Off to Memphis today. We will visit Graceland again and the apparent resting place of Elvis. I say apparent because I have always believed in that conspiracy theory that suggests he did not die on 16 August 1977. You already know that I am a nutcase so I wont need to justify that further.
On the way out of Nashville we decided to stop at Sonic for breakfast. This is a chain restaurant that I mentioned in my blog during the first trip, where you order via intercom (just like at Maccas) but you park and the food is brought out to you, sometimes on roller skates. We both had a tortilla but also tried some "French toast sticks". I don't like most of the fast food in the USA but I did like these. There was some weirdo after taste that curled your nostrils hairs, but it was so very brief and did not over-ride the initial taste of this food. They were like deep fried toast soldiers with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Quite pleasant!
Heading for Nashville, I wanted to take a detour via Nutbush. This is the birthplace of Tina Turner and is the place she sung about in "Nutbush City Limits". (The song was actually written by Isaac Hayes who ironically was born in neighbouring Covington) Whilst most peoples bucket lists consist of sky diving and owning a Lamborghini, mine is to visit places that appear in song names, and owning 100 Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds at one time.
It was my intention to do the Nutbush, in Nutbush although I didn't have Nutbush in my music list (sacrilege!). If you can understand that, then hell.....give me some of that Moonshine to swig on too. The Bear quickly established that he did have the song "Nutbush City Limits" on his own laptop which we are carrying with us so was able to transfer that to the music list on my phone. Why did we not think of playing it off the laptop once we got to Nutbush? Shut up.
So...off to Nutbush, to do the Nutbush in Nutbush, using the Nutbush on my phone. I am as sick as a dog with no voice (probably just as well as I am sure that NO town would be ready for my singing) and can barely breathe.....but hey.....this is the Nutbush in Nutbush.
I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe Tina Turners name up in neon lights? Maybe a restaurant in her honour? Maybe a "Nutbush City Limits" sign illuminated with flashing lights? Maybe a chorus line of dancing dogs and a talking goose? I don't know but I should have taken heed of the actual lyrics of the song :
" A little old town in Tennessee,
That's called a quiet little old community,
A one-horse town you have to watch.
What you're putting down in old Nutbush".
Alarm bells should have been ringing as we drove along old Interstate 19 listening to Chuck Berry singing "My Dingaling" on the radio (and no.....I did not sing along to it. Well....ok....maybe I did a little bit. Fine then....a lot). This is what we came across.....
On the way out of Nashville we decided to stop at Sonic for breakfast. This is a chain restaurant that I mentioned in my blog during the first trip, where you order via intercom (just like at Maccas) but you park and the food is brought out to you, sometimes on roller skates. We both had a tortilla but also tried some "French toast sticks". I don't like most of the fast food in the USA but I did like these. There was some weirdo after taste that curled your nostrils hairs, but it was so very brief and did not over-ride the initial taste of this food. They were like deep fried toast soldiers with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Quite pleasant!
Heading for Nashville, I wanted to take a detour via Nutbush. This is the birthplace of Tina Turner and is the place she sung about in "Nutbush City Limits". (The song was actually written by Isaac Hayes who ironically was born in neighbouring Covington) Whilst most peoples bucket lists consist of sky diving and owning a Lamborghini, mine is to visit places that appear in song names, and owning 100 Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds at one time.
It was my intention to do the Nutbush, in Nutbush although I didn't have Nutbush in my music list (sacrilege!). If you can understand that, then hell.....give me some of that Moonshine to swig on too. The Bear quickly established that he did have the song "Nutbush City Limits" on his own laptop which we are carrying with us so was able to transfer that to the music list on my phone. Why did we not think of playing it off the laptop once we got to Nutbush? Shut up.
So...off to Nutbush, to do the Nutbush in Nutbush, using the Nutbush on my phone. I am as sick as a dog with no voice (probably just as well as I am sure that NO town would be ready for my singing) and can barely breathe.....but hey.....this is the Nutbush in Nutbush.
I wasn't sure what to expect. Maybe Tina Turners name up in neon lights? Maybe a restaurant in her honour? Maybe a "Nutbush City Limits" sign illuminated with flashing lights? Maybe a chorus line of dancing dogs and a talking goose? I don't know but I should have taken heed of the actual lyrics of the song :
" A little old town in Tennessee,
That's called a quiet little old community,
A one-horse town you have to watch.
What you're putting down in old Nutbush".
Alarm bells should have been ringing as we drove along old Interstate 19 listening to Chuck Berry singing "My Dingaling" on the radio (and no.....I did not sing along to it. Well....ok....maybe I did a little bit. Fine then....a lot). This is what we came across.....
No flashing lights...but its something I guess. Maybe the bigger signs are ahead?
