On Sunday morning we woke up in Little Rock, Arkansas. The KOA that we stayed at was, lets just say, rustic. In fact everything about Arkansas was rustic. Not too impressive of a place. Not much to do there than drive by the capitol, and that wasn't too impressive either. The states greatest claim to fame is that Clinton is from there, so what does that tell you? The most exciting thing that happened to us in Arkansas was when this huge hay truck rolled in next to us in the gas station. Those rolled bales were huge and the farmer in the truck got quite a kick out of us California folks getting a kick out of his truck.
The only thing we did in Arkansas was go to church. That was not rustic however. The ward was huge, actually and we really enjoyed their fast and testimony meeting, especially my teenage boys. You see, the girls in their ward had just returned from a week at girls camp and several of the prettiest and cutest girls you have ever seen got up to bear their testimonies. You can bet my boys paid good attention. It did my boys so good to see that there are some darling neat girls out there, even in Arkansas.
After sacrament meeting we came out to find that latecomers had parked in the spots directly adjacent to our RV. We were wedged in and it took Dennis quite some maneuvering to get us out, but he did it! Dennis is not only an expert driver, but is gifted with spacial things. That is what makes him such a good athlete and he can pack a trunk like you wouldn't believe, which is why he was such a great hotel doorman way back when. I would have smashed that thing up for sure. Bravo, Dennis!
The next stop on our trip was Memphis, and what do you have to see when you come to Memphis? Graceland, of course.
Since Since it was Sunday, and since none of us are actually all that interested Elvis, we did not actually pay the whopping $35 a person to go inside, but we did have to take a picture in front of the gates and just get a feel for all the craziness and hubub surrounding this rock and roll icon. I could not believe ALL the Elvis merchandise they had for sale here. Holy cow. Everything from Elvis key blanks to pink Cadillac wallets. Derek's penny machines were even inside juke boxes. It was crazy!
But the gates were not that impressive either. The walls looked an awfully lot like to walls of Mama E's, covered with graffiti from adoring and crazy fans over the years. It was kind of too much - they had even written on the sidewalk and light poles and the historical marker! Please, people.
That was it. We paid our homage to the King (mostly because Dennis' mom is a HUGE Elvis fan- I think she already owns half of that merchandise we saw there, and grandma V. would have probably disowned us if we went through Memphis without going to Graceland) and then we moved on.
A drive through downtown Memphis was interesting.
But the most famous street in Memphis, Beale St., where many of the rock and soul legends got their start, is a pedestrian zone, so we decided to stretch our legs and take a walk.
The FexEx sports arena.
The Hard Rock Cafe Memphis.
And the Gibson guitar factory, which my dad, who is fascinated by all instruments, was bummed to find offered tours, but was closed for the day.
Beal Street was a grimy, but cool place with great live soul music being played at every bar, and their own musical walk of fame under our feet.
There were some funky shops, and the boys were drawn to this window display of weapons and war helmets.
But when you are in Memphis on Beal Street, there is no more appropriate shop to step into than the music shop.
Beal street was gritty, colorful and fun - with a beat.
On our way our of town we stopped at the Sun recording studio - the "birthplace of rock n' roll" where many of the music legends including Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis, cut their first records here under the Sun label.
After sacrament meeting we came out to find that latecomers had parked in the spots directly adjacent to our RV. We were wedged in and it took Dennis quite some maneuvering to get us out, but he did it! Dennis is not only an expert driver, but is gifted with spacial things. That is what makes him such a good athlete and he can pack a trunk like you wouldn't believe, which is why he was such a great hotel doorman way back when. I would have smashed that thing up for sure. Bravo, Dennis!
Soon we were over the great Mississippi!
The next stop on our trip was Memphis, and what do you have to see when you come to Memphis? Graceland, of course.
Since Since it was Sunday, and since none of us are actually all that interested Elvis, we did not actually pay the whopping $35 a person to go inside, but we did have to take a picture in front of the gates and just get a feel for all the craziness and hubub surrounding this rock and roll icon. I could not believe ALL the Elvis merchandise they had for sale here. Holy cow. Everything from Elvis key blanks to pink Cadillac wallets. Derek's penny machines were even inside juke boxes. It was crazy!
It was SO incredibly hot and humid that day - the worst of the trip, and to make it worse the AC wasn't working too well in the RV. We were melting. We just wanted to snap our picture and leave already.
But the gates were not that impressive either. The walls looked an awfully lot like to walls of Mama E's, covered with graffiti from adoring and crazy fans over the years. It was kind of too much - they had even written on the sidewalk and light poles and the historical marker! Please, people.
That was it. We paid our homage to the King (mostly because Dennis' mom is a HUGE Elvis fan- I think she already owns half of that merchandise we saw there, and grandma V. would have probably disowned us if we went through Memphis without going to Graceland) and then we moved on.
A drive through downtown Memphis was interesting.
But the most famous street in Memphis, Beale St., where many of the rock and soul legends got their start, is a pedestrian zone, so we decided to stretch our legs and take a walk.
The FexEx sports arena.
The Hard Rock Cafe Memphis.
And the Gibson guitar factory, which my dad, who is fascinated by all instruments, was bummed to find offered tours, but was closed for the day.
Beal Street was a grimy, but cool place with great live soul music being played at every bar, and their own musical walk of fame under our feet.
There were some funky shops, and the boys were drawn to this window display of weapons and war helmets.
But when you are in Memphis on Beal Street, there is no more appropriate shop to step into than the music shop.
Beal street was gritty, colorful and fun - with a beat.
On our way our of town we stopped at the Sun recording studio - the "birthplace of rock n' roll" where many of the music legends including Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis, cut their first records here under the Sun label.
Nearly four days into our trip as we rode on that long ride through Tennessee. At least there is room in that RV for people to stretch out and sleep as we rolled along.
1 comment:
I want to bring you along as my next vacation photographer. This trip looks wonderful.
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