Martin Travels: Friday, April 17th

We enjoyed the Holiday Inn included breakfast, dialled the GPS in to the address for Heartbreak Hotel, across the road from Elvis’ Graceland and set out. The driver (me), second guessing the GPS missed the exit ramp and went north instead of south, so we made an immediate change of plan and went to downtown Memphis. Highlights: Memphis is named after a city in Egypt and has the third largest pyramid in the world. It’s made of steel and glass, located on the waterfront. We drove along the Mississippi waterfront and then into an older industrial area that seems to be being redeveloped into trendy residential and commercial. We came across the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was shot. It is now an African-American museum. Heading for the newer downtown area, we encountered a parade, followed the commotion, parked and entered the festive area for the opening of Black America week-end festivities which will includes a 3-day music festival featuring the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis. There were many market type tent shops selling food, jewellery, art and of course, sunglasses. We certainly stood out in the crowd, but were treated as if there were no colour difference. We purchased a New Orleans style picture. Then we watched as the parade came by again. American black folks sure do music and street dancing in a loud and demonstrative manner. We walked along Beale Street and were reminded of Bourbon Street, before the party begins. We left Memphis in early afternoon and crossed the Mississipi into Arkansas, crossed some flat farmland and then into the Ozark Mountains, where the roads became narrower, hillier and slower. After crossing into Missouri, still in the Ozarks, the roads improved, the area looked more prosperous with lots of beef cattle and more farmland as the terrain flattened. By the time we crossed into Kansas and reached Overland Park it was dark, and our hosts Joan and Bob awaited our arrival with evening snacks, beverages and conversation.