Ok…so maybe it’s not quite like Jules Verne…but driving across the country was an experience like no other. My best friend, Melissa, of 25 years, decided to take the plunge and move out to San Francisco. While I was not ready for her to leave, I knew the best way to accept it was to just bring her myself. We jumped into her car (AKA Haley), the trip began, the photos commenced, and the rest as they say...is history.
The first day was a big undertaking, but we decided to do our best to drive down to Nashville, TN. With our adrenaline pumping the first 5 hours flew by and we had already crossed 4 state lines! We made our first stop at James Madison University in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Unfortunately, we could not stay too long so we drove through and continued onward. I learned that Virginia has free-standing Chick-fil-A’s. While I’m not a fast food junkie, I can make exceptions for this place. It was there that Melissa taught me that during a long drive it’s important to stretch out and get the blood flowing. Therefore, she came prepared and in the middle of the parking lot we actually took turns jumping rope. And to think…that was only 5 hours into our drive!
As our first day continued, we realized that this was going to be the trip of a lifetime. After refueling with dinner in Knoxville, TN, (and refueling Haley) we pushed forward. About 35 miles past Knoxville we let out high-pitched yelps as we crossed our first time zone and entered Central Standard Time. Our friends told us there would never be a sign for that…but to our excitement they actually do post signs on the side of the road when you cross over. Granted the delirium had started setting in…but it was really awesome. That burst of energy kept us going, along with Raffi (Don’t deny it, you know who he is) and we even drove right past our exit! However, we did make it to Nashville late that first night; found a Comfort Inn and slept like babies.
The Opryland Resort was our first destination in the Nashville area. I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but it was really beautiful. It was as if we were in a rainforest with waterfalls and foliage everywhere. There was even a boat ride inside one of the 5 lobbies! That night we decided to do what was native to the local culture, which included visiting bars and listening to live country bands. I never thought I would enjoy country music, but hearing it live is a very different feeling and I found myself completely entertained. At Cadillac Ranch we were even pulled onto the stage by a cowboy! Karaoke was definitely a popular activity, so we finished out our night with a rendition of These Boots Were Made for Walking.
We waved goodbye to Nashville and headed towards Memphis. The famous Corky’s BBQ restaurant was apparently a must. So, we put on our bibs and had a great taste of Memphis!
But of course, you can’t go to Memphis without visiting the King’s house, so we headed to Graceland after lunch. Talk about tacky! Hard to believe he actually lived with green carpet on the ceiling. That night we went down to Beale Street where you can actually walk up to a window, purchase beer and walk down the street with it. Quite a novelty for us. Once again, the most popular thing to do was Karaoke, so we did a tribute to the King and sang Suspicious Minds. The karaoke host sang Walking in Memphis for the crowd, and we finally had the chance to make sense of all the words!
My dad’s college roommate lives in Memphis, and he was kind enough to provide accommodations and give us pointers. He insisted that we visit the Peabody Hotel to see the famous ducks. (For those who watch Jon & Kate, you know what I’m talking about) We piled into the lobby of this hotel where they laid out a red carpet, and made an announcement that the Peabody Ducks were about to enter. They prepare the ducks to come down from their penthouse suite (yes…they actually live in the penthouse) and they march down the red carpet and into the small fountain situated in the center of the lobby. The process is incredible to watch and the amount of people on a Friday morning would blow your mind. You couldn’t find a spot to stand! At least we can say we did it! We made a quick stop at the Civil Rights Museum, the former Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King was shot so we could pay our respects. We then had to continue on our journey. Our next stop…will be revealed in next week’s issue… Hope you come back to read more about my road trip! All the best, Leah
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