Theres a Problem in the Engine Room, Cap'n!

Yep, our T&C van has decided to call it a day it seems. Yesterday morning was spent visiting mechanics on an emergency stop in rural Alabama. The prognosis is not good (read more expensive than the car) and we limped down the highway to our friend Al's a bit earlier than expected. So we are holding up in Destin Florida for a while, sorting out a new set of wheels (fingers crossed). Still, its a quality problem -- Destin looks like the Gold Coast in its glory years, feeling very I dream of Jeannie's Coco Beach, and its beautiful weather. More importantly, we didnt have to sleep roadside broken down in the backwoods of Alabama/Florida last night, so all is good. We are truly greatful for Al, our guardian angel, especially given that he is in LA at the moment! Will write again when we're back on the road xoxo B & T

Sweet Home Alabama, Florence (Muscle Shores)

What an amazing find! We stayed with the spectacular Scott and Sue. Their home was on Cypress Mill Creek and when Bec wasn’t eating Sue’s delicious zucchini bread she was on otter alert at the river! Bec and Scott kayaked down the creek (even conquered the 2 foot rapid!!) and we toured the lake after our bluegrass/folk lunch (learning about Frisbee golf!). One of the highlights of our visit was listening to old Tom Hendricks, a Euchee Native American man “born on the wrong side of the moon” tell his stories about the memorial wall he built to remember his great grandmother who walked the Trail of Tears. [An infamous part of early US history when Native Americans were forcibly removed from their lands and relocated on foot to Oklahoma]. His memorial is an incredibly spiritual place and an amazing testament to one man’s passion and perseverance. We could have stayed all day listening to Tom, and stayed another year listening to Sue and Scott. The only consolation for leaving Florence is our threatened returned. Off to Birmingham now, but the car is spluttering down the road (she doesn’t want to leave either!) xoxoxo B & T

Chattanooga Choo Choo!

Made a short stop into Chattanooga on the way to Alabama. Went to the famous Chattanooga choo choo and tried to stay out of the heat (sweltering 40+). Chattanooga is a pretty river town, with a big art gallery on the bluff (cliff overlooking the river). Saw the old paddle steamers going up and down the river. Had an icee and hit the road to Florence! xoxo B & T

Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee

On our journey back south, the wacky races team stopped at Knoxville Tennessee. This is one of the nicest towns we’ve stayed in ... good city vibe and friendly people. Our hosts, Sue and Lyndall were just fantastic. Downtown Knoxville has a great night life, having converted the old town area into a vibrant piazza with cafes, bars, music and street theatre performances (they were doing Shakespeare the night we were there). Next day we went to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge (home of Dolly wood) ... fantastic and so many attractions it’s hard to list. The mountains are gorgeous and the town is full of amusement parks, penny arcades, outlets (including Hillbilly HD), monster flea markets ... way too much to do. Bec wants to inner tube down the smoky mountain rivers, so to quote McArthur, “we will be back!”.

Louisville, Kentucky

Home of the Slugger baseball bat, Louisville is surprisingly quiet for America’s 16^th largest town. Our GPS first sent us to a trailer park as ‘downtown’, which was a hoot. Back on the road, we found the city’s entertainment section, ‘Fourth Street Live’, which was only a little alive as it was a week night. The river area is pretty, with several bridges and paddle steamers. Tony is thrilled, our hotel is opposite a Harley dealership and by this stage, we’re looking forward to a bit of RnR. We are heading back south to visit our friend Alan in Florida, so our map really does look like a wacky races tour! Off to Lexington/Georgetown, Kentucky tomorrow then back to Tennessee (Knoxville) xoxo B & T

Fort Knox, Kentucky

Yep, it’s the Fort Knox of THE Fort Knox, on Bullion Boulevard. Came here for the George Patton museum, which was fantastic ... full of tanks, memorabilia and even a section of the Berlin Wall. Bec was really impressed, as we expected some small local museum (free and not well publicised). It’s enormous and so comprehensive (she even redeemed an earlier ‘strike’). Unfortunately they didn’t let us into the Fort Knox repository (wonder why?), we could use the money for more Harley shirts! Off to Louisville tomorrow xox B & T

Corvette Museum, Kentucky

We arrived in Bowling Green, Kentucky to see the famous white squirrels (who were apparently hibernating) and the corvette museum. So many corvettes, so little money! We visited a couple of civil war battlefields along the way and Kentucky’s Stonehenge. Got booted out of the distillery looking for the world’s largest bourbon barrel, and Tony vetoed some of Bec’s more bizarre roadside trips (giant dinosaurs, mystery caves and “midget mountain retreat”, don’t ask!). We’re staying in Cave City at a hotel right out of a Brady Bunch family special. Heading north tomorrow! Xoxo B & T (oh, newspaper headlined that more than 16000 showed up for Idol try-outs, ahhhhh!).

