Day Three: 487 miles
Kingsport to Memphis, TN
First off, some business from the Day Two post. Here’s the deal re: the tattoo on my leg. And yes, I slipped up a bit and posted Thumper’s real name. I was tired. Very tired. And it was bound to happen eventually, as I certainly don’t call him Thumper in the real world. It’s all fixed now. Thank you for all who let me know I’d slipped!
Now…on to the road update. Day Three was a big driving day, pushing ahead on the interstate to get as many miles behind us as Thumper and Diego would allow. We stopped for lunch and a walk in Nashville and spotted this trailer in the parking lot where we left the car. I’d love to know the story behind it:
Anyone know?
Walking down Broadway, which seems to be like the St Marks Place of Nashville with tourist traps aplenty, we met a little freckled guy with the strangest head shape. Tiny head and a point face…he looked just like a praying mantis. He correctly identified Diego as an Italian Greyhound (which is happening on a regular basis in the South. In New York very few people ever seemed to know what he was.). He was a nice enough guy, with a thick Southern accent. We asked him where we should get lunch and he said, “Oh, I’m not from around here. I’m from Europe.” Yeah you are, dude. “Ahm frum Yurp,” he said, actually.
Right after the guy from Yurp, we came across a muscley dude with a handlebar mustache and biker tats, sitting behind a folding table with a sign offering tarot readings. As we were walking past he called out, “Is that an Italian Greyhound or a Whippet?” (You folks really know your dogs down here, don’t you?) He, too, had a Southern accent. We got to talking to him and when he found out we were from Brooklyn, he said, “No way! I’m from Brooklyn too!” And boom. The accent changed. Out came the Brooklyn accent. But the things he was saying about New York just didn’t sound right. So I mentioned Astoria (Queens) in passing, as if it were in Brooklyn and he went along with it. So no, not really from Brooklyn. And probably also didn’t sit on his roof in New Orleans for three days after Katrina like he claimed he did. Whatever. It was amusing and we didn’t fall for his schtick or get our cards read.
And we found a passable lunch place on our own, and then walked around just a bit more and then headed back to the car for more driving driving driving. We reached Memphis after nine and had a dinner of almond butter and jelly sandwiches, because we couldn’t find anything else edible near the hotel and couldn’t bear the thought of getting back into the car. At least we had an okay lunch in Nashville that involved actual vegetables. We’ll eat better when we reach Austin and Billy’s brother’s house. For now, the baby is eating best of the three of us because he can always nurse.
Initially I had been looking forward to taking time to explore both Nashville and Memphis, and to go to Graceland. But the reality is, we don’t have time to see everything along the way. Especially since the delayed closings meant we hit the road a week later than planned, we had to sit down and think about where we want to spend our extra time and where we can just drive through. Spending time with Billy’s family in Austin and camping once we get back up north won out over walking through cities, cool as they may be. Also, Graceland in particular seemed like something that would be more fun in the future when there won’t be a toddler to wrangle. Now, there’d be all this cool looking stuff and he wouldn’t be allowed to touch any of it.
So…I do feel like we missed out on Tennessee a bit, even though we passed through all of it.
And another cute carseat photo, just for the hell of it.
ETA: Forgot to mention the part where I got a call from home saying my SIL had had the baby (A healthy girl!) and I just sat and bawled at a rest stop picnic table because I wanted to be there with them. It’s going to be hard, being so far from my family.
the trailer might have something to do with Sisters on the fly [ http://www.sistersonthefly.com/ ] My mother in law really wants to paint up a trailer and join up. It’s crazy, but pretty neat.
Posted by: TheBon
Great post, and oh, those baby teeth, those baby feet! What a cutie. For what it’s worth, I think you made a good call with those choices – camping up north sounds better than Graceland to me, and I don’t have a toddler to wrangle. (Sorry, Mr. The King…)
Posted by: Lizbon
you know, there’s a website on the back of the trailer, but I can’t make it out from your photo. Got a bigger version of the image?
Posted by: TheBon
What a fun travelogue! I’m loving it. I drove west from the east coast 11 years ago and am still in love with Portland. It’s wonderful here. Buy cute rainboots and a good goretex jacket – we do not use umbrellas here – and you’re set for winter adventures.
