This morning we drove about 60 miles of the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway (see swamp picture) before heading back to the Interstate to complete the trip to Memphis. We did the tour at the tiny Sun Studio where many of the big names got their start, including Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. We all took our turn at the silver microphone that the big names used. Later, we sat at the original soda fountain drinking coke from a glass bottle. The real thing.

We then headed to Beale Street. If Memphis is the home of the blues, then Beale Street is the epicenter. Music wafts (sometimes explodes) out of one bar after the next. We ate at the Blues City Cafe and shared some ribs, catfish, tamales with chili, and shrimp/crawfish gumbo … and licked the plates. We ended the evening at the Blues Hall Juke Joint and stayed for two sets with a group of older black men that pounded out Motown, blues and rock ‘n roll favorites. Our most fun night of the trip.