Back to Nashville

It's been a while since we've blogged. It is just that, with this #$*^@%$ cold weather, we simply are not doing as much each day. Our main goal has been to stay warm. With temperatures below freezing, that has been a challenge. But we are snug and warm inside our little rolling abode.

We flew back from Oakland to Nashville last Wednesday, 2/12. Both Bessie our Ford F 150, and Irv our faithful home, were retrieved in good shape. Well, except for an inoperable hot water heater, but that got taken care of.

On Thursday, we did a lot of housekeeping tasks that people on the road have to do. Shopping, laundry, haircuts, etc. We ate lunch at the famous (we're told) Loveless Cafe. Jack had fried chicken and I had ribs, both accompanied by fried green tomatoes, baked beans, and carrot pudding....and topped off with homemade jam and LOTS of hot biscuits.  When you see us again, we will both be 15 pounds heavier, simply from all the food we've eaten in the South. But, hey, when in Rome...

On Friday, we went into Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame. If you get to Nashville, you must tour this museum. It chronicles country music back to the hill people and their homemade instruments. We also walked down to Ryman's Auditorium, which is the original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

The original "Smokey and the Bandit" Firebird

A young Dolly and her mentor/partner Porter Wagoner (aka "The Wagonmaster")

Dolly's very first stage dress

Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl in the Ryman Auditorium foyer

Saturday we actually went to the Grand Ole Opry where we saw a lot of musicians we had never heard of, including Hall of Famer Connie Smith, and 93-year-old "Little Jimmy Dickins", all 4'11" of him. Some of the music was Blue Grass, much of it performed by really old people (like Little Jimmy) who have been singing with the Opry for 50-60 years.

The Opry isn't held at the Ryman's Auditorium any longer, but at a massive auditorium a little outside of town. The Opry itself is the longest running live radio show... since the 1920's. 

Nashville truly is Music City. At each crosswalk, there is music playing. Along Broadway, which leads down to the river, there are guitarists, and people playing harmonica, banjo...you name it.   In the airport, there was music playing everywhere and a live performer. It's a very nice place to visit.