Yes, it is October, and yes, this road trip did take place throughout the month of August. Sigh. Still, I am determined to give you the scoop because it was such a GREAT trip! I am now writing from lovely Provincetown, MA where we have rented a sweet apartment between sits. Then it’s Tennessee, here we come!
Creepy. Pretty. Pretty Creepy!
After North Carolina, we drove through a bit of Georgia and spent one night in Tennessee, where we met with the homeowners we will be sitting for as of next month. I will ply you with TN pics then…for now, on to Mississippi. But first, what is this stuff growing over everything? Will someone please enlighten me? Someone familiar with the South? Thank you.
We didn’t have much time in Mississippi – just one night. We tried to get two, but the Inn we were staying at was fully booked. You wouldn’t think this would be an issue, judging by the exterior of the place. But it was, and now I know why. On the way to Clarksdale, we stopped in Oxford for lunch. What a cool town!
Yes, Please
"Say, aren't you William Faulkner?!?"
Our lunch break was short and sweet and like so many places we happened upon in our travels, I wanted to know more. However, until I can convince the S.O. (Significant Other, aka Paul) to go in on an Airstream, we’ll just have to keep movin’.
I went down to the crossroads...
We ended up in Clarksdale Mississippi because Paul and I both share a deep appreciation for blues music and wanted to find out more about the Delta blues in particular. That, and Paul found the site for a place called the Shack Up Inn while surfing the web one day. It was love at first click.
Welcome to our shack for the night
We stayed in the Pinetop Perkins shack. This (along with the rest) is an original sharecropper shack. The Shack Up Inn is located at an old cotton plantation…Hopson Plantation. An eye opener as to how things were not so long ago in these parts. By the way, Pinetop Perkins is ninety-seven and still going strong.
Pinetop mural in the living room
Shacks (from the back)
RV Art
I'll take mine silver ; )
And rusty teal
the Juke Joint Chapel
Chevy & The Cotton Gin Inn
Hopefully I have given you a good feel for the premises. It really is one of those places you have to see for yourself. I suggest you go there. And now, for what we chose to do with our one night on the town…
Blue Cheese Fondue with House Fried Potatoes at Rust
Parking at the Ground Zero Blues Bar
I think I'll just grab a seat at the bar...
Razorblade takes the stage
Razorblade & Yours Truly
The Crossroads, made famous by Robert Johnson
Biscuits and Grits for the road at the Rest Haven Restaurant
P.S. Thanks to you, we’ve had over 10,000 hits to this little blog; and almost 1,000 comments! This calls for a celebration in the form of a PRIZE drawing. Just leave a comment on ANY post ANYTIME between now and Sunday night (10/10/10 – how cool is that?) and I will announce the winner/prize first thing Monday morning : )
Hi Valynne, here I am in NY city (as you know) just checking the blog. What an experience the Shack Up Inn was for us both. I wholly encourage anyone with a soul for ‘the Blues’ to stay there for as long as possible when in the area. Truly the most wonderful experience ever. Don’t expect the Ritz as it says on their website, but if you want to get connected with something special, the Shack Up Inn is the place. Heck, we’ll go with you. See u tomorrow Valynne. xxx
Paul and I talked about renting one of the shacks for this month that we are currently enjoying between sits, but they don’t have monthly rates, only daily. We ended up here in P-town, which turned out to be a great choice…but I have a feeling we will definitely be back in Clarksdale, and for a longer period of time.
So many of our friends are musicians…I think Mississippi is as good a meeting place as any : ) It draws artists of all types from all over the world. Lots of people come to hear the locals. Then they come back and sit on the front porches of these old shacks, playing their guitars and harmonicas.
The B&B stands for Bed and Beer, NOT Bed and Breakfast. In other words, if you are a high maintenance traveler, then these are definitely not the accomodations for you. Thanks for the comment, Paul (I love it when Paul comments). xox
I’ve never been to Mississippi, and never actually seen the stuff, but I believe that “pretty creepy” growth that is engulfing everything is the infamous kudzu.
I believe you are correct! Good to hear from you, Jim…and it was great to see you and Francoise back in August. The wet t-shirt was a bonus. XOX
It looks like Paul is bucking for the prize. He left the first comment. I would never think to vacation in Mississippi but now i might.. I would share your appreciation of shacks. You must check out the dune shacks while you are Provincetown. I believe the trees in Mississippi are covered with kudzu which has become the scourge of the south. Solicit comments on that…
Paul leaves comments every so often because he knows how much l LOVE them. Although, come to think of it…he doesn’t typically comment unless there happens to be a prize drawing. Hmmm. You may be on to something ; )
We went to the dune shacks today. And what a perfect day it was; wandering the dunes, admiring the shacks and the driftwood…watching the seals play and listening to the mighty Atlantic. And picking a few wild cranberries (yes, I am going to attempt a cordial!). The day could not have been better. Sigh.
Hey V, about that Pinetop Perkins shack – he’s an amazing guy. There was a memorable night in the Wynkoop around ’93 or so when my friend Mike & I spent a lot of time drinking with him at the bar. Then found out that he had a show to do downstairs. We went down to listen, then we all went back up for more drinks, then back down for more music, etc… Told my mother the next day and she squealed as if I’d said Sinatra. She remembered him from her college days. I saw him again about five years ago, he’s still great. I also just noticed he was in the Blues Brothers movie. The man gets around!
Oh, Gary – thanks for sharing this, I love it! I have got to find Pinetop Perkins and hear him live. I would also love to see BB King along with Lucille) again – he is getting up there as well. What do you say, Gary? Might a Clarksdale road trip be in your future?