Two cups of coffee in the Memphis Marriott Courtyard lobby and I was good to go.

Emily & Elvis - Sun Studios, Memphis, TN

We thought we’d go to Graceland but opted instead to visit Sun Studio on Union Street, the “birthplace of rock and roll.” This is where Elvis cut his first demo record and the atmosphere and tour were top notch. Lots of memorabilia.

The building itself is very small with a small soda fountain, upstairs room filled with memorabilia, very tiny front office still in its original condition, and the recording room and sound booth.

The best part of the tour was that they played little snippets of music throughout, including one of Elvis laughing and trying to record a song while Carl Perkins was making faces at him through the window – a very relaxed, personal recording that was played as you stood in the studio were it was made. If you closed your eyes, you felt like you were right there.

I’m glad we visited Sun Sudios instead of Graceland as we got to experience Elivs at the beginning of his life and career, full of hope and dreams and talent, in a small intimate setting that made me feel like I got to meet him. Highly recommended if you’re ever in Memphis. Before leaving I grabbed a “diner” cup of coffee and bought Em her first Moon Pie.

As soon as we got on the road Em declared she was hungry. Hey we’re in Memphis, how about ribs? She quickly looked up a good ribs restaurant on TVFoodMaps.com that lists all the featured restaurants on the Food Network’s programs. We chose Marlowe’s Ribs over near Graceland and it did not disappoint. If I could have taken a bucket of their corn fritters and deep fried pickles I would have – yum!

Em’ declaration as we headed out the door of Marlowe’s, “We ride!” Indeed we do.

We headed out of Memphis via Elvis Presley Blvd. and listened to Elvis music via XM Satellite radio for the first hour on the road.

Passed the Williams-Sonoma distribution center in Memphis. Who knew?

Lots of traffic in Birmingham and a few photo ops as we crossed into Mississippi and Alabama, including one run for a rock and one “leaning out the car door” rock gathering episode.

Red Lobster closes at 11 p.m. but we managed to pull in there in Atlanta at 10:45 pm. Once filled with cheese biscuits and crab linguini alfredo, it was apparent we had better get to the hotel before we passed out.

Mixed feelings about the cross-country part of our trip coming to an end – it’s a long trip but it has been a joy. If you’re going to drive 2,900 miles, I recommend going with someone who makes you laugh yourself silly! – Ann

I woke up to a beautiful day in Memphis, Tennessee. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping. We got on the road quickly. The first placed we stopped was Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. It was an amazing tour.

I got to stand on the same spot Elvis Presley stood when he recorded his very first record. I also got to use the same microphone that Elvis used when he recorded songs. It was pretty cool. It was neat to hear the history of how he came to Sun Studios and how he became a hit. If you are ever in Memphis, Tennessee, I recommend going to Sun Studios!

After Sun Studios we rode over to a place called Marlows Ribs. We discovered Marlows Ribs because it was on Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives which airs on the Food Network. We ordered the sampler platter which had: Fried Pickles, Fried Chicken, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Fried Corn Fritters. I will say that the Corn Fritters and the Fried Pickles were my favorite.

We also got a Half-Rack-o-Ribs which were AMAZING. Sorry dad, but you have been beaten when it comes to ribs. With the ribs came the Mac n’ Cheese. Now, this baked Mac n’ Cheese was heavenly. We left Marlows Ribs and got on the road.

We were on the road for about five hours with out stopping. Yet, we had to stop for a bit to get more gas.

• When you stop to get gas, you go and use the restroom in a Cracker Barrel.
• When you go to use the restroom in a Cracker Barrel, you shop in their store.
• When you look around in their store, you buy junk. Not just junk, but junk that you could live with out. Thus the word “Junk”.
• When you do leave the Cracker Barrel your mother must stop and stretch in the parking lot.
• When your mother stops to stretch in the parking lot, you ride your rip-stick.
• When you ride your rip-stick you learn a new trick.
• When you learn a new rip-stick trick, you soon learn that you have not been driving for 45 minutes.

