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Published: June 10th 2009
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Hey Everyone.
Nashville was my last travelling weekend for a little while...well at least until I get bored and head off somewhere else . Now Im a firm believer that music does not require 2 types...ie country AND western, however I set off to the home of the two with a classmate of mine, Autumn Daniels from Texas. Now at 4ft 10.5 she is the shortest person currently in the USN, however coming from Texas nothing small continued on our adventure and we headed to Nashville Tennessee in her F250 pickup truck....(she takes a run up and has a special step).
We left Friday at lunchtime and no sooner were we out the gate and 5 miles down the road I saw the familiar blue flashing lights. She was cursing and I said to her "Ive got this" to which she just laughed. The officer approached and spoke to her and then I chipped in about how it was my fault, I am Australian and I couldn't read the map and the GPS was playing up and all we wanted to do *Sir* was get directions to Nashville. I commented on his handsome hat which made him look all
official and apologised profusely and we were issued a warning, a slow down and a wink...LOL. He also offered directions which we took no notice as the GPS had miraculously started working.
After passing numerous fireworks and adult stores conveniently located together in truck stops we arrive in Nashville. After parking the monstrous oversized truck, we leave the hotel and head downtown. We are greeted by drunken revelers (at 1600) and head to Jacks BBQ which has been recommended by a few people. While sitting down in the restaurant some strange deluded individual is harassing patrons so after being spooked by this nutter in the restaurant and then spooking him by giving him a mouthful we head off to listen to some great live music and then onto Karaoke. Now I cant sing and therefore didn't try as its not the Australian Japanese loved karaoke we are used to. Its competitive with some great singers and then and 80s band started upstairs so we were in for the long haul.
After mistakenly paying 20 dollars for 2 beers, a waitress now thought Autumn fancied her, which worked to our advantage receiving great service all night. Autumn got an
offer from a 60 year old man crooning Elvis songs to her and whilst politely declining his offer she ended up with 3 napkins declaring his interest....LOL. Between Romeo harassing Autumn and partaking in some excellent people watching a gaggle of women dropped in and one ended up running into Autumn.... twice with her handbag running into Autumns head (we were sitting on stools). Next thing I know the 4ft 10.5 inches in her has been fired up and she is getting ready to take on five women on her own... I thought it was on, however persuading her with beer to calm down and the women leaving it all thankfully ended quietly. At 3 am bopping to some crooning and funky 80s tunes we decided that it was time to head for something to eat as you do.
We meet a guy walking down the street randomly wearing a motorcycle helmet as if it's completely normal and after bypassing him Autumn decides out of nowhere that the 3 women who are in front of us are the ones with the wayward handbags...(here we go again) So she proceeds to deliver a mouthful of expletives to these three unsuspecting
women and Im in awe of the words coming from someone so small and drunk. Finally after having a laugh and realising she isn't going to back down sanity kicked in and at a little over 5 "10 I grabbed my tiny Texan and decide we headed straight for the nearest diner.
Next day (not early) we did the touristy stuff, Country Music Hall of Fame and the Grand Ole Oprey. The Hall of Fame had customer appreciation day so was free thank goodness and Im glad I didn't pay $20 to look at a bunch of stuff I didn't know much about, but it was good all the same. Next was wondering the streets, lunch and the Grand Ole Oprey. Enshrouded in country history it took me 10 mins to be underwhelmed but all the same its done. We then wandered around junk trinket shops which Nashville has a plethora of and provided much entertainment.....confederate rooster anyone? We then headed for some more live music and ultimatley alcohol which saw us into the early morning.
Next day on our way home we headed to the Jack Daniel's Distillery. The distillery is located in the small town of Lynchburg (population 350) and is about 50 miles off any of the major roads. It was quite a beautiful drive though, the small towns and country side of Tennessee was really interesting to see. Can anyone say trailer town....holler! The town of Lynchburg - Home of Jack Daniel's The Jack Daniel's company puts the hour and a half long tour on for free and it really was entertaining. Our tour guide, Dave, was dressed in denim overalls and spoke with a broad southern accent - he is retired he travels the world judging BBQ, and his stoach seems to agree.
Also the tour brings all types...see attached picture 80s bouffant. Anyone who wants more photos there is rat man as well. The distillery in Lynchberg is the only place in the world that produces JD. It uses natural spring water which comes through a cave system located at the back of the distillery grounds to provide all the water for the whiskey - they won't use anything else. It was quite amazing to think that every single bottle of JD in the world (and they just became to world's no 1 whiskey seller) is produced in a little county in the middle of nowhere. Lynchburg is also a dry county so consumption is illegal (not that we were after alcohol after our 2 nights)
Lunch was overdue and we were both starving so stopped at Davy Crocketts Roadhouse where we dined on chicken fried pickles (excellent) and saw the whole chicken fried steak...however I stuck to grilled chicken. It was time for home and my final week on course. Nashville is great for a weekend and the live music is sensational and will appeal to anyone.
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