Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
In the Land of Delta Blues
Tennessee Day has been extended. A look ahead at the route and calendar has us spending a lot of time on the road and in states like Arkansas and Oklahoma (sorry, guys), so we decided that Memphis would be a fun place to spend New Year's Eve tomorrow.
Honestly, I am finding Tennessee to be a lot cooler than I would ever have expected. Today happened to be the Music City Bowl in Nashville, so the streets were filled with revelers (and a Jack Daniels tent which sold cups of Jack n' Coke which could be enjoyed out on the street). I'm not sure what it's like on regular days, but add in the splash of country music history from our tour of the Grand Olde Opry, and it certainly seems like a fun place that I would certainly like to visit again.
We also had lunch at the highly recommended Loveless Cafe in Nashville. By far the best meal on the trip, and possibly ever. I don't really know how some chicken sandwiches are made better, bu this one was, and throw in those biscuits, and that did it. I was done. Awesome place anyone should check out if in the Nashville area.
And I have to admit, I am finding the people down here to be very generous and hospitable. Southern hospitality is obviously not a myth. Maybe it's the warmer climes or whatever, but everyone has been awesome (and coming from a cynic like me, that's saying something.)
Tomorrow, a day of rest and some walking in Memphis, with our feet no doubt ten feet off of Beale. (I had to say it.)
Honestly, I am finding Tennessee to be a lot cooler than I would ever have expected. Today happened to be the Music City Bowl in Nashville, so the streets were filled with revelers (and a Jack Daniels tent which sold cups of Jack n' Coke which could be enjoyed out on the street). I'm not sure what it's like on regular days, but add in the splash of country music history from our tour of the Grand Olde Opry, and it certainly seems like a fun place that I would certainly like to visit again.
We also had lunch at the highly recommended Loveless Cafe in Nashville. By far the best meal on the trip, and possibly ever. I don't really know how some chicken sandwiches are made better, bu this one was, and throw in those biscuits, and that did it. I was done. Awesome place anyone should check out if in the Nashville area.
And I have to admit, I am finding the people down here to be very generous and hospitable. Southern hospitality is obviously not a myth. Maybe it's the warmer climes or whatever, but everyone has been awesome (and coming from a cynic like me, that's saying something.)
Tomorrow, a day of rest and some walking in Memphis, with our feet no doubt ten feet off of Beale. (I had to say it.)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Day 2: 1126 miles total...
In Mount Juliet TN, just outside of Nashville, and it is just before 10:00 p.m. (We crossed over a time zone somewhere in TN. Why don't they mark that somehow?)
More driving today, even some by moi (about 300 miles, I think. Still got it). I found out that driving is different everywhere outside of Massachusetts (That left lane is not just for speeding along everywhere else.) and that barbecue restaurants are too. We ate at Buddy's BBQ, which I assumed would be a real restaurant, and was just basically a fast food chain that served pulled pork and chicken. On the bright side, I ate a hush-puppy, which I discovered was just fried cornmeal. Not the best choice we could have made, but we did get a little local flavor, which is cool.
We also walked through a Piggly-Wiggly, and took a picture of the local Chester-Fried Chicken, but only because we used to have on near our home in Abington and some friends of ours worked there.
Other than the local flavor and driving, we listened to some old-school music ("Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News, anyone? Plus, the true meaning of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion") and saw a lot of crosses on the side of the highway. And a billboard that promoted Genesis 2:24, touting that marriage should be between a man and a woman. It's really a different planet, but that's what we were looking for, and that's what we're getting.
Tomorrow, we plan on hitting a recommended establishment called the Loveless Cafe', and perhaps even Memphis for sight-seeing. We have driven slightly more than a 3rd of the way to Los Angeles, and, boy, are my arms tired (Wait, that doesn't work.) Seriously, we've seen a lot and yet have seen most of it through the car window. But with these miles under our belt, I think we can start to relax and enjoy the country a bit. Even so, times are good.
More driving today, even some by moi (about 300 miles, I think. Still got it). I found out that driving is different everywhere outside of Massachusetts (That left lane is not just for speeding along everywhere else.) and that barbecue restaurants are too. We ate at Buddy's BBQ, which I assumed would be a real restaurant, and was just basically a fast food chain that served pulled pork and chicken. On the bright side, I ate a hush-puppy, which I discovered was just fried cornmeal. Not the best choice we could have made, but we did get a little local flavor, which is cool.
We also walked through a Piggly-Wiggly, and took a picture of the local Chester-Fried Chicken, but only because we used to have on near our home in Abington and some friends of ours worked there.
Other than the local flavor and driving, we listened to some old-school music ("Power of Love" by Huey Lewis & the News, anyone? Plus, the true meaning of R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion") and saw a lot of crosses on the side of the highway. And a billboard that promoted Genesis 2:24, touting that marriage should be between a man and a woman. It's really a different planet, but that's what we were looking for, and that's what we're getting.
Tomorrow, we plan on hitting a recommended establishment called the Loveless Cafe', and perhaps even Memphis for sight-seeing. We have driven slightly more than a 3rd of the way to Los Angeles, and, boy, are my arms tired (Wait, that doesn't work.) Seriously, we've seen a lot and yet have seen most of it through the car window. But with these miles under our belt, I think we can start to relax and enjoy the country a bit. Even so, times are good.
Virginia is for drivers.
Stopping for quick break. Good to know Wendy's are gross everywhere you go.
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Tuesday, December 28, 2010
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