Where Are We Sleeping Tonight: Day's Inn, Murfreesboro, Tennessee After enjoying a nice bed, we eventually headed off, driving over the border into Illinois, stumbling on the town of Ciaro where we saw demise of small-town USA. The original city must have been huge and busy... but today it is a falling down ghost town by comparison. Back in the late 1960's, the town witnessed horrific race riots which made locals abandon the town which they say is the reason why no one wants to live their today. We ate lunch at the only place we could find open that was serving food, Shemwell's BBQ - a diner of questionable quality, yet it manages to persevere in the town's darkest hour. We did get to see some of the town's local characters there which was highly amusing :)
Continuing on our merry way, we drove into Kentucky where we saw flyers stating that the town of Hazel was full of antique stores. We had to check it out. As we approached the Tennessee border, there were signs along the US-641 stating that Hazel was the place to visit for antique stores. Getting excited, we ventured into the town. The one thing that the flyers didn't mention was that the majority of them shut one day a week and that day is today! Rubbing salt into the wound, the largest one had been closed down by order of breach of city ordinance! We did find a few paces open - the first one had no one in the store actually running it, we could have stolen anything easily, if only they had anything worth stealing.
The next place had the sweetest old man running it. When he heard our accent, he asked where we were from. After he heard "Australia", he replied "what the hell are you doing here!" He took a liking to Clare and told her to find something she liked in the store. Due to the fact that they had heaps of big things that we just couldn't get home (including a wall of library index card drawers that we loved), Clare picked a small cast iron skillet. He said that we could have it for free so long as we told people to visit - something we are more than happy to do :) He had a great personality and a million stories to tell us - I think I will remember his Kentucky smile for a long time.
Back on the road again, we crossed the border back into Tennessee, bound for Nashville. Diving through Clarksville, I couldn't help but think about the song "Last Train To Clarksville" by the Monkees. I will have to put together a soundtrack of music inspired by our holiday when we get home. I will definitely have to include the great country and western songs we have been listening to on the radio here.
Stopping for dinner in Nashville, we had to try the Olive Garden Italian Restaurant and it was the best decision we ever made. It was soooooo good, especially the free gnocchi soup. The only bad thing was that it was so yummy that I ate too much! If we eat at any chain restaurant ever again, it will have to be the Olive Garden.
With full, satisfied bellies we continued on to Murfreesboro where we are staying at a Day's Inn - we had to stop here for the name alone! As I write this, Braveheart is on TV - an epic road movie about revolution against the British... somewhat poignant just a week after July 4th.
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