MEMPHIS BLUES

Bill and Jane have begun the journey south following the conclusion of the Brockport soccer season.

SUNYAC SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP IN ONEONTA, NY

Brockport qualified for the SUNYAC championship tournament by defeating Oswego at home in a quarterfinal game. The game went to a shootout after a scoreless tie in regulation and two overtime periods. In Oneonta at the Soccer Hall of Fame, Brockport played the two seed Plattsburg in the first round. For the second game in a row the contest ended in a scoreless tie after regulation and two overtime periods. The Golden Eagles again won the shootout to advance to the championship game on Saturday. Nick and Ellen made the trip to Oneonta to watch their brother play and were rewarded with a soaking rain in the second half. Brockport gave up two flukey goals early and were unable to make the comeback even though they outshot Cortland 20-8. The game ended a great season on a sour note but only one team can advance to the NCAA's.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

It is a long trip from Oneonta to the PA. line but our travelers made it, and just in time as a snowstorm hit WNY the next day. Bill and Jane stayed overnight outside of Cleveland the first night and made it as far as Jackson, Tenn. the next day before stopping. The price of diesel goes down as you travel south - $3.57 a gallon in Bergen, NY, $3.27 in Erie, Pa. and $2.81 in Paducah, Kentucky. Gas in Kentucky was down to $1.77 a gallon. On Monday morning Bill and Jane pulled into the Elvis Presley RV Park in Memphis, Tennessee, which is just two blocks from Graceland. The check-in lady at the campground was very nice but warned tourists not to walk outside the park after dark. She said you sometimes hear gunfire at the apartments next door but not to worry, they weren't aiming at the campers. Bill and Jane realized she wasn't kidding but hey, the rates are very reasonable!

GRACELAND

The first stop was a tour of the Elvis Presley Estate known as Graceland. The actual estate is a small mansion located on 13 acres of land which Elvis bought when he was 21 years old. The tour starts with a shuttlebus that drops you off at the front entrance with a headset that allows self tours at your own pace. The first floor and basement areas are all still decorated the way they were when Elvis died in 1977. No tourists are allowed in the second floor area which was the same when Elvis entertained guests, no one went upstairs. The rooms are extremely interesting to say the least, with plush (some would say gaudy) furniture, full-mirrored stairwells, a fabric covered billiards room (including the ceiling),

a jungle motif den

and larger than life pictures of Elvis and his family throughout.

Kitchen

Dining Room

He had a special TV room with three televisions which Elvis watched simultaneously after he heard that Lyndon Johnson watched the evening news that way.

Lisa Maries Play yard

Elvis' fathers office - Vernon Presley

Elvis designed his own racquetball court out back when he became interested in that sport. It now displays some of his gold and platinum records, awards and trophies.

There is a special section devoted to Elvis' movie career,

Elvis & Priscilla's wedding attire

devoted to Elvis jumpsuits,

and a trophy wing where more of Elvis' numerous gold records and personal achievements are enshrined.

Jane was able to locate the jumpsuit Elvis wore when she saw him in concert in Syracuse in 1976.

Elvis record sales continue today more than 30 years after his death. He has sold over a billion records worldwide which is far and away more than other artist or group in history.

The tour of the mansion concludes in the meditation garden where Elvis is buried along with his parents, Gladys and Vernon, as well as his grandmother.

Elvis was originally buried in a nearby cemetery but Vernon received permission to move the grave to Graceland when fans began to desecrate the original site.

Elvis had a twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley who was still-born and is buried in Tupelo, Mississippi, but has a plaque in the cemetery which commemorates his short life. The meditation garden is loaded with floral arrangements, teddy bears and mementos from fans all over the world who still love the king of rock and roll.

The shuttle brings you back to the start point where the Elvis Automobile Museum is located. Elvis loved his cars and most of them were customized to suit his bigger-than-life tastes. He had a white Rolls Royce,

a pink Cadillac,

a red MG, two Stutz Roadsters, and numerous other vehicles.

Next door is displayed Elvis' personal airplane, the Lisa Marie,

Dining room table on airplane

One of the many sitting areas on the airplane

and his smaller jet.

Both interiors are decorated in classic Elvis fashion with 24 karat gold seat belts and plush surroundings.

There is also a museum dedcicated to Elvis' military career with original uniforms, letters and the story of his service to our country most of it while stationed in Germany in 1960 and 1961.

The complex also includes several restaurants and about eight gift shops where one can purchase just about any Elvis paraphernalia imaginable.

BEALE STREET

Beale Street is Memphis' answer to Broadway in Nashville. It is closed off to vehicles and contains some of the best blues and rock and roll music in the world. Bill and Jane chose an Irish pub, Silky O'Sullivans,

for their first foray on Beall St.

They were entertained by Lanier Smith and Lawrence Long,

a blues duo who could sing and play any request imaginable, from Led Zeppelin and ZZ Top to Elvis. The ribs served for supper were the best Bill ever tasted.

More to follow as Bill and Jane's exploration of Memphis continues.