So, you get on the road.

It soon became late at night and mom and I were delirious. I saw a sign that said, “Hong Kong Buffet”. So for the next few hours mom and I said, “Hong Kong Buffet” in weird voices. We were very tired when we finally arrived at our hotel. It was 9:30 when we arrived.

We had not eaten since Marlows, so we decided to go have dinner at Red Lobster. We arrived at Red Lobster at 11:00 at night. We had an amazing dinner then returned to the hotel at midnight. Tomorrow we plan on leaving early so that we can get to my Gramps and Nana’s at a decent time. I know that I will be having meatballs for dinner! (Meatballs=a very long story)

I will say that this being one of the last post about our Cross-Country trip, I am happy because I know that when this adventure ends a new one will open.

Through this long journey cross our grand country I have really learned the true meaning of the saying, “It is not the destination but the journey”. Even though this may seem like the end, it is only the beginning of a truly amazing summer!

From,

Emily

It was soooo hard to leave our cousins! Pancakes and coffee by the pool was delightful – the kids swam then rip-sticked in the driveway, Em pulling Gillian and Grace on a second ripstick by horse lead!

After a quick load of laundry, the borrowing of two pair of riding boots for horse camp (English and Western – yee haw, thank you Melissa!!!!), some calendar comparisons about future meet-ups, and the knowledge that no matter how well we checked, we were sure to leave something (and in fact, it was Em’s Rein and Shine tee shirt!), we loaded up and headed out.

Last thing in the car was the ripstick, helmet, and wrist pads…of course!

Drove through the University of Arkansas campus – beautiful, hilly, and lots of construction. Loved seeing all the huge frat houses (well, mansions really). A quick one hour drive to Fort Smith didn’t deter Em from taking a nap – she woke up in the parking lot of Fuji’s Steakhouse and Sushi restaurant where we met my gal-pal Debbie for lunch and laughs.

When we got up to leave, we were literally the last people in the restaurant…including the staff! All the lights in the lobby were out and there wasn’t a person in sight. Debbie says they close between 2 and 4 and we were there ’til 3:30.

From Fort Smith it was about 3 1/2 hours to Memphis but it seemed like an eternity. Em slept most of the way, lots of construction including several points where it was one lane and a dead stop. Was actually able to read at one point. Listening to the truckers on the CB was too funny throughout the traffic and helped the time go by.

Did manage to rouse Em to watch the odometer turn over to 000 again (2,000 miles) – we missed it the first time so had to catch it today.

Cracker Barrel Turkey Dinner

Despite the fact that were just miles from Memphis ribs, we opted to stop at the last Arkansas exit for Cracker Barrel’s Thursday turkey dinner special and it was juuuuuuust right. Ate so much we even turned down dessert. Em had an extra serving of stuffing and gravy.

We love shopping in their little store, even looked for a new “On the Road Again” type CD but no luck. The sun was setting just as we arrived at the restaurant so our “Welcome to Tennessee” photo op an hour later was pretty dark.

Arrived at the Memphis airport Marriott Courtyard (great decorations and music!) and enjoyed a half hour of rip-sticking in the parking lot. Em glides along and I stretch my legs and we talk about everything from here to the moon – some of my favorite times on this trip.

Plans are for Graceland tomorrow morning then off to HOT-lanta. – Ann

Odometer Reading - 2,000 so far!

I spent a quiet hour in the lobby of our hotel uploading some photos and getting caught up on email. Shagged Emily out of the room in time to get some breakfast before it closed and noticed, as we were packing up, that another one of those amazing Oklahoma storms was about to move in.

Ran to our car in the rain and got on the road heading toward Tulsa. Unfortunately for Em, the rain prevented any CB radio chat so we listened to “On the Road Again” “Eastbound and Down” and “I Love a Rainy Night” again on our road trip CD. It just isn’t a road trip without playing “On the Road Again” every time you get in the car and singing at the top of your lungs.

