Early start this morning to have time for today's sight seeing. A nice brisk 14 degrees C when we left. Seems a good temperature now, we must be getting used to the cooler weather.
First stop was coffee when we found one of Tennessee's rest areas. I know I've said how good these are but this one even had art work/photos of musicians and singers in the rest rooms. Always good to stop in these as we always meet and chat to people.
Next stop was the Casey Jones museum in Jackson, Tennessee. Why Casey Jones? Well the more mature of us will remember the TV show of that name but were you aware that Casey Jones was actually a real engine driver? He was killed when his engine, "Old 382"' crashed but is remembered as he was able to get all the crew and passengers off the train before it crashed. All except Casey survived. Unfortunately, the museum didn't open until 1:00pm on Sundays. Probably should have checked that. Never mind, it's that sort of trip with the distance we are covering, we needed time in Memphis.
Into Memphis and to Elvis Presley's home, Gracelands. Interesting place to go through though only able to see the ground floor. The house is supposedly just as it was when he died though some of the outer areas have been changed to house a lot of the memorabilia, costumes and awards he had received. A very well presented tour at your own pace using an interactive audio visual presentation on an iPad. After going through the house and gardens, we got to look at the automobile collection. Not very impressive and although it is supposed to have more than 100 items available, only a small number are on display at any one time.
Into our motel for the night then a walk up town to see Memphis. Two things in particular to see, Beale Street, which is renown for its action in the form of live entertainment and food outlets. With the street closed off for two two blocks, a nightly action I guess, we were able to wander around and check things out and listened to the music.
Another attraction is the ducks at the Peabody Hotel. An attraction for around 80 years, started when someone put three ducks in the indoor fountain as a joke after they'd had a few. They were such an attraction, they were trained to perform a daily ritual of coming down from their penthouse home to the foyer each morning and returning at 5:00pm. Sorry about the limited successful pictures, we got there about 4:30pm but obviously should have been there much earlier to get a decent view.
Tomorrow we head west on what I anticipate will be a very boring run with little to see and lots of distance to cover. Could get up in temperature as well so we may get an early start.
397 klms today, total to date 10,122 klms.
I told you about the great rest areas, this one had artwork hanging in the restrooms
"Old 382" The engine that John Luther "Casey" Jones was at the throttle of when he crashed and died
The Casey Jones Museum, Jackson, Tennesse
The house where he lived in Jackson, Tennesse
The dogs were as bored as we were so entertained themselves barking at us
Inside Gracelands, Elvis Presley's home in Memphis
The Entertainment/Cinema room
The textile lined Pool Room
The rear of Gracelands
Awards in what was the Raquetball Room
Elvis, his mother and father and grandmother are buried in the Meditation Garden
The front of Gracelands
The front of Gracelands
A Stutz Blackhawk in Elvis' car collection
Celebrating visiting Gracelands
Ducks on the Fountain of the Peabody Hotel
The ducks were ready for the march back to their penthouse suite
Hernando de Soto Bridge over the Mississippi River with about half of what's left of an old Cobblestone River landing area in the foreground
Beale St, Memphis. Food, and entertainment seven days a week
