Forget the Car have some fun
We fueled up, oil up and ice up the drinks in Podunk town KY rested after a good nights sleep and great breakfast we're looking forward to a bunch of destinations and getting to Memphis another 340 Miles away. Our 1st and closest stop is the Louisville slugger factory and primarily the gift shop. The car is now running on 3 cylinders for sure but it's driving so it's no worry for now, hopefully it makes it to AR and I can review my options.
On the way to Louisville we see a sign for Thomas Edison's home and couldn't help but go buy for a little history, after a couple of wrong turns and fear the car was going to die at a light we got to this little 500 square foot home in a bad neighborhood just outside the city limits. We skipped the guided tour at $5.00 a person of the little home but got a picture taken of us by a nice lady riding by on a bike. As we jumped in the car again the GPS said we were right around the corner from the Louisville slugger factory where we only planned on getting some gifts for people back home. I didn't feel like coughing up another 10 spot to park for 5 minutes to get a picture so we just got a cheesy shot of the front of the factory and I rounded the block as Kari ran in and got gifts.
Back on the freeway the car feels great between 62 and 77 and 75 and 80 so depending on traffic I pick those points and head down toward the Jim Beam factory just 30 or so miles out of Louisville. The factory is set back in the green hills of Kentucky. The valley is perfectly undisturbed accept for the spotted casking buildings of the factory which store the brown liquor for up to 8 years as it takes on the flavor of the barrel and enriches the alcohol. We found out about the family and the different generations of heirs that have run the factory and added to the brand, the sampling of course was the best. The whole thing left me a little angry at my ancestors for not building a staple business for me to take over. We skipped Abe Lincolns birthplace just down the road because the Jim Beam factory and going by the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green was more important:
After leaving Bowling Green which didn't have much to see, just the factory (tours available but not on Saturday), and a museum and gift shop on the other side of the street, We headed down towards Memphis by way of Nashville and this is the longest straight stretch of the day. I find something similar about all the country east of Oklahoma City, it all looks the same, dense trees on either side of the road with a few farms and roads cut in between. Beautifully for a while but somewhat annoying to me as I feel a little closed in and unable to really see what the area looks like. I always feel like everything cool is just beyond those trees.
I was surprised at how fun Memphis was. We bit the bullet and got a room at the Westin just one street off of Beal street. I was supposed to eat at Corky's BBQ but it turned out that was on the other side of town and the car doesn't like in town driving so I decided we'd just stay put. Besided Beal street was closed off, you could drink walking down the street and several people told us that for good BBQ and generally great Memphis experience BB King's place is the only place to go. It must have been it was the only place with a line to get in all night long.
Once we got in and paid the cover which annoyed me because I love to hope around and sample different appetizers and paying a $10.00 cover at each place hinders that, but I guess that's the point. We got in and, luckily, got a table. Actually I don't think it was luck. They were standing room only but Kari and I kind of stuck out as out of towners and I think they profiled us as big spenders. They took us to a table near the stage and pulled the reserved sign off the top.
We ended up staying because the band was GREAT and the food was better. We split a sample plat that had fried dill pickles, pork ribs, potato skins, and BBQ Wings, this tasty little plate got us to get a half rack of ribs and I got their sweet onion hush puppies. The hush puppies were the best part of the whole meal for me, they went with the ribs, backed beans and slaw perfectly and the sweet onion gave them this great sweet salt flavor. Additionally I had a couple of BB Kings home brew, a nice rich Blondie that was very cloudy and went down smooth but rich. Upon leaving BB Kings Beal strip was hopping, bands inside clubs, bands on the street, it was a better street/club scene than I've been too anywhere in my life and I hope I have an opportunity to return.
The Westin was nice but it fit the rule, the more you pay the more you'll pay for everything else. The room was $200 plus tip for the bellman (required) and Valet $25.00. No free breakfast and if we had ordered the same meal as we ordered at the Niagara Grand Hotel for 6.95 each. It would have cost us $30.00 each plus service fees. Oh well, we're on vacation right? Next stop the Graceland Gift shop.
We had no intention on doing the tours at Graceland, it's time to get on to see my sister and we have a 5 to 6 hour drive to Arkansas and I was getting antsy about finding out what was wrong with the car and if it could be fixed. The reports from my Dad who had been calling and looking for prices on motors and heads weren't good. There's no engines exchange in the area and long blocks were $3,500.00 and would take up to 3 weeks to get. That's not going to work.
