Today was mostly a travel day, but we still made sure to get some fun in. We started out by running some errands and then hitting the Varsity.
Aaaah, delicious chocolate shake, burger with chili, yummy fries. Just as good as always!
After packing up all our crap, which we had somehow found a way to spread across Patrick and Jen's house in 36 hours, we hit the road and headed for Memphis.
This was our first chance to really test out our idea of stopping at cool stuff when we saw it without worrying about getting off schedule. We took the northern route to Memphis, which took us through Chattanooga to Lookout Mountain. After seeing all the giant birdhouses advertising Rock City at Lookout Mt., we had to go there.
However, after we reached Rock City, we found this delightful welcome:
Yes, that's correct. There's a freaking STARBUCK'S at the top of Lookout Mountain. Way to go, capitalism. We decided to ditch the Rock City and its $17 ticket price in favor of the Lookout Mountain Point Park for $3 each. We arrived to this lovely gate:
This was the view of the stone gate from inside the park:
I was very excited to find out that this was a national park. I could get my National Parks Passport stamped (a delightful competition against myself begun on the annual roadtrip last year). However, when I reached the office, it was closed.
Lookout Mountain was the site of a significant Confederate victory in the Civil War. I prefer the view to the very complicated history of lines retreating at 2pm on such-and-such a date at the order of Maj. Gen. Horton Hearsawho who was overseeing three cavalries from Georgiassippi, West Virtucky, and North Carolinesee. These cavalries pushed back the forces of Capt. Maj. Sen. Rep. Harvard Bibblington McKenneson VI of West BFE. Blah blah blah. Look at the pretty pictures instead.
Lookout Mountain had some amazing rock formations as well.
After climbing the exhausting route back up the stone steps to the top, we got back in the car and headed onward. After another hour or so, we reached Nashville. We were a bit hungry and every place recommended to us by the guide books was either closed or about to close, so we called Chris Rossi. He attended college there back in the day, so we thought he might be able to recommend a cool place for us to hang and eat. He recommended a place called Twelfth and Porter. However, when we got there, it was clear that they were about to have a bad rock show, and all they served were frozen pizzas. We got back on the road and aimed for Memphis.
We finally found a wacky place called Bart's BBQ and Catfish Cooker in Dickson, TN, which touted the best bbq in Dickson. I'm pretty confident that their claim was accurate.
The place was completely empty. I doubt they'd had a customer in many hours because the employees were all either on the phone or hanging out in the parking lot smoking. However, there was a very big upside to the situation: all of our food was really hot and fresh. Good pulled pork and slaw, excellent homemade vanilla pudding, not that regular (sub-par) pudding made from a mix. It was wonderful. Each serving was made individually. Mmmmmmmm....
THEN, I went to the bathroom and saw this:
Is this the way they do it in Tennessee? Does everyone have a galvanized washtub in the bathroom? I'm learning a lot of culture so far! Who knew?!
We then stopped for gas somewhere along the way where we bought postcards. This was the sign outside the joint. This same chicken logo was on our bag containing the postcards when we left the building.
After a long day on the road, three naps, and two meals, we arrived at our hotel, the Memphis Inn, and decided to call it a day. Hello, Memphis.
Tomorrow, we hit Graceland, Sun Records, Stax Records, and the Pink Palace (home of the founder of Piggly Wiggly.
Man, I just left Nashville yesterday. Could have taken you some places to eat. Oh, well.
ReplyDeleteAlso, funny commentary on Lookout Mountain, but the CS lost badly there.
12th and Porter was serving frozen pizzas? Man, I'm sorry. A lot can change in 12 years, I guess. Last I was there there was a seperate restaurant side from the club side and the restaurant served pretty good, fresh food. That's where I was introduced to bay scallops, actually.
ReplyDeleteIf I'd have known you were going there I could have told you, but the coolest part about Lookout Mountain is not what's on top of it but what's inside of it. If you ever go back you really should check out Ruby Falls. There's a pretty cool cave system that runs through the mountain that culminates at a waterfall that is actually inside the mountain. Definitely the highlight of any trip to that neck of the woods. I've never seen Rock City.
I've seen Rock City! I loved that place when I was a kid! Of course, we only went once, but it was memorable. They had a rope bridge that was irresistible, but my dad thought it would be fun to jump on it while I was in the middle. I think I ended up crying :( However, $17 is a bit much to see it. Georgiassissipi sounds like a heck of a place.
ReplyDelete