Our day started off nicely. We stayed in Franklin TN, just south of Nashville. Getting there had been painful because of rush hour traffic, and our hotel was next to a large shopping mall, not in the old center of Franklin. I had been there years ago with a client and knew it was much more interesting than the Galleria, so I thought we should explore a bit before moving on. The “explore a bit” turned into almost three hours.

We looked at the historic markers and buildings near the central square/circle, and did a fair amount of gift shopping before driving through some of the battlefield and looking at some historical homes. We saw that 10,000 soldiers, Union and Confederate, died or were wounded within 5 hours at one sight, Carnton Hall, which was turned into a Confederate hospital and where a cemetery was built for those who didn’t make it. We saw the oldest Masonic Hall still in use, where the treaty with the Chickasaw Indians was signed, we drove on some of the Trail of Tears,we read of some of the experiences of Franklin’s African Americans before and after the war.

And finally we left. And when we did the rains started and they kept up until about 30 miles from our destination. And the rains were heavy and sometimes blinding, and we got off the Interstate where the speeds were much too fast for the visibility. And the traffic as we went through Birmingham was ridiculous. Which means that a three and a half hour drive took closer to five.

Because it was raining, we really didn’t do any exploring. We stopped for lunch in Pulaski, Tennessee at Kitchen 218, a sports bar type place right on the main business street. This was a good choice. Actually, not a choice. It was the only restaurant we saw. But if you are hungry in Pulaski, it’s the spot. And, for the second time in two days, the waitress gave me a cup of coffee, not charging me.

I don’t know much (i.e., anything) about Pulaski. But before we entered the town, we passed a large, ornate wrought iron gate with the words “Welcome to the Milky Way Ranch” written above it. What could that be? You know?

It turns out that the Milky Way Ranch, all 1100 acres, 20 bedroom house, and 80 other buildings of it, had been the property of the Mars family. (My stars, how does Mars, make such wonderful candy bars?”) And the ranch was named after Mars’ Milky Way candy bars. Now, it’s a fancy event venue.

At about 6:30, we checked into our third Hampton Inn and, on the clerk’s recommendation, had an excellent dinner at Charles Anthony’s restaurant. Salad, salmon, snapper, potatoes, asparagus, grits and okra. Whew.

More tomorrow.