Home of the Blues & Birthplace of Rock & Roll: Beale Street

We have a short drive today to Memphis, Tennessee. As we cross the Mississippi River to get to the KOA campground, we see lots of flooding.

We actually had planned to stop at a different campground, but it's closed due to flooding. As we cross the river later in the day, we see a campground that is mostly under water -- we're wondering if it's the campground where we planned to stay.

We set up, grab a snack and then head to Beale Street, home of the blues and birthplace of rock and roll. Our first stop is the Blues Cafe for lunch. Wonderful atmosphere and great southern food! A place not to be missed if you ever visit Memphis.

Jere and I share a plate of incredibly delicious (and worth every calorie/gram of fat) barbequed ribs:

And obey their sign to try their fried apple pie a la mode:

After we stuff ourselves with great food at the Blues Cafe, we stroll down Beale Street. They are having a very large Corvette show today so Corvettes are everywhere in the area. Lots of people, lots of good music on the street.

We spend an hour or two in the Rock and Soul Museum (a division of the Smithsonian Institute, dedicated to the history of soul/blues music and the birth of rock & roll). Interesting museum. They give each person a set of headphones and you stroll around the museum and listen to descriptions of the exhibits and lots of music.

After the museum we walk through the 'Africa in April' street fair and then several blocks to the edge of the Mississippi River.

And then through the historic downtown area. It's really a pretty area, with lots of interesting architecture. It's also the birthplace of the modern day grocery store: Piggly Wiggly grocery stores originated here with the first serve yourself style grocery store.

We walk around Beale Street again and then head back to the campground for several games of pool, before calling it a day (and early bedtime--lots of walking today).