Cross Country Trip 2012: The Birthplace of Bluegrass

Today (actually yesterday) we left Knoxville and headed west toward Nashville. We spent much of the day on old US 70 which runs parallel to I-40. Much more interesting! The weather cleared by mid-day, with temps in the mid 50s. Paid $3.39 for gas this morning - cheapest on the trip so far. (most expensive was Chicago and Naples, NY) Tennessee appears to be suffering economically, especially in the little towns we went through....lots of closed storefronts.

Downtown Nashville, however, is a hoppin' place! Over the years they've built an attractive waterfront park on the Cumberland River, with the Titan's football stadium on the other side. The main drag, Broadway, ends at the river and is lined with bars, cowboy boot shops, musician hangouts, etc. The new skyscrapers of shiny glass are impressive. We had a nice lunch at the Big River Brewery before heading up to 5th Street to visit the famous Ryman Auditorium, the birthplace of the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry moved to a new location back in 1974 (amazed it was that long ago, since I remember it!) The hall stood vacant for nearly 20 years before some folks stepped forward and saved it, doing a complete renovation. Today it's an active concert venue (but tickets to tonight's performance by some group we never heard of were $135.00! Yikes!!)

The Ryman has a fascinating history. The story goes that the Rev Sam Jones, a very loud and boisterous evangelical preacher (Methodist, of course) was ranting about the abuses of alcohol and other vices at various tent locations around town. Meanwhile, a steamboat owner named Frank Ryman, not unaccustomed to enjoying said vices, happened upon one of Rev. Jones' tirades and was converted. He was so impressed, he built the Auditorium so he could preach to even larger groups in comfort. Eventually, Rev. Jones outgrew the building and the rest is history.

Ended the day in Jackson, TN and we'll go on to Memphis, Little Rock and Hot Springs, AR tomorrow