2025 June 21, 2025 Nashville Day Trip with BackRoads Tours, LLC

My husband and I stopped for breakfast at Jack's in Athens on Highway 72. 

I ordered a single gravy and biscuit, as well as two peach pies, for later. 

Hubby ordered the big breakfast. 

We traveled to Madison to catch our ride at Gabe's. 

We loaded onto the bus.

To our amazement, the seat where Hubby sat was broken, so we moved a few seats back. 

We heard someone else say their seat was broken. We had a full bus and needed every seat. 

The driver (Floyd) said I could run up the road and catch a different bus.

There were still about six passengers missing, so our group leader said I would stay here while you and the other passengers went to get the other bus. 

Ardmore Rest Area 

Our first stop was at the Ardmore, Tennessee, Rest Area. 

After about an hour, we arrived at our destination (after getting turned around at the Opryland Hotel. 

We finally arrived at the  General Jackson loading dock. Our group leader went to get everyone's tickets. 

There were two bus loads, one from Scottsboro and one from Madison.

Our bus group was going to the show and dinner at 1:30, while the first group's time was at 12:30.

Around 12 P.M., the General Jackson Showboat began traveling down the Cumberland River toward downtown Nashville. 

Hubby and I sat outside where we enjoyed a virgin Pina Colada. 

View of Nashville from the boat 

The Nissan Tennessee Titans Football Field view from the boat. 

I took pictures of the buildings downtown in Nashville and the Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans Football Team. 

On the bank of the Cumberland River, we saw Canada Geese and Kakaik's.

We also saw sites where the homeless lived. We saw lifts from people's homes and businesses leading down to the river below. 

At 1:30 P.M., the second group walked to the dining room on deck one. 

We enjoyed a buffet meal that consisted of chicken, BBQ, macaroni and cheese, carrots, salad, rolls, and apple pie. 

BBQ, Chicken, Mac & Cheese, Carrots, roll, and Apple Pie 

We were entertained by music and songs from the Tennessee Legends. 

Next, we loaded onto our buses and rode to the Opryland Hotel. 

Several people from both buses rode the Gaylord Opryland boat inside the hotel. 

The scene from the boat ride at the hotel. 

The waterfall at Opryland Hotel 

At the Bravo Gelato, I ordered an Oreo ice cream Waffle cone.

Hubby ordered a Mt Dew and a cookie.

Everyone had to be back on the bus at 5:30 P.M. 

We began our journey home. 

The Tennessean Travel Stop Fire Truck

We stopped at The Tennessean Travel Stop, where several enjoyed a meal and others just bought snacks. 

We ate our peach pies and drinks that we had brought with us. 

On our ride home, we saw several rainbows and the sunset.

Sunset 

The Rainbow 

Everyone loaded into their vehicles and began their journey home. 

We stopped at Krystal's and bought burgers and fries togo. 

We stopped at several Dollar General Stores for Mt Dew. 

There was a sale on drinks, and several of the smaller stores were out of stock. 

We arrived home around 10 P.M. 

Photos 

9443-9451 @9:01 A.M. Ardmore Rest Area

9452-9457 10:33 A.M Opryland Hotel outside

9458-9464 @12:18 P.M. General Jackson

9468 @ 4:51 P.M. Opryland Hotel 

690-720 General Jackson downtown Nashville 

722-733 Hotel Boat Ride

9476-9481 @6:51 The Tennessean Travel Stop 

9485-9472 Sunset and Rainbow @6:20-8:16 P.M.

Spirit Coach #452431
driver Floyd 

  

 

Singing River Sculpture in Florence

Singing River Sculpture 

Singing River Sculpture in Florence 

Dedicated to the world-renowned musicians, recording executives, writers, producers, and performers who made Florence and the Muscle Shoals area the "Hit Recording Capital of the World" in the 1960s and 1970s and those who continue that legacy.

2020 
Legend of the Singing River 
The Yuchi and other early Native Americans who lived along the banks of the mighty Tennessee River long held the legend of a Spirit Woman who lived in the river, sang her song, and protected them. She sang to them loudly if the drive was angry, softly and sweetly when the river was peaceful, and sometimes in the calming hum of a lullaby. In her honor, they named it the Singing River.
Some say that all they heard was the high waters' mighty rush and roar over the mussel shoals or the calm, low waters babbling through the river rocks. 
Others say she is honest and over the waters, as she did many years ago. So goes the legend of the Singing River. 

