Day 20: Walking in Memphis

I'm walking in Memphis
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel

Marc Cohn

528 miles

Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee (20 states total so far)

Got out of Cincinnati fairly early and on the road to Kentucky.  We drove the scenic byways and saw a lot of beautiful country and farmland (though no bluegrass that I could determine) M: "Look at the pony.  There's a pony.  Cute pony... What's a pony?".  The ride was comfortable despite the fact that this part of the country is entrenched in a major heat wave.  So, every stop was oppressive, and we saw very few people (or animals) as we drove across the countryside.

We arrived in Fancy Farm, Kentucky (population 600), the home of many of Mimi's ancestors.  I said yesterday that we wouldn't have cemetery pictures, but we spotted the big Catholic cemetery on the way into town, and started exploring.  Jackpot!  The majority of the graves in the large cemetery bore the names of her paternal ancestors (Cash, Hayden, Hobbs).  When we get home, we'll try to sort out who's who.  After tromping around the cemetery, we found the picnic grounds where the annual Fancy Farms Picnic is held.  This has been (for 132 years) a picnic, Catholic Church fundraiser, and political rally -- complete with drinking and hecklers!  It's said that, if you want to be elected to office in Kentucky, you'd better attend the (bipartisan) picnic!  Pretty cool (at 105 degrees) little town.

Fancy Farm, KY

Our final destination for the day was Memphis.  We got in after 7:30 (8:30 our time -- we gained an hour today), hot, tired, and starving!  After checking into our room, we decided to walk the mile or so to the famous Beale St.  In the 100-plus-degree heat, at 8:00 in the evening, it was a little wild.  The street was hopping -- loud, hot, noisy, drunk, and stinky!  Way too much heat, noise, and energy to wander around trying to find something to eat, so we hightailed it back to the hotel where I promptly filled the tub with cold water and submerged myself.  For a short time, I thought I might die in Memphis!  Fully recovered and fed, I'm happy again, and looking forward to visiting the King tomorrow!!

Hooray!  First sub $3 gas purchase today.