BYE BYE TO NASHVILLE!

Oct 31st
Happy Halloween!
ok, it is after Halloween when I am writing this-but I mean well!
Anyway, it is Halloween morning-we are on our way to Memphis-but we have one more stop to make before leaving Nashville. The Opryland Hotel-Mike has promised we will see it before we go-so it is now! We were so tired after our four hour Hermitage tour yesterday-we got up a little early this morning instead.
The Opryland Hotel is HUGE! it is a destination in itself-the grounds are beautiful, and there is a convention center attached also. You almost feel like you are entering Disneyland-after we get inside, it is evident why everyone has told us it is a "must see" when in Nashville. The gardens are spectacular! The area that is called the conservatory is the most elaborate ever! right now they are just getting everything decorated for Christmas-so there was only little spots of fall-but it will be really beautiful when it is done-and all lit up! We just did a walk thru-
gotta get to Memphis-but we got the feeling of the place. One could just go there for a week or so and never have to leave. The restaurants look great-and shopping? if you want to shop-well, this is the place. Anyway, we took some pics for you-and Kris, I took the pics of the orchids especially for you-and your Mom-they just plug in orchids in the trees everywhere-they are beautiful!!! The hotel has one big area behind the hotel that is just for horticulture-huge green houses and plants growing all over-like a huge home depot! really glad we took the time to go see this place!

MORE PICS OF THE HERMITAGE

the pics here are of the Jackson's tomb, Alfred's cabin(he was one of the slaves-stayed on to work at the plantation-actually gave some of the first tours of the Hermitage-is buried very close to the Jackson's tomb) and a very special breed of cow-from Scotland-the name eludes me-but they were so furry and cute! Melissa, the cow pics are really for you!

THE HERMITAGE

Oct,30
Our last day and night in Nashville was saved for some education,and a tour of the beautiful Hermitage. The Hermitage was the home and plantation of President Andrew Jackson. The original log house,and mansion are both on the grounds-as well as buildings that housed slaves that worked for the Jackson's. The plantation grounds consume 1,120 acres-numerous buildings and gardens as well as the burial ground of the Jackson's and one slave who actually led the first tours of the Hermitage! The mostly self guided audio tour is fascinating and really gives a great look at the lives of the Jackson's and the way the world was in their time. We spent almost four hours touring the Hermitage-there was two elementary class field trips going on at the same time-how lucky those children were to get to go to the Hermitage for their class field trip!

MORE NASHVILLE

they call the first pic the "Batman" building"-for good reason
Just a peek at the beautiful Union Station
and just one of the homes of the "stars" of the country stage-there were so many, I lost track of who they belong to!

NASHVILLE-YEE HAAA!!!!!

Oct.27
We left Kentucky this morning-said goodbye to "my" trees-hugged the rv park owner and thanked him for such a nice place to stay-and now we were on our way to Nashville!
We had made reservations at Two Rivers RV Park-Larry had reccommended it-and we were not dissapointed. It was a really nice park, and close to everything we wanted to see-and shuttles to those places that were in town. We made reservations to see a dinner show that night-and got tickets to the Grand Ole Opry for Tues. night-and a "Tommy tour" of Nashville on Wed. There were plantations to see and we knew it was to be a busy few days for us!
Monday eve-we went next dooe to the dinner show-we should have known when we saw all of the tour busses in the parking lot-but hey, we were in Nashville, and we could walk to this place. The theatre was large-and the buffet was set-and Mike and I were the youngest ones in the place-but dinner was good-the guests we sat with were as friendly as could be-the show started and,ok, it was a little hokey-pokey, but it was fun-and country and we just went with it. We did not stay for the entire show-after a day of being on the road we were done-but it was a good experience-and a fun first night in "music City".
Tuesday.
We got up and dressed and went to town. Driving in Nashville is not the easiest-but it was way better than St. Louis. We found 2nd Ave and Broadway-walked up and down the streets,had a drink at Coyote Ugly-noone dancing on the bar yet-too early. We walked in a few shops and just took in the atmosphere of being downtown Nashville. Had lunch at a great place-best fish tacos ever! Afterward we did more sightseeing,then back to camp to get ready for our big night out.
We get our shuttle to "the Opry"-it is amazing! tons of people everywhere-it is much bigger than I had expected. The "Opry" was not something that was on my tv growing up-but Mike's Mom never missed a show-this was a special place! We got our seats-took some pics and waited to be entertained. The start of the show is like watching a tv show-cause that is what it is-that and radio too, I think. They do commercials for the sponsors,then the big velvet curtains go up. The stage is huge-lots of lights and lots of musicians and instruments-looks like a great show is going to happen! We saw young musicians, old musicians-some we had heard of some not-but it was really fun! It was like being part of something special and just too cool. I don't think it would have mattered if we liked country music or not-it was just fun.
Wed.
today we took a tour of Nashville-with "Tommy". he is a fixture in Nashville-I remember seeing him on tv at some point- he is just funny as heck, and HE KNOWS NASHVILLE! We went downtown,uptown,and saw lots of beautiful homes owned by big country stars. He told us little known trivia-made the tour fun and personal. I think my favorite place we went was to Union Station. Wow! This is the most beautiful building-oh, and Tommy got us coctails in coffee cups-but the building is fantastic. the whole roof is beautiful stained glass-the carved moldings-the history here-just great. There is a beautiful restaurant and bar-and just going to the ladies room was a destination! I highly recommend checking this out if you are in the area! It was a fun and interesting day-and at the end of the tour we really felt like we had seen Nashville-by day. Now we were ready to see the nightlife of "music city".
Tommy hooked us up with a guy that would take us in to town where we would want to be
to listen to some great music. We had plans for a certain restaurant-well that went out the window fast! We went to Robert's-heard there was a young musician there that was pretty good-and he was. Mike started talking to some guy that was getting signatures for a petition to get Hank Williams reinstated to the "Opry". He has been tossed out due to his wicked ways! Well, the guy tells Mike that HankIII is going to be doing a concert next door in a little while-and so,off we went. The place was Layla's Bluegrass Inn-we found a table in the back, and ordered a drink. Now for those of you out there that don't know-HankIII is the grandson of Hank Williams-and Kenny is just about his biggest fan around. Kenny play a lot of his music-and quite well I will add. So, pretty soon, we notice that guys are taking away everyones tables and bar stools-and we are the only ones left with a table. That did not last for long-they took our table waway too. They said it would be room for standing only-that Hank was playing-and it would be VERY crowed in there soon. Well, we just stood for a few minutes, then the guy that Mike had been talking to next door came up. He and Mike talked for a minute-then we were invited to come sit up front by the band area-at the ONLY table left in the place. He told us we were welcome to sit there-introduced us to the club bouncer-and said that Hank's Mom would be sitting at our table also, if that was ok. We just could not believe what was happening-too fun!
Hanks Mom came and sat next to Mike-we introduced ourselves-she was just as nice as could be-we talked a little-then the band-with HANKIII started-it was great! a little profanity now and then-well, ok, lots of it-and hanks Mom winced a few times-but it was just a cool evening-and no I did not have the camera-so you all just have to imagine the scene. When the band started getting into the real roudy hard stuff-we decided it was time to end a perfect evening. We did end up going up to the restaurant-but it had closed-so went across from the crazy horse saloon and had cheeseburgers instead-it was a perfect night!!

