#WhereAreTheUbryTerrells ... Leg 3: Lufkin, TX, to Corbin, KY

Lufkin, Texas, to Corbin, Kentucky.

This was our "touristy" leg of the journey.

Every good road trip needs one.

While driving north on 59 from Houston toward Arkansas, we noticed a billboard advertising the "Home of the Chick-o-Stick" in Lufkin, Texas. Randy loves this candy, so we immediately decided we needed to stop. The GPS took us 20 minutes out of the way but eventually we landed outside the warehouse we were looking for. At one end of the building a door was labeled "Candy Kitchen." We entered and were met with a tiny area filled with candy. We tried to buy souveniers -- t-shirts, bumper stickers, whatever -- but there were none to be had. We were there during lunch break so we couldn't get a factory tour either. But we loaded up on candy and were satisfied. Most tourist stops are like this aren't they -- meant to make you feel good for a moment but not really dramatic or life changing. And yet you leave with a good story and a memory that will likely take on epic proportions the more time passes.

That night we stayed at a Motel 6 in Atlanta, TX. A storm came up and knocked out a nearby transformer, leaving us in the dark for the next 2 hours. It was kind of a grungy hotel, so we didn't really mind not being able to see our whereabouts. I used the time to read a book on the tablet and Randy took a nap.

It might also be fun to note that throughout this journey we've basically been wearing the same outfits over and over again because we weren't at all prepared for what April would be like in 2018. I was especially naive, filling my suitcase with sun dresses and sandals, while I should have had my snow pants and and winter jacket at the ready!

The next day we were passing through Little Rock, Arkansas. While searching the web for "things to do" we came across a walking path called the "Big Dam Bridge" trail. Popular for its humorous name, no doubt. But with a lot of fun facts too. For example, it is the longest bicycle and pedestrian bridge in the world built for that purpose.

After our hike we were ready for lunch. We stopped in the little town of Carlisle. Our friends who had introduced us to the orphanage in San Felipe had the last name Carlile, and any time we lunched with them we were always delighted by the family-style atmosphere. So we knew there must be good things in Carlisle, Arkansas (even though it was spelled slightly different). Carlisle, however, appeared to have nothing to eat... until we came cross this sign:

I encouraged Randy to turn and go the two blocks, thinking we'd likely just keep on going once we got to "Advada's", but we were met with the most shocking surprise!

A delightful little diner in the middle of nowhere. Think New Vienna, Ohio. Or Newcastle, California. That's what Carlisle was like. And then drop in this masterpiece, filled with memorabilia and delicious meals. My favorite part, however, was the menu. If you wanted something on the "lighter side", they offered beef steak, as opposed to the "regular" menu's burgers and fries. Ha!

That night we stayed just over the border in Memphis, Tennessee. Randy loved the old abandoned buildings next door, though there was music late into the night so we knew there was city life not far away.

In the morning we went to the National Civil Rights Museum, housed in the Lorraine Hotel, where Martin Luther King, Jr., was shot.

It was incredibly powerful. Both heartbreaking and empowering. I was particularly moved by the emphasis on the role of youth in the Civil Rights Movement.

I feel a similar vibe today, as young people take the lead in speaking out against school shootings and other acts of violence. Some day it may be their faces in a museum as the ones who made the difference.

After spending two hours at such a powerful place, being tourists didn't exactly have the same appeal. How could we tour Graceland or Beale Street after all that? So we did what tourists typically do: we took drive-by photos to say we'd "been there", even if we hadn't actually "done that".

It was time for lunch again, and we wondered if anything would compare to Advadas. While the spot we found was not out-of-the-way or in a one-horse town, it was equally delightful: Kooky Kanucks. A burger joint obviously owned by a Canadian. Featured on the first season of "Man vs. Food." With a fun and festive environment, and the best fried pickles I've ever tasted. Not to mention the burger, topped with a fried egg. Another successful stop on the journey!

We stayed just outside of Nashville, TN, that night, but were growing anxious the closer we got to our "final" destination. We decided not to be tourists in Nashville, though there was certainly plenty there we could have seen. Instead, we drove through the snow to Corbin, Kentucky, where my cousin Kellie had invited us to spend the night.

Kellie and her kids were the most gracious hosts! We had a delicious dinner and laugh-out-loud conversations. And we learned something that fascinated us: when Randy asked what Corbin was "known for", we learned that it was the home of Colonel Sanders and the very first Kentucky Fried Chicken! KFC holds a special place in our hearts because our handyman in Mexico l-o-v-e-d it so much, every time we went to the city he would ask if we were going to "Kentucky" or could bring him back some fried chicken. So on our way out of town the next morning we stopped at a little park dedicated to the Colonel's memory, where we learned he was a bit of a brawler, but that fierceness is what kept him motivated to face over 1,000 rejections of his "secret recipe" chicken. And the rest, as they say, is history!