Memphis Guitars

In Memphis, I visited the Gibson Guitar Factory. I play a little, so it's kind of a mecca. And even cooler than I thought it would be.

Entering The Dirty South: St. Louis to Memphis (via Nashville)

St. Louis was the biggest city I'd hit on the Mississippi trek. And I didn't stay long. I hit the road and after some map inspection, decided that I needed to see Nashville, TN which was only a few hours away. After a call was made to a friend from the area (Wewo), her friend April put me on the guest list for a show at BB King's joint in downtown Nashville. The band was tight and the show was great. Also, by total luck, it turned out that the Country Music Awards show was happening that night and the town was buzzin'.

After my quick sidetrip to Nashville, I headed to Memphis where I got some of the best ribs ever at a place called Rendezvous, checked out Beale Street and took a tour of the Gibson Guitar factory. Good times

Yep, old St. Louie on the mighty Mississip:


BB King's in Nashville:


April on the left. Rollin, Rollin, Rollin down the river:


In Memphis, these were soldiers on a bike ride for other disabled vets:


Y'all know this guy. The King:


I stopped into this funky museum called the Pink Palace which is a huge mansion built in the 20's by the founder of Piggly Wiggly (a grocery store chain in the South). One exhibit was Clyde W. Parke's Miniature Circus. I'm not kidding:




More from Memphis to come...

Hannibal, Missouri

On day two of my trip south, I made a long stop at Mark Twain's roots: Hannibal, MO, sitting right on the Mississippi. The old downtown is well preserved, and you can easily imagine Tom and Huck walking down the street, up to no good.



Samuel Langhorne Clemen's childhood home:


It seems that every business in town had a name that was somehow related to Mark Twain. Becky Thatcher Candy. Huck Finn Shoes. Tom Sawyer Concrete, Inc. It got kinda of out of hand.

Highway 61 Revisited

Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61."

-Bob Dylan, Highway 61 Revisited

So I departed the land of cheese, cranberries, Dylan and lawyers and headed South. I intended to trace a path down the Mississippi and Highway 61 is the old way to do it. In practice, it was better to deviate off the path here and there for sight-seeing's sake. So I did.

I also intended to get to Baton Rouge in time for Thanksgiving with the family. I got here about 10 days early. That's how much I love Thanksgiving and my family. Also it shows how much I overestimated how long it would take to get here. But that's neither here nor there. Muddy water under the bridge and all that.

I haven't updated this old blog in a while, I know. No excuses except perhaps taking a break to absorb the journey. The trip is winding down. I'll be goin' back to Cali after the holiday. It's a strange thing to consider.


That's me in Iowa. The bridge to Starr's Cave, to be precise. It was getting cold. And everybody knows cold weather can mean only one thing: it's time for FASHION! OK.

I'm having trouble uploading pics at the moment, I'll try again later. Ciao.

Scenes from the Midwest (Part 3 - Bog Life)

Hi Folks,

I'm in Muscatine, Iowa at a little cafe on Hwy 61. I spent the night in my truck parked by the Mississippi. It's 27 degrees out and sunny. I'm caffeinated and ready for a long day of driving South.

Here are the rest of the best pics from the bogs... xoxo. jp

Berries on my mind.


Crating the millions:


The leftover totes to be dispatched:


The pits to be slogged:


Wally's Bar/Garage:


A bog (minus water):


The crew on the last day of harvest. Cheers!:


The farm house where I bunked:


Totes on the bogs:


Sunset on the water:


Bosshard Receiving:


The road calls. OK!:

Scenes from the Midwest (Part 2 - From Minneapolis to the Bogs)

From La Crosse, Tin and I drove to Minneapolis where her flight home would depart. But we gave ourselves a few days to explore the Twin Cities. We stumbled upon a part of town that we ended up loving: Uptown, where we watched The Darjeeling Limited and found a happy hour, get this Los Angelenos, that was two dollar tap beers, and two dollar appetizers. We got buzzed and full on about $10.





We also got lost in an old beautiful cemetery. I loved it. Tin did not.


TO THE BOGS! After Tin flew the friendly skies back to LaLaLand, I drove south on the 94 to Tomah, Wisconsin, home of the Bosshard Bogs:


Frost watch was in effect:


I arrived to two huge pits full of berries, ready to be washed and sent on their way:


More to come...

Scenes from the Midwest

Hola, I'm in Trempeleau, WI for a few days recovering from the cranberry harvest. I ache in places I didn't know had nerve endings. My hair aches. Call the wahh-mbulance!

Meanwhile, here are some pics of weeks past.

This is Canadian Thanksgiving, no joke. These vixens are giving thanks in Winnipeg.


Scooter, where y'at?


Emo, Ontario, where everyone is very mopey, eh?:


Two Harbors, Minnesota. That's smiley Tin on Lake Superior, eh?:


Now to La Crosse. Within the City Brewery, on the line:


World's largest 6-pack. It's so big I could only get two cans in:


The La Crosse "shot-ski" team:


Rob, G4 and I at G4's wedding:


Until next time...