MORE NASHVILLE

We had tickets for The Grand Ole Opry for the Friday night late show. On Thursday we went into town to check out parking. It's something we have to scope out with a 23' long truck. Don't want a city version of the North Rim.

Looked like it was going to be expensive. We planned to spend most of Thursday and ALL of Friday - from 10am to midnight in the city. The web showed the most convenient locations started at $10.00/hr with a $25 or $40 maximum. For a minute I thought I was in Manhattan. But there was a link to "Parkwhiz".  This app allowed us to prepay and park in that same lot for $8.00 for up to 18 hours. If you're traveling even occasionally it is a wonderful app to have on your phone or computer. The instructions said, "Print your pass and put it on the dash." We didn't have a printer so I called the lot manager. A lady said, "Just write your confirmation number on a piece of paper and put it on the dash."

Downtown Nashville is very walk-able. Our first stop was the Johnny Cash Museum.  We spent about twice the time we had anticipated. It has SO much information about Johnny and the Carter family.


One of his first custom guitars.

One of Maybelle Carter's autoharps.

Johnny's Gold records and albums.

Ragged Old Flag.

This poem is featured at the museum. Click here to watch a different version of it.
We spent the better part of the day here. When we left to go to the CMA Hall of Fame and Museum a kind docent told us, "It's 3:30 and we close at 5. You can't possibly see it all in 90m minutes. Can you come back another day?" We thanked her and put it on out list for tomorrow when we'll be in town longer.

I don't know why we keep finding people like this, but it's a Blessing we see almost daily.

NASHVILLE

We arrived at our campground in Dickson, TN and "took the rest of the day off." Dickson is a small town about 45 miles west of Nashville. The campground wasn't even in Dickson. It was a small park about 10 miles south. Half permanent RV residents and almost half permanently parked RV's used as hunting camps. Friendly people and no worries about security after election day.

Wednesday we got up early and went to Loretta Lynn's Ranch. The museum was already closed for the season but the store, grist mill, replica of Loretta's childhood home and her house were open. It's a beautiful valley. Actually the town of Hurricane Mills was - is - located here. When Mooney and Loretta bought the ranch, the town including the Post Office came with it. The Post Office is still open.

It was a delight to tour her home, especially after Graceland. If you didn't know, Loretta built her career as a Down Home Country Girl and the home just shouted, "We are happy, devout country folk." We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the house. But believe me, from the family pictures to the huge collection of Avon bottles, you just knew this was a lady you'd love to get to know.

Just hangin' out on Loretta's front porch.

The replica of the "Butcher Hollow" house.

The grist mill and pond.

Inside the grist mill.

Remaining roots of a weird old tree.

Sorry. We didn't see any chipmunks. This might be why.

Between the  Ranch and the Interstate is a place called, "Loretta's Kitchen." We asked a lady in the general store if we should go there for lunch. she smiled, looked over her shoulder and said quietly, "No. Ms. Lynn is not connected with that place. Mooney sold the use of her name to them years ago. Go to The Log Cabin just off the Interstate. We did. Great food, very reasonable price and more food than we could possibly eat. You know it's gonna be country good when two of the entrees under "Seafood" are catfish. Mississippi catfish" I was assured by the waitress. "There's nothing Chinese on there."

Tomorrow we go into Nashville.