St Louis to Nashville

We stayed at the Westin last night, which was very comfortable. We even went to the gym this morning - it's always a laugh that we take gym gear on holiday and rarely use it.

We didn't get the chance to look around last night as it was pouring with rain, but this morning we checked out the Gateway Arch before heading south.

St Louis looks appears to be a very attractive city, with many old red brick buildings renovated into hotels and apartments. The mighty Mississippi River appears to be in flood.

Much discussion and review of weather reports has us on the I55 towards Memphis, rather than to Nashville as planned. After three days of driving in sleet, snow and rain we have had enough and are driving south to get around the bottom of this incredible weather system.

The weather was much better, with no rain since leaving St Louis. The scenery was lovely - very green fields and beautiful forests. Excellent highways, and flooded rivers everywhere. Sunshine even appeared! With 80 miles to run to Memphis we decided to cross the Mississippi again and travel east for awhile, destination still unsettled.

Today we've traversed Missouri, Illinois and in to Tennessee.

We stopped for lunch in Jackson, at a BBQ cafe, a tiny building on the outskirts of town. Inside we found the pleasant 69 year old Mac who loved cooking BBQ, and family photos and pictures of the Obamas on the walls. Dom enjoyed his spicy brisket sandwich and my catfish and coleslaw was tasty.

The weather was still good, so we set off for Nashville, 200 plus miles away to the east. It was a very pleasant drive along a wide highway with low traffic, and beautiful forest views.

We found a hotel in town (very full hotels, and what's available is expensive), settled and headed out into the (rainy) evening.

We walked the busy, bustling streets until we found a bar called Roberts, recommended by the concierge. There was a band playing and the place was packed. We tried some domestic IPAs, and absorbed the atmosphere.

Dinner was at a joint called Rippies, which had 4 bands playing, all in different rooms. You could eat in any of them, watching the bands. They were all very good, as was the dinner - pulled pork and ribs. I even ate the side of beans and they were delicious (my girls will fall off their chair at that, as I steadfastly refuse to eat beans at home!).

There are lots of boot shops here, all open late on a Saturday night. One of the boot shop guys even complimented my new boots!

Nashville is another pretty town with old buildings beautifully renovated, similar to St Louis. I'd like to come back here too, one day.

The Gateway Arch, St Louis

Pulled Pork and ribs at Rippy's