Nashville And Other Experiences "The Trip"

My friend Mike and I did get a good start at 4:30 a.m. for our trip to Nashville to see the Ravens and the Titans play. By the time it was good daylight we were on Rte. 68 in the far western part of Garrett County Maryland. It was nice to see a good sunrise even if it came up in back of us as we headed West. Our first stop was in Fairmont West Virginia for breakfast at the Cracker Barrel Restaurant. Wow, they give you more food then 2 people can eat, but I managed to lick the plate. Yeah, you can lick your plate if no one is looking, or you will never see these people again, so what is the difference. We were heading south to the area where the notorious feud between the families of the Hatfield and McCoys lived and died. The feud started between the 2 families around the time of the Civil War. The feud ended many years ago and they even have reunions of the 2 families. Mike's Grandfather was a McCoy and decended from the family, he has always wanted to go to area where they lived and died.

Continuing south in W.Va. We were in awe of the Mountains and the colors that were still about on the trees. We made it to the town of Williamson which is in W. Va. and a place where a lot of the Hatfield/McCoys were located. Kentucky was on the other side of the Tug Fork river that separated the 2 states. The Hatfields and McCoys lived on both sides of the Tug Fork river with the Hatfields mainly in W.Va. and the McCoys in Kentucky. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatfield-McCoy_feud

Getting off the main roads we got an eyefull of what rural country was really like. Jeff Foxworthy sure knew what he was joking about with the Redneck Jokes. We saw more abandoned trucks and household appliances in front years with the grass growing up and around them. We went into Kentucky and stopped in a few small towns for information. I must mention here that all of the people we talked to were friendly and helpful as can be. We stopped at a large general that sold souveniers of the Hatfield and McCoys. Mike bought a couple of shirts with the Hatfield/McCoys name on them, one of them for his brother.

The store had just about anything you needed and it carried items you have never seen as it was located out in the sticks. Mike had to take a whizz and they directed him through a door which when he entered were other doors. He didn't know what door the restroom was in, so he started to open them. The one door had a guy in the room by himself filled with smoke and he was playing some kind of Slot machine. He closed that very quick like and he told me he found the right door and led him out in back of the building. They had an out house out back with regular toilets and running water.

We hit the road as we had about a 5 hour drive to get to LaFollette Tennessee to see my son Frank http://www.airwave64.blogspot.com/ who was working late at the Radio Station that evening. We got into town just before dark and met Frank at the station. We planned on the time to leave the next morning to head to Nashville. Mike and I were hungry and Frank recomended the small family owned Italian Restaurant where he goes for Pizza and anything else Italian. Mike and I got the Pizza and it was one of the best we ever had.

The next morning we were to meet up with the other Mike at the Cracker Barrel just outside of town. Mike's girlfriend was driving him over to meet us while my friend Mike and I went in to fill our gut up with more food. The manager came over to our table to pour us more coffee and asked if everything was ok and told us we didn't have lick the plates as they had a dishwasher. Frank waited for him on the porch rocking in those big Rocking Chairs while a big storm came through the area. Frank had already had breakfast so he watched the storm while rocking away. Little Mike arrived with his girfriend and we said our good byes and we got into our cars and hit the road to Nashville about 3 hours away.

We arrived safely in Nashville and drove to the Hilton where we were staying. We have stayed at this Hilton before and is one of the best rated hotels in Nashville. The rooms are all suites and is just a 15 minute walk to the Stadium where we were going to see the Ravens and Titans play each other the next day. Nashville was loaded with Raven fans and all the hotels were booked in town. I had made the reservations in June and got 2 rooms. The hotel has one of the best watering holes in town. We met people we knew from Baltimore and the place was loaded with Raven fans. Having a bit of lunch and drinks we walked around town as we usually do when in Nashville. Later in the Evening we went down to the bar to get something to eat and we couldn't even get near the bar for a seat. They had a waiting list for tables so we just had some brews and stood around talking.

The next morning we ate breakfast in the Hilton at their buffet. It was good! We headed over the bridge to LP Field to try and hook up with Nasty Nestor http://www.wnst.net/index.htm Bobby Nyk http://www.bobbynyk.com/ and the rest of the Ravens that were meeting there.

At this time I have to mention that Frank and Little Mike are dyed in the wool Titan fans and Big Mike and I are of course, Raven fans. Last year the Titans beat our Ravens and it was not a pretty game. The Ravens just stunk and was not a fun game for the Ravens fans. This game I am now talking about happened a couple of weeks ago, you know who won. This is the game where Steve McNair returned to Nashville for the first time since leaving. He go a very warm welcome from everyone there. The Titans were beating us during the whole first half, Frank and Little Mike were elated. I told Frank that the Ravens are a team that comes back toward the end. The Ravens did come back and won the game in the last few seconds. Air McNair knows how to come back and win for a team. Needless to say that the crowd was stunned! Frank and little Mike were not happy campers. I almost felt sorry for them, but that soon passed in about 1 second. I must admit that the Titan fans are some of the nicest you will come across. They told us congrats and welcome to Nashville and hope we were having a good time. Now that's good ole southern hospitality. I will take it anytime. Thanks Titan fans!

To be continued later.

Off To Nashville To See The Ravens And Titans

I am leaving tomorrow morning and driving to Nashville. My friend Mike and I will be meeting up with my son Frank and his friend Mike. That's two Franks and two Mikes. Sounds like a deli order doesn't it! This is the first time I have driven to Nashville in about 5 or 6 years. Normally I would fly down and back. Monday, the day after we beat up on the Titans, Mike and I will be head for ports unknown. We are going to be driving around for the next 6 days with no special plans other than just go and stop at any interesting place we want to. Our wives told us both to go and have a good time.

I do know our first stop will be in Lynchburg Tenn. at the Jack Daniels Distillery. It is only an hours drive from Nashville. We might head down to Florida where we have friends that would like to see us. We don't really have to be home in 6 days, but I want to be home in time to see our Ravens play the Atlanta Falcons. If we decide to go to Florida, I want to check out some Condos in the Vero Beach area. I wouldn't mind having a winter place to go to during our cold months.

Savannah Georgia and Charleston S.C. have always been places we like to visit. Charleston also is a place I could spend the winter months. One place on the way home we are going to stop is the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk Va. Across the way into Hampton Va. is the Hampton National Cemetery where my Great Great Grandfather is buried. He was wounded in the second battle of Fair Oaks in Virginia in 1864. He died 20 days later at the Hospital at Fortress Monroe and buried nearby in the Hampton National Cemetery. While doing the genealogy of my family I could not find where he was buried until recently. He joined the 5th Maryland Infantry Regiment Co. K in Baltimore and was a sergeant when he was shot. After visiting there we will probably leave for home.

My friend Mike is descended from the McCoys of the Hatfields and McCoy battles. I believe we will stop at Williamson West Va and Pikeville Kentucky the area and Museum for the Hatfields and McCoys. From there It will be off to Tennessee and the next morning arriving at Nashville.

It is getting near the time for me to hit the hay and be off at 4 a.m.

Later Dudes and Dudettes.