Some of my favorite memories of this trip so far – signing with Em

The fields in Oklahoma are gorgeous – green, lush, rolling. Lots of tractors and silos and cows.

The toll road between Oklahoma City and Tulsa is spectacular and one of the prettiest highways I’ve ever seen – felt like we were driving in Disneyland. Hardly anyone on the road, beautiful smooth rolling highways, and horizons as far as you can see.

Jacob, Grace, Gillian and Em - Ready to Launch!

Hopped out at the Arkansas border for a quick photo then on to Fayetteville, where we spent about an hour being lost once we got into town. Lots and lots of little back farm roads and eventually found Melissa’s almost by accident.

Betsy, Santiago, and Renee joined us and the kids swam in the pool, rip sticked in the driveway, fed the horses, chased lightning bugs, caught a frog, played with the dogs, and were eventually found out in the field in a circle at night (telling ghost stories?) requiring a quick check for deer ticks and off to bed – Em is joining the girls in their room upstairs.

For me, seeing Em with her cousins is one of the joys of this adventure. Life boils down to doing interesting things and spending time with the people you love and this trip has included both.

As we stood by the pool at one moment, looking out at the kids who had run off to a neighbor’s treehouse in the next field, I said, “they’re making memories” and I know those will be some of the best ones from Em’s childhood.

Melissa and Betsy

Mine are filled with fun and crazy times with my first and second cousins and now I stood with two of them – one from each side of the family – and relished watching our kids do the same.

Even though we never really lived near my extended family (except for that magical time in Hawaii) it was the moments that Mom and Dad deliberately created by planning and spending time together that created the bonds I feel with them today.

My cousins and I are friends, not just because we’re related, but because our parents made the effort (holiday after holiday after holiday…) to ensure we would be and I am eternally grateful for that most precious gift of a big, wide, wonderful family.

Drifting off to sleep in my cousin’s house in Arkansas on some random day in June embodies that like nothing else. – Ann

Melissa and Ann - Morning Coffee in the Outdoor Room

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The movie “If it’s Tuesday, it Must Be Belgium” springs to mind.

Once again, we got on the highway after 10 am, this time after another stop at Radio Shack in Albuquerque for a bigger CB radio antenna. This new one sits on top of the car’s rooftop by magnet and seems to work great. Emily even got her first trucker reply after a few “Break 1-9 for a radio check” calls.

Took our picture by the “Welcome to Texas” sign with truckers honking their horns and waving.

Stopped in Amarillo to visit the Cadillac Ranch (see the photo gallery below!) We hadn’t brought our own spray paint but were lucky enough to find a half used can of purple spray paint and managed to get our names painted onto the last car in the line. Such a fun stop for adults and kids and hard to believe how much paint is on those cars!

Did NOT take our picture next to the “Welcome to Oklahoma” sign since it was raining…and we saw it flying by too late and opted not to turn around.

So apparently there was some big sports game in Oklahoma City tonight and there were NO HOTEL ROOMS available. Imagine calling the 800 numbers for Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Holiday Inn etc. and being told they literally had nothing available. Started pulling in to hotels at the exits about a half hour outside the city and checking in person – nothing.

I have no idea how many hotels we literally drove up to and asked if there was room at the inn, just in case. By 11:30 pm we were actually in Oklahoma City and doing the same. I was about to get on I-44 for Tulsa when we saw a Hyatt Place and Em said, “oh, just check one more time.” Pulled in, walked in, and the manager was standing at the desk with two clerks.

“How are you this evening?”

“I’m tired” and smiled. “I don’t suppose you have anything available.”

“Let me check.” (That was hopeful!) “Yes, I can sell you a room tonight, I don’t think this gentleman is going to show up.”

REALLY?!?!?!?!

When Em got down to the lobby later on to buy at pizza for a true midnight snack, she gave him a big hug – I think he was taken aback but very happy with his decision to help us out. He told me it was because I said I was tired. God bless that man! – Ann
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The pudding at K-Bob’s Salad Wagon in Tucumcari, NM was just as good as we remembered! – Ann