Birthday Wreaths

Just some of the flowers placed today in honor of Elvis' birthday
along the Meditation Garden.

Elvis' 76th Birthday Cake

Our mascot, Fiona, and the cake. We all get a piece. The Chilean
miner, Edison Pena, gets the honor of cutting the cake. About 600 join
him in singing, The Wonder of You.

Sun Studio

Clockwise starting on left is Shaneela, Shakira and Nita at the Soda
Shop following our tour of the recording studio.

Celebrities

As we unload the bus at The Peabody, the Utah Jazz basketball team
pulls up behind us. Pictured here is Coach James, our driver ( the
shorter one) and Al Jefferson, former Celtic.

Peer Leader

Molly has done a fabulous job leading evening debriefs.

Here she is heading off for a run on the treadmill in her trademark
Green Day duds.

Off to the Pool

Jenn heading off for an evening dip.

Presentation by Vince Hughes

Several of us just read Hampton Sides' book, Hellhound on His Trail,
in which Vince Hughes is referenced for his largest collection of
digital media related to the Martin Luther King assasination
investigation. He is a retired Memphis police officer who was working
dispatch the evening of this crime. He shares with us the audio
recording of what police heard that night. Chilling to actually hear
the replay of the 4 minutes it took to completely surround the area.
The evidence collected against James Earl Ray is staggering. Vince
believes Ray commited this act because he wanted to be "somebody".
While he believes James planned the crime himself, he does believe his
two brothers aided him in at least his escape.

Chilean Duckmaster

The Chilean miner who kept everyone's spirits up during their long
ordeal trapped underground with Elvis impressions, is named honorary
Duckmaster. He delights the crowd with some hip gyrations and Blue
Suede Shoes ...and he has blue suede shoes on! He receives an
Honorary Citation, his own Duckmaster cane and gets to lead the duck
parade back to their penthouse for the night. You wouldn't believe the
paparazzi who came out for this occasion.

Fountain at The Peabody

We intentionally look for Have and Have Not juxtapositions on this
trip. This year's was quite a contrast as we move from Shack Up Inn to
the jewel of Memphis. Look closely and you'll see the famous Peabody
ducks swimming.

At the Crossroads

One last photo before leaving Clarksdale. With the class this year
called, One America: Crossroads, we have to take our picture here at
this iconic juncture along Route 61 Blues Highway.

Delta Blues Museum

Next door to Ground Zero Club is the museum dedicated to tracing the
history of the blues. Inside is Muddy Waters house, musician's
tombstones, costumes, photographs, etc.

After a quick tour of the town, we start out of Clarksdale.

Elvis Lives!

One more photo before we board the bus. This place is a photographer's
paradise.

Singing the Blues

Jack Hobin does a spirited rendition of Mule Skinner Blues and gets us
all to do a chorus. We then "treat" Jack to our rendition of Happy
Birthday because today is his 60th!

Delta Donuts

By 8:15 AM, they are sold out, with our help and can put the "Gone
Fishin'" sign out. They are delighted!

Quad at the Inn

In this photo- water tank is in center rear covered in vines. Bottle
tree in middle to keep away evil spirits. The people at the Inn
couldn't be nicer. If you are looking for a truly unique travel
experience, you must check this place out. They do not advertise, no
sign on the road. One of the owners said, "if you can't take the time
to find us, you're not our kind of people".

Morning at Shack Up

Shakira posing on porch of her "home". We all tried to visit
everyone's home for the night.

Electric Blue

Here is an example of one of the shacks. This one is called Electric
Blue.

Shack Up Inn

Our "hotel" in Clarksdale is a series of "bins" or sharecropper shacks
at a former cotton farm. Every room is uniquely furnished with vintage
musical instruments, appliances and kitsch. I think all are pretty
shocked at first look of the place.

Hollerin' Madd Bill Perry

Our blues band for the evening. This is Morgan Freeman and Bill
Luckett's club at ground zero for the birth of the blues. We are
treated to a presentation and welcome by Bill Luckett. He is a
Democratic candidate for governor of Mississippi. Why? Because he is
"sick and tired of MS being #1 in poverty and 50th in the country in
terms of education".