Count Down To Nashville - 9 Days

Plans have been made for months but we are still adding things to see, roads to ride and deleting things we have seen in the past. Bonnie and Andy, like Don and I, have been to Nashville years ago so we can now pick and choose new things to see and do or some of the things we remember as being outstanding. We had dinner with Bonnie and Andy last night to get our meet-up time and location nailed down and to share ideas. Bonnie has found an article in a food magazine about 4 or 5 very interesting local eateries in Nashville and the Wright’s Dairy Rite in Staunton, VA which is on our way. We will check out as many as possible since we love the local flavor rather than the highly commercialized chain restaurants. Really hope to find the White Trash Café; it sounds so “unique” shall I say. And I was thrilled to learn Loretta Lynn’s Ranch is just 80 miles from our hotel which makes this a must visit! We plan to visit Butcher Holler in September while at Paintsville KY so the ranch will just complete the whole picture. Gee do I sound country?

I knew Nashville had a flood – guess everyone knows that but that’s all it was – knowledge. Then I realized it was just 2 years ago. What is it with me; I visited New Orleans just 2 years after their great flood and now Nashville! Anyway, I started checking out You Tube for clips of the flood and boy was I surprised! The water in the Opryland Hotel’s 3 Atriums destroyed everything; one clip I watched was of a local, low to middle income neighborhood that never was visited by the news media (not interesting enough I guess) but the water was 12 feet high, most of these folks lost everything. It was neighbor helping neighbor and through their tears they kept saying how they were making new friends, learning lessons that will make them stronger and better people and how God was blessing them. These are amazing people!

Well we still have lots to do to get ready so we can pull out at 6:30 AM on Saturday, June 2. Finish working on the trailer, check the oil in the bikes, and purchase items we want to take such as snacks and some food since our hotel is an extended stay meaning it has a full kitchen in every unit. Then pack! Hope to start that this coming Monday.