Millington Naval Base, Bass Pro Shop, Steamboats and getting ready to leave in the rain

Saturday May 30th, 2015

We decided to drive around Memphis instead of going to Graceland as we weren't that impressed when we drove past there yesterday.

We drove out to Millington Naval Base to look around and deposit a check.  Bryan's dad was stationed here and his sister was born here.  We found this building which we think may have been the building she was born in.

We went and looked at the new Bass Pro Shops that had just opened in a pyramid shaped building.

Alligator in pond by the elevator

Hotel Room overlooking the inside of the store

Elevator to the top viewpoint over Memphis.  There was a $10 charge & a waiting line to use it.

Sue hiding behind the camouflage

It took quite a while to look around and it was packed.  The parking lot was overflowing with cars parked on grass verges and in areas that were no parking.  We managed to squeeze on an end and as we were leaving we saw a car had just parked next to us.  When they saw we were leaving they decided to move over into the spot we had created for ourselves as it was a little bit more out of the road and line of traffic.

We drove along the Mississippi River and saw this steamboat moored.  We found out later that it was the American Queen which does passenger cruises along the length of the Mississippi.

An interesting bridge over the road

A train was crossing the Mississippi on the railroad bridge as we were crossing on the road bridge.

Back at the campground later we saw the American Queen go by on it's cruise.  This was the one we saw earlier today in Memphis.

and the American Eagle went by as well.

I took this picture from inside the motorhome of Bryan running down to the river to get the pictures above.

In the UK, Arsenal F.C. won the FA Cup.  Mum and Dad would be happy looking over them from above and our eldest son Ian and my brother Ray are happy as well.  Well Done Arsenal.

Sunday May 31st, 2015

We woke up to rain today.  We decided to stay at home and get ready for leaving tomorrow.
Bryan made good use of his new wax jacket and at least we know it is definitely waterproof!!!

Bryan putting the tow bar on the car (Tilly) and attaching her to Lily.

Next was the bike rack on the back of Tilly

Watching the rain through the windscreen.

The rain eased off and we went for a walk around the campground.

Tugboat going along the river

The electric meters are high up off the ground to avoid flood waters 

The ducks enjoyed the weather

The picture below shows the level the floodwater rose to during the Mississippi Flood of 2011

Tomorrow we head for Little Rock, Arkansas and it will be June 1st already.

Memphis, Tennessee

Friday May 29th, 2015

We went on a coach tour of Memphis with Blues City Tours.  They picked us up at the campground.  I'm not sure we would recommend them as the tour was a little haphazard but we did get to see quite a bit so it served the purpose.

We stopped at the Peabody hotel to watch the famous Peabody Duck March.  They march at 11am in the morning. The pictures are not the best as it was very crowded.

Ducks coming out of the elevator after coming down in it from the top floor

Marching along the red carpet

In the fountain

 They stay in the fountain until they march back to the elevator at 5pm and return to the top of the hotel.

Next stop was Sun Studio,  the birthplace of Rock N Roll.

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Then we stopped at St. Judes Research Hospital. 

Play area

Memorial Garden

Thought of Mum & Dad

We stopped at the National Heritage Area

There were statues of B.B.King and Elvis Presley 

B.B. King had died a few days before we arrived

Outside on the Mississippi River was an old paddleboat

Hernando De Soto or "Dolly Parton" bridge with paddle boat in foreground.

 Next stop was the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel which is where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.

The motel room balcony where he was killed

The bus waiting for us

Supposedly one of the best BBQ in Memphis, we didn't have time to try it

Then on to Beale Street. 

B.B. Kings

Another BBQ

Toilet Seat for sale.  Good job I don't have a house where this would fit anymore

Last but not least was Graceland, home of Elvis Presley.  We didn't go inside but just a drive past.  

On the way

Graceland behind the trees

Wall in front of Graceland that people have signed

The "Kings" plnes

and car

We were going to go here tomorrow but after our brief visit today decided against it.  It is very commercialized and quite expensive, maybe another time but I doubt it.