Middle America

Linda cooked up another getaway for us, driving through
some of Middle America. The idea was to spend a few days

free-wheeling through Tennessee and the Smokey Mountains.

So we headed the Mustang up I30 to

First Stop: Little Rock

 We arrived in the early evening so we found a room,

and grabbed some dinner.  Then, next morning we found this Old Mill...

 

 Good Ol' Master Gardeners...wait.  Is that marijuana?

  As you can see, we played around like a couple of kids!



Just at the edge of Bolivar Tennessee is the Route 64 Diner,

home of the hand-formed,  half pound Route 64 Burger.

 The eyes are saying " You want it? Come take it." 

Back in the day, the movie "Walking Tall" was made based on

some true life events involving a southern sheriff and a gang of thugs.

His name was Bufford T Pusser, and he now has a stretch of highway

named for him. That was back before CGI, when the special effects were created

by a big, strong, good guy, and a 2x4!

We were cruising the southern edge of Tennessee

when we found the perfect stop for the night!

Lots of cool history here,

including the house where General U.S. Grant conducted
some Union activities during the War Between the States.

 Since we were so close to the Muscle Shoals area of Alabama,

we decided to swing down and check out the Fame recording studio. 

My BFF Self put me onto this place because it was featured on a PBS special

about how many GREAT R&B hits were recorded here, and in the earlier Fame studio,

now defunct.

 Some of their history:  Aretha, the Wicked Pickett, Jackie Wilson, Etta James,

Clarence Carter, Arthur Conley, even the Stones, The Osmonds, Paul Anka, Mac Davis,

Jerry Reed, Ricky van Shelton, Chris LeDoux, Travis Tritt, Kenny Chesney,

and tons more.  Phew!

 Linda sitting at the sound board with GM John,

who showed us all around!

Let's make a hit record! 

 Studio A, with Linda and John way back there in the booth!

Drumset...check!  Baby Grand...check!

And the old Wurlitzer Organ played by Spooner on "Mustang Sally"...check!

I can't help it, I love me some heavy Bass!

 I gotta have more Cowbell!

 John stepped away a moment to greet some other guests,

and I jumped at my chance to play the Wurlitzer!

That was a blast!  Then we drove up the Natchez Trace Parkway,

which is a cool highway that is closed to all commercial vehicles.

So it was just used by folks like us!

All the way to Franklin Tennessee.  This is a beautiful historic town

about twenty minutes south of Nashville.

It couldn't be more different!  Lots of shops and eateries,

antique malls, and lots of friendly people.

I scored a hot date that evening, at the Chop House. 

This is what I call dinner with a view!

Next day we shopped some more

and took in the sights

This gentleman could have been an ex-mayor of Franklin,

he was such a terrific ambassador for the town!

He approached Linda first with a little gift he made for visitors,

then gave us lots of 411 on his town.  And he was just one of THREE

total strangers that greeted us and asked to help with directions and such!

Had a wonderful lunch at Merridee's

(this place alone would be worth the trip)

Franklin has converted an abandoned factory to be a mall

for shops and cafes, and a local radio station!

The name: The Factory

The old school theater

So much fun, we hated to leave, but...



 One of the main reasons for this trip was to

check the country music capitol of the world, Nashville!

You won't believe lower Broadway. 

It was bumper to bumper bars and honky tonks.

After a look, we headed out to Music Row, where

Music Square crosses Music Circle.

Where else but Nashville? 

This area was several blocks long, and was filled with wall to wall music

publishing houses, most of  which looked like they were once private residences. 

Broadway after dark.

It's just amazing how all of these joints seem to survive!

We visited Nashville's big City Park,

where they have erected a copy of the Greek Parthenon.

When I mentioned to the curator that there is already one like this,

she just stared ahead...unblinking.

 

OK, time to go.  We drove eastward, across Tennessee and crossed

the Cain River.  It was so foggy, it was scarry.

In eastern Tennessee you'll find Sevier County, home of Sevierville,

and Dolly's hang-out, Pigeon Forge.  Lots to see and do here,

 but we were recommended to go on to Gatlinburg,

which we did. (Thanks Danae!)

It's a very picturesque town,

that has become quite the tourist destination

It's at the foothills of the Smoky Mountains,

(This pic was across the street from our hotel)

and many of the buildings and hotels and shops

are styled like Swiss chalets!

I'm sure it's a ski mecca when it snows, but in the summer, it's just a beautiful

getaway for hikers, rafters, or folks like us, who just want to relax.

They even have their own version of the Seattle Space Needle! 

The Foxtrot Bed and Breakfast

And Gatlinburg is where we met Becky Lynn Odom.

It was at our rooftop pool where we were relaxing after the day's drive.

She was swimming around by herself, so I engaged her by asking if she was Ariel,

the Little Mermaid. She explained that she was not, but rather on vacation here

from her home in Hawaii. Her deep southern drawl should have tipped me off , but until now,

I had never met an 8 yr old con-artist, so I accepted her story as true. Perhaps I should've asked her why anyone would leave Hawaii to come to Tennessee, but her southern charm had blinded me. 

And I know something about little girls with lots of charm!  Anyway, this went on awhile, until another couple at the pool finally spoke up, and confessed that Becky Lynn was their daughter

and her entire life story was one that they had never heard before, and had been conjured up

just for me!   I suppose I should be flattered, but boys, beware of all little mermaids!

 

Later that evening we had dinner on the balcony of a popular local restaurant.

Our view to the left... and to the right



And straight across the street











 

Next morning we headed east again, into the mountains.

 Just beautiful!

 Not as dramatic as the Rockies...but a lot smokier!

We even spotted some elk on the way.

At least that's what the park ranger said!

Then, as we came back down out of the mountains, the first stop

is a little Indian village where we saw this sign!



We made Chatanooga by lunch, and the best part was the Chick-fil-a!

Since "Dress Like a Cow Day" is a time -honored tradition in my family,

Linda actually snuck our cow disguises into the car back at home, just for this day.

I kid you not. So, we ate for free at the Chatanooga Chick-fil-a!

Next day we made for Tupelo, Mississippi

Birth place of the King of Rock and Roll!

Elvis! The original First-Name-Only Superstar!

Madonna, put your shirt on, and tell all those other come-latelies

that the one name fame thing has already been done!

And BTW, there's only one crown, and it's already taken!

Tupelo is very proud of their favorite son, and there's statues and

historical markers all over the city.  Here the King serenades a lovely fan.

I could've stood up on this guitar like a 50's bass player,

but I didn't want to.

The childhood home of Elvis - just two rooms! 

Me, with a boyhood statue of the King.

There, there, son, the audition will go better next time.

Over my shoulder you can see the little church

where E learned to sing some gospel!

Any of the locals will tell you Elvis' favorite burger hangout

was this place, called Johnnies Drive-In!

You go inside, and order at the counter...

Then, you may take a booth.  Elvis' favorite booth was this one, marked with a

gold plague that says "Elvis' Booth".  Just above the plaque is a black and white

photo of Elvis enjoying a Johnnie burger in this booth!

I tried the Johnnie, and I could tell you what's in it,

but that would spoil the fun!

They even have some night life...well it was really just this sign. 

Now the photograph used to model the statue,, and the statue.

Long Live the King, Baby!