other perks and we had the place all to ourselves. A worker for the farm stopped one day because he though we were the crew to set up the stage for the upcoming Mighty Roots festival on the grounds next weekend. 

Clarksdale is a great place. I had last been through for a brief lunch stop 30 odd years ago but the people are friendly, at the festival you could just sit around and chat with the performers, food was good, when seeing the love music there was places for old people to sit and there were no crowds. Oh yeah, the music was great also.  

At the festival you wouldn't see the big worldwide names but there were plenty of local and regional legends. Names like Kimbrough, The Rising Stars Fife and Drum Band, the organizer of the festival Lady Trucker of boundless energy and huge singing voice, Lighting Malcom a great Texas band Spitcup and the Jukes and more. Together they put on a great show. 

One example was this guy who they all called Mr. Farmer. He filled in for Mr. Joe Ayers, famous as a member of Jr. Kimbrough's band who had had a fall. If this is the fill in act I know Joe would have been great. 

The family visits were great. We can't wait till next time. Clarksdale, see you again.