Southern Fried Festival in Columbia, TN 9/27/08

While we're in Japan, Larry's family has gone to a Southern Fried Festival in Columbia, Tennessee. Columbia is where Stan was born & spent his early years & is just a few miles south of Nashville. (Think they're probably staying close to home because of the extreme gas shortages in Nashville right now.) Thanks to Lisa for making us feel a part of this Columbia adventure & sharing her great pics with us!

Amelia checking out a "mule" -- Columbia has another event, called "Mule Days" that Stan remembered from his childhood. Read more about Columbia, TN here: http://www.columbiatn.com/


Andy & Daddy Larry.


Back of Amelia & Natalie -- I love their hair decorations!

Front of Amelia.

Oops, looks like Andy got the wrong flavor!


But Princesses Amelia & Natalie are enjoying theirs.

Where's your sunglasses, girls? That's Andy behind them in the middle . . .


Andy on top of a tank (I hope he NEVER has to do this for real!)


All 3 are obviously trying to move the tank.

Andy & Daddy Larry


Amelia


and Natalie.

Natalie


Amelia


Andy & "friend"

It really looks like they all had a great day in Columbia, TN. Then on Tues morning, I received a link from Larry entitled, "We're Famous!" about an article that appeared in the paper. Seems a reporter at the event was intrigued by the fact that Larry's dad was a native of Columbia, TN and now lived in Japan . . . Of course, the reporter mixed up a few of the facts and did NOT show photos of MY grandchildren, but it's an interesting article. I never knew they could fry so many different things! ! ! Read all about it here: http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/articles/2008/09/28/top_stories/01fried.txt

Nishiki River Drive 9/14/08

It's Sunday morning, and we've decided to drive along the Nishiki River into the mountains. My "old" knee won't let me do a lot of walking, but riding works for me! Here we're in Iwakuni, headed for Highway 2.


If we went left at this fork, we would end up at the Kintai Bridge, but we're going right.


Not a lot of traffic out this morning.

One of many tunnels along this road.


There was a terrible landslide here a couple of years ago during a typhoon, and several people were lost, along with their houses. I would not want to live right below a "cut" mountain.

The edge of the road drops down to the river. Look how beautiful the misty mountains are this morning!


Alongside the Nishiki River.


This is an interesting little tunnel.

Lady walking with a parasol along the highway.

Across the river is the Nishiki Trolley tracks. We've taken that train & it is a beautiful ride.

What a gorgeous day to drive along the river! The Nishiki River is crystal clear.

Bridge across the Nishiki River. Beautiful countryside.


Driving into a little village.




Harvested rice is hung up to dry.

More harvested rice drying in the stubble field where it was cut, near these houses.


We're on Hwy 434.


Small cemetery along side the road.

Because we're driving through the mountains, there are many tunnels along this road.






Living on the edge . . .

See these tall red flowers? I don't know what they are, but they are everywhere this time of year.


The river is right below us here. (I enjoy the return trip better when I'm on the other side of the car!)


Daihatsu car dealership -- that's the make of car we have now.


The smaller sign tells us it's 30 degrees C today -- that's 86 F.

Lots of curves along the Nishiki River, which is in the mountains. See all the trees?



This lady was going almost as fast as we were.




The highway in many places, cantilevers out over the river, which is easier to see around this curve.

Helpful sign . . . ?


The carved-out rock makes the road pretty narrow here.


I'd like to live in one of these houses facing the river. On the right, is a bridge to the other side. Speed limit is 40 here (just under 25 mph).

Going into a short stone tunnel -- there are lots of tunnels along this road.


Going through a little village -- the speed limit is 50 kph here (that's 31 mph), which actually feels pretty fast on some of these narrow, curvy roads!


Yikes!