On the Road...my version

I have two daughters that both attend Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, Florida. For the last two Junes, we have to take one and then both girls down to school. They work down there all summer and it is deducted from their tuition bill. This is a great deal for them.

It's a great deal for us too. Because although it's a quick two day trip down there, and the mandatory stop at Sonny's Bar-B-Que, it's a nice leisurely three or four day trip back. We have a ball on these trips back home.

The first year we went home via Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is as different from Nashville as day and night. Memphis is in the south, and ironically, Nashville isn't. I know that doesn't make sense, but if you visit both places, it will make sense.

I finally got to visit Graceland. (By the way I am constantly getting to achieve life-goals with my wife. More than any other time in my life. This woman is tremendous.)  We had fun there, but quickly abandoned the headsets, because seriously I know more about Graceland than that recorded tour could ever hope to know. It was a blast. From there we went over to what I consider America's mecca, Sun Recording Studios. I was in awe. Standing in the room where so much of my favorite music ever happened. Same walls. Same tile on the ceiling. Same everything. I even got to hold the mic and stand in the spot where Elvis first did "That's Alright Mama", virtually inventing rock and roll.

The following year, last June, we headed north again, but this time I wanted to visit Tupelo, Mississippi. The birthplace of Elvis Presley. It was awesome. Tupelo, or as my wife called it, "Tupellio", I will never know why she couldn't get it right, is a wonderful town that needs all of you to visit. I loved Tupelo, and honestly, Mississippi is one of my favorite states. There is something dark and mysterious there. Anyhow after enjoying Elvis' birthplace and the restaurants he used to go to, etc. we were off. I was determined to cross the state so that I could get my picture taken at "The Crossroads". The crossroads where Highway 61 crosses Highway 47, the spot where Robert Johnson made a deal with the Devil, to be the greatest bluesman ever. I had my photo op. On our way out of town, I stopped in front of an abandoned gas station. There was a huge sign in front of one of the broken windows that said "NO LOTERING" and there must have been 14 guys out front. I stopped and asked if I could get a pic and reluctantly they agreed. To me the icing on the cake was that "Loitering" was misspelled. We headed to Memphis, but by the time we got there, my wife Penny wasn't feeling well at all, so we decided to keep on moving. We made it to somewhere in Missouri. Since we try not to eat at chains on the road, we ended up at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston, Missouri. What a treat that was! You holler roll and they throw one at you from across the room. What fun! Later I found out this place has been one the Food Channel among others.

The next morning we headed to Springfield, Illinois, passing the St. Louis Arch in the process. When we got to Springfield, everywhere was booked up, but we did manage to get a room at a place that was actually the first ever Holiday Inn built on Route 66. One wing of the original place was incorporated into what had become a concourse for a restaurant and comedy club. It was kind of fun.....no elevator though....

We were able to visit Lincoln's home, the Lincoln Presidential Museum (the best of them all, supposedly, but still make sure you visit the Gerald R. Ford in Grand Rapids, Michigan), The Frank Lloyd Wright 'Dana Thomas House', and Lincoln's Tomb. I absolutely love the sculpture at Lincoln's Tomb. It's the best I've ever seen.

And Springfield features Coney Dog. A hot dog on a stick. Corn dog?, I ask. "Only better!" was the girl's reply. A Corn dog, but instead of a cornbread based coating, more of a flour coating, so it was more like a regular hot dog, but on a stick. Great fries.

From there we headed home. But it was a fun trip home. My wife is a blast and she always makes sure to indulge me in my wants...like the Lincoln Museum etc. That's just who I am and she gets that.

Like when we visited Fredricksburg and posed on the wall you're not supposed to touch......

Next year? Helen Keller's home, and the whole Hank Williams thing in Alabama.