Beale Street Rocks!

As many of you know, I'm in Memphis as I'm typing this. We've been on
a 5-day Spring Break barnstorming tour, flying wherever and whenever
the weather looks best. We were supposed to be in Texas, but ended
up in North Carolina, visiting Kill Devil Hills and Kitty Hawk.

We then flew down the barrier islands, with a stop at Ocracoke Island
for lunch at Howard's Pub -- well worth the effort should you ever get
out that way. (Thanks to those who recommended it!) Then it was to
Beaufort, NC (where the 54th Massachussets -- the first black regiment
in the Civil War, immortalized in "Glory" -- was based for a while)
for gas, and on down the coast to Myrtle Beach, for a day in the sun.
My son and I still have sore necks from the whiplash of not knowing
where to look next! :-)

We then headed West, past Chattanooga to Memphis, where we spent last
night down on Beale Street, listening to the best blues bands in the
world. The police had closed off the street to vehicular traffic (I
couldn't tell if that was an "every night" thing, or something related
to St Patrick's Day), the weather was in the 70s, and there were
wailing blues guitar riffs emanating from every open door and
window.

The crowds were large, the beer was cold (and we could actually carry
it on the street, just like in Wisconsin, as opposed to Iowa), and the
food was to die for. You guys who live around here really have a
fantastic music scene -- I wish we had 10% of the live music
opportunities in our part of the country.

My only regret was that kids weren't allowed in the "pure" bars --
only the ones that also sold food. Luckily, the warm weather meant
that every door and window was wide open, so we could enjoy every band
on the street, free of charge!

Today it's off to ElvisWorld, and Mud Island. (Aptly named, since it
poured here overnight...) The plan is to fly home tomorrow, and the
prog charts look promising.
--
Jay Honeck
Presently Memphis, TN
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"