Yee-ha! Nashville!

I never thought I'd see the day that I would visit Nashville.  My brother Jim used to listen to Country Club on the BBC when we were teenagers, while our mother was out at the prayer meeting, and so I just followed suit.  His taste influenced my taste. That's how things go.
So to visit the place that was up until now just an imagination in my mind was exciting.
We took a Uber car to Nashville.  Uber was relatively new to me.  It is a cheaper and better way of getting a taxi ride.  You get an app on your phone. Then pay online.  Hit the Go button and within minutes a guy turns up with a car to take you to your destination.  Neat.  More power to their elbow, I say.  All paid for before you travel, via credit card.  It worked like a dream for us.  Approx 20 bucks each way (plus a tip) and we were transported safely there and back by decent people in private cars.  
Nashville was a bit seedy and smelly, frankly.  
But it delivered well on the country music without fail.  Bar after bar on the Honky Tonk strip of Broadway had trios and duos and solo artists delivering pretty well good music.  Tight harmonies, good guitar work, and nifty piano riffs a-plenty.  
We ate in Tin Roof bar and listened to some music there while we ate lunch.  The way it works is that you don't pay for entry, or the music, but the musicians collect tips.  A bit like busking indoors.  The lead singer guy came round after reminding us all that "Jesus loves a cheerful giver".  He then went round with a bucket and got a load of dollars from the punters there.  After that we then visited loads of other bars to sample the music. 
Ruth even managed to sing a verse of Amazing Grace on the stage of the Information Centre!  That's my girl. 

Tim managed to mime the second verse and played air-guitar to it.

Satisfied, we walked up the Walk of Fame and saw on the pavement the names of country greats Cece Winans, Emmy Lou Harris, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Michael W Smith, 
Across the road to the County Music Hall of Fame for a drink before going back to the Grand Ole RV park in Goodletsville, Tennessee.

first stop for music

At Tin Roof, Broadway, Nashville

Broadway, Nashville

Revolving guitar outside Hard Rock cafe, Nashville.

Inside the Jonny Cash museum shop.

Beards!

One of the things I suggested to Ruth was that while we are in this part of the world, it might be a good idea for us both to grow beards.
Fortunately, Ruth has had a lot more success than me, as my beard just gets a bit patchy.  However, within a couple of days Ruth has managed to do remarkably well.
I think you will all agree that the dark glasses are a bit of a give-away, but there is no mistaking that this is her.  The disguise is completed with the hat.
Her suggestion that we both had some body-art or tattoo done over here didn't get my approval, - obviously.

Glenn the gardener, - aka Ruth Parfitt

I caught up with her once more, in a coffee shop in Nashville.
The beard has been trimmed a bit and a different cap.

JR Smith n TJP.  Beards galore here.

Get your kicks on Route 65

We made fantastic progress today and drove for a long time on Interstate Highway 65.
Route 66 was going the wrong way, so we took Route 65.

Get your kicks here on Route 65?  Hardly!

Travel was good.
Took the Route 65 past Louisville.  I couldn't help thinking about my nephew Louis and that having a town named after him was pretty cool.  Sent up a prayer for Louis as we travelled.

She managed really well driving Harvey.

Ruth took the wheel for a good long time as I watched the scenery and things along the way. (I was determined to do it and loved it! I was made VERY aware of every time I came near to the rumble strip on the side of the road though! He wasn't watching the scenery at all!!)
Signs for senators wanting your vote.  One for a bloke called Twinkle!  He must be a star. (Deary me, that was a bad joke Tim!)
Several dead animals, even one that was Bambi (sorry kids, there was a dead Bambi) by the side of the with its legs up in the air.
A few raccoons, and squirrels too.

Travel was easy until we reached Nashville.  It was rush hour and this city is like any other major city at rush hour, - gridlocked.

But we made it to our RV site and found a pitch for two nights at Grand Ole RV park, Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072.  They made us feel very welcome here.  Everywhere we go, people are very kind and give us things because we are "Just Married".  They gave us a hard back book about country music that they were selling at 18 bucks.  Kind people.

Well if you ever plan to motor north
Just take my way that's the highway that's the wharf
Get your kicks on Route 65

Well it winds from Mobile to Nashville, Tennessee
That's what we've come to see
Get your kicks on Route 65

Would you get hip to this kindly tip
And go take that Nashville trip
Get your kicks on Route 65