Bin at the Inn
Comment via blog
Prev
Next
|
Day 8: April 27, 2024 Bin at the Inn Comment via blog |
Prev Next |
|
|
|
The final conference activity at the Bentley Hotel was the unveiling of a
Jefferson Highway Louisiana Historical Marker. Actually, since these
things take time to get approved and made, it was an artist's rendering
that was unveiled. The marker is being sponsored by the hotel who will
erect the marker at the location of today's unveiling.
|
|
|
I had decided to start my journey home on US-165 which passes right by the
Bentley and crosses the Red River on the Gillis Long Memorial Bridge.
|
|
|
At one point, I thought of leaving town after the sign unveiling at the
hotel but decided to stop at a second unveiling since it was right on my
planned route. Two signs were being unveiled in Pineville on a road still
named Jefferson Highway. I wasn't the first to arrive but parking was
across the street from the signs so I was able to get a clear shot of both
signs before the unveiling. The view was considerably more populated when
I left.
|
|
|
I believe this was my first time on US-165, and I found it a very pleasant
drive although much of it was divided four-lane. In Mer Rouge, LA, this
monument on the post office lawn caught my eye.
|
|
|
I stayed with US-165 to Portland, AR, then cut over to US-65 and crossed
the Mississippi River on US-278. The river is not the state boundary here
with the Mississippi line nearly a mile east of the bridge.
|
|
|
US-278 took me to US-49 and US-49 took me to Clarksdale. I headed to
Ground
Zero for a beer but paused along to way for a couple of pictures of
the Riverside Hotel. The historic hotel has been closed
since 2020 but there is a very active campaign to save it. I stayed there
in 2007.
|
|
|
While sipping at Ground Zero, I took to my phone to find a place for the
night. I had thought to get beyond Clarksdale but nothing looked very
promising before reaching Memphis and nothing looked very affordable once
I reached there. The website showed one opening at the
Shack Up Inn so
I called and reserved it. This place has grown tremendously since I first
stayed here in
2006. There are
now a total of fifty-two units. I had to call from in front of the
Commissary (first picture) to find out where the office (second picture)
was.
The operation appears to have grown to fill all of the original space and has expanded across Old Highway 49. That's where I would be staying in Grain Bin D. There are two floors and two bedrooms in Bin D. This is what I used. I returned to the Commissary for a beer then, with bottle in hand, learned that I had crashed some sort of reunion but the bartender suggested I stay anyway. I didn't but kind of wish I had. I emptied the bottle then headed over to the other performance space which might be called The Gin or maybe the Juke Joint Chapel. The band there wasn't the greatest which helped keep me from staying out too late. I've seen folks brag about doing something "before it was cool" but I'm going to brag about staying at the Shake Up Inn while it was still cool. It's not really uncool now but it was cooler when there were a half-dozen or so shacks and a commissary. |
|
|
| [Prev] [Site Home] [Trip Home] [Next] |
