Everything's Hotter in Memphis

I will never complain about the heat and humidity in Cleveland...now that I've been to Memphis. It's hotter than hades there. But the southern hospitality makes up for the sweltering heat. 

Our day began with an awesome tour of the  Gibson Guitar factory. I never realized that the Gibson Guitar fame began in Michigan. Memphis alone makes the half and full hollow body guitars. In classic HR fashion I asked our tour guide loads of questions about their employees. Needless to say, I'm even more impressed with Gibson. 


My favorite meal of the trip was lunch at Miss Polly's Soul City Cafe on Beale Street where we had chicken and waffles with turnip greens. So good. Oh, and we washed it all down with PBR.  Yep, the pounds are packing on during this trip!

Checked into our hotel.  Funny sign at the desk cautioned customers that the noise on Beale Street is loud  and if you're expecting a quiet hotel experience, please go elsewhere.  Oh boy! Thank goodness the morning race is just a 5k!

To top off our first day, we hopped in the car and headed over to Graceland. I can't believe how educational and cool this was. And moving. Turns out our trip was smack dab in the middle of Elvis Week, celebrating his life and death (August 16).  Seeing all his hits in the form of gold and platinum records was neat. How could we not be humming his greatest hits for the rest of this trip!


As usual, Greg picked out a fantastic little dive for dinner. We hit up Rendezvous Charcoal Ribs. You really need to check out this place online.  Their staff sticks around for decades - reading about the staff is hysterical!  While waiting for our table, we shared a Pitcher of Memphis craft beer from Ghost River Brewery for a whopping $10.  Did we stop there? Hell no.  Another PBR on Beale Street was in order...before the downpour hit! Oh yeah, there will be no PR tomorrow!


Loved the 5k race. Lots of people were commenting about how happy they were that it was cooler for this race. Really?! Hmmm, 80 degrees with 91% humidity does not equal "cooler" in my book. Turns out they've been having triple digits alot this summer. Post race was grilled hotdog, beer and orange slices. The orange slices were the only nutritional food we had during the 36 hours in Memphis! The course was hot, hilly and challenging, but so much fun since Greg and I ran it together. 


Before leaving one of the friendliest towns we've been to so far in our quest for 50 states, we HAD to find one more southern food joint. And that would be Westy's where I had a grilled cheese and honey sandwich with tots and Greg had a turkey and onions sandwich with jalepeno dip and tots.  Westy's fame is where the Firm, the Rainmaker and 21 Grams were filmed. Seedy joint, but outstanding food!

So fruits and vegetables, here I come. I cheated on you this weekend with your arch enemy lard. But it's you I love and miss!

And yes, 33 states down - 17 on tap!