Our Pilgrimage is Done

Like all “Good Boomers” we have completed our Pilgrimage to Graceland.

Sunrise from the door of our RV, over the Mississippi.

A tug headed downriver with a huge load as the sun sets over the Mississippi.

Greetings from the Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas. Right here on the banks of the mighty Mississippi a very clean and friendly park with beautiful sites backing onto the river.  The tugs are pushing barges up and own here 24/7 but they don't bother anyone.

A tugboat pushing a load upstream.  Those barges are sometimes four wide and up to 10 long.  The Mississippi moves pretty fast here so they aren't setting and speed records.  We have not seen a single pleasure boat here.  The park marager says the river is so dangerous here it actually pulled a tug under a few years back.  When they had the flood last spring there was 18' of water where we're parked.

We’re wrapping up a great few days in Memphis where the highlight was an entire afternoon at Graceland. We did everything one can do at Graceland except spend a bunch of $ at any one of the 13 gift shops they have there. Did you know that Graceland is the second most visited home in the U.S.? They entertain more than 600,000 people here every year and the only home that draws more people is George Washington’s’.

The King

I guess it’s fair though since he is/was “The King.” Those aren’t my words, thats what other entertainers call him and that reference is everywhere. To this day he is still the top selling recording artist of all time. There is a plaque there that says he sold 50,000,000 records in 4 years between 1956 and 1960 and that is a drop in the bucket over his career. There is another award on a wall at his estate that says “Before anybody did anything Elvis did Everything.” which seems to be the opinion the performers all share.

Graceland, The King used to walk through those doors.

Across the Living Room into the music room and the piano he would play while entertaining friends.

We didn’t know it but have found out down here that he was The King of giving as well. He liked Graceland, his motorized toys, and spent a fortune on his stage costumes, but after that he gave it “ALL” away. 50 years before Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, Elvis steadily gave his fortune away. They say that because of his humble upbringing money and things meant nothing to him. Whatever it was he gave it all away, he enjoyed helping others.  In a recorded interview played here Lisa Marie says that is one of her most vivid memories of her dad. He was always giving stuff away, always.

Bernie in the Gold Records hall. This hall is full of gold and platinum records except for a few Grammys or something stuck over in one corner.

They converted his squash court to a display of awards he was given and some of his more famous costumes. It’s really a neat spot.  These pictures don't do it justice but it might give you the idea.

The Lisa Marie, his four engine touring plane.

His private jet

We went inside each of these planes.  The touring jet is pretty nice, especially when you consider it's 50 years old.  There are two baths, a dining room, salon, and his private bedroom, oh ya, and gold plated seat belt buckles.

I can only post a few car pictures here but he did have lots of cars.

One of his Rolls Royces

His Ferrari

His second Stutz Bearcat.  This was his favourite and the last car he drove the night before he died.

The fanmous pink Cadiallac he had built and gave to his mom.

My Favourite, an early 50's purple Cadillac onvertible

But we all have to move on and this tour ends at his grave.  It's a very quiet place that is constantly covered in flowers and trinkets left by fans.  For those of us that remember where we were the day we heard of his death - it's special.  A lot of tears are shed here.

The grave is actually very tatsefully done but the thousands of visitors leaving flowers and things behind do mess it up quite a bit.  His parengts, and his grandmother are here as well.  His twin brother, who was stillborn, is not here but there is a plaque for him.

We capped off the afternoon with a rib dinner at Rendezvous, in an alley, in downtown Memphis. It really is in an alley and downstairs but they’ve been serving ribs there since 1948 and they're worth the trip.  Bernie’s friend Cathy C. (hi Cathy) recommended it and a great recommendation it was. We loved it. As a side note, they say, Elvis used to be a busker outside the door of this place before he got rich and famous.  When they brought the ribs I asked for a knife and fork.  The waiter who has served there for 45 years told me, with his deep southers drawl, and I quote, "you eat ribs with your hands, if your hands are dirty go wash em, no knives."  So we dug in and enjoyed them immensely.  http://www.hogsfly.com/TheRestaurant.php

Then it was down to Beale Street for an evening of jazz, blues and more. We really enjoyed it but because it was a Tuesday night things were pretty quiet. Music was great.

So that’s all for now, next post from New Orleans.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment when you can.

Neal and Bernie