Week 2

Monday 7th September

Nashville

Week 2 and we travel from Macon Georgia through to Nashville Tennessee. We didn’t know it but we crossed a time zone so our clocks went back one hour. The roads were fairly quiet as it was a public holiday (Labor Day).

We are staying in a small cabin near the centre of Nashville. A quiet area near Sylvan Park. Great place and the owners live next door.

Tuesday 8th September

Visited Gaylord Opryland and then the Grand Ole Opry for a great concert with Bill Anderson, Jewel, Gene Watson, Craig Morgan, Waterloo Revival, Lee Greenwood and Rascal Flatts. All broadcast on live radio. Its been going since 1925 and is the longest running live radio show in the world.

… and then the concert finished and we lost the car – took ages to find – and then got lost on the way home!!!!

Wednesday 9th September

Some storms today – still 90 degrees F though. Visit to the Ryman Auditorium where many artists started off:-

Elvis, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Lorreta Lynn, The Ink Spots, Mae West, Dolly Parton (only last week), Bob Hope,Hank Williams etc etc. Blue Grass Music invented here also. Fascinating.

Loads of cafes all playing live bands who all seem to be great.

Thursday 10th September

Our last day in Nashville – it was supposed to be a quiet day but turned out hectic. We went to the Belle Meade Plantation, a 19th Century plantation (seemingly arable crops) but famous for racehorses. Interesting history with loads of artefacts from the era.

Then on returning we chatted to our hosts Randa and Kendell Marvel. Kendell is a famous songwriter in Nashville and Pauline told him she was disappointed in not being able to go to the Bluebird Café. Seconds later Kendell was making a phone call and we had 2 seats booked!! (seems its so popular the seats sell out in less than 10 minutes). Kendell often plays in the Bluebird and so has connections. We met Brian, Mary and baby (3 weeks old) Asher originally from Oklahoma, who shared a table with us

Even better was their recommendations regarding transport. We rode the UBER. Its a system of private cars running as highly efficient taxis – no transfer of money (all on internet banking), tracking the cabs online via the app and we had a cab for both journeys within 4 minutes. We should have this in Canterbury.

Friday 11th September

A four hour drive and we are in Memphis Tennessee. A B&B over 100 years old (pics tomorrow).

On the recommendation of the owner we head off to Beale Street in Memphis. The street is famous for the Blues. Its certainly lively but there are some fantastic band playing in bars or just in the street.

 

Saturday 12th September

A visit to Elvis’s home today but first we discover that Tom, our host at the B&B went to High School with Elvis. He says Elvis was 2 years above him but nevertheless signed his year book for him.

Gracelands was a great visit, it took us 4 hours to go round the whole experience, including his cars and planes.

Sunday 13th September

This is where we are staying

Continuing the music theme we visited Sun Recording Studio and Stax museum. The Sun studio is exactly the same as it was when it folded in 1974. Elvis cut his first disc here and artists still record (Bob Dylan, U2 …..). Apparently Bob didn’t record here he just came in and kissed the X on the floor where Elvis sang into the microphone.

Both venues were great in different ways. I always loved the Stax stuff in the 60s – Sam and Dave, Arthur Conley, Al Green, Sam Cook, Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas etc etc.

Tomorrow is week 3 and a long drive to the Smokey Mountains beyond Chatenooga