The World-Changing Music Shoals Music 
From the latter half of the 20th century, artists, musicians, songwriters, and music industry professionals from the Muscle Shoals area have contributed significantly to shaping the world's expansive musical heritage. 

Few styles of music were untouched by Muscle Shoals music, and local contributions have been made in all areas of the complex industry, including production, recording engineering, songwriting, music publishing, and music business interests.

Many of the world's most outstanding performers began their ascent to stardom in Muscle Shoals. Artists such as Percy Sledge, Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Bob Seger, and many others quickly created a legacy that earned the area the title "Hit Recording Capitol of the World."

The warning in Arthur Alexander's "You Better Move On" got the attention of the Rolling Stones. The Beatles heard Alexander's song "Anna," and each band acknowledged their respect for Alexander by recording their own version of the song on their debut albums. 

The songwriting tradition remains one of the most substantial facets of Muscle Shoals music, with area songwriters penning songs such as "When a Man Loves a Woman," "I Swear," "Blown Away," "Before He Cheats," and hundreds of other hits over the decades. 
The area grew into a music center by drawing together people of all races and religions. In the 1960s, despite racial segregation enforced outside the studio, soul classics were created in the studios, with musicians contributing their innate musical talents. The collaborations created some of the most widely loved music of the 20th century, including "When A Man Loves A Woman," "Mustang Sally," "Tell Mama," "Patch," "Respect Yourself," and many others. 

The heart and soul of Muscle Shoals music have always been the players and singers. Four Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section members were immortalized in the Lynyrd Skynyrd song Sweet Home Alabama. The lyric, "Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers, and they've been known to pick a song or two, "honors Barry-Beckett, Jimmy Johnson, David Hoot, and Roger Hawkins, owner of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, and studio musicians who produced and played on hundreds of hit recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studios from the late 60s until the mid-70s.

Florence's Contribution to this Golden Era
Florence has long had a rich and varied music culture and heritage. Building on the foundation of blues and spiritual music laid by Florence native W.C. Handy, known as the father of the blues and the composer of "Beale Street Blues," "St. Louis Blues," and other notable works, that legacy continues today. 
The roots of what became known as the Muscle Shoals sound are found north of the Tennessee River in Florence, AL. They were planted by pioneers such as James Joiner, Tom Stafford, and Rich Hall, as well as the many talented musicians and songwriters who recorded in Florence studios before 1960.
Other notable music personalities from Florence include Sam Phillips, Buddy Killen, Billy Sherrill, and Kelso Herston, who found significant success in Memphis and Nashville. 

In 1956, Joiner wrote and produced the area's first regional hit, "A Fallen Star" by Bobby Denton. He, Kelso Herston, and his partners established "Tune Records and Publishing Company," the first in Alabama, and published the classic Country song "Six Days on the Road" by Earl Greene and Carl Montgomery. 


Stafford, Hall, and Billy Sherrill created Florence, Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME) above the City Drug Store, which was owned by Stafford's family. The studio attracted young talents such as David Briggs, Norbert Putman, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, Jerry Carrigan, Earl "Peanutt" Montgomery, Donnie Fritts, Arthur Alexander, Bobby Denton, and others who would go on to be legendary musicians and songwriters. 


In 1964, at John Lennon's request, four members of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section —Norbert Putnam, David Briggs, Jerry Carrigan, and Terry Thompson —backed the opening acts for the Righteous Brothers and Tommy Roe at the Beatles' first US concert in Washington, D.C. 

In 1976, Wishbone Studio owner and producer Terry Woodford cofounded the University of North Alabama Commercial Music Program, which prepared many for success in the music industry, including Randy Poe, President of Leiber & Stoller Music Publishing/music biographer; Walt Aldridge songwriter/producer, Nancy Lee, V.P. Music Industry Business, Manager Higham Management Ince.; Mark Narmore, Songwriter/singer/keyboardist; John Briggs, V.P. ASCAP (Retired); V.P. Entertainment and Pro Sports, Tower Community Band; and Kevin Lamb, V.P. Peer Music (Retired).

