Getting to Know Memphis

2019-08-20, Tuesday:

We woke up this morning having slept remarkably well underneath our highway bridges. (I’m feeling a bit like a gnome, living under the bridge.) Our generator ran the AC all night, and it was very comfortable.

Joe went out early to see whether our tire was still experiencing a slow air leak. It was, so he decided that it would take only a short time to remove the tire, put on the spare, pop the removed tire on the back of the Jeep, and onward we would go. However, the same problem we had with the RV tire a couple of weeks ago came up again—the lug nuts were simply on too tightly. He managed to get 4 off, but with the 5th, he stripped the nut. In great frustration, we called AAA to get professional help with the problem.

Our “campsite” under the bridges

The AAA guy arrived at about 10:10 or so (not too late—we called at 9:30) but unfortunately was unable to do anything to help. He advised calling a tire shop. So for the second time in 2 weeks, we found ourselves looking for a good tire store. We found Steepleton Tire, a complete service, family owned company, which looked very competent. They told us on the phone that they could probably help, although we might have a short wait. So we put our books and my iPad into a bag, and we drove to Steepleton Tire.

We did indeed have to wait for perhaps 30 minutes before they took our Jeep.  After quite a bit of difficulty, they were able to remove the stripped nut and remove the tire without doing any further “surgery” to the wheel structure. They agreed that the nuts had been torqued on much too tightly at Freedman Tire back when Joe had the new tires put on. So they retorqued all the tire lugs while they were at it, as well as fixing the leak in the old tire— they said it was a very tiny hole, even smaller than a nail. (No idea how we got it!). 

The only further snag was that they didn’t have a nut to replace the old stripped one. So they removed our spare tire, used one of the nuts holding it on, and put the spare into the back of the Jeep! The cost for all this time and help was an astoundingly low $17.00 plus tax. I was kind of disbelieving, but I didn’t argue with them. In NJ, this would have been 5 times more, I bet! The only thing to do at that point was, we had to find an auto parts store, so we could buy a couple of new nuts so we can put the spare tire back on the back of the Jeep.

By the time this entire process was finished, it was 1pm, time for lunch. I had made a decision as to which BBQ place we ought to try next, so we drove to the Bar-B-Q Store, which appears on almost everyone’s Top Ten list of Best Memphis Barbeque. Joey had ribs, and I had a combo plate of brisket and their famous “spaghetti Barbeque”. All of these choices were 1) fantastic, and 2) far more than we could eat. So we now have TWO  Barbeque leftover meals in our refrigerator. Joe said the ribs were absolutely the best, although I MIGHT have liked last night’s brisket better. The spaghetti, unique, was totally yummy (and there are no leftovers of that!)

“Home of the Dancing Pigs”

When lunch was over, we drove back to the RV so Joe could check his sugar, and I could make sure that the Bass Pro Shop hadn’t decided we were squatters and towed us. We decided to go into the store and make sure they were okay with us staying a second night, which had become our updated plan due to our unexpected morning disruptions. They were fine with it. 

While we were in there, we looked around and shopped. The store is, indeed, what they call an “immersion retail experience.”  It’s a store devoted to fishing, hunting, kayaking, and other outdoor sports. Inside there is a lagoon with cypress trees and fish (and the boats for sale are docked in the lagoon). There is an alligator tank with about 5 alligators. There are fish tanks, and there is a corner of the lagoon which has trout and ducks. Another fun thing about the store is, dogs are allowed in! So we had Cassie with us, and we discovered that she likes fish and ducks! She got herself into the pool before we realized this, and she was happily barking at the ducks too. For once she looked like a “real” Golden retriever! Needless to say, all of us enjoyed the store.

Cassie enjoying the ducks

When we came out, we realized it was already 4:00, and we still hadn’t gone to any museums or anything in Memphis other than restaurants and tire shops. So we put Cassie back into the RV (we were leaving the AC on all day for her) and drove back downtown to the Museum of Rock n’ Soul. This museum (a Smithsonian adjunct of some sort) relates the history of soul music, while explaining also the cultural realities around the sharecroppers and other poor people who came up from Mississippi looking for more opportunities, and brought their rural-style and influence with their music as well. 

The museum was VERY well done, and we really enjoyed it. After viewing an introductory movie, we were given headsets and a self-guided audio tour. Each exhibit had a number which could be coded in for background information. Each explanation also had music which could be heard after the explanation. In addition, each section or room had a vintage jukebox, and above the jukebox was a list of songs with their own numbers, reflecting the period of music of that exhibit. So all in all, there were dozens of songs to listen to as well as all the historical background on the musicians, the music studios, the people who produced the music. Plus of course interviews with many of these folks. And of course, plenty of Elvis! We spent almost 2 hours in the museum and were very impressed by the entire thing. It sure made me want to go buy some soul music!

Joey enjoys an exhibit at the museum

By about 6:45, we were both quite tired, so we left the museum and went back to our car, and drove back to the RV. We’re now finishing up having some dinner. We do have plans for 9 PM, however. Last night on our way home, we noticed that the I-40 bridge over the river (which we are sleeping under) was putting on a fabulous light show! We only caught the very end of it, and it was the last show for the evening. So since we are still here, we are going to make a point of going over to the riverfront to watch the light show before we go to sleep. (I added a photo of the bridge. I have more photos, but I’m having trouble with the software so this is it for tonight!)

I have to say we are really enjoying Memphis, and noticing a lot of things which must make it a quite livable city. It’s a place I could certainly spend a week exploring—we will definitely be back in the future, I suspect.