Posted by: Shelley
Thumper looks so much like your husband it’s unreal. He is so cute… thanks for sharing the pictures! I love the travel log – what an adventure. But my heart does go out to you in being so far from family. My parents are immigrants (Ireland) and so we missed out on a lot of the family stuff that our cousins got to enjoy. The gift is that we appreciate the time we spend with family more than we might have if they’d always been around… it’s hard, but I am sure you’ll find, as my parents did, that it is well worth the occasional heartache.
Posted by: Liz in IL
the trailer might have something to do with Sisters on the fly [ http://www.sistersonthefly.com/ ] My mother in law really wants to paint up a trailer and join up. It’s crazy, but pretty neat.
Posted by: TheBon
Great post, and oh, those baby teeth, those baby feet! What a cutie. For what it’s worth, I think you made a good call with those choices – camping up north sounds better than Graceland to me, and I don’t have a toddler to wrangle. (Sorry, Mr. The King…)
Posted by: Lizbon
you know, there’s a website on the back of the trailer, but I can’t make it out from your photo. Got a bigger version of the image?
Posted by: TheBon
What a fun travelogue! I’m loving it. I drove west from the east coast 11 years ago and am still in love with Portland. It’s wonderful here. Buy cute rainboots and a good goretex jacket – we do not use umbrellas here – and you’re set for winter adventures.
Posted by: Shelley
Thumper looks so much like your husband it’s unreal. He is so cute… thanks for sharing the pictures! I love the travel log – what an adventure. But my heart does go out to you in being so far from family. My parents are immigrants (Ireland) and so we missed out on a lot of the family stuff that our cousins got to enjoy. The gift is that we appreciate the time we spend with family more than we might have if they’d always been around… it’s hard, but I am sure you’ll find, as my parents did, that it is well worth the occasional heartache.
Posted by: Liz in IL
Hello, just a stranger here letting you know that there is a new yarn store, Gauge, opening in Austin this weekend! My friends have worked really hard on it and from what I’ve seen/heard, it’s amazing. If you think you might get a chance to swing by, the details are at gaugeknit.com.
Posted by: Ali
Very fun! I’m glad you’re taking the mileage nice and slow. When B and I drove from Seattle to SF in one day, I thought I’d DIE!
Posted by: yaiAnn
Shows how tired I was reading the post I missed the name slip! Glad you guys are making such progress and having a fun explore on the way!
Posted by: Liz
It is really tough being far away from family. My DH and I moved to the UK this year from the US and miss our family so much. I wish I could tell you it gets better, but things like video messenging (on MSN) do help.
Posted by: Sonja
I can’t be the first to tell you – “like a band of gypsies we go down the highway” is lyrics from “On the Road Again”. Congrats on the new niece!
Posted by: Laura
The family thing will get easier over time. If you can’t find out the real trailer story, I’m sure you can write up a good one!
Posted by: claudia
Congratulations, auntie! Austin is one of my favorite places of all time. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it immensely.
Posted by: regina
He is too freakin’ cute!!! Good luck with all the driving and congratulations Aunt Cari!
Posted by: Cara
Hello, just a stranger here letting you know that there is a new yarn store, Gauge, opening in Austin this weekend! My friends have worked really hard on it and from what I’ve seen/heard, it’s amazing. If you think you might get a chance to swing by, the details are at gaugeknit.com.
Posted by: Ali
Very fun! I’m glad you’re taking the mileage nice and slow. When B and I drove from Seattle to SF in one day, I thought I’d DIE!
Posted by: yaiAnn
Shows how tired I was reading the post I missed the name slip! Glad you guys are making such progress and having a fun explore on the way!
Posted by: Liz
It is really tough being far away from family. My DH and I moved to the UK this year from the US and miss our family so much. I wish I could tell you it gets better, but things like video messenging (on MSN) do help.
Posted by: Sonja
I can’t be the first to tell you – “like a band of gypsies we go down the highway” is lyrics from “On the Road Again”. Congrats on the new niece!
Posted by: Laura
The family thing will get easier over time. If you can’t find out the real trailer story, I’m sure you can write up a good one!
Posted by: claudia
Congratulations, auntie! Austin is one of my favorite places of all time. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it immensely.
Posted by: regina
He is too freakin’ cute!!! Good luck with all the driving and congratulations Aunt Cari!