Photos: William Christopher (W.C)Handy
Photo courtesy of W.C. Handy Foundation Inc. 

Photo: James Joiner  and Kelson Herston (L) 
Photo editing courtesy of Glenn Bevis 


Joiner's Bus Station 
Site of Joiner's first recording studio 
Photo courtesy of the Joiner Family 

Photo: Tom Stanford 
Enigmatic mentor to many young Muscle Shoals musicians 
Photo courtesy of David Briggs

Photo: The Original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section 
Terry Thompson, Norbert Putman, Jerry Carrigan, and David Briggs 
Photo completion courtesy of Will C. Roberson and Trevor J. Joiner 

Photo: Terry Woodford 
With guest speaker Glenn Frey of the Eagles in UNA Commercial Music class 
Photo courtesy of Terry Woodford. 

The City of Florence, Alabama 
Mayor Steve Holt - Eric Nubbe, Sculpture 
A special thanks to former Mayor Mickey Haddock and former Mayor Bobby E. Irons for their early and unwavering support and encouragement.
Historical commentary by Dick Cooper, David Anderson, Bill Matthews, and Sandra Vetters.

Singing River Sculpture 

2024 April 19, Visitor Center, Kennedy Douglas Art Museum, Coffee Cemetery with AVA

 Today, we rode into town to pick up Hubby's medicine at Walgreens. 

We rode to the Blue The Blue Door Thrift Store/SCOPE 310 and bought AVA a game. 

Ate lunch at Culverts. 

Hubby and I split a plate of shrimp, fries, cole Slaw, and Chocolate moose yogurt.  

We bought an AVA hamburger, fries, and chocolate yogurt.

We stopped at the nearby Walmart to pick up a few items. Then, Ava and I walked across the street to the Coffee and Slave Cemeteries. 

A  large old tree at Coffee Cemetery

Ava wanted to visit a museum, so we rode to the Kennedy-Douglass Art Center. There, we saw AROY Artistic Rendering of Youth, featuring artwork created by students from 7th through 12th grade at 15 schools. Outside, we stopped to take pictures of the statues. 

AVA and the outdoor art

We walked across the street to Wilson Park, and the mist from the fountain seemed to reach the clouds.

Overflowing Fountain at Wilson Park 

Color is the music of light. 
Frank Lloyd Wright 
(This marker is on the sidewalk at Wilson Park.)

We watched a barge go up the Tennessee River 
men fishing 

Ava enjoyed the playground area at McFarland Park. Our last stop was the Visitor Center, where they saw several displays. 

Large and small-mouth bass
Bass fishing & tournaments are significant on the Tennessee River in Florence
Ava enjoyed the one with the big and small-mouth fish. 

WC Handy Statue in Wilson Park 
WC Handy 
Father of the Blues 
1873- 1958 
Born in Florence, Alabama 

Display of WC Handy's music at Florence-Lauderdale Visitor Center.
Handy played the Cornet (pictured here) 
Handy's first hit was "The Memphis Blues".

The W. C. Handy Music Festival is held annually in Florence, Alabama, sponsored by the Music Preservation Society, Inc., in honor of Florence native W. C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues." The non-profit Music Preservation Society was formed in 1982 with the mission to preserve, present, and promote the musical heritage of Northwest Alabama.

The 2024 Handy Festival will take place from Wednesday to Saturday, June 12-15, in Florence, Alabama. 

2023 Feb 20-21, Bus Trip to Jacksonville, and touring Jacksonville, Fl (Diamond Travel, with Anderson Travel Hueytown, AL) (5day trip)

Day 1: Monday, February 20

Hubby and I traveled 2 1/2 hours to Hueytown, Al stopped at Jack's in Hueytown for gravy and biscuits.

Everyone checked in and was given a name tag: their ticket for meals, events, and lodging.

Around 7:30, the bus arrived, loaded our luggage along with 40 other people's luggage onto the bus, and 

By 8 A.M., we were on our way.

Our first restroom stop was I-20 at the Georgia Welcome Center in Waco, Georgia.

Georgia Welcome Center Waco, Georgia.

Our next stop was for lunch at the Arbor Mall in Douglasville, Georgia, where several different places to eat were available. We picked Chick-fil-A. I ordered a kid's chicken nugget meal, and Hubby ordered a chicken sandwich with waffle fries.

