Road Trip to Memphis July 3 thru July 6, 2003
We left Houma around 7:00 on Thursday morning and arrived in Memphis around 6:00 p.m. Lucked out with the weather just a few light showers on our ride up Highway 61. Pretty decent road to travel, but beware once you get north of Vicksburg, gas stations are few and far between. All you see are soy bean fields and farm houses for miles and miles.
Ate at the infamous Rendezvous for dinner. The food was good, but a little over rated. After dinner we walked across the street to the Peabody Hotel. Beautiful hotel and if you are in the area be sure to check it out. Walked on down to Bealle Street. This is a clean version of Bourbon Street. They had some great blues music being sung in the park by this woman and her band.
On July 4th we headed to Graceland. I was quite impressed with the tour. It took right around four hours to see everything. Priscilla has done a great job of arranging the tour of the estate. I was particularly impressed with the headphones you wear as you tour the mansion. Priscilla and Lisa Marie talk about their memories there while you listen to Elvis music in the background.
That night we headed down to the river for dinner and fireworks. We ate at "The Pier" overlooking the river. What a beautiful riverfront they have in Memphis. There was a band playing and there was even an amateur bike show going on. We waited around for the fireworks until after 9:30 then decided to head back to the hotel. Of course they started as soon as we headed up the street to the main drag. You could have sworn you were in a war zone with the sounds of those fireworks echoing between the buildings.
Rode down to Natchez on the 5th, mostly in the rain down I-55 to I-220 then to Hwy 61. Brad Robichaux and his long time gal pal Kim met us there. With Wayne's obvious charm and finesse he managed to get the Isle of Capri bus to pick us up at the Day's Inn, something they don't normally do. Ate at the buffet, gambled a little and enjoyed the live entertainment in the bar.
Headed back home on the 6th through Baton Rouge and over the Sunshine Bridge. I think everybody managed to get home with just a few light sprinkles except for Kenny and I. As we rounded Hwy. 311 by Savanne Road the skies were pitch black. It poured on us as we turned into our subdivision.
With Lucky's impersonations of Elvis, Anita's total fascination with the "Quacking" sounds in the ladies facilities at the Peabody, Wayne's attempt to become a "Hood Ornament" and my graceful tumble walking down the streets of Memphis, we will all have fond memories of this trip.
Kenny and I are already thinking about where we want to go next summer. We will probably try to do a 7 to 10 day trip up the East Coast or maybe up to New York.
Tina