First, let me apologize for not giving
this Flat Reto photo essay the time and attention it deserves. Compared
to the fine Flat Reto travelogs we've seen so far, I'm definitely gonna
come up short. I had good intentions, but this is the busy time of the year for me, so it was a struggle.
We'll start off with a photo you've seen before..
Yup, Flat Reto's strap was way too short to fit me fat wrist. I sorted through the many good suggestions y'all offered, and judged that Bro. Bock's advice to "Wind some steelwire thru da hole and buckle.." was easiest and most practical. I actually used a heavy-duty plastic-coated wire tie, and it worked a treat. Thanks Bock!
A wide shot of Shamrock Hollow;
That photo is, I confess, a couple of years old. The place looks quite a bit different now, thanks in no small part to..
..my pardner 3M (Main Man Melvin) and that li'l Chinese dozer.
Ahhh.. no comment on that one.
One
thing that may stand out to those unfamiliar with my area of the
country is the great chasm between.. well, the "haves" and the "have
nots". Mississippi is the poorest state in the nation, yet you also have
plenty of fine antebellum homes, and farms like..
..Grandview Plantation. This is a 2,500+ acre operation, situated 'bout 3 or 4 miles from me, as the crow flies.
That white vinyl fence stretches 2.4 miles along MS 310, and 'tis certain the fence alone cost more than did my modest 'farmette' lock, stock & barrel. Yet right across the street ye got..
..a derelict juke joint. I'm told this place was really hoppin', Back In The Day.
Next stop..
..beautiful downtown Como. Yes, it is named after the Italian city.
That
second building on the right, the brown one with the upper deck, is The
Como Steakhouse. You can get you a steak there that will rival anything
you can find in Kansas City or Chicago. Trust me.
And speaking of Chicago..
..the
building with the black awning is The Windy City Grille. Pretty darned
authentic, they make a mean pizza, and are one of only two joints in the
entire Memphis metro area that understand Italian Beef sandwiches.
Ye walk-up beer store.. cheapest and coldest beer in town right there!
.. that Mississippi Fred McDowell
was a long-time resident. Believe it or not, we get the occasional
international tourist (European or Japanese, usually) who'll show up in
town to pay their respects to ol' Fred. You can download a primer of his
music HERE.
Skip James
was also known to frequent the area, though his main base of operations
was a bit further south. You can download some of Skip's music HERE.
We're heading north for the next shot, approaching Coldwater..
The very first modern supermarket, and once the largest grocery chain in the world, there ain't many Hoggly Woggly stores left.
But Coldwater's claim to fame, like Como, is of a musical nature. The is where the great RL Burnside
hang his hat, y' see. I had the pleasure of meeting ol' RL on several
occasions, and he was quite a character. A lovable curmudgeon, he would
talk with ya all night.. as long as you kept buying him whisky. You can DL some of The Wizards music HERE.
Head
8, maybe 10 miles further north, between Senatobia and Hernando, and
you come to The Zebra Ranch, stomping grounds of the legendary Jim Dickinson. Some of ol' Jim's music is HERE. That first track is, IMHO, THE quintessential Memphis Song. His sons ain't bad neither, mind you. In fact, their "Shake Hands With Shorty album ( HERE ) is a top-10 Desert Island Disc, for me.
OK, we'll jump a mile or sixty to the south, to Tutwiler.
One of the most storied places in Bluesdom. Indeed, many consider this the be birthplace of The Blues. One of the true giants of the blues, Mississippi John Hurt, lived not too far east of here. You can DL some of his essential music HERE.
Into the Delta...
Bet ya didn't know Kermit was from Mississippi...
One of my personal favs is..
..Panther
Burns. Fascinating story behind the name. Back in the mid 1800's there
was a big cat living in the area who developed a taste for human flesh.
(Yeah, such beasts really did reside in Mississippi, back then.) The
local residents, tired of seeing their population reduced by dint of
becoming cat food, broke out the guns and dogs and launched a full-scale
search and destroy mission. They succeeded in cornering the killer cat
in a canebrake and, after the advance force of dogs they sent in failed
to return, decided there was only one course of action left: they took
their torches and fired the canebrake. Legend says that all who heard
the panther's cry as it burned to death were haunted by it to their
graves. Indeed, it became such a defining part of their culture that
they named their town after the event. Not coincidentally, my favorite
blues-fusion artist named his band for the event. (Some say the
town/plantation, but I know for a fact that's wrong, 'cause Tav
personally told me that 'twas the unforgettable sound of that panther
being burned alive that he was conjurring in naming the band.) You can
find some Tav Falco's Panther Burns music HERE.