Arbor Mall in Douglasville, Georgia 

Our third stop was at I-75 Rest Area Southbound Forsyth, Georgia.

 I-75 Rest Area Southbound Forsyth, Georgia.

Our fourth stop was the Florida Welcome Center I-75 in Jennings, Florida. (They always have fresh orange juice here, but they close at 5 P.M., just a few minutes after 5).

Florida Welcome Center I-75 in Jennings, Florida

We stopped for dinner at Ole Times CountyBuffet in Lake City. Here, I ate collard greens, green lima beans, carrots, fish, cornbread, and a slice of chess pie.

Ole Times CountyBuffet in Lake City

We finally arrived at the hotel, were given our room keys, and took our luggage to our room.

Exhausted from the long ride, they showered and went to bed. 

Holiday Inn Express room 310.

Day 2: Tuesday, February 21,

Breakfast at the hotel: omelet, sausage, biscuit with grape jelly, and milk.

At 8:00, we were on the bus headed to St John's Town Center to pick up our guide.

Our first stop was Memorial Park along the St John's River. 

St John's Memorial Park along the St John's River

Our next stop was Sweet Pete's Candies, where they have 100s of candies & chocolates.

Sweet Pete's Candies 

We walked to Weldon Johnson Park, near the Art Museum and City Hall in the center of town.

James Weldon Johnson Park

Our next stop was Jessie Ball Dupont Park to see Jacksonville's Favorite 70-foot tall, 25-foot trunk Oak Tree.

The so-called Treaty Oak is at least two centuries old.

Treat Oak 70 Feet 25-foot trunk. 

We loaded onto the bus and returned to St John's Town Center to drop off our guide and get lunch.

We chose M-Shack's gourmet burger made with all-natural, hormone-free ground beef. 

Hubby and I split the M-Shack's hamburger. 

Our next stop was the Miss Headley River Boat Cruise along St John's River.

Miss Headley River Boat Cruise 

We loaded back onto the bus and headed to the hotel to freshen up, for we were going to the Double Tree by Hilton for a buffet dinner and show.

There was no place to sit with our group when we filled our plates. We set up in front of a band with a fun group from Louisiana.

One of the women was a librarian. The one sitting beside me had red hair, and she said her husband didn't care for traveling. She told me my dad would take me to the pub with him when I was growing up. He would give her money to play Pack Man games, and he would go and drink. Her dad was much older than her mom. Her dad had passed several years back, and her mom remarried, and she didn't care much for her new husband.

She said she would never remarry if anything happened to her husband. Their group had already visited the Fountain of Youth, and she said the water tasted like sulfur. This group was a lot of fun, and we all danced around the room waving our napkins to the Saints Go Marching In. 

2022 Sep 3, Sugerfest & Historic Buildings Arab, Alabama

 Today, we rode to Arab to stroll through the park, which was filled with over 100 vendors. Tents were lined up as far as the eye could see, selling items from A to Z. 

Vendor Tents

The sweet aroma of baked goods filled the air, making my mouth water. You could almost taste the barbecue, hamburgers, and hot dogs being cooked. There were lines of people at every food truck.

Funnel Cake, Ribbon Fries, and freshly squeezed lemonade were just a few of the food items sold.

Santa Fe Food Truck

There was a petting zoo featuring two large, lazy cows, a goat trying to climb out of its pen, miniature long-haired goats that kids loved to pet, and many other animals.

Petting Zoo

Pony Rides

There was a long line for the pony rides. Kids were climbing walls, playing games, swinging, and sliding.

The splash was open for those who wanted to cool off.

Music was playing in the concert area.

People play cornhole and other games.

But we were more interested in the Historic Village area, which we saw. 

1. The Boyd Homestead
Boyd Homestead 1890-2006

Lola Boyd lived her entire 99 years in the Boyd Homestead.
Her dad, Matthew Boyd, built the home in 1890 on 160 acres of land in Arab. Ms. Lola was born in 1906 and was the youngest of 11 siblings. She graduated from high school in 1929 in Arab and then attended college, earning her teaching degree from George C. Peabody College in Nashville, TN. 
This home was not built with indoor bathrooms or closets. An 
outhouse served as the bathroom, and a well was located outside the home, providing water for the family. The home also did not have electricity until the 1940s. 
Ms. Lola taught school and never married or had children. She helped care for her parents and was given the Homestead after they passed away. After she died in 2006, the home was bequeathed to the Historical Society. The society moved and restored the house to mimic the 1940s era.

