Day 6: Graceland & Presley Place (06/26/08)

Well, after a late night, dragged myself out of bed and rushed to get ready and meet everyone downstairs by 8:30am. Of course, I didn't leave right away and got to Graceland a few minutes after 9am. Our tickets were for 9:08am and, we were suppose to be on Tour 2 but they let us in before Tour 5. Took a couple of group shots.

On the tour shuttle we went and crossed the road and into the gates of Graceland. From photos I've seen of Graceland on TV and magazines, his mansion looked grandios but when we went inside, it really wasn't that big. Nothing wrong with that because too much of a house means too much cleaning/dusting. *aaaacccckkkk* :)

Upstairs was off limits for whatever reason. The decor in some of the rooms were a bit much for me, especially the shag wall-to-wall AND ceiling carpeting. I kid you not. GREEEEEEEN!!!! Do remember, that was the "in thing" back in the days. I love retro, and there were many things that suit me just fine.

After the mansion tour, we were taken back across the street. We all kind of went our own little way as far as checking out other exhibits. I was getting hungry as I don't eat an early breakfast, usually more brunch time. I checked out the Elvis' auto museum, bought a couple of items in the gift store and met up with some of the girlz then headed over to the Harley store to get a couple of things.

Of course, the pink cadillac pin I bought for my vest eventually flew off. I never learn and will be buying those really hard rubber backings. I do still have my Harley Elvis pin though. :)

Went next door and had lunch. I, for the life of me cannot remember what I had but I do remember having iced coffee (that's all Anita kept ordering on this trip. :) ) and iced tea.

Went back to the hotel and chilled out for a bit before I needed to be downstairs around 5:30pm to head over to Presley Place.

We were really hoping to meet up with our Humboldt, TN chapter but they couldn't swing it. We all met outside, John and Jessie in their SUV, and the rest of us girlz on our bikes.















Rode out to the M.I.F.A (Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association), where we met up with a couple of motorcycle police, patrol officers, the director and associates of Presley Place. After a couple of photo ops, we were being escorted to Presley Place by the police. How effing cool is that?!

As we rolled up to the center, all the children and their families are cheering us. We parked the bikes and all the children ran over to us. Hugs and handshakes all around.

We then let the kids get on our bikes and let them roll on the throttle so they can experience a little something that we do when we ride. These kids were so excited and the smiles proved it. I thought a couple of the bikes were going to blow a valve or two.

We brought the kids lots of stuffed biker animals, die-cast motorcycles, temporary tattoos, bandanas, etc. They were stoked and so were the parents and staff.

Photo: me (Renee) and a resident of Presley Place

Presley Place is located in the poorest section of Memphis. We got a tour of the apartment (more sq. footage than my place), the center, which is conducted solely by volunteers. We were really impressed with the facility and what they offered the families.

Photo: Left to Right: me (Renee), Jett, Becky, Carol and the Director of Presley Place (forgot her name)

Got back to the hotel and I decided to go out to dinner to Westy's around the corner. The girlz were having dinner down in the hotel restaurant. I enjoyed a couple of beers and had a wild rice dish. It consisted of wild rice, cheese, chicken and mushrooms. I soooo love mushrooms. Got back to the hotel and called it a night.