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29 June, "All The Way To Memphis", (to paraphrase that immortal 70's Mott title…)
Check out in Tunica was 11:00 which I just about managed. As check-in at the Holiday Inn in downtown Memphis, wasn't until 4 pm,, with only 50 miles to travel, So I took the opportunity to drive to Little Rock in Arkansas (300 mile round trip!) to visit the Clinton Presidential Museum and Archive. This purpose-built building was opened in 2004. The tour starts with a 12 minute movie in which Clinton describes his background and rise to the Presidency, but (thankfully) doesn't dwell on the achievements or politics. So many famous people seem to have some quirk in their history: Bill's father died in a motor accident 3 months before he was born, and his mother left him for his grandparents to raise while she went off to New Orleans to train as a nurse, for a better future.
The museum contained full sized replicas of both the Cabinet Room and the Oval Office, as well as many of the gifts from other Heads of State and ordinary Americans, and of course a bullet proof limo. There were examples of his daily schedules in binders that you could pick up and read: it was amazing how much was packed into a day, and it was all timed down to the minute - even the spontaneous-looking pumping the flesh (which may not be the best choice of phrase for our Bill!!). There also happened to be a Space exhibition on there as well, but I can't remember any interesting facts - but the mock-up of the "hygiene area" on the space shuttle was interesting - there was even a shower cubicle, but I don't understand how the water ended up going down the plug hole…
Then on to Memphis. Being here for three days, it was an ideal opportunity to get some clothes clean. Pretty much all the hotels I've been in so far have a laundry (washer & tumble drier). Not this one. Reception couldn't advise on a launderette so it was down to me. Also needing a Walmart, I found the most local, and headed that way, searching in vain for a launderette. Luckily, the second motel I tried (good old Howard Johnson Suites) had it's facilities in an open area, so I stuffed my washing in, set it off and went to Walmart. By the time I as back it was done.
Then off to Beale Street, Memphis' famous music & bars area., Even though I was quite late getting out, this was a disappointment. People said that Monday is not a good night, but bars were closed, or closed early, and there was not a lot of live music to be heard. Maybe Tuesday will be better.
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As it's a slack day for news, a bit of blog about my driving music may not go amiss. The early part of the trip was mainly country radio stations. Once I reached blues country I started getting in the mood by loading my Blues playlist. On the way to Tunica yesterday it was American comedy - Robert Schimmel, though very crude, is also very funny, as are Jeff Foxworthy (does a lot of redneck jokes), Larry the Cable Guy and of course the Texan Rodney Carrington. Reaching Memphis, and with no Elvis tracks on my iPod, I opted for the Stones playlist, which is quite extensive. You can hear the blues roots in a lot of their older stuff - their early inspiration (if you ignore the early hits, which were more rock than blues) was taken from Muddy Waters, one of the Blues greats. Bobby Keyes has played sax with the Stones for as long as I can remember, and has a very bluesy style, as does Ronnie, especially when he plays slide, and when Mick gets the mouth organ out you can really hear the blues influences. Interspersed with all of this has been the occasional episode of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue from when Humph was alive - one of the funniest radio shows I think I've heard. Stephen Fry is now chairing it, but so far I've missed both episodes (or is it 3 now?)
An odd juxtaposition today. At the Clinton place I was asked if I was a senior citizen (I must be aging fast!) and tonight in Beale Street I was ID'd as I entered a bar. God Bless America!!
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