MORE PICS FROM ETOWN

we have so many great memories of our visit to ETown-here are a few more pics we wanted to share with ya'll!! My Aunt Jan in her "Jubilee",me and my favorite tree-and my cousin Larry and "witch-e-poo"

ELIZABETHTOWN-NOT THE MOVIE

After way too long, I have a great computer connection and can get you all updated on "the journey"-it has been a busy time and there is much to write-so sit down and get comfy!!
October 20

We finally arrive in Elizabethtown,Kentucky-we have spent many days just waiting for this day! The hwy is beautiful-fall is just everywhere and we are anxious to find our camp(home) for the next week. When we first get to town, the "house and our limo(truck) get a much needed bath. We have brought bugs from a number of states, it is time for them to go!
My aunt Jan invited us for dinner this evening-we can't wait to see her and get a big hug. We get ourselves all set up at Crossroads Park in Etown, it is so pretty-our yard is full of the most beautiful trees-I am happy! Ginger and I will have leaves to crunch for days!
We head over to Aunt Jan's home-it is beautiful and the neighborhood is like being in a park-My cousins Larry and Vicki come for drinks and we have a great visit-it has been since our wedding that we have all been together. Dinner is wonderful, and it is so good to just visit with my Aunt, and hear stories that I have not heard before1
We stay up way later than our usual bedtime-it was just a great evening!
The next day, Larry comes by on his motorcycle for a visit to "camp". Later in the afternoon we are treated to a very personal tour of the Schmidt Coca Cola Museum. It is beautiful, and we learn so much and get to see real treasures that my Aunt and Uncle Bill took a lifetime to collect-every piece in the museum has a story, and it was a very special tour!
We left the museum and went back to my Aunts house for dinner-I got the thrill of riding back with my Aunt in her beautiful little silver porche-only problem was Mike was following us in the truck-so she had to behave herself and not go as fast as we would have liked! The car is named Jubilee-a celebration of my Aunts 80th birthday-and I have to say, she looks pretty cute in it!
We are treated to another delicious dinner-then back to camp for us.
Oct.22
Today is Vicki's birthday, and we all gather at my Aunts house for a special evening.
I won't say all that we had for dinner, but Mike wants all of the recipes-so I have some Southern cooking lessons to learn! Dessert was chocolate creme brulee-fantastic!
We had wine in the beautiful Queen Marie stemware-lovely antique ruby crystal that I just have always admired! We had a great evening-and felt pretty special!!
Oct.23
We are having everyone for dinner at our "house" tonight! It is a beautiful day-and the forecast does not call for rain-Mike and Graham make a beautiful campfire-it is a fun evening-we are so glad to have everyone at camp! The rain does start around midnight-and it rains most of the next day-it is really wonderful to just be home and cozy for the day.
We take the next two days to sight see-
We check out downtown Elizabethtown, the museum and a wonderful old inn where General Custer actually lived with his wife for a time. The town is darling-so much history! We did not get to do the bourbon trail-but did check out Bardstown-the hwy there is so pretty-walls of limestone(the reason for the great bourbon)-the limestone that get in the water- and the fall colors-it is just a beautiful ride.
Oct 26
Today was very special1 Mike got to stay home and do some mechanic stuff on the truck-I got to spend the day with Vicki. We drove to Louisville and did a little shopping-and a lot of visiting and laughing! Vicki is the most fun-and I respect the fact that she packs a water pistol-so am on my best behavior-well not really!
We end the day with everyone gathering at larry and Vicki's for a wonderful dinner-and love and kisses from Mo and Curly-the most beautiful dogs ever! Yes, you have it right-Vicki needed Curly and Mo-she already had a Larry! It was a fun evening and I am sad we will be leaving Etown in the morning.We learned the true meaning of Southern hospitality-and it is good!!