I don't know if it's a mid-life crisis thing or what, but I am suddenly an Elvis fan.  About a year ago I rented Viva Las Vegas on a lark for the perceived camp value, but ended up liking the music instead.  So decided to do an Elvis vacation this summer starting with a tour of Graceland and Memphis and finishing with a tour of Tupelo.

This actually turned out to be a fun little vacation.   Toured Graceland on the 23rd anniversary of Elvis' death, so there was a unique atmosphere with lots of tributes from the fans.  That evening ate dinner on Beale St., then stumbled upon a bar ("Legends" I believe was the name) that had an Elvis impersonator, Roy Leblanc from London, Ontario, performing on the patio.  Roy was down for a contest that week, but was singing on Beale St. apparently just for the fun of it.  He was great.  It was his first visit ever to Memphis and he seemed to be having a blast singing on Beale Street -- "where it all began" ("Thanks for making a Canadian boy's dream come true", he told us toward the end).  I was really impressed when he did an entire '68 comeback special set in a leather suit in 100 degree heat.  The whole thing was filmed by the Learning Channel for part of a documentary they are showing this December.  After spending a night at a very nice B&B in Hernando, MS (Magnolia Grove Bed and Breakfast) drove over to Tupelo and toured Elvis' birthplace and original hometown.

Here are a few photos from the trip.  Since this is starting out as a link to my Mission Pictures page, most are of me for now.   Click on a picture to view a larger (3x) version
 
 

	Shot of the front of Graceland shortly before our tour began on August 16, 2000.
Me in front of the Hound Dog II in the Elvis airplane exhibit across the street from Graceland.
Boarding the Lisa Marie.
	Standing next to one of the engines from the Lisa Marie.
Standing guard outside the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum.
	Blurry, combat-rock photo of the pink Cadillac and me.
Bleary-eyed the morning after the Beale Street excursion.
	Standing tall next to a magnolia tree in the backyard of our very hospitable B&B (thanks Bob and Phyllis!).
At the Elvis Presely Birthplace in Tupelo, MS.
	On the porch of the shotgun shack Elvis was born in.
In the front room of the Elvis Birthplace, picture of Vernon, Gladys, and baby Elvis on the wall to the right.
	By the marker for and standing in front of the Elvis Presely Memorial Chapel.
	Lawhon Elementary School, where Elvis attended.
Small Elvis display in the main foyer of Lawhon Elementary.
	Standing on the steps of Milam Middle School, where Elvis attended after Lawhon and before moving to Memphis with his parents.
The end of the road... Elvis's grave on August 16, 2000, the 23rd anniversary of his death.