Onwards to Natchez...
Quite a modern city, is Natchez, despite the appearance. The entire town is blanketed with Wi-Fi, for instance.
And it lends it's name to one of..
..if not THE greatest "linear parks" in the world, The Natchez Trace Parkway.
Now, much as this next photo might look like part of The Trace..
..we've actually teleported back home to Shamrock Hollow. LOL!
..my best Jittery Jim pose and a hint as to where Flat Reto is heading next.
Thanks for readin', y'all!
-Ricky
Messages In This Thread
Flat Reto does North Mississippi.
Ricky Lee
366
July 27, 2009 12:44AM
Memphis Micro-Meet +Flat Reto
Ricky Lee
464
July 28, 2009 08:20AM
Since Chris King (itschris) was on the
Flat Reto list, and since I covered N. Mississippi almost exclusively,
he became the next logical recipient. That way Chris can do West
Tennessee, and y'all will get a comprehensive overview of the entire
Memphis Metro Area.
And
we decided the best way to do it was a face-to-face handoff.. Or me
Inner Scotsman was too cheap to pay shipping, you decide.
I
was blown away by the Baume & Mercier and Cartier, and amazed at
how much I liked the Movado. On a more modest note, I was mightily
impressed by the Poljot and Sea-Gull, too.
And it was sweet to see my boy-sized Sheffield Allsport 17-jewel diver next to it's big brother. But the real star of the show, for me, might have been..
..this Sorna slide-rule. What an amazing watch! If you do decide to flip it, Chris, please give me first dibs! LOL!
Alas,
while 'twas a pleasant surprise that Chris and I share a wrist size to
within 1/4" (it meant I could actually try on his watches ), it also meant that he's got the same problem with Flat Reto's strap that I had. Get out the baling wire, Chris! LOL!
I hope Chris didn't put these two in the box together for the ride home.. I don't trust that monkey!
-Ricky
Mighty fine job of entertaining FR in the Delta (n/t)
itschris
122
July 27, 2009 04:26PM
Ahhh.. got to confess here.
Flat Reto never made it to The Delta. Those Natchez photos were "canned shots" from a while back.
Well.. he did visit Crenshaw. That's kinda sorta the eastern-most edge of The Delta. But not really.
He seemed to like the North Mississippi Hill Country alright, though...
Ricky Lee
142
July 27, 2009 04:44PM
"The Mississippi Delta was Shining Like a National Guitar....." Paul Simon (n/t)
Allan Zirlin
134
October 01, 2010 11:02AM
A nice tour Ricky (n/t)
chrise2469
123
July 27, 2009 04:07PM
Oyoyoy!! Southern cooking at its best!! (n/t)
JohnnyT
142
July 27, 2009 11:15AM
Awesome tour Ricky Is that Mrs next to the sign? (n/t)
PaulGeo
135
July 27, 2009 10:59AM
'tis! Miss Pamela Dawn 'Bray' McBroom..
..aka She Who Can Not Be Ignored.
Ricky Lee
144
July 27, 2009 04:39PM
Great job, Ricky! Real down-home flavor! (n/t)
MCV
146
July 27, 2009 10:50AM
Very (n/t)
SoCalWis
124
July 27, 2009 09:58AM
Thanks for the tour. Looks like FR got a taste of Southern hospitality. (n/t)
Robmks
139
July 27, 2009 09:47AM
Great post and photos, Ricky. Thanks for the tour. (n/t)
Mark C.
146
July 27, 2009 09:36AM
Where in North Mississippi are you?
I am located in Maben, MS.
DJ_Mo
130
July 27, 2009 09:27AM
Just found out in your profile...
I just checked your profile, and saw you in Google Maps.
I am a newbie in the watch scene, but maybe we can meet one day. Are there any southern watch meets?
DJ_Mo
129
July 27, 2009 10:39AM
Re: I just checked your profile, and saw you in Google Maps.
Well, Google Maps is kinda dry, so I'll just add that I'm in Longtown, not
Sarah, as Google probably told you. Longtown is a li'l unincorporated
burgh 'bout halfway between Como and Crenshaw. Six churches, two corner
stores, one VFD and an auto repair shop - that's Longtown.
I confess I had to Google "Maben". Down Starkville way, I see. Lots of musical heritage around those parts, too. According to Mapquest you're 129 miles from me.. a smidgen over 2 hours driving time.