More of a country lane than an Interstate Highway...but that's ok! The city lights must be ahead!
Or not...........
Ermm.......
Where the heck is the "Nutbush City Limits" sign????
Hmmmmmm.......
This is Nutbush?
No "Nutbush City Limits" sign (most towns and cities DO have city limits signs) so this will have to do!
I am guessing this is the gin house as mentioned in the song?
Nutbush City Limits
written by Isaac Hayes sung by Ike and Tina Turner.
A church house, gin house, a school house, outhouse
On highway number nineteen, the people keep the city clean
They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush
They call it Nutbush city limits
On highway number nineteen, the people keep the city clean
They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush
They call it Nutbush city limits
Twenty-five was the speed limit, motorcycle not allowed in it
You go to store on Fridays, you go to church on Sundays
They call it Nutbush, little old town, oh Nutbush
They call it Nutbush city limits
You go to store on Fridays, you go to church on Sundays
They call it Nutbush, little old town, oh Nutbush
They call it Nutbush city limits
You go to the fields on weekdays and have a picnic on Labor day
You go to town on Saturdays but go to church every Sunday
They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush
They call it Nutbush city limits
You go to town on Saturdays but go to church every Sunday
They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush
They call it Nutbush city limits
No whiskey for sale, if you get caught, no bail
Salt pork and molasses is all you get in jail
They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush
Yeah, they call it Nutbush, Nutbush city limits
Salt pork and molasses is all you get in jail
They call it Nutbush, oh Nutbush
Yeah, they call it Nutbush, Nutbush city limits
A little old town in Tennessee,
That's called a quiet little community
A one-horse town, you have to watch what you're putting down
In old Nutbush, they call it Nutbush
That's called a quiet little community
A one-horse town, you have to watch what you're putting down
In old Nutbush, they call it Nutbush
Well there is another tick off my bucket list. I am a little disappointed that there was not a city limits sign, but that's ok!
The southern parts of Tennessee are a little better than the north. There is obvious cotton farming here. The landscape is still very brown but it doesn't quite appear as poverty stricken as the north. The roads seem wider although that maybe just because the fields are open rather than there just being mile upon mile of dead bush on the side of the road. I particularly liked Jackson which struck me as a clean and modern town. We did come across a multi vehicle pile up there, all of which were semi-trailers. If you saw the drivers here, you would understand why.
We drove through Covington which is the birthplace of Isaac Hayes. It is only a few minutes from Nutbush. I am blown away by the talent that emerged from southern Tennessee. Covington is a reasonable sized town which reflects a lot of poverty despite the fact that it is surrounded by some very, very large factories which I am sure would generate employment.
I am also quite fascinated by some town names. My favourite today was "Bucksnort". Hmmm...Bucksnort. Where do you live? Bucksnort. Bucksnoooorrrrrt. Welcome to Bucksnort. Yawl come back to Bucksnort ya hear! The Bear saw a town which was named "Humboldt" and decided that would make a good dogs name. I told him that if we got a male dog I would promise to name it Humboldt! You will understand my surprise when he said "no" to that. *rolls eyes*
I am quite fascinated by the fact that the interstates (highways) in Tennessee are almost dead straight. There is very little in the way of the road curving. If it does, it is ever so slight. From the top of the state, to the bottom, it is straight and is almost overwhelmingly covered with cops. Its just not worth breaking any road rule here because the state troopers will get you!
Tonight we dined in the Rendezvous Restaurant which a couple told us about when we visited Las Vegas in 2012. We had also seen this place on Man V Food and it looked pretty darned good! They are apparently world famous for their ribs, so who can go past that! Despite the fact that the Bear (who is now unwell too) and I are not feeling flash, we walked to the restaurant which is a few blocks away from our hotel. We wanted to get in early just in case they were busy so decided we would go there as soon as they opened at 4.30pm. We were almost too late! They were already chockers! There was still room for us though which was awesome.
The ribs are slow baked in an oven with vinegar and dry rub and are meant to be finger licking good. I found them to be quite dry where as the ribs we have at home are very moist. They are served on paper plates with plastic "silver ware" and come lying in a layer of vinegar. They also come with a serving of beans - which are a barbeque baked bean with something like a taco seasoning in them. They were extraordinarily yummo although heaven help the toilet bowl in a few hours time. The ribs also come with a "slaw". They don't call it coleslaw for some reason although it does resemble it. The "slaw" is finer, and lighter than coleslaw and has an orange colour to it. I imagine the colour comes from the seasoning that they put in it...which also tastes like a taco seasoning. Whatever the case, it was yummo too! I think if I went back there, I would pass on the ribs and have double of the beans and slaw!
We finished the night off with a stroll along Beale Street and caught a tram back to where our hotel is. Tomorrow we are headed back to Graceland!
