Shower, fresh clothes – and cameras.  Post-marathon.  Traded running shoes for boots Saturday afternoon & quick-toured Music City with Sis & family.  Common theme: UP ⬆️  Whether the State Capitol or food apps on Broadway, no less than 3 flights of stairs.  Good stretch after 26.2 miles of morning asphalt.

first post-LUNCH climb: Tennessee’s State Capitol Building.  Located downtown, high hill kitty-corner from the weekend’s rented digs.  3 US Presidents from the Volunteer State.  $20 Jackson, James Knox Polk & Lincoln’s VP Andrew Johnson.  All prominently memorialized on Tennessee’s state grounds.  Capitol Building: lotta Old World charm/columnar architecture, flag-topped dome.  Window-peek downstairs showcased a 19^th century courtroom re-purposed for present day press talks.  Building poised high, surrounded by glass skyscrapers & multiple sports stadiums (football/hockey/baseball).  Pretty view of Nashville.  HUGE growth in Music City.

Next up: wild Honky Tonkin’ Broadway.  Soooo many people & competing noises (not my scene) – but today an improved attitude, flanked with FAMILY.  Thanks Stephen, Sis & Paul.  Friday: ‘I can’t eat here, it’s too loud.’  Today: smiled, nodded (still couldn’t hear) & ate my apps.  Pack eater I guess.  LOL>  Frown upside down 😊

TRIP HIGHLIGHT: the GRAND OLE OPRY.  No Nashville trip complete without THIS experience.  Sis pre-purchased tickets at the Ryman, first shows of winter.  Performances return every November after summering in nearby Opryland.  Original building, same wood floor, same church pews – circa 1892.  Rustic seating bit rough on the rump/big memory flood of childhood revivals past.  1950’s ’60s ’80s and American Idol, Scotty McCreery – Opry had it all tonite.  Hillbilly talk, square dancers & Opry laughter.  Nashville HIGHLIGHT ❤️

2 long hugs & the weekend done, magic over.  Goodnite Music City.  Bye, Sis.

Welcome to the Opry

Opry Pt 2: Scotty McCreery