Nashville, TN, Thursday, May 30, 2013

We are getting there.......but Tennessee is a long state, 500 miles end to end, and we are going end to end....

Green, green trees...lots of them....and BIG ones!!

We decided to stop in Nashville for a night.....and return to check out the Del Webb there.  We had looked some years ago and just wanted to see how it had "matured".  Lake Providence, as this one is known, started about the same time as ours...and is the same size.  

A billiards table in the "lobby"

A walking track and yoga studio on an upper level.  A larger fitness room with 5 TV's

There are lockers on all three walls of the locker room...

A massage therapist comes to the resort for appointments

Lake Providence is the only water feature in the community.....complete with water toys for residents' use and it is stocked with the above fish and a jon boat available for fishing.

An outdoor "theatre" for gatherings and concerts

Lots and lots of green space.....lots and lots of pergolas.....even at the pickleball and tennis courts and the bocce ball area.  Only two hard surface tennis courts...

An enclosed basketball court

Utility right of way land is dedicated to a community garden

Green space medians were centered in many of the residential streets.....with PARKING spaces.

Home exteriors are primarily brick or stone.....and prices are comparable....and HOA fees the same.  Somewhere between 700 and 800 homes sold.  They have "matured" very nicely.

Tunica, MS, Monday -Thursday, May 27-30, 2013

There are some very strange vehicles on the roads in Arkansas....eastern Arkansas is noted for its rice production, as evidenced by this huge Riceland plant.

Crossing the mighty Mississippi......how many of you remember 'MISS - ISS - IPPI????

We cross the border from Arkansas to Mississippi.....check in to the Horseshoe in Tunica and take off immediately to Memphis

We are too late to see the ducks cross the lobby, but just thought we would look once again at the lobby of the Peabody in downtown Memphis.

Carriage rides were abundant.....this carriage offered the extra benefit of the owner's puppy!

We are venturing toward the arena to purchase tickets.  Yes, that is correct.  We arrived in Memphis without tickets for the big game.....they appeared.  We were offered two free tickets in the nosebleed; then we were offered two tickets in the club section for $50/each.  We took the latter.

Pre-game entertainment

We are inside, waiting the climb to our seats

The team's introductions were filled with cheering, shouting

but the home team makes an even bigger splash!  Huge balls of fire introduce each player!!!

A rousing, well played victory for the Spurs!!

The San Antonio Spurs win the NBA Western Finals!!!

Kathy finds the time, money, and place for a mani and pedi.  Tom gets to go find cash and wait in the Flex.

The Riverpark is inside the Mississippi River levee.  The signs in Mississippi are right to the point.

Not often getting too far from the blackjack tables, we have never been to the Riverpark.

It is a nice modern facility.  It is amazing what gambling revenues can build.  We made our contributions to the local economy.

We started to do the nature hike for exercise and nature viewing.  About 30 ft. into the woods and shade we were attacked by hoards of biting flies.  They were awful.  We retreated to the wind and sun and gave up on the nature walk.

Not many bugs along the river front.

The crud along the shore testifies to the high water.  Here a worker washes the boat ramp with a fire hose.

Well, if you can't walk, you might as well gamble.

Or belly up to the buffett.

Or just tour the other available casinos in the area.

The Gold Strike is next door to the Horseshoe where we are staying.

The Roadhouse is on the other side.

We splurged on our final night and went to the "nice" restaurant in the Horseshoe.

It was pricey as expected but the beef, sides, and wine were excellent.  Unexpectedly, the whole place is smoking allowed.  The crowd was sparse.  We were able to distance ourselves enough from the smokers.

This is where we spent a lot of time  -- and money.  We had a good stay in Tunica.  This is the sunset for the day.