Day 3 - Memphis

This morning we left Nashville and arrived in Memphis in the early afternoon.  We have reservations at a campground almost across the street from Graceland, how great is that?  Our afternoon was free, so we are heading downtown to the Peabody Hotel to see the ducks move from the fountain to the elevator.  They take the elevator to their room on the top floor. 

After setting up a red carpet and stairs and at the 5:00 pm bell, the ducks come out of the fountain.  The ducks then are escorted along the red carpet to the elevator where they head up to their room.  Yes, they have their own room in the hotel. 

The lobby is very impressive, big chandeliers and furniture with large open spaces and a mezzanine overlooking it all. 

Since it is the beginning of October, Christmas ornaments are for sale.  In this case they represent the ducks we saw earlier walking from the fountain to the elevator.  The ornament looks like a yellow marshmallow peep in a little bathtub, how cute is that?

While looking around the hotel, I came upon a number of ceramics.  I thought they look quite nice.  I’m not sure, but I think they are Chinese characters.  Some like the one on the left, hold walking sticks or canes.

Leaving the hotel on our way back to the motor home for the night, we take a route that we will pass Sun Recording Studios where Elvis recorded his first record.  It is closed for the night, so we do not stop.  We were on Marshall Ave, stopped for a red light, at the corner with Union Ave when I took this picture.  In case you ever want to visit, the address for Sun Recording Studios is 706 Union St.

Day 2 - Nashville, Tennessee

Today we are going to the RCA Victor Studio B and Country Music Hall of Fame in downtown Nashville.  We begin our day at the RCA Studio B where over 35,000 songs were recorded with over 1,000 of them becoming top ten hits.

In this studio, Elvis recorded more than half of his songs here.   Elvis used the piano in this studio for many of the his songs. 

He loved the piano in the studio so much that he wanted to take it home, but the piano was kept here on display.  

In the back, behind the piano is a piece of the cabinet that is broken.  It is said that Elvis kicked it when his favorite record player would not run.  

Next we went to the Country Music Hall of Fame.  The tour included some of the cars owned by some of the biggest country stars.  Including this 1960 Cadillac limousine once owned by Elvis Presley.

On display are many gold and platinum records by various artists.  Here is Carmen in front of one of Elvis' platinum records, Elvis' Christmas Album.  

There were many plaques depicting those inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  There are those you would think should be here including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Chris Kristoffferson, Roy Rogers, and more.  But, I was surprised to also see the Everly Brothers.  For a non-Country fan, the exhibit was pretty good.  I was amazed at the number of country artists I actually new and heard. 

After the Hall of Fame, we spent the remainder of the afternoon in downtown Nashville and all its Honky-Tonks.  We ate lunch at Jack's Bar-B-Que.  Lunch was good, and so was walking around town.

I know we are in Honky-Tonk central, because the sign said so.

Just across the river from where we are is the Tennessee Titans stadium.

On of the last bars we pass before leaving for the day is Big Shotz.  Like most of the others we have gone by some people are in the bars, music is playing, and people are, as the sign, says are having a "hell of a time".

As we were driving away, I caught this sign advertising Popcorn Sutton's whiskey.  You might remember him, if you watched, I think the discovery channel, where they followed moon-shiners.  Popcorn was caught and imprisoned.  He later died and his wife, using the money from his revenue, paid for a legal license.  This advertising sign is the result of that licensed moonshine.

Tomorrow we leave for Memphis, Tennessee.

Day 1 - Nashville, Tennessee

We begin our RV trip on Wednesday 9/26/2012 from Sebastian, Florida.  On this trip we will be driving our 24-foot class A motorhome; with it we are pulling our car.  We are on our way to the Balloon Festival (Oct 7 through Oct 11) in Albuquerque, New Mexico but first we'll make stops in Nashville and Memphis Tennessee.  

Nashville is where we will meet up with several other RVs.  On our way we drove north on I-95, west on I-10, then north on I-75 where we will stop in Georgia for an overnight.  While at the campground, the area experienced some very high winds, breaking tree branches and toppling tents and ez-ups.

The next day (9/27/2012) we left the campground early, since it will take us most of the day to get to Nashville.  By the time we reach Nashville it is later in the afternoon and check into the Two Rivers campground.  Even though it is really day 3 the first 2 days were driving to get here, hence the title indicates day 1 of our trip.

After setting up we meet with some the others that we will travel with.  Good friends Rick and Shirley Hood are pulling a 5th wheel and have traveled to Nashville from Brunswick, Maine; Shirley’s sister and husband are also in a Motor coach similar to ours and they are here from Tallahassee, FL.  There are another two couples that will accompany us on this trip.

Today 9/28/2012 we begin touring Nashville, TN and Carmen and I went to the Parthenon (a scaled copy of the original in Greece), Belle Meade Plantation, and finally after dinner at the Santa Fe Cattle Co. we end the evening at the Grand Ole Opry.  

We started the day with a visit to the Parthenon and that includes the Athena statue.  As you look at the statue of Athena, you can get a feel for its size by the smaller statue (Greek god Nike) in her right hand.  He is 6 feet 4 inches tall!  Imaging the size of her, at 42 feet, she is quite impressive.  On her chest is the magic breast plate armor that has the head of Medusa.

Once again, outside the Parthenon you can clearly see the relief depicting the Greek gods and scenes on the frieze depicting the slaying of Centaurs.  It is difficult to see, but there is a screen over the sculptures to protect them from the birds.

Next, we went to the Bell Meade Plantation.  The house is impressive with many of the original pieces that were taken or sold, being returned to the house.  This is one of the better restored and maintained plantation houses Carmen and I have seen.  

A couple of the out buildings that housed different people that worked on the plantation.  One might have been for the manager or others who lived on the grounds, but not part of the family.  

Some of the buggies that were in the bar.  Here there were also others like a sled and a cannon.  

The grounds have some nice pastures where several horses roamed.  Fencing was in very good shape and I'm glad that my entrance fee is going to good use and upkeep of the property.

And lastly, after dinner at the Santa Fe Cattle Co., which was very good, with all of the people we are on this RV trip with, we spent the evening at the Grand Ole Opry.  Outside of the Opry were a couple of giant guitars, here Carmen is in front of one of them.  

The Grand Ole Opry building.  The show format was different than I expected.  The show has four segments with a segment “host” who sings a song then turns the stage over to two other bands/singers each playing two songs and the segment finishes with the Host singing another song.  So during the evening performance we had 12 different performers (bands) playing music. 

If you are ever in Nashville, Country fan or not, I would recommend going to a performance.  We saw a number of country stars, including Little Jimmy Dickens, who was almost 92 at the time.  

Until later, Bob and Carmen