Hampton Inn Memphis

Mr and I have been on the road now for 13 days. We have traveled just over 800 miles believing it would be warmer at each stop. So far the temp here (53 degrees) is exactly the same temp it was when we left Michigan. We have had two sunny days and 11 filled with rain.

Somehow I do not think the Travel Channel would hire us as our trip is certainly not like the journeys they ...

As one enters Graceland you see beautifully manicured grounds, with horses grazing in the pastures surrounding the estate.

Going in the front door you see the living room to right completely as in was in the 1960's. Each room has been preserved to the exact standards to when he was living.

The mansion was crowded with people from all over the United States ...

Day 2 Sprinfield ...

... gate that has recently changed to another gate located across the airport...then sit back and let the hilarity ensue! This was our entertainment as we sat and ate lunch.

Thanks to everyone at the James for the send off cake, card and well-wishes! Lauren has the card with her to help get her through any tough times!

... out of our hotel by 11 am and head up to Waffle House. A few coffees and a Texas Melt and hash brown saw Matt over his "headache" (cough* hangover cough*), so we headed on down the road to Graceland.

I'm speechless when it comes to Graceland. Speechless!! Yeah, it was fascinating going through a time capsule to 1977, but I wonder how Elvis would feel about busloads of tourists walking through his house! It was very interesting ...

... and appliances that were top notch in that era. The family room is decorated with 350 yards of a paisley print in shades of blue - even the ceiling is completely covered with folds of fabric that meet in the centre of the room. In 1974 he built a "jungle room" and furnished it with ornately carved chairs, tables, accessories and had them upholstered with animal prints. Shag carpet covers the floor and ceiling to make it acoustically appropriate for recording - it ...

... you were looking at played. It made you want to dance, especially when 60s style jukebox music came on, but you know what i mean. It was really good. After that i saw the Elvis Statue and got the shuttle back to my hotel and relaxed and watched tv for the night. (They even have a channel devoted to Elvis movies, and another with just pictures on the screen and Elvis radio playing songs to them, yes they have an Elvis radio station!!) The next morning i woke up to rain, not heavy ...

... have no idea who he is! I was about to jump out of the bed and dance around the room, and I would have done that, if I wasn't sleeping on a fine orthopedic mattress with a massage button! I danced while I had my eyes shut and my back being massaged! From that Sunday until Tuesday, I was extremely excited about seeing him and my friend and I every time we talked about it, we just couldn't believe that he walks into her coffee shop, buys something to eat and drink and offers 2 free ...

... Marvin wrote says $10.00 on an inside page. All I have is a $20. Marvin says he has no change. Marvin is a smooth talker and I decide to give him the $20. He then grabs my hand and starts reciting in a loud voice one of Martin Luther King's speeches. It was quite dramatic. I haven't read his paper yet. I head over to the Gibson Factory with $22 less in my pocket then when I started my walk. The Gibson Factory in Memphis produces the semi hollow guitars. The production ...

... on Christmas night, I highly recommend going to see Super Tyrone perform covers of all the best 70's and 80's Funk songs. http://www.regmemphis.com/index.cfm?pag e=weddingsSub&typ e2=r&entid=120



In the middle of my stay in Memphis, I made the 3-hour drive to Nashville where one of my brothers, Adam, lives with his wife Kelly and daughter Lily. He has a beautiful family, and my only complaint is that Lily is growing up way too fast ...