Mental Note to Self ... Always Check When American Idol Try Outs are On

Yep,arrived in Nashville to find the town over run with American Idol (hopeful) contestants! Needless to say, accommodation was scarce and we have been introduced to the seedier side of Nashville's suberbs. We went to the famous Loveless Cafe and after the drive and waiting for more than an hour to get in, we met with incredibly ordinary food (Bec reckons she has eaten better on a plane). Maybe it was an off day, but we just could not see what all the fuss was about and would not recommend it. Strike 2 for bad food choice after the equally appauling Loretta Lyn Cafe where home cooking = adding water to instant mash... memories of the Army!. Overall we aren't too impressed by Nashville, prefering Memphis by far. For those at home, its like a super toned down Tamworth music festival. We're off to Bowling Green and Cave City, Kentucky tomorrow for the Corvette Museum and white squirrels. Thankfully Bec passed on booking us into the Wigwam motel (small mercies)! xoxo B & T

Civil War Heartland

We're in Henderson, Kentucky staying with a great family and learning alot about US civil war history. Today we visited Savannah and Shiloh, the grounds of a famous battle and now grave site (~3800 people). The storms started rolling in, so our trip was cut short, but it was a suprisingly beautiful place. Some of the smaller towns in Kentucky are gorgeous. The area is in the middle of local elections, the candidates for which have been providing us endless roadside entertainment (note Ricky Rotten for Sherrif photo!). Off to Nashville tomorow! xoxo B & T

Gracelands

Today was our trip Gracelands, more special than we expected. It was truly impressive to see what Elvis accomplished in his life, although the furniture shocks you right back into the 70s! We've been walking around Memphis today which, despite the 40+ degree heat, is fantastic. The blues is being played live everywhere, and the city is really neat. We're off to hear some more bands tonight before heading off to Nashville tomorrow. The Mississipi Delta has been very interesting. We stopped off in small town, big prison Lexington on the way north to Tunica/Robinsonville. Tony's tapping his feet, ready to dance, so until next time, take care. Love and miss you! T & B.

We’re Going to Jackson, Look out Jackson Town!

Well we’ve left New Orleans towards the north through the Mississippi Delta. Driving over the swamp lands has been amazing. We made a few stops along the way out of Louisiana (Hammond, Ponchatoula), but we must have caught them in siesta time and Bec is now on ‘strike 2’ for worst pit stops. We finally got to watch TV the other night and Bec has fallen in love with a rapping hamster commercial (obviously, they are selling cars). We ate at the Lone Star Steak Ranch and was bought enough food for us, our imaginary friends and all the voices in our heads. We were full at the appertiser! Jackson’s downtown is beautfiul but its a bit like a ghost town, lots of buildings but few people. We’re heading to north Mississippi tomorrow (staying about 20 minutes from Memphis) that is provided that we will be able to roll into the car and fasten the seatbelts around our increasing girth xoxox B & T

Haunted New Orleans

Typical Bec, we arrived at Rathborne Mansions in New Orleans to find out it was the home of the first free woman of colour in the 1800s to own property in New Orleans and is now a documented haunted house. Never slept so well! Right at the edge of the French Quarter with parking and a pool, it’s just perfect! We‘re staying in the Duke Ellington room. Went to the French Quarter markets, Bourbon Street (daytime was enough!), rode streetcars during monsoonal rain and ate Cajun and soul food. Tony has had his photo taken in the old House of the Rising Sun (Villa Convento), so is a happy camper. Bec got to some more cemeteries and we witnessed some of Hurricane Katrina’s damage first hand. It’s still busy for us, but relatively quiet by New Orleans standards. People have been great, giving us tips on where to eat and local places to hang out. Off to Mississippi tomorrow...xoxo B & T

Baton Rouge and Beyond

Chasing Hurricane Bonnie down the highway out of Houston, we made it to Lake Charles, Louisiana, home of the oldest Harley Davidson dealership in LA. Listened to some old fellas talk and started back on the road to Lafayette, Breaux Bridge and Baton Rouge. In Baton we visited the state capital, an amazing old art deco building which has survived political assassinations and a bombing. An old policeman gave us the condensed history, then we went off to the Baton Rouge history museum. It’s hot and humid, but we are staying a few days in some hotels with pools. Off to New Orleans next! xoxox B & T

Houston, we have a problem ...

Its called "the freeway". Today was largely spent in freeway loop central going round and round and ending up in the same Shell servo!. Highway to Hell was playing on the radio and we knew just what that road felt like. Its raining, we're in Borders and finally starting to unwind. We went to the Art Car musuem today, which was great. We also went to the Orange Show and Flower House, both peculiar but not in a good way. The latter was in an area where you should take photos only from the car (seriously!). The rain has caught us again, but last night was fine and we went firecrackering with Santosh and his son Seth. It was a hoot, and it felt like being a kid again. Tomorrow we're off to Louisianna, but we will miss Houston and our fantastic host. We have been lucky enough to stay on a bayou. Bec has been on armadillo watch as they are in the garden. Houston is a great city and when someone else is behind the wheel, its even better!.xoxox B & T

4th of July...Cracker of a Day!

Fourth of July was fabulous! First we visited the charming 89 year old Barney Smith and his toilet seat art museum. Annisa and Lindsay came and we have all ranked it one of our favourite US experiences. Barney explained the history behind the pieces, which include hornets nests and shuttle debris.Its an amazing life's work!. After that it was off to the Big Boots, then the Our Lady of Guadalupe Mosaic and finally firecrackers by the lake!. Such fun and new friends everywhere, who will be much missed. Tommorrow its off to Houston for the Big Armadillo. xoxo B & T

We knew San Antonio would be Whirlwind, but a Cylone?!

Cyclone Alex ... lots of rain, so it just feels like home! San Antonio is fantastic. We are sitting at the outdoor Ranch, listening to live music and watching the passing crowd. Its been intense, 60,000+ people in this small town and not enough coffee (Starbucks closed at 10pm, what were they thinking!!!). We've met some incredible people (including the lovely Lindsay and Annisa in the photo), visited the Mexican markets and slept in with plastic sheeting (slip, slip sliding!). Its a huge mix of people and the concerts last night were amazing. Each place we visit is better than the last, so we're blessed. Love to all xoxox T & B