What is Memphis without a trip to Graceland? I had forgotten how good-looking he was and what a great voice he had.

Peabody Hotel in downtown. Claim to fame is the ducks that hang out in the lobby fountain all day. At five o’clock they go up the elevator to the roof top where they hang out for the night. Don’t ask me why.

Beale street is the happening place in Memphis. Unlike Nashville, very little music during the day. Mostly starts about 7 which is about the time we are getting into our jammies. But we made ourselves stay up one night.

Sunset over the Mississippi.

It turns out that Wednesdays are bikers night. A guy on the street told me that most of the time there weren’t many bikers but they were out in force tonight because of the warm evening. It was a crazy scene.

A biker chick:

Harleys and Cinderella carriages:

And finally a picture I snapped at Walmart today that reflects my observations about race after being in the South for months:

These two black women and one white woman were sitting there talking and laughing. Just three older ladies. I’m sure there are racial tensions we didn’t see, but what we observed was whites and blacks working together, playing together, helping each other and just living life together. Even the black and white bikers were just hanging out and having fun together. So different from what we see in the news. And that’s a good thing.

We are staying at a beautiful state park in Memphis:

We visited Sun Records that launched the careers of so many, including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Ike Turner and many others:

In the original studio, using the mic that many famous people used:

Kid in another candy store (Gibson guitar factory store):

So I went with him to Clarksdale! Clarksdale is Known as the birthplace of the blues and the downtown area is devoted to music. John loves music history and is a huge fan of the blues in particular so he had to go to Clarksdale. Actually, if I wanted to stay with my trailer I didn’t have a choice.

This is downtown. Except for a couple of music stores, nothing is open on Sunday.

The real reason we came. John lives to go to music museums and listen to music. I have to say, the musicians were great.

Another museum!:

A kid in a candy store:

Sometimes you just have to go with them even if it’s not what you would choose to do. But I see a shopping trip in my future in the Fashion District in NYC!

The NTP is 444 miles long from Natchez to Nashville. It’s a two lane, curvy, beautiful, historic road. It roughly follows the route of the Old Trace which was a road traveled by Indians, pioneers, traders and soldiers. We did 122 miles of it north from Biloxi in February and just did 185 miles of it south from Nashville. It is so beautiful and it was hard to pick from all the pictures I took.

We just spent five days in Nashville and had a fabulous time. If you like country music like we do, this city is a must.
After the rain:

Went to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. It was fabulous:

Went “honky-Tonkin” as John says. So many great musicians playing for tips only while hoping to make it big. Don’t come to Nashville to be discovered unless you have an amazing voice and/or mad guitar/fiddle/steel guitar skills:


Went to Franklin Graham’s prayer rally at the State capital. It was a fabulous time of worship by Charlie Danieks, Dennis Agaganian, and Michael W Smith and message from Franklin Graham about the importance of being informed voters and challenging Christians to get involved in local politics.

For our 41st anniversary, saw Bonnie Raitt at the historic Ryman Auditorium:

Visited the Grand Ole Opry and the Opry Hotel. The hotel is gorgeous:

Visited the Hermitage, home of Andrew Jackson. John Kiger to replace him on the $20 bill?