Alex Burr - hester_nec

Blue Star Memorial Highway marker on Interstate 81 northbound near New Market, Virginia The Blue Star Memorial Highways are memorial highways in the United States that pay tribute to the U.S. armed forces. The National Council of State Garden Clubs, now known as National Garden Clubs, Inc., started the program in 1945 after World War II. The blue star was used on flags and outside servicemen's homes during the war. The program has since been expanded to include Memorial Markers and Memorial By-Ways. These markers are used in National Cemeteries, parks, veterans facilities, and gardens. As an aside, during WWII homes that had men, and women, in the armed forces displayed a blue star flag in their windows. In the event of a death of a serviceman or woman a gold star flag would be displayed. You may have heard of "gold star mothers" who are (or have been) traditionally honored in Memorial Day parades by riding in a convertible in the parade. Given the time that has passed there are probably very few gold star mothers surviving. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL - HERE'S TO SAFE TRAVELS IN 2009 MAY CHRISTMAS DAY BE FILLED WITH LOVE, HOPE AND HAPPINESS FOR ALL!!!! Hudsonly. Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I've driven the Merritt many times going back to the 1950's. Indeed it is (was) a pleasant drive. As has been said driving during commuter hours in the morning going into New York is murder. Another very pleasant drive is the Taconic State Parkway between I-90 and I-84. Much of the traffic that used to use that one is now over in I-87 so it's a quiet, pleasant way to spend 50 miles. Many times coming out of (or going back to) New England I've used the Taconic - it beats the hell out of that mess in CT they call the Hartford-Danbury corridor. Even if you use 91 between Hartford and Meridian and then 691 to Waterbury. It's still a nightmare between Waterbury and Danbury. Reason it goes thru so many cities is political. Business screamed, when 84 was built, that they'd loose all their business. Now they can sit in front of their stores and watch all their business go by on the interstate that runs thru the middle of town. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and safe travels in the new year. Hudsonly, Alex Burr

I keep telling you people I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing!!!! Private - ain't that a rank in the Army?? I didn't figure it out - I just went to gallery and posted my cards. Anyway, thanks Denny. It's always nice to have somebody around that knows what to do!!! After the first of the year I may dig around ebay and see if I can find some more cards. There are some over there now, but end of the month is coming which means end of my monthly finances. In the meantime here's wishing everybody a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS, the absolute best of the coming holiday season and many, many miles of safe travels in 2009. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I don't think its a personal album - I can access them by clicking on "Gallery" in the tool bar just below the American Road logo. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

I finally got around to digging out the small US 40/National Road post card collection and have posted it in the members gallery section. They span from the late teens/early 20's to, probably the late 50's - the National Motel card does mention TV in the rooms. Enjoy. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

What always amazes me is that there isn't enough money to renovate but there's always bucks to build new - and in the long run renovate is probably cheaper than replacing. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Ara and Sprit, I will get this out today - even tho it's a few days early. That way I won't forget (which at 71 is easily done!!!!!) MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY NEW YEAR - AND SAFE JOUNEYS IN THE COMING YEAR. Tho we can't be with you physically, we all on this forum will ride with you in spirit. Your posts and blog of your trip have inspired us and we look forward to hearing more from you. You provide a bright spot in our day. Stay safe and well and have the journey of a lifetime. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Ara, it's called "growing older!!" You wake up one day and realize yesterday was two weeks ago and last week was 6 months ago!!!! Growing old is pigeon poop!!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Ah, fond memories of New England Winters past!!!!!!!!!! Sitting here in Memphis watching the rain come down, back and side yard (where I park my car - so I'm parked on the front lawn) flooded and I can smile. Because I know that (1) we ain't gonna have any snow with this and (2) all that water in the back and side yard will merrily flow out to the street and down the storm drain!!!! Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Neat road trip report. Shows you don't have to travel across a bunch of states (no slam intended Denny - love your "multi-state" reports as well ) to produce an interesting road report. I've done a couple of those here out of Memphis and one of these days I've got to post them on my web site. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

Something I should have remembered to mention. If you take the old alignment that I mentioned going past the old radio station in Stacy, be careful when you get to the south end. The road goes down a short hill, under a railroad bridge and immediately turns 90º right. You come out on Route 77. Turn left there and that will take you into downtown West Memphis. When you reach Broadway (U. S. 70) turn left and follow E. Broadway to I-55 and pick up 61 over the I-55 bridge. The railroad bridges to your left were built back around 1916 and 1890 something, as I recall. The 1916 bridge had, from around 1926 to around 1947 or 1948, wings on either side planked over with wood. This was the car crossing - you came into Memphis on the south side of the bridge and left Memphis on the north side. I've been down where the ramps came into West Memphis and just standing there looking up at what's left of them is enough to scare one to death. You can check out the photos at www.freewebs.com/yankeetraveller - click on Memphis Day Trips and scroll down to 1 JAN 2007 - Memphis-Arkasas Speedway and old U S 70. I got to do some formating on that page. Hudsonly,

I've been over 61 (old and new) between Blytheville > Memphis > Clarksdale several times. Only problem is on the old alignment, which still exists, there ain't nothing out there, as Denny can attest to the stretch between Memphis (actually Walls, MS) and Lula!!! Well, Robinsonville has casinos and Tunica has a nice veterans memorial and somewhere south of Tunica is a really nice musuem, that's quite new. However, if you want to run the old alignment for nostalgia come south on U S 61 out of Blytheville. Approximately 7.5 miles south of the U S 61/AR 118 junction in Joiner there is a road that bears left - this is AR 42-AR 30, Stacy Road. This is an old alighment. Tho a little rough it's very driveable. About the only thing out there is a long closed radio station in (was) Stacy. The next long segment of the old U S 61 is south of Memphis. It runs parallel to the west of the new road. To accesses it you go to Walls. I missed it the first time I drove over it - easist way is to turn off the new 61 at Goodman road, go straight about 200 yards across the old railroad line. Road turns left, then go about 400 yards and turn right onto Old 61. As I said there isn't much over there - but there isn't a whole hell of a lot over on the current 61 either. Take yer choice - 2 lanes with little if any traffic or 4 lanes with trucks and traffic. Downtown Tunica is hasn't really changed much, like most towns in Mississippi, in the last 50, 60 years or so, there's casinos just north of Tunica in Robisonville (the casinos ARE Robinsonville - even tho their mailboxes are in Tunica) and there is a laundr-a-mat in Lulu, so I've heard, that has some sort of blues related mural inside - but I'm not sure of that. Clarksdale is a major blues stop, as Denny has said. From there on south it's been far to many years since I drove it so can't help you there. I'd recommend Richard Knights "The Blues Highway - New Orleans to Chicago" for more information. My copy is a bit dated (2001). Amazon.com has a 2nd (2003) edition for $15 and change; Happy Traveling Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN

A great photo trip!!!! I'm sitting here at my computer at 8:30 in the morning, my stomach telling me it's time to get breakfast, but I couldn't stop looking thru your great album. It appears that you'll find murals, like the one's you showed, all over the place here in the south. I keep finding them on the sides of buildings - as you say "check out the side streets". So much is going away - yet so much seems to remain. Hudsonly, Alex Burr Memphis, TN