Day 50 - Nashville to Savannah

Nashville Parthenon

I found this:

Apparently it was built as part of an exhibition at the end on the 19th century bit turned out to be so popular that it was rebuilt with more permanent materials a few years later. It's meant to be the only full size replica of the Athens Parthenon outside of Greece. I gather it has become a very popular dog walking site:

It's pretty cool but I decided not to pay the $6 to go in... I'm really bad at visiting cities and I was keen to leave Nashville.

Jack Daniel's!!

Last night when I was wondering what else was in Tennessee I remembered that Jack Daniel's comes from here. It wasn't really on my way to Memphis but I'm really glad I made the detour. I went on the distillery tour (which was free!) and really enjoyed it.

I had a cool tour guide, he was dressed kind of like a cowboy and said "y'all" a lot.

One of the steps of the tour was where they ferment the yeast. We were given the opportunity to stick our nose in the big bubbling vat of 140 proof mush. Unfortunately I grasped the opportunity a little bit too wholeheartedly - I took a huge sniff and nearly passed out, it was disgusting but kinda fun.

This is the wood they burn to make charcoal

This is where they burn it

These are their fire trucks in case the fire gets out of hand

This is the spring where all the water added to their whiskey comes from

This is the safe that killed Jack Daniel - he kicked it, got an infected foot, died of gangrene

All the trees in the surrounding area are covered in black stuff - "still moss" This is what would give you away if you were running an illegal distillery

Lynchburg is in a dry county so it is illegal to sell alcohol. Instead they sell you a bottle as a souvenir and if you fiind whiskey in it, well, good luck to ya! Also known as a loophole

I used to think that the whole Jack Daniel's brand was a bit naff and overdone (probably because the guys that wear those faded JD t-shirts tend to be long haired, unwashed and a bit gross) but after today I'm back on board.

Other things I saw

The only ATM in town was a drive through one - which I had to walk up to

Yeay! A yield sign! (needs some work)

I saw this on a car - blew my mind, I want one!

Jeez - times are hard for everyone

Best swing ever with a little swinging footrest

I had seen this is in adverts and didn't think it was real. They make a special whiskey blend out of these 180 barrels and sell them as a special holiday blend. Apparently half the tour guides were in London setting up a similar tree there!