Nashville & Memphis

Music, music, music… It’s such an important part of everyone’s daily life. And that’s where we’re headed next. Leaving Kansas City was hard, as was taking a decision. But we’ve finally settled on New Orleans. The risk of running back into snow and cold was too high if we would have headed for Cleveland. However, before reaching New Orleans, we have some mandatory musical stops in Tennessee: Nashville and Memphis.

The ride to Nashville takes us through several states with a so different landscapes: Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee. We leave the Wild West behind us, cross autumn streaked forests, abandoned towns and even a part of mystical Route 66. Thankfully, it seems as if we’ve left the cold behind. Most of our days are spent in sunshine.

Nashville is a dream come true for my country music lover heart. We spent the evening at different bars along Lower Broadway, listening to live bands performing country classics. Head over Boots sounds from one open door, while Jolene drifts through the next open window. The lights twinkle along the boulevard, our heads flicking from side to side to take it all in.

Our stay is topped off with a visit of the Country Music Hall of Fame, retracing the history of country music since its early beginning. This includes famous stage costumes, the different instruments used by the artists, as well as the evolution of country of the years. Of course, our stay wouldn’t be complete without a stop at Hattie B’s Hot Chicken for some deliciously crispy chicken.

As the kilometres tick on, I get more and more comfortable riding with my Brixton. With Chaton I easily thread my way through the city traffic. Perfect as we leave the capital of country music for the city of blues: Memphis.

We reached Memphis, slightly clueless at what would be expecting us. The only things we knew prior to getting here were Elvis and Beale Street. But what expected us was so much more.

We had an indescribable experience at the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered. The motel was turned into the National Civil Rights Museum, retracing the struggles of the civil rights movement up until today. The building facing the motel, where it is supposed the shooter was hidden, was turned into a second wing of the museum about the investigation into the murder.

Our steps then led us to Rendezvous for the best ribs we’ve ever had, together with homemade barbecue sauce! As the night falls, we follow the music down to Beale Street. Like Lower Broadway, the music drifts through the open doors and windows. But that’s where the comparison stops. The bars are smaller and cosier, not made for the throngs of tourists as in Nashville. Still, instead of settling into a bar, we stop on the square to listen to a group of old men perform live. The best blues music you could wish for!

All Episodes:

Part 1: Finding the right bike
Part 2: Canada and Jasper National Park
Part 3: The Icefields Parkway 
Part 4: The Okanagan Valley
Part 5: Vancouver and the Sea-to-Sky Highway
Part 6: US 101, Washington and Oregon
Part 7: Idaho & Montana, the Lewis & Clark Highway to Denver
Part 8: Denver
Part 9: Kansas City
Part 10: Nashville & Memphis

Make sure to follow Joanne and her Dad on her route:

Instagram WheelsOnRoadHoles: @wheelsonroadholes/
Instagram Joanne:@jo_lmk/
Instagram: Christian, her dad:@worldwidebiker/
Website: https://wheelsonroadholes.com