Elvis the Pelvis,Memphis Tennesee
I have been riding free for the last few weeks, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, New Mexico and Texas, all give you, the rider, a choice, whether to wear a helmet or not (whatever happened to choices?) Today I ride into Louisiana with the lid back on and my neck muscles ache, as I strain against the wind drag, I could wear a full face but then I might as well be in a car, the full face is ok, if you’re on a race track looking ahead but on the road, I don’t feel part of the surroundings anymore and I can’t see nottin’. It’s a beautiful day and I see the first sign for Baton Rouge, from here all the way to New Orleans or N’Orlins to the locals, it’s me Janis and hey, hey, hey, Bobby Mcgee. Can’t get the song out of my mind, I’m still singing as I approach N’Orlins and see why, if they get too much rain, they get flooded. Water, water everywhere and lots of it, the same level, or a little lower, than the land, the roads and sidewalks still potholed from Katrina but a feel that tells me it’s gonna be good here. I got myself settled in the garden district and went exploring in the French Quarter to check out Bourbon St and the Mighty Mississippi River. Bourbon St, as expected, was the usual tourist strip, full of bars and strip joints with music and hustlers all around, a walk a little further and I am in Frenchman’s St and find a Smokey little club with live jazz. The Spotted Cat was exactly what I had in mind when I thought of N’Orlins, patrons in much of the US have a choice, to smoke, or not, or stay away if it bothers them, I come from the land down under, where our choices are disappearing rapidly as governments legislate against living. Isaac was coming and I wasn’t hanging around to find out how big it was going to be, the home of Jazz explored, it was time to head north to the home of the blues. Straight through Mississippi to Memphis Tennessee where Beale St is the big attraction, I love the blues but Memphis wasn’t grabbing me, I put Henrietta in here for a service and new front tyre. I walked into the bar next door and met Animal, “where can I get some live music away from Beale St” I asked, “come and see us” he says “we are playing tonight.” Animal was the drummer and I found myself in a biker bar in the suburbs listening to ACDC and the like, rocking the night away and meeting some top people, after a couple of days I headed for Nashville, the home of country music, no sign of Keith + Nicole!
By going south from Denver, I have missed Chicago, which was on my list, it’s a 2 day journey back north west to go there, or keep going to Jay and Cindy’s in Virginia. I find I am getting tired of hostels, bunk beds, motels, junk food, being lonesome, I decided to forget Chicago and carried on east to Winchester Virginia to see some familiar faces. The countryside was changing, it was getting green and mountainous, I’ve got used to the lid again and don’t notice it so much, I’m enjoying the ride and looking forward to seeing Jay and Cindy who I haven’t seen for many years and I’ve heard so much about the lake, I have to see it for myself. I’m beginning to think of settling somewhere for a spell, getting a job, a place to live, having a few comforts, I thought that place might be England but the closer I get, the more I think that’s not going to work. When I get to Virginia I will look into shipping the bike back to Oz and maybe go back there for the summer, I have another 5 weeks in the US so need to decide whether to ship or sell Henrietta.
I am….THE LONESOME TRAVELLER….travelling east….BE HAPPY!