Tupelo, Cars & Elvis

After getting back to Red Bay, we had to wait to get back into the service center. Thus, we had a few days were we didn't have to break camp. :) When the weekend came we decided it was time for a field trip to Tupelo, MS. Tupelo is about a 45 minute drive from Red Bay. We wanted to see the movie "The Accountant" and also wanted to tour the car museum there.

The Tupelo Car Museum is the dream of a man named Frank Spain. He acquired his first antique car in 1974. He and his friend Max Berryhill desired to have a place to permanently house his collection of cars. There are over 100 classic, collectible cars displayed in the museum.

1915 Studebaker $985

1916 Auburn Chummy $1,550

1938 MG

1941 Ford Woodie Wagon $1,015

1955 Pontiac Chieftain

It wouldn't be in Tupelo if they didn't have one of Elvis' cars

As you can see, this is quite a collection! All have been restored beautifully. They also had a lot of Corvette's and some of Richard Petty's race cars. 

We still had time to kill before the movie and happened upon Elvis's birthplace and museum. The birthplace is to Tupelo as what Graceland is to Memphis. The museum helps you to understand what is was like for Elvis to grow up in Tupelo (rural MS) in the 1930's and 1940's. For his 111th birthday Elvis wanted a gun. But his mother Gladys didn't want him to have one and got him to accept a guitar instead of the gun. How different his life would have been had he not received that guitar! Elvis's love of music stemmed from listening to people perform at his church. That church has been restored and now stands on the birthplace grounds. 

This is a two room house that Elvis was born in

Replica of what an outhouse would have looked like during that time 

It was a great day ending with dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse before heading back to Red Bay. 

Respite

Well, after hanging out at the service center for 3 and 1/2 weeks, and after getting word that we had to wait for parts, we decided to take advantage of a $99/week coupon from Lake Osprey RV Resort http://robertsresorts.com/resorts/lake-osprey/ in Elberta, AL. Thanks to our friends Barb and Roger for the coupon! This is an area that is about 15 miles from the Gulf Coast. While we were there, we made a couple of trips to the beach and also to nearby Pensacola, FL. Being tired after a full days drive to get there, we asked for recommendations for a restaurant. We headed over to Lamberts, (in Foley, AL)  http://www.throwedrolls.com/, the home of the "throwed rolls". If you've got an appetite, this is the place to come! After ordering your entree, employees then come around with sides for you. One person comes with the fresh out of the oven rolls that he then throws at you as he comes by.

This is the size of your drink at Lambert's

Andy's plate of pork jowls 

Pensacola has a Naval Air Station.  We decided to tour the National Naval Aviation Museum http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/ which is on the grounds of the base.  They offer free tours and we were lucky to catch the last one of the day. There were many fighter planes from WWII and beyond. This Naval Air Station is also the home of the Blue Angels.

Statues of Fighter Pilots representing 5 wars - WWII, Korean War,Vietnam War, Gulf War, and Afghanistan 

We liked the area. For a winter place to park the RV, it's about 10 degrees cooler on the average than Florida. We're still not sure where we will end up this winter.

Helen Keller Birthplace

We've been to Florence many times while we've been in Red Bay. Last week we had to troubleshoot a problem with our induction cooktop, which meant a trip to the nearest local dealer in Florence. On our way back we were driving around and stumbled upon the birthplace of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia. We decided to stop and tour the grounds.

Plaque outside of the house

This is the actual fountain where Helen first made the connection between water and the word that Anne Sullivan was signing into her hand

Helen lived a full life, overcoming her blindness and being deaf. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. She campaigned for women's suffrage, labor rights, socialism, antimilitarism, and other causes. 

Nashville, TN

Red Bay, AL is not exactly a bustling town when it comes to entertainment. So, we decided to spend a weekend in Nashville. Our purpose was twofold, to see the area and also test drive the RV to make sure the repairs we've had keep on working in road test conditions. 

It's about a 3 1/2 drive to Nashville. We decided that we would drive part of the 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway to get there. The scenery is great and the drive covers 10,000 years of American History. It's been used by American Indians, settlers, and future presidents. There are many opportunities to stop along the way and enjoy hiking paths, biking, horseback riding and camping. 

We left Friday afternoon so after getting to our KOA campground, we went to get dinner. On Saturday we ventured downtown to see the Honkey Tonk Row, a grouping of bars/restaurants, museums, and the original location of the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. After lunch we toured the Johnny Cash Museum and walked around to see the Music City Walk of Fame park. 

Cool building downtown

Nashville has a cowboy boots store on every block!

Couldn't resist a picture with Elvis

View of Hony Tonk Row

Since we had waited until the last minute to get tickets to the Grand Ole Opry, we had to settle for the last show at 9:30. The 91st birthday of the Opry was on October 5, so that weekend they were celebrating their birthday at each of their shows. Our show featured Brad Paisley, and other performers like the Nitty Grtitty Dirt Band, Secret Sisters, Mo Pitney, and others. It is a 2 hour radio show that is divided into four half hour segments. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the performers. 

 

View of the Stage 

Part of the sound equipment

We were in the nosebleed section but due to the large screens in the auditorium we were able to see the action of the stage without any trouble. 

The richness and history of the area and country music is very apparent in Nashville. We would go back again. 

Rattlesnake Saloon

We had seen a billboard for this restaurant but never did make it here when we were here in January. After talking to some other folks (who are also here for service), we decided that we would head out to eat there last Friday. All they said was that depending on the time, it was either real quiet or real nosy.

This was nothing like we expected! Driving into the lot we see a sign pointing to Saloon parking and a sign for the shuttle to take you to the restaurant. We were a bit confused but waited for the shuttle, which was actually a pick up truck with benches in the back. We took off and the truck took us by the gift shop and then through a sign over the road that says Rattlesnake Saloon - at which point we head immediately down a steep slope towards the restaurant. This is why there is the shuttle, there is no parking at the bottom. The restaurant is built into the side of a hill. Pictures will give you a better idea.

The sign at the top of the hill.

You can see the tables under the rocks. 

The restaurant with tables in front. Most people eat outside.

A blurry view of our shuttle. 

This is the right side of the area.

There was entertainment the night we were there; 2 guys playing acoustic guitars and singing. Other times they have karaoke. While the food was nothing to write home about, we enjoyed meeting some folks from Nashville and the entertainment. Definitely an experience!

Not 5, not 10, but.....

Guess they want to make sure you go SLOW. Do you know how hard it is to go 7 miles an hour around a curve?