Miles Driven: 460
States: Tennessee · Kentucky
On the Road Again, Next Stop: Nashville
We were not ready to leave Johnson City, but our adventure had to continue. Plus, Chris and Renee had to go back to work, so off they sent us to our next adventure in Nashville.
Nashville is the capital of Tennessee. It’s not only in the center of the state but is the center of the country music industry, known as “Music City U.S.A”. It’s the second-largest music recording and production center in the United States.
Nashville has a vibrant music scene! Attractions including the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, Ryman Auditorium, Johnny Cash Museum, Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville Symphony Center, Nashville Ballet, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and the Nashville Opera, just to name a few!
Broadway features a range of music clubs and “honky-tonk” bars, restaurants, and more boot shops than you could ever imagine. Driving into Nashville at night time, lit up, must be a sight to see. Unfortunately, we only stayed in Nashville for the afternoon, and I was okay with that. Not being a huge country music fan myself, I was there for the food and to check out the scene.
Yelping My Way Across the United States: Jack’s Bar-B-Que
There are numerous variations of BBQ across the United States (and even the world). I was set on trying them all! Jack’s Bar-B-Que was recommended and it was everything I expected with the brick walls, country music, and Tennessee sports memorabilia, red plastic table cloths, wooden benches, lit-up signs, and country music. But wait…there was no country music!!!! 🤯
Follow me on Yelp to read my latest review of Jack’s Bar-B-Que!
AAA to the Rescue
Just 30 miles out of Nashville on Interstate 65 North, I turned the music down and said to my aunt “do you feel that?” The car was wobbly, it was comparable to the feeling of driving on a smooth paved road and suddenly hitting a gravel road. The only problem was, we weren’t on a gravel road.
Turning the music off now (there’s something about music blasting that really distracts me during a “crisis” in the car) and trying to get in the far right lane, my aunt frantically searched for the next exit. It was 3 miles ahead, we could make it.
It was terrifying, and traumatic and it all happened so incredibly fast.
My tire blew out.
While semi-trucks and cars whizzed by, my aunt was on the phone with AAA. “Do you have a spare tire in your trunk” Sure…well, I think so, okay, I’m not sure?
A police officer was sent out to sit behind me and slow down traffic while we waited for roadside assistance. I must’ve been a sight to see! Crawling across the passenger seat to get out, unloading my trunk; 2 leopard suitcases, miscellaneous sneakers, and pink boxing gloves. I lugged them through the muddy grass on the side of the road into the back of the roadside assistance truck.
Spare tire on, we followed roadside assistance to the next town to get a new tire put on.
On the Road Again…Again.
It was drizzling as we got back on the road, 150 miles to Louisville. The skies were grey and getting darker as we drove. Ahead gusts of forceful winds were swaying cars around us, the skies opened up and we were engulfed in a torrential downpour. I’ve driven in Florida rainstorms before, so I pushed on. I could feel my aunt tensing up, but she stayed quiet. Southern Californians don’t see rain too often; she probably saw more rain on this trip than in her lifetime. “It will pass soon,” I told her. Although, it didn’t look like it was going to let up and the wind was so strong, I was barely going 20mph. I saw an exit coming up and decided to take it and reevaluate.
Sitting in a gas station parking lot, I looked up the projected weather. Bad news: we were right in the middle of a category 4 thunderstorm with 60mph winds. Good news: it will be over in 15 minutes! My aunt was skeptical, how could these 60mph winds and insane rain just stop in the next 15 minutes? But I knew southern storms and we were back on the road in no time headed for Louisville…again.
Louisville Sunsets
I was on edge with two unplanned traumatic events. Siri and I had gotten in a few arguments along the road so far; mainly me screaming at Siri and his corny Australian accent, and tonight was no different. Taking me down numerous streets on the way to The Big Four Bridge, all leading to dead ends and construction zones, I was beyond irritated! I’d had it! As we approached a road closed sign, I saw it went through to the road we needed to be on, I took it (I possibly broke a few traffic violations on this road trip, no judgment), and what an amazing sunset Louisville rewarded us with!
