To Knoxville, TN

On the fourth day of my cross-country trip, I drove from Brinkley, Arkansas, to Knoxville, Tennessee, along Interstate 40. This route took me through some of the most historic and cultural regions in the country, from the Mississippi Delta to the Appalachian Mountains; but, again, I was focused on my goal of reaching the East Coast as quickly as possible.

Oddly, I realized as I got into the Tesla to resume my journey, that I felt better than I have in weeks…or even months. I couldn't figure it out, as I had not been exercising or anything since I'd left. In fact, I was basically spending the entire day driving, driving, driving; getting out only to charge the car. And yet my blood pressure felt (I didn't bring a monitor) better than it had in ages. Perhaps the meds were finally kicking in? My primary care physician had said it might take awhile.

Or maybe it was the increasingly beautiful scenery.

Memphis, Tennessee, still featured the big pyramid, which Michael and my Mom and I visited some twenty years ago (we saw the Titanic exhibit). Now it seems to have something to do with Bass Pro Shops. So I looked it up.

The Memphis Pyramid, formerly known as the Great American Pyramid, was originally built as a sports arena and entertainment venue in 1991. It hosted various events, such as basketball games, concerts, and exhibitions, until it closed in 2004 (just after our visit). In 2015, it reopened as a Bass Pro Shops megastore, featuring a hotel, restaurants, aquariums, a bowling alley, and other attractions. The pyramid is now one of the most popular tourist destinations in Memphis, attracting millions of visitors every year. It is also the largest Bass Pro Shops store in the world, covering more than 500,000 square feet.

I didn't stop in Memphis, but I did have to charge up at Jackson, Tennessee. I noticed the buildup of bug carcasses on the windshield, and decided a car wash might be in my near future.

Charging typically takes from 10 to 40 minutes, depending on how low the batteries are and how full I want to charge them. (The Navigator advises minimal stops, just long enough to charge enough to make the next SuperCharger station on my route; but if I anticipate sightseeing or just driving around, or simply want more of a charge in the morning when I leave, I'll let it go to 95% or even 100%.)

The countryside became prettier as I got into more mountainous areas. I tried to take the above photo of a storybook farm, but got photobombed by a maroon SUV.

And, again, I used Bookings.com with good results.