Last Full Day on the Road

Another 6 hour drive today = time for more learning about the states.  Also, time for lots more junk food and silliness. 

We broke up our drive with a stop at the USS Alabama, to refresh our memory on our WWII knowledge and see a "for real" battleship.

Gunner Isaac. 

Most adults would cringe at the idea of sleeping in a bunk room for 60 people, stacked 3 high.  The kids thought it was the best room ever! 

Enjoying a view from the deck.

(Photo edited by Andy.  Cool, huh?!)

The next stop was for a trip down memory lane.  Mimi and Nana directed us to the street in Mississippi where they grew up.  They argued about whether this was the right place and finally decided to ask this lady who was out on her porch.  It turns out this lady lived there when they were little girls and actually knew them by name.  The house they had lived in was no longer there but the neighbor was able to tell them about it.  What a neat surprise.

Nana says she has a picture of her as a little girl at this very spot, in the front yard of their childhood home, with that very same house in the background across the street. 

And here's the picture. You can see the house from behind the trees.

Then we went a little farther to the cemetery of their grandparents.

And of their father who was killed in a helicopter crash during a heroic rescue effort in Korea after the Korean War.  He died when Mimi and Nana were very little.

And also of their mom (my Nana) and stepdad (Poppi).  

We talked to the kids about who they were.

And let them make grave rubbings to take home.

The end of the day was the usual long ride, too many potty stops, and late, rushed dinner and bedtime.  Tomorrow is our last day on the road.  Some of us (me included) are looking so forward to being home for some peace and quiet. Others (my crazy sister) would keep going as long as money was no object.   All of us have had a great trip and are looking forward to the fun of tomorrow.