River City

Tom Lee Memorial

Embellished Accolades

Bike Night on Beale Street

A notable tribute to the Godfather of Blues

These guys had some good sound

An Acrobatic Street performer...Unbelievable antics

Bridge to Arkansas

Come to me, all who are weary and I will give you rest.
                                                             Mathew 11:28

Memphis had a lot more to offer than I anticipated. The 'River City' considers itself to be "The Birthplace of Rock'n Roll" and "The Home of the Blues".  If you want to hear some outstanding live music, head downtown to Beale Street. There, I enjoyed a variety of sounds and didn't pay anything to listen...no cover charge at any of the nite clubs I visited. This city has a rich heritage of music and prides itself in these traditions. Origins of blues music came from slave labor singing in the cotton fields while gospel music was popular in the churches. Today, these unique musical forms continue to live, evolve and transform our society as well as our cultural identity. One square block of Beale Street is barricaded off to thru traffic at night. This makes foot traffic the ideal way to move about and listen to live music. Wednesday is Bike Night in Memphis: no shortage of rolling thunder to add to the musical ambiance.

South of downtown on the riverfront there are some historical monuments that are worthy to mention.  The Tom Lee Memorial is attributed to the heroic efforts of a man of valor who came to the rescue of 32 boaters destined to drown in the river 20 miles south of town. Martyrs Park is dedicated to the people who gave their lives in service of those affected by the Yellow Fever in the 1800's. This epidemic wiped out most of the population of those who stayed in Memphis at the time. All races were effected. 

Stateline Crossing

Keep on the Path of Righteousness.
                                  Proverbs 2:20


Although my stay in Tennessee is temporary, it's been time well spent. Before my arrival, I heard stories about the high crime rates and bad roads in Memphis, but that hasn't hindered my ability to have a good time and get around.

Local cyclist enjoying the Shelby Farms Greenline urban commuting trail

Also called The Volunteer State

Airplane @ Memphis's International Airport

Colorful Springtime Butterfly

A accessible waterway near the Greenline

Spring has sprung in Memphis!

I was informed that Memphis is one of the worst cities in the country for cyclists, however: I did find a functional urban route called the Shelby Farms Greenline. This paved recreational path is designed for pedestrian and bicycle travel. Motorized vehicles are outlawed on the Greenline. It's great  for commuting or just sight seeing. It does however go through a Federal prison area. I would stay off this trail at night. The marked bike lanes on the city streets were narrower than what I've experienced in other major American cities, but they were navigable.

I want to give a plug to the helpful folks (Steve & John) at Outdoors Inc. on Union Street.  John worked overtime on the broken off screw in my front fork. Thanks to his experience, persistence, insight, patience and battery powered drill; I'm back on the road with properly functioning equipment.

Delta Country

Veteran's War Memorial-Tunica, MS

One of the many waterways that flows to the Big River

A local turtle enjoying the sunshine

World's Best Grilled Catfish in Boyle, MS

This city will be Rock'n this weekend

Is this where our Veterans have gone? Long live the Stars and Stripes

The  word became flesh, and made his dwelling among us, and we have seen his glory.
                                                                               John 1:14

The Mississippi Delta begins north of Yazoo City and extends well beyond the Tennessee State line, it's a nice flat place to ride. Unfortunately, this past week featured steady headwinds that came out of the north. Although the cooler temperatures were welcomed, it made the ride less efficient...certainly, I could have covered more ground with a tail wind. The land in northwestern Mississippi doesn't support much Spanish moss and has a shorter growing season than further south. Most of the fields have no crops in them yet. The Big River has formed many lakes on both sides of it, some of the state lines are determined by these lakes, not the river.

Allergies have been a issue for me lately. The pollen count around here has given me a true need for medication...without it my travels would be close to impossible.

Belzoni, claims to be the Catfish Capital of the World but I wasn't able to find any place there that grilled or boiled it (the way I like). I had to travel north on the HWY278 to The Catfish Cabin in Boyle to get the best catfish in the world. Owner, Jimmy and his crew know how to do it right!
 
I enjoyed the opportunity to visit the B.B. King Museum in Indianola. Next weekend live music and organized entertainment will infiltrate this city as well as Clarksdale. This annual festival is popular among motorcyclists.

Flora-Yazoo City

Yazoo City's colorful downtown

Some Yazoo City  Living Color

Kimberly Moorehead, owner of Hollywood's restaurant, Yazoo City

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.
                                              John 14:27

I had a slow week with some good weather moving north of Jackson. Flora was my first major stop. There I had the opportunity to visit Mississippi's Petrified Forest on the southwest side of town. This wood is different from Arizona's Petrified Forest. Many of the specimens here are of a softer palm wood that was transported to this region after the Ice Age. When the Glaciers that formed the Great Lakes melted, this fossilized wood was washed into this Delta area by the flooding Mississippi River. Some of the wood specimens are warm weather woods, this translates to a realization that the northerly area from where it came was once a tropical environment. Hats off to Errol Dillon (Master of Photography) for hosting me on his property.

25 miiles up Highway 49 is Yazoo City.To get to downtown from the 49 there is a major hill to descend, downtown is about 2 miles off the big road. If you want the best home cooked lunch in Yazoo City, you need to check out Thomas Johnson's Yazoo Tomato. His quaint store with deli style lunches is about .3 miles off HWY 49 going into town on the right hand side. I also enjoyed some fried Okra at Hollywood's in downtown.
There has been an effort to revitalize downtown Yazoo City with jazz music piped in on city street loudspeakers appropriately placed. Additionally, many businesses have fresh vibrant paint schemes to embellish the ambiance.