Tuesday, May 01, 2007 Nashville, TN

This morning dawned clear and much cooler than yesterday ended. It was perfect for a walk around the campground. Rog installed an anti-sway bar and then had it welded to be extra secure. Next, we headed into Nashville. The self-guided tour (with audio) at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum was amazing! It covered country music from its roots to the present. There were many interactive locations for music, video, and information. Jack’s Barbeque on Broadway was the suggested place for lunch. We shared a meal of pulled pork, beans, and cinnamon apples(a popular side in this part of the country) and it did not disappoint. The Ryman Auditorium was next on the list. Its nickname is the “Mother Church of Country Music”. Originally it was a church, then it became the location for the broadcasts of the Grand Ole Opry. Now it has backstage tours by day and performances by night. The Ryman is said to have acoustics second only to the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. In the evening, we went to the Grand Ole Opry.. They have shows on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evenings. There were 8 performers, each on stage for about 15 minutes. Our favorites were Trace Adkins, Little Jimmy Dickens, and Andy Griggs. Porter Wagoner has been a mainstay at the Grand Ole Opry for a VERY long time as has Little Jimmy Dickens. The latter is 86 years old. He brought down the house with his jokes, and he can still sing and play very well. It’s a live performance for the audience, and at the same time a radio show is being broadcast complete with commercials. We both agree that it was a terrific evening!