Road Trip
September 1, 2012 * * * * * Posted by: guest blogger 
Ah, road trip. The mere mouthing of those magical words increases my blood rate and secretes a jolt of adrenalin into my system. Wondrous, unforetold serendipities await the friends who pile into the chosen vehicle and pull away from the curb early on a fresh morning. Energy abounds, everyone talks at once, good-natured ribbing cranks up, and off you go.
And that’s exactly how it was a few weeks ago when I and three of my fellow photographers and salon members left Nashville bound for that pathos soaked soil of the Mississippi Delta. The lure of good blues music is what drew us there, but that is not all we found. Good music, to be sure, but so much more. On the first night, at Clarksdale’s famed Ground Zero Blues Club, we listened to the real stuff, done by Dave Dunavent and his band. Skipping way ahead in this little vignette, we are now active participants in bringing Big Dave to Nashville to make a 5-song demo with one of Music City’s many fine producers. Now this young, endearing, affable, humble kid can’t believe that 4 perfect strangers are giving him every dream-seized guitar picker’s “break”. But, we had to. We fell in love with him and his music.
Then there were the evening sessions of the FourChair group, when, once checked into the motel and prior to hunting up some grub, we located plastic chairs and an appropriate site near the motel pool, lit up fine cigars, poured ourselves a couple fingers of fine whiskey, and set about solving the proverbial world’s problems. Wisdom and story abounded. Well, probably more of the latter, especially as the sessions lengthened and the glasses emptied, but, strangely enough, it seemed we were actually getting smarter about the same time.
And then, the photos. Crazy, fun stuff shooting each other, yes, but mostly trying to capture the timeless atmosphere that inundates this flat, hot, challenged land. From the movie-like magnolia and spanish moss laden neighborhoods of Greenwood (The Help was filmed there) to the poverty strewn streets of Leland just a few miles west on US 82, to elegant cypress trees soaking in the sloughs of Sumner, we tried to record as much as possible. But, in three days? All we could hope to do was nab just a hint, just a flavor or two, a mere semblance of the mystery that moves over that land like a wisp
over a bog. Frustrating and quietly satisfying at the same time. The only just response is to return one day, sooner than later, and try to dig a little deeper.
Would any of this have happened without someone having initially uttered those enticing words midst a group of adventure hounds? Yes, any of us could have made a journey down there alone, but scan back through this remembering and cross out everything that would not have come to be. Wouldn’t be much left. Different memories, and not nearly as rich. Road trips. Love ‘em. But, road trips with the fellows? Now you’re talking. And you ain’t just whistling Dixie.
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Returning guest blogger from March this year is Jerry Park: A native of North Carolina, but loving Tennessee since moving there in 1986, my time these days is spent mostly with my passion for photography. Since retiring in early 2007, I’ve been blessed with plenty of time to indulge myself in that love. He fits right in, doesn't he! Find out more about him at Jerry Park Photography and at Jerry Park's Blog. Welcome to V&V again, Jerry!
Reader Comments (19)
Happiness shared with friends does increase exponentially. Thank you for taking us along this trip with you. It sounds like a heap of fun.
Being an avid "road triper" myself, I can totally relate to your memories, Jerry. A bit of a difference though the roadtrips I am taking are with my family. Believe me when I say I can't wait till the next road trip :-)
Your photograph resembles a paining...so many layers...Beautiful
Nothin' like a good ol' fashioned road trip with the guys!! Love your description and how it's so laced and graced with happy nostalgia. I can hear the music playin'!!!
Thanks - again - for visiting us here today Jerry!!!
Always a pleasure, Jerry, to have you a guest here. Your beautiful photography - and the stories that accompany them - a treat.
on a misty ohio morning, it is great to taste the heat and dryness of your adventure, and i loved the photo. sounds like your retirement is quite busy, and aren't we lucky for it?!
Yes, those are two magic words! and that's a perfect Southern image ... bet the music was awesome, too, so great that you gave a young guy a boost!
Just one question - did you happen to bump into T-Model Ford? I'm not sure his health would allow him to be there, but if he was there, you'd have known it by the adoring crowd around him.
Oh, the memories! The photo I chose for my bio page here at V&V is a cropped-down version of me sitting on the old sofa in front of Ground Zero. Been there, done that, and know precisely how enjoyable it was for you. I stayed up the road at Moon Lake, at Uncle Henry's, which is worth a trip of its own (Tennesse Williams, Bill Faulker in its history) but nothing can beat the music of Clarksdale, the access to the musicians, the marvels of the musical history still living there.
I've been thinking I should make pilgrimage again, expanding on the writing I've already done. Thanks to you, next year's festival already is on the calendar and I'll be making reservations today. I've got me a bad, bad case of The Mississippi Writin' Blues.
Wonderful post, great, evocative photo, great memories. Thanks!
You are so right, that without your friends this road trip just would not have been the same. This year I have acquired a couple of "adventure hounds" and we have had some fabulous times going to a few places, cameras in hand, capturing images and solving all the problems of the world in the meantime.
The photo is such a great representation of a road trip...I just wonder what is around that bend, beyond that corn field....
I started thinking about what this same trip would have been like with a group of photographer women, Jerry, and started chuckling. Maybe not too much different. I'm sure Linda could come up with her version of it and give you a run for the money. HA!
How fun to have you with us again, doing the things you do so well...visioning and verbing! Thank you.
This was real interesting to read, a great post.
Hey Jerry! Thanks for coming back again to visit us girls! Love, love, love road trips and when with good friends? NOTHING better! Perfect photo of the south...come back soon!
I always find that adventures spent with friends are sooo much more fun than adventures spent on my own.
What a great post - love the atmosphere in it, feel the energy. Ah, and road trips! Another love! Thank you for this wonderful post and image.
i loved reading this jerry, and more than once thought hey, i wish i could have joined them on that trip!!
Absolutely love your image Jerry! Oh yes...the sound of the words "road trip" bring shivers to mind! I am long over due. Thanks for letting me have a vicarious thrill through your lovely post!
Your image makes me want to jump into my truck and start rolling! Some people want to fly so they can quickly arrive somewhere but I love the journey and detours that you can only take if you are road tripping.
I do so love road trips too and the opportunity to capture the essence of different places that we visit. Thanks for joining us and sharing your story!
This makes bluegrass somehow romantic. Thank you and welcome to Vision and Verb!
a wonderful trip filled with fabulous memories... always a worthwhile undertaking! your photo is fabulous.