Travelling Trio

USA – Memphis – Nashville (Tennessee) – Week 5

• By Denise
• April 9, 2016
• No Comments

Our road trip to Memphis was awesome! We briefly stopped at the home of Kermit the Frog (or where Jim Henson lived) and then continued through Vicksburg which was burnt down after the Civil War – because the soldiers weren’t cared for like in Natchez (see my earlier post on Natchez)…There were only a few antebellum houses left but these were interesting and great to see.

While we have been driving these long distances we have noticed the huge number of RVs towing a second car and usually two bicycles attached. It seems to be a very popular form of travel here in the States. The roads are wide and most are at least two or three lanes each way which will assist in prevent head on collisions and the roads or highways are separated by a large median strip of grass at least 10m wide! For the most part we are coping well with the spaghetti junctions and busy roads but there are times when we have to double back!!

Onto Clarksdale – arguably the home of Blues and where Rock n Roll started. We were fortunate enough to know about the Rock and Blues Museum and had a wonderful hour looking through one man’s 45 year collection – absolutely amazing.

The lady at the museum then suggested we stop by Red’s place – the only original juke joint left in this area. Red has owned and run this property for well over 50 years now and it is a favourite haunt for all musicians wanting to have a jam session. She also said if we had time, to stop by the Shack Up Inn just on the outskirts of Clarksdale. This was an old cotton mill with original staff quarters. We managed to find this place and what a surprise!! An old mill with all of its original contents, tools, machinery and much more too. Golly, this was a step back in time and it worked! A bar, area for a band, game centre, accommodation and restaurant all in one. This was a fantastic set up and we were so glad to have visited. If you are ever visiting Clarksdale then this is certainly a place to experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carter was able to pick some cotton from the field nearby so he got to see what his clothes are made of in the raw form. I think he was quite surprised…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After arriving in Memphis we spent the night watching the Oscars live. The adverts are so funny as the businesses each try to make a story about their product and including the oscars – quite clever really. Next day was my day.

First stop was to Sun Studios to see the studio Elvis and others made their recordings. It was Monday morning but we were too early to get in to see the studio but we were surprised at how few people were around on the streets of Memphis at 9am in the morning.  A photo outside the studio would have to suffice.

Dave and Carter then dropped me off at Graceland and I had the most special time reflecting on Elvis’ life and incredible talent. And what took me by surprise was the fact I got quite emotional and while I am writing this I am still feeling touched by his magic. I guess the fact that the home and 13.5 acres of land are fairly much exactly as he left them and with his music piped throughout you truly get the feeling of being there with him. In the 1960’s Elvis created a meditation garden not far from his swimming pool and this is were he is laid to rest. This area is peaceful and beautiful. Again the weather was the best it could be and I was able to move through the different areas with ease. I didn’t feel pressured at any time to keep in line or move quickly so this made for a relaxing wander through the estate. It might not be quite the same in peak season so we believe Spring is most definitely the best time to be visiting the States.

Thank you Elvis.

While I was getting my dose of Elvis, Dave and Carter got some retail therapy and Dave managed to find a cool pair of boots! Nothing like buying some cowboy boots from Memphis!

A couple of hours later and we were in Nashville and finding our accommodation which was one of our more expensive stays to date.  OMG what a fantastic city – our first stop was the Grand Ol’ Opry and some retail therapy for Carter at the Opry Mall. Then to downtown Nashville and a visit to the Goo Goo Candy Shop where you are given free samples of their Goo Goo biscuits/sweets. So so yummy and the equivalent in New Zealand would be the Picnic Bar.  This shop is opposite the Johnny Cash Museum so is strategically located. Next to the Country Music Hall of Fame where we all had a blast. Reading and listening to the musicians from yesteryear and current too. While we were there they had a current exhibition for Keith Urban – did you know he was born in Whangarei and lived there for the first two years of his life? So can we call him a ‘kiwi’? He and Nicole Kidman live in Nashville and are very active in the community.

Another exciting display was Taylor Swift’s education centre and a replica of her tour bus. You can also become Country Certified by completing a few challenges which Carter and I were able to do. One of the challenges was recording your own song, mixing the music, creating an album cover and basically producing your own album. Our songs have been emailed to us and we are now recording artists 🙂 However I’m not holding out any hope that we will make any money from them (LOL). Other challenges were filling in the words to a song, presenting awards and various other challenges.

This was just the best ever experience and we just don’t know where the time went as we were last to leave the museum and escorted out – nicely of course.

 

 

 

Our car was parked in a car-park facility that was charging us $US15 for a few hours so we thought we would go out to a bar and experience the live music on offer. Unfortunately most bars do not allow children from 6pm onwards but as we were wandering back to our car we were called into the Tequila Cowboy bar which welcomed all ages. Here we watched the band set up and listened to a couple of sets before heading home around eight. These guys were good and were travelling down from Ohio on their way to Florida. What a fulfilling day…

Next morning we visited the Adventure Science Museum and despite the $US55 entrance fee this is the best museum I have seen thus far for children – and interesting for adults too! It is all about interaction and having a go and we made sure we all had a go.

 

 

Carter and I experienced walking in space – I am certain I am not cut out to be an astronaut as I couldn’t keep my feet on the ground – it was hilarious! Dave and Carter worked on the outside of a rocket while suspended in space and found the different tasks quite challenging.

 

 

We had also paid for Planetarium which was a movie/educational on astronauts and what their bodies go through while in space. We were sitting laid back in the auditorium which was spherical in shape and the whole ceiling was used. I actually felt sick due to the spinning and movements the astronauts have to endure so again this confirmed I most definitely will not go into space! Carter and Dave loved this show and were excited by the roller coaster and woozy feeling you felt.

While at this museum Carter met up with a little boy who was there with his mum and sister. Enoch Coralize was 7 and is home-schooled by his mum who originated from England and is now living in Nashville with her husband and four children. It was really interesting finding out that her first two children go to school, Enoch is home-schooled and her little 4 year old girl is a peer child at a Hearing Impaired school. She is not hearing impaired herself but assists those who are. This mum has chosen different experiences for each of their children to make sure they are given the best opportunities they can be. Apparently the state schools are not very helpful to students who fall below the line.

Anyway, Carter got on so well with Enoch and they had a great time playing all the different games and experiencing the museum themselves. While talking to Enoch’s mum we also found out that this little boy is a baseball protégé and destined for greater things. At seven years old he pitches a ball at 53mph! – That’s 85kpm!! Keep an eye out for his name in the future.

We actually didn’t want to leave the Museum but knew there were other things we wanted to see too so back off to downtown Nashville and a quick stop at Coyote Ugly. Man that bar is long!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Roberts Bar is one of the most popular and most recommended Honky Tonk bars to visit down Nashville’s Broadway so that’s where we headed. True honky tonk bars mean there is no cover charge at these bars but the expectation is that you will tip the band and the bar-staff too. This band was exceptional and we had a wonderful afternoon enjoying the atmosphere and music. Our barmaid “Hope” took care of all our drinks and food and again it was just a superb day.

Another fulfilling day and a bit of regret that we were not able to be spending more time in Nashville, Tennessee. Tomorrow we are off to the smokey mountains for a week. It is supposed to snow tomorrow so that will bring us back to reality!