Random road memories

There is no shortage of beautiful cars. Some are in good shape, some are rusting away in junkyards.

It is always nice to see vintage cars on the road (even more so when they are yellow).

The 70's interior of the Top's Bar-B-Q diner hurts the eye.

Why am I not surprised: pick-up trucks in front of a gun store.

Nobody there? Guns scare me. Why? I might make use of them if I had one. So, weapons are better not for me.

A pretty but abandoned school. So many empty buildings, empty roads and ghost towns. The Midwest appears abandoned.

The open road. I probably could have taken the interstate, but I like these byways better.

Enjoying the sun set at Lake Norfolk.

Leaving the flat lands of Tennessee behind, and entering the rolling hills of the Ozarks.

As it seems a perfect area for motorcycling, but I haven't seen one bike. One day I'd like to return and ride the hills. Of course the Ozarks are not only a fantastic area for the outdoors, with lots of parks, rivers, lakes and hot springs, caves and waterfalls. Known as the highlands of Central America it is also of special geological interest (for me that is...)

This sign reminds me oddly of some Stephen King novel. And the shop looked a bit eerie, too.

But the most eeriest things I discovered in Branson, Missouri. It started really harmless with this wonderful 50's Diner, were I had my lunch.

And half a block away there suddenly was a stranded Titanic plus the iceberg.

Another shock while driving down the street: King Kong and Hollywood icons carved in a concrete wall!

It was a memorable road-trip, and bonus: all paid for by the company, which makes the overtime that comes with traveling (and subsequent late night online sessions) bearable.

Road Trip: MI-TN-AR-MS-OK

I was fortunate to be able to combine business and pleasure. I flew into Memphis, Tennessee to have BBQ on Beale Street and visit Elvis in Graceland.

I drove down to the state of Mississippi, because it is there, and had pulled pork on a bun in Southaven.

It was all back to business in Arkansas, and the Ozarks are simply beautiful.

Moving on to Missouri but yet enough time to stop for a burger and fries lunch in Branson.

Staying the night in Tulsa, Oklahoma before heading back home the next morning. Again the meal included fried contents.

Five states in four days. After four days of diet lacking any healthy ingredients I have developed a serious craving for sushi and fresh veggies.

More tales from the road to come...

Walking in Memphis

Foto: wikipedia

Roland war mal wieder auf Dienstreise in den USA, diesmal in Booneville, Mississippi. Um dort hin zu gelangen, nimmt man einen Flieger nach Memphis, Tennessee, und da kommen einem unweigerlich dutzende von Songs zu Bewusstsein, die man über diese Gegend kennt...

"Mississippi Delta is shining like a National Guitar" aus Paul Simon's "Graceland" ist eine Textzeile, die man erst versteht, wenn man sich im Landeanflug auf Memphis befindet. Das "Black Water" (Doobie Brothers) der verschiedenen Nebenarme des Mississippi durchzieht die Landschaft tatsächlich genau so, wie die Löcher die National Guitar schmücken (zu sehen zum Beispiel auf Dire Straits' "Brothers in Arms"-CD).

"Move to Memphis" von a-ha kommt einem natürlich genauso in den Sinn wie Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis", und dann zieht sich die Gedankenkette schnell über "Calling Elvis" (Dire Straits) zu sämtlichen Elvis-Songs, die man bewusst oder unbewusst im Hirn gespeichert hat (Roland's Chef hat ihn übrigens noch live in concert erlebt). Für einen Besuch von Graceland hat die Zeit allerdings leider nicht gereicht.

Auch wenn Musik an allen Ecken und Enden gegenwärtig ist, auch wenn die Landschaft leicht hügelig und wunderschön bewaldet ist, so ist das aber trotzdem keine Gegend, in der wir leben könnten. Das liegt zum einen an Schildern wie "We came to Fight" am Gebäude des örtlichen Militärgedenkvereins in Booneville oder "Nehmen Sie Ihre Waffe jetzt ab" vor dem Security Check am Flughafen, zum anderen an der grauenhaften lokalen Küche: alles wird frittiert oder komplett zerkocht.

Einen echten Elvis hat Roland übrigens auch noch gesehen. Beim Zwischenstopp am Flughafen in Houston, ein Geschäftsmann mit Elvis-Frisur, -Brille und -Outfit. Gesungen hat er nicht...