Irish History: Kilmainham Gaol

The Kilmainham Gaol is a must see when visiting Ireland.   It played an important part in Irish Revolutionary History.  This is what fighting for freedom looks like.

During the 1916 Irish uprising, 16 leaders of Sinn Fien were executed here at the Gaol.  This generated overwhelming support for independence among the Irish people. The Irish election of 1918 all 73 representatives refused to sit in parliament at Westminster, London. They formed there own government in Ireland then declared independence.

The names of each patriot killed are printed above there cell.  At the end of the tour, you walk through the courtyard where they were executed.  It is a somber feeling seeing a place where so much sacrifice took place.

From the downtown Dublin take the Red Line Tram to Busáras Luas Stop.  From there it is a 12-minute walk to the Gaol.  Before you visit, a tour must be booked in advance online at http://kilmainhamgaolmuseum.ie/.

A Walk in Nashville and a Missing Train

We have lived 35 miles from Nashville for the last 25 years. We talked about how we don’t really know Nashville at all. So we decided to take the American Volkssport Association, walk around the West End.  The event is actually called Music Row/University/Parthenon Walk. I am glad we did it.  We saw a part of Nashville that we never knew existed.  Although we spent a little time looking for a train engine that was the last checkpoint.  After a google search discover that the train had been moved out of the park this last February.

The walk begins in the Comfort Inn Parking Lot on Demonbreum Street right off of I40.  The walk box is located in the hotel office.  The first part of the walk takes you down music row.  This is where all the record companies have their office buildings, along with banners of the artist that they represent.  The buildings are a mixture of modern and antebellum buildings.   I can't believe we have lived here for 25 years and never seen this street.  It was a treat seeing the Studio B RCA recording studio and office building. You will also pass by the Warner Brothers, Sony, and many other record labels.  

The second part of the walk is through the Vanderbilt and Belmont University campuses.  It's spring and the campuses are in full bloom.  The greenery is stunning.  We finally end up at the Belmont Mansion built by the Acklen family, which has it's very own Nashville's Gone with the Wind story.  Adelicia Acklen strength and perseverance brought her through the Civil War, three marriages, ten children, and the management of one of the largest fortunes in America.

The last part of the walk takes you to Centennial Park and the Parthenon.  Nashville's Parthenon is the only full-scale replica of the Greek Parthenon in Athens.  Built as part of the Centennial Exposition in 1897 it is one of the trademark sites of Tennessee and Nashville.  After searching for a train that wasn't there we again walk back through the Vanderbilt campus past its famous clock tower.  Then down another street in Music Row. 

After more than 3 hours of walking we complete the 11-kilometer march. Even though we have lived near here for over 25 years it was good to get to know Nashville a little bit better. There are 2 other events that we will be doing in the future, the State Capital Walk which starts in the same location and the East End walk near five points.  We look forward to getting to know Nashville even better. 

The Delta is Calling My Name: The BB King Museum and Mississippi Route 7

Made it to Indianola, Mississippi.  It was a long day; it was a 4 state ride thru Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Riding the El Camino Real was fun, but it was a long haul. Have a short 347 miles tomorrow. I will be home in about 7 hours. I’m back in the eastern US, civilization baby.  It was all about getting back to the Delta today.
  
To me, the Delta is a special place that you can feel it down to the core of your soul. You can’t understand it until you’ve been here.  When I ride thru the Delta, I like to stop at one of the music heritage sites. If you listen to American music, your listening to the blues.  All American music and to include the British rock of the ’60s were influenced directly by these cotton fields in Mississippi. I wish I had time to go to the juke-joint Festival in Clarksdale. It’s on the calendar for next year.

At the BB King museum before the push home. For BB King, it all began at this 100-year-old Cotton Gin that is part of the Museum. This is where he had his first job bought his first guitar.  He once said that is was one of his favorite places on earth.  


After seeing the King, I make my way over to Missippi Route 7.  A fantastic motorcycle road coming up Mississippi Highway 7 from Indianola.  This road was a pleasant surprise, a fast traveling, curvy road in that runs thru the Mississippi Hill Country.  Its no Tail of the Dragon, but it is a fun and pretty highway to ride. This would be a great route to get to the gulf from Tennessee; it slices Mississippi in half from north to south.  Stopped in Holly Springs for Southern Style Catfish lunch before crossing into Tennessee.  

It was good to get home and a great trip.  Riding the Twisted Sisters in Texas, the El Camino Real to Lousiana, and to finish it with a journey through the Delta in Mississippi was pure Motorcycle Heaven.