Day 4 8/2/2020

Ambitious day. 

I attempt to not burn breakfast in the morning and we lift off to, first, meet Eric and Barry at the Nashville farmers market and eat ice cream at Jenny’s there (truly remarkable ice cream… I regret I did not try their goat cheese and cherry flavor) and then be back on the road.

Farmers market is downtown which means we are parading our efficiency by Nashville city hall. Luckily, we find a wide enough side street to park without problems. 

First, Barry shows us around Bicentennial mall which is impressive and empty. We walk around and girls climb everything that sticks out of the ground.  Sol switches to southern twang as he reminisces about his time travelling to Nashville every couple of weeks for work with Ingram Books. I would like to come back one day and truly explore Nashville. 

I pick up a ton of vegetables at the farmer’s market as our diet thus far leaves a lot of room for improvement. Girls occupy local honey stand. 

Before long, we must say our thanks and goodbyes to Nashville, Eric, and Barry.  

We are off to cover a sizable chunk of route 40. Due to arrive in Little Rock, Arkansas in 6 hours or so. 

At some point we cross the great Mississippi River and just like that… we leave East of our country behind and enter West.

Before we arrive at the next site we must stop at the roadside peach stand as I am determined to eat my fill of sweet and juicy peaches as we are making our way through South. Another stop we make is at a local school’s playground to let girls and the dog let off some steam. Great call on Sol’s part. 

We are in Little Rock little before 9pm. The site is backing up to Arkansas River and we are treated with stunning views of a sunset over the water.

Dog jumps in for his swim but swimming for humans is not allowed in fast and unpredictable river waters. Girls find an old fishing rod on the river bank and show off their engineering genius by utilizing an empty soda can to make a functioning pole with a hook (soda can tab), a bobber (taped up soda cane), and twine (some knitting yarn Tamara happened to have in her backpack).  They ‘fish’ together as we are setting up camp and starting some dinner.