The Stage Coach INN @Elvin Light Museum 

2. The Elvin Light Museum

Inside were cubicles filled with different items from:

Hyatt's Boarding House

Dr. Ellis Porch and Dr. Braxton Smith's Office

Arab Infirmary, Dr. Ellis Porch, and Dr. Braxton Smith

The Thompson Family

Russell Rice, General Mdse Est. 1897

Peoples Drug Store

Reed Pring Shop 

Fleming Barber Shop 

The Stage Coach INN

3. The Ruth Homemaker's Clubhouse
Belonging to the Homemakers of Arab, who hold demonstrations and enjoy activities such as canning, quilting, knitting, and mattress making. 

4. The Phillips Blacksmith

George C. Phillips Blacksmith Shop

Another significant business for the farmers was the blacksmith shop, where they could get their tools sharpened and mules shod. Mr. George Phillips owned his own blacksmith shop in Scottsboro, AL, and was a resident blacksmith for the George C. Phillips Blacksmith shop. Mr. Phillips has since passed away, but his legacy lives on. The Blacksmith Ship is built from vintage wood to mimic a structure from the 1940s era. 

The farmer looked forward to carrying his animals to the Blacksmith shop to be shod. This was important to the well-being of the animals, but it also gave the farm a break and an opportunity to socialize with fellow farmers.

Today, horseshoeing is done by a farrier who goes to the farm every 4 to 6 weeks in a truck equipped with a forge.

Tractors have replaced the Mule. Therefore, the need for local blacksmith shops has diminished.

5. The Winslett Barn - used for weddings and events

6. The Rice Church 
The Rice Church 1910-1950s

This Church building, originally known as Liberty Primitive Baptist Church, was once located in the Rice Community near Arab. It was donated to the Historical Society in 1993 and restored to represent rural churches from the early 1900s. Today, it is used for small weddings, memorial services, and spiritual needs. The church would hold baptisms, weddings, and Christenings, sometimes all on the same day. Farmers who traveled far for the church would bring the church lunch and typically stay all day. 
They took advantage of Sundays, as this was the only day they had time to attend.

Inside sat a woman playing old-time gospel music on the piano. She said the church I now attend had a piano player, but I got sick and could not play, so the church filled in, which was over 20 years ago. She was a retired teacher and had taught music. Her talent was far beyond that of the previous piano player, and the other players didn't want to come back. She played beautifully.

7. The Hunt School House
The Hunt School 1935-1952

This two-room school is typical of the schools in Alabama built during the Great Depression: it features high ceilings, a "cloakroom" for each classroom, and architectural details in the actual Colonial Revival style. The Hunt School operated in a small community south of Arab from 1835 to 1952. When school buses became popular in 1952, students were transported to larger schools by bus. The school year revolved around spring planting and fall harvesting since most students lived on a farm. The school went without electricity for the first ten years. There was no water, cafeteria, indoor bathrooms, or library. Children walked to school and washed their hands in a water-filled pan.

9. The Smith Country Store 

 Inside, it was filled with items of a different era. Behind the coal heater, a group sat singing and playing Bluegrass music in the back. We listened to a couple of songs that I had never heard before.

10. The Smalley Grist Mill 

When a farmer and his family would move to a new area, there were two businesses he would immediately look for.

One was a grist mill where he could grind the corn into cornmeal. Since cornbread was such an important food staple at the Great Depression supper table, the Historic Village needed a Grist Mill. Mr. Jerrell Smally bought the Grist Mill from Arab's old Farmers' Exchange and donated it to the Arab Historical Society. The building was built from vintage lumber to mimic a structure from the 1940s era. 

During the Great Depression, everyone grew corn. A large family consumes approximately 300 pounds of corn annually. 
The farmers would gather a portion of their dried corn during harvest and take it to the local Grist Mill to get shucked, shelled, and ground for cornbread. They would pay for this service by leaving a portion of their corn with the miller.