Quote DJ_Mo
I am a newbie in the watch scene, but maybe we can meet one day. Are there any southern watch meets?
Funny you should ask.. Chris King is in the process of planning one. We'll definitely keep you in the loop!
Ricky Lee
139
July 27, 2009 04:28PM
Great! Definetly let me know where you are meeting.. (n/t)
DJ_Mo
129
July 27, 2009 04:52PM
Amazing tour Ricky and very informative too (n/t)
Reto
132
July 27, 2009 09:22AM
Awesome Mr Ricky Lee! Great Tour ! (n/t)
IF
148
July 27, 2009 07:55AM
Great tour, Ricky! You know, come to think of it, >>
>> I have some equipment that was built in Natchez, Mississippi.
Anonymous User
136
July 27, 2009 07:30AM
Re: ..I have some equipment that was built in Natchez, Mississippi.
No foolin?! CooL!
Natchez does have a sizable manufacturing base, but I never realized they made machine tools there!
Ricky Lee
131
July 27, 2009 08:25AM
Well, let me elaborate a bit. Ten years ago, >>
>> I bought a CNC gangtool lathe. I needed a simple bar feeder for
it, and the dealer sold me a unit built by Vanco Manufacturing in
Nachez, MS.
It is a simple Hardinge style unit that will hold the
spinning bar, and also pushes against the end of the bar with a
rotating piston. So when the collet opens, the bar will advance under
pneumatic force.
It so happens that the little SOB is the only
thing around here that has caused be to seek stitches at the emergency
room. But that's another story.
At the time, I got the feeling that the guys at the shop had made a few for internal use, and voila a product was born. They bought more steel and grey paint, and fired up the welder. I don't think they offer the unit any more.
Dave Murphy
152
July 27, 2009 10:45AM
Re: ....a simple bar feeder..unit built by Vanco Manufacturing in Nachez, MS.
Quote Dave Murphy
It is a simple Hardinge style unit that will hold the spinning bar, and
also pushes against the end of the bar with a rotating piston. So when
the collet opens, the bar will advance under pneumatic force.
And beforehand, you've brought in a dead tool as a positive stop. Sure, simple and bulletproof.
Quote Dave Murphy
It so happens that the little SOB is the only thing around here that has
caused be to seek stitches at the emergency room. But that's another
story.
Careful, Dave!
Quote Dave Murphy
At the time, I got the feeling that the guys at the shop had made a few for internal use, and voila a product was born. They bought more steel and grey paint, and fired up the welder. I don't think they offer the unit any more.
They're in good company. That's how Citizen Cincom machine tools were born.
Ricky Lee
201
July 27, 2009 04:16PM
Well done ! (n/t)
Don Fernando
139
July 27, 2009 06:49AM
Thanks for the tour!
Is that some sort of trap beneath the Panther Burn road sign?
What
are you doing with the dozer? I know of someone who borrowed or bought
(can't remember - many years ago) to do a small pond in their lot, just
for entertainment!
hedgesjr
142
July 27, 2009 05:54AM
My pleasure! And you have a good eye..
Quote hedgesjr
Is that some sort of trap beneath the Panther Burn road sign?
..that's a boll weevil trap. That ol' weevil nearly decimated the cotton industry, and contrary to what some think, he is not
extinct. There is still a massive eradication program going on, and
'tis the only thing that keeps them under control. A big part of
Southern culture, there's even a monument dedicated to the boll weevil;
Go figure!
Quote hedgesjr
What are you doing with the dozer?
See the stump just to the right of the dozer's blade? It ain't there no more...
Quote hedgesjr
I know of someone who borrowed or bought (can't remember - many years
ago) to do a small pond in their lot, just for entertainment!
We
(3M and I) finished up a pond just a few weeks back. Not simply for
entertainment, mind you! No, it will eventually be a stock pond.. when I
get some stock.
Ricky Lee
144
July 27, 2009 08:22AM
If you wanna put some fish in it, call these folks and see when they'll be in the area.
Flat Reto does North Mississippi.
I had good intentions, but this is the busy time of the year for me, so it was a struggle.
I sorted through the many good suggestions y'all offered, and judged that Bro. Bock's advice to "Wind some steelwire thru da hole and buckle.." was easiest and most practical. I actually used a heavy-duty plastic-coated wire tie, and it worked a treat. 
Thanks Bock!
Yet right across the street ye got..
I'm told this place was really hoppin', Back In The Day. 
Memphis Micro-Meet +Flat Reto 
Get out the baling wire, Chris! LOL!
