Memphis

Crossed into the strangely named/ pronounced Arkansas (how do you get such different pronunciations as Arkansas and Kansas) from Missouri and passed by great soil being tilled on every farm we passed. From what we were seeing it is a lovely State no matter how it's pronounced.

Found (thanks Mrs G) the Econo Lodge in downtown Memphis which for a Friday seemed really quiet. The driver and the somewhat nervous navigator were happy about that. Hotel was OK but the location was great.

We noticed a "gathering" in Court Square from our room so we started our investigation of downtown by "inviting" ourselves to the Law Week festivities. Even though we aren't really Lawyers we do know a few (hi Maina, hi Rumpole) and we do know how to behave in society (lol) so we fitted in very well and...... The beer, food and wine that were on offer along with the great blues band that were part of the function finished the package!!!!

Legal festivities were coming to a close and with walking sticks in hand we headed off looking for Beale Street. We weren't successful in finding Beale Street but we did find  fabulous music and we found a great place to enjoy it when we discovered the Centre for Southern Folklore. http://www.southernfolklore.com/ Sat down got a beer and a wine just in time for the Side Street Steppers. A great sound from a four piece band made up of 2 talented  married couples. The bass player was as good as we've heard anywhere.

One amazing addition to the night was meeting a fellow Australian. We Aussies do like to travel ...... and do like music!!! 

Now for the fun part....Walking back to the hotel. Oh well the good news was that we made it and the Apiarist's legs, or more specifically his right one, survived OK.

Next morning away early due to a meeting with the "King". 

Yes, we were off to Graceland. As expected there were others that were doing their "Elvis" thing but to be honest it was a really interesting place to see and well worth the trip, the time and the walk. Two things that surprised us were that Graceland isn't huge and neither was Elvis. From the size of his suits he couldn't have been over 6 feet tall and (in his early days) he was really slim. And didn't he get some awards....

In case you didn't know that's Elvis on the left!!!

Next stop NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana)