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Day 1
It Could be Winter

Day 2
Old Stops, New Sights

Day 3
No Opry for Me

Day 4
No Road Crew for Me

Day 5
All Done

January 24, 2016 (day 5)
I hung around long enough for an afternoon breakfast then headed home without even stepping inside one honky tonk although I did think about it. This trip was about as unlike what I'd planned as any I've taken. I attended only one of the three musical events on the agenda. One happened but I couldn't get there and another, that I could get to, didn't happen. In 2009 I encountered unusually heavy snow on the Oklahoma-Texas border and the very next year I was in Chattanooga for the first serious Christmas Day snowfall in forty-one years. That streak ended at two and I hope another isn't starting. This weekend's snowfall was the most in Nashville in thirteen years. I've only been to the Grand Ole Opry twice but was surprised to see that the most recent was in 2007. My most recent Road Crew experience wasn't nearly that long ago. That took place at the Edwardsville Route 66 Conference in October.

But, even though things didn't go quite as planned, it was fun. A good time was had by me and, as my buddy John said, that's how you get stories.

January 23, 2016 (day 4)
Snow closed an intended breakfast spot and made the thing for which the trip is named not happen. So I substituted the concert venue for the breakfast stop then found a replacement concert.

January 22, 2016 (day 3)
The snow that everybody but me was expecting showed up and buried my plans for the day. Fortunately I'm in what amounts to a resort at a fine motel with a classy dining establishment almost attached.

January 21, 2016 (day 2)
I took a chance on two-lane and was rewarded with a nice drive. Then I stopped at a couple museums I hadn't visited in a while and ended the day listening to totally-new-to-me performers in a familiar venue.

January 20, 2016 (day 1)
Snow delayed my start but I was in no hurry. Even took a half hour break in the middle of I-71 on the way to Louisville.

Prelude - January 2, 2016
"When you come to a Road Crew in the Fork, take it" is a mutilated version of a nonsense line attributed to Yogi Berra. I've long wanted to do what it advocates but until now it never quite worked out. The Road Crew may be "America's Route 66 Band" but their home is nowhere near the historic highway. The rockabilly group has written and recorded a bunch of Route 66 themed songs and performed at numerous Route 66 related events but resides in Nashville, Tennessee, more than 250 miles from the nearest stretch of the Mother Road. In addition to concerts at far away festivals, the boys occasionally get together for gigs nearer their homes. A favorite spot is Puckett's Grocery and Restaurant in Leiper's Fork. I've known of previous Crew appearances at Puckett's but there was always a conflict. Not so for a scheduled January 23 show which quickly became an anchor for a road trip.

Reservations won't be accepted for another week but I have faith. A similar situation exists for a Bluebird Cafe show that I hope to see on the preceding Thursday. In between the two not-quite-nailed-down events -- the Road Crew performance is on Saturday -- is a totally nailed down night at the Opry. The Grand Ole Opry spends each January back at its former home at the Ryman Theater and I have my ticket to see Marty Stuart, Vince Gill, and others there on Friday, January 22.

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