Posted by: Cara
Graceland with a toddler: probably not worth the hassle. But Thumper (and you, maybe) would have gotten a kick out of the Peabody ducks while in Memphis…ducks riding elevators and hanging out in a hotel fountain all day, what’s not to love?
Posted by: cc
but think of all the adventure and new friends you’ll meet! Oh what fun you’ll have. I can’t wait to see you in Portland. That will be great!
Posted by: Rebecca
Have fun in Austin! It’s a GREAT city, I’m jealous 🙂
Posted by: Amanda
Hey, congrats with the Brooklyn home being sold! You must be in Portland now. Welcome to OREGON!!!
To refresh your memory, I wrote you a comment sometime ago. I (with my Irish American husband and Asian/Irish American son, who’s now almost 20; both of which were born in New York City) left New York (former residence: Breezy Point, NY) at the very end of 1991 and moved to Eugene. So, if you wish to come down to Eugene, let me know. We would love to reminisce about NYC.
Posted by: oyama naku
Wow, almost 500 miles in a day with a baby and a dog? That’s some hardcore roadtripping! I’m glad to hear you made it through TN. It’s a long, long state! Every year when I’d drive across it from headed home to MO from SC, I would think that I’d never leave TN.
And I’m not really a baby person, but that last pic of Thumper is too cute! Seriously.
Posted by: Amy in StL
Yes, it will be hard to be away from family… But you will build a new one in Portland. You will. It won’t be the same, but it will be good. And you will travel back, and they will travel out, and it won’t be sooooo bad. Really, It won’t. It is a good adventure for you and Billy, and for you and your little family.
Posted by: Julie
The Thumper pictures are so cute. His smile is so infectious! SCHMOO.
Posted by: Carrie
I love the travel musings, especially since you’re taking a different route than we did, but I have to admit I need to scroll through the pictures four or five times before I get to the text. That Thumper sure is a cutie-pie!
We’ve loved the backpack carrier for taking a toddler through otherwise-fraught spots (hikes filled with poison oak, tours). Just for future reference.
Posted by: Amy
Graceland with a toddler: probably not worth the hassle. But Thumper (and you, maybe) would have gotten a kick out of the Peabody ducks while in Memphis…ducks riding elevators and hanging out in a hotel fountain all day, what’s not to love?
Posted by: cc
but think of all the adventure and new friends you’ll meet! Oh what fun you’ll have. I can’t wait to see you in Portland. That will be great!
Posted by: Rebecca
Have fun in Austin! It’s a GREAT city, I’m jealous 🙂
Posted by: Amanda
Hey, congrats with the Brooklyn home being sold! You must be in Portland now. Welcome to OREGON!!!
To refresh your memory, I wrote you a comment sometime ago. I (with my Irish American husband and Asian/Irish American son, who’s now almost 20; both of which were born in New York City) left New York (former residence: Breezy Point, NY) at the very end of 1991 and moved to Eugene. So, if you wish to come down to Eugene, let me know. We would love to reminisce about NYC.
Posted by: oyama naku
Wow, almost 500 miles in a day with a baby and a dog? That’s some hardcore roadtripping! I’m glad to hear you made it through TN. It’s a long, long state! Every year when I’d drive across it from headed home to MO from SC, I would think that I’d never leave TN.
And I’m not really a baby person, but that last pic of Thumper is too cute! Seriously.
Posted by: Amy in StL
Yes, it will be hard to be away from family… But you will build a new one in Portland. You will. It won’t be the same, but it will be good. And you will travel back, and they will travel out, and it won’t be sooooo bad. Really, It won’t. It is a good adventure for you and Billy, and for you and your little family.
Posted by: Julie
The Thumper pictures are so cute. His smile is so infectious! SCHMOO.
Posted by: Carrie
I love the travel musings, especially since you’re taking a different route than we did, but I have to admit I need to scroll through the pictures four or five times before I get to the text. That Thumper sure is a cutie-pie!
We’ve loved the backpack carrier for taking a toddler through otherwise-fraught spots (hikes filled with poison oak, tours). Just for future reference.
Posted by: Amy
The trailer looks like a trailer to haul things – as opposed to live in. Perhaps band equipment? A trio of female singers on a mission! 🙂
Posted by: Kathleen
The trailer looks like a trailer to haul things – as opposed to live in. Perhaps band equipment? A trio of female singers on a mission! 🙂
Posted by: Kathleen