Day 77 Mississippi River
Another gloomy morning met me on Kelly's couch. The folks I would run into in Memphis all lamented the fact that I was visiting during a stint of bad weather, but for me, it couldn't have been better. I would much rather be off the river and have a roof over my head during the poor weather than be paddling through rain and cold and clouds.
The plan today was to explore more of the city, make a run into Bass Pro Shops to get a few supplies, and hit a grocery store at some point. Armed with my skateboard and a backpack I cruised through downtown and rode Beale Street, weaving in and out of people and light posts, enjoying the ride.
I skated toward Bass Pro Shops along the river front, a nice walking path that stretched the rivers edge. Along the way I passed a few parks, some historical markers and a sign depicting the vital role the city of Memphis played in the Civil War.
As I got closer to Bass Pro Shops it was clear that this was no regular store. As Brent Musburger would say, this one was "The Granddaddy of them all!" A massive glass pyramid, the Bass Pro Shop stood taller and more distinctive than any other building in the Memphis Skyline. This store put all other outdoor stores to shame. Inside were live alligators, massive rainbow trout and large mouth Bass, stuffed bears and mountain lions. You name it, it was there. I also enjoyed checking out the Ducks Unlimited "Heritage Center", where the history of duck hunting was on display including weapons of choice throughout the years and the progression of duck hunting in America.
After taking in the store I picked up what I came for, a new sleeping pad. For the entirety of my trip thus far my old pad has been leaking air. Having patched it several times over the years and not being able to locate the latest leak I figured it was time to retire the old Thermarest.
With a new pad, a can of stove fuel, a new hat and a pack cover I skated away from the impressive shop.
The rest of the afternoon was spent skating around town on a lazy Tuesday afternoon. I stopped into Huey's, a local hot spot, and partook in the tradition of shooting a toothpick into the ceiling with a straw.
As the day winded down I rolled back to Kelly's place. Once back from work Kelly and I grabbed some delicious Thai food for dinner. Kelly went Thai hot despite the waiters warning. I wimped out and had some good
Thai fried rice.
After dinner we went back to her place. She finished up a few things for work as we reminisced about college and Boulder.
Another great day in Memphis, Tennessee.