Tennesee and Arkansas: Day 1: Two more states off the list

Tennessee and Arkansas

Day 1: Two more states

LAX-it is way too small. So it's mega packed.

Good signs at least.

Lots of signs. Definitely walk from Terminals 1 or 7.

Terminal 7.

If you can't find LAX-it for your rideshare from Terminal 7, that's because you're not paying attention.

Uber is all-in on this change.

Qi wireless charging FTW.

Taking off from IAH.

Final approach to MEM. Sweetish sauce at A&R BBQ. The rib tips were okay. Tasty meat when you didn't get bone.

Sweetish sauce at A&R BBQ. The rib tips were okay. Tasty meat when you didn't get bone.

Hot links weren't really hot... but give them a few minutes to soak in the sauce and they were excellent.

Truly a local spot.

Not much for ambiance. But who cares?

The menu.

Kellogg's cereal factory?

The most visible landmark at night.

And the second most visible.

New state achieved: Arkansas.

And already achieved on landing, but new state: Tennessee!

Ah, there's the state line. :D

What a historic building converted to cheap SpringHill by Marriott looks like.

Taking advantage of the long weekend to check two more states off the list!

Started the day walking by the LAX-it rideshare and taxi lot at LAX. It's only been open for a few days, and why it's been a disaster is immediately obvious-- it's way too small. Fortunately they seem like they planned for that possibility, and it should double in size in the next couple of days. Signage to the lot is excellent at least, and traffic inside the loop is definitely better.

Series of uneventful flights, even managed to arrive early enough to get on an earlier one from IAH to MEM, and by the evening it was time for new state one of two on this trip: Tennessee.

Things started off with a surprisingly pretty evening arrival to Memphis International Airport (sit on the starboard side of the plane!), the unexpected glow of an old-school neon sign at the Kellogg factory, and topped off with the discovery that the hot links and rib tips at A&R Barbeque are definitely better when given a few minutes, lid closed, to soak in the sweetish sauce they use. The hot links went from meh to excellent!

Then had a bit of an adventure with new state two of two on this trip: Arkansas. Was trying to hit the Arkansas visitor welcome center across the Hernando de Soto Bridge... but did not realize you could only approach it heading westbound on I-40. Thought I could be clever (due to some road closures) and make it around via the Memphis-Arkansas bridge (I-55) and loop around... nope. Google Maps said it was possible, but ended up on some dirt roads underneath the bridge that ultimately got nowhere close. Haven't had a Google Maps fail like this since Albania.

Managed to make it back to the interstate and stil find a big sign saying I was in Arkansas, so that worked out in the end. *whew*