On the way to Louisville we see a sign for Thomas Edison's home and couldn't help but go buy for a little history, after a couple of wrong turns and fear the car was going to die at a light we got to this little 500 square foot home in a bad neighborhood just outside the city limits. We skipped the guided tour at $5.00 a person of the little home but got a picture taken of us by a nice lady riding by on a bike. As we jumped in the car again the GPS said we were right around the corner from the Louisville slugger factory where we only planned on getting some gifts for people back home. I didn't feel like coughing up another 10 spot to park for 5 minutes to get a picture so we just got a cheesy shot of the front of the factory and I rounded the block as Kari ran in and got gifts.
Back on the freeway the car feels great between 62 and 77 and 75 and 80 so depending on traffic I pick those points and head down toward the Jim Beam factory just 30 or so miles out of Louisville. The factory is set back in the green hills of Kentucky. The valley is perfectly undisturbed accept for the spotted casking buildings of the factory which store the brown liquor for up to 8 years as it takes on the flavor of the barrel and enriches the alcohol. We found out about the family and the different generations of heirs that have run the factory and added to the brand, the sampling of course was the best. The whole thing left me a little angry at my ancestors for not building a staple business for me to take over. We skipped Abe Lincolns birthplace just down the road because the Jim Beam factory and going by the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green was more important:
After leaving Bowling Green which didn't have much to see, just the factory (tours available but not on Saturday), and a museum and gift shop on the other side of the street, We headed down towards Memphis by way of Nashville and this is the longest straight stretch of the day. I find something similar about all the country east of Oklahoma City, it all looks the same, dense trees on either side of the road with a few farms and roads cut in between. Beautifully for a while but somewhat annoying to me as I feel a little closed in and unable to really see what the area looks like. I always feel like everything cool is just beyond those trees.
I was surprised at how fun Memphis was. We bit the bullet and got a room at the Westin just one street off of Beal street. I was supposed to eat at Corky's BBQ but it turned out that was on the other side of town and the car doesn't like in town driving so I decided we'd just stay put. Besided Beal street was closed off, you could drink walking down the street and several people told us that for good BBQ and generally great Memphis experience BB King's place is the only place to go. It must have been it was the only place with a line to get in all night long.
Once we got in and paid the cover which annoyed me because I love to hope around and sample different appetizers and paying a $10.00 cover at each place hinders that, but I guess that's the point. We got in and, luckily, got a table. Actually I don't think it was luck. They were standing room only but Kari and I kind of stuck out as out of towners and I think they profiled us as big spenders. They took us to a table near the stage and pulled the reserved sign off the top.
We ended up staying because the band was GREAT and the food was better. We split a sample plat that had fried dill pickles, pork ribs, potato skins, and BBQ Wings, this tasty little plate got us to get a half rack of ribs and I got their sweet onion hush puppies. The hush puppies were the best part of the whole meal for me, they went with the ribs, backed beans and slaw perfectly and the sweet onion gave them this great sweet salt flavor. Additionally I had a couple of BB Kings home brew, a nice rich Blondie that was very cloudy and went down smooth but rich. Upon leaving BB Kings Beal strip was hopping, bands inside clubs, bands on the street, it was a better street/club scene than I've been too anywhere in my life and I hope I have an opportunity to return.
The Westin was nice but it fit the rule, the more you pay the more you'll pay for everything else. The room was $200 plus tip for the bellman (required) and Valet $25.00. No free breakfast and if we had ordered the same meal as we ordered at the Niagara Grand Hotel for 6.95 each. It would have cost us $30.00 each plus service fees. Oh well, we're on vacation right? Next stop the Graceland Gift shop.
We had no intention on doing the tours at Graceland, it's time to get on to see my sister and we have a 5 to 6 hour drive to Arkansas and I was getting antsy about finding out what was wrong with the car and if it could be fixed. The reports from my Dad who had been calling and looking for prices on motors and heads weren't good. There's no engines exchange in the area and long blocks were $3,500.00 and would take up to 3 weeks to get. That's not going to work.
posted by Cemseller at 4:15 PM
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