TCB in Tupelo

Tupelo, Mississippi is the birthplace of Elvis Presley, and you better be Taking Care of Business (TCB) if you visit here!

I had a rough start to my recent trip to the Mississippi Coast. Heading south from Nashville on my favorite parkway, the Natchez Trace, I noticed my mood sinking. It was a beautiful day, no traffic, and a 50 mph speed limit. Right in my sweet spot. So what the heck? No cause to be miserable. By the time I got to Tupelo I realized…oh! I’m getting sick! Then, for no reason at all, my knee gave out. What I desperately needed was a Walgreens (TheraFlu, knee brace) and a two-day rest before I could continue on to Biloxi. TCB in Tupelo.

It’s miserable to be sick on vacation. Especially when you’re driving alone. But, hey, you gotta try to enjoy yourself anyway. I managed to limp around Tupelo a little, in between long naps and ice packs. First stop was the Elvis Birthplace museum. The family’s tiny two-room house is preserved here, along with the church where he learned gospel music.

Visited Veteran’s Park, but I didn’t have much stamina to walk around. I’m sure it’s lovely in the summer when you don’t have a cold.

The next day I found a meadery. What’s that, you ask? Like a winery, only they make mead. Mead is a fermented alcohol drink made with honey. I ordered a flight at Queen’s Reward and shared a charcuterie board with the dog. Must admit, the honey alcohol gave me a little boost of energy.

Relics Antique Marketplace welcomes dogs. We did a slow stroll around the place. This building used to be a shirt factory where Elvis’ mother worked as a seamstress when she was pregnant with the twins (only Elvis survived). She walked 1.5 miles from her house to get to work. I could barely make it around one floor, even with the knee brace.

Coming out of the antique store, I followed a sign to a fish hatchery. I’ve always been curious to visit a hatchery. Turns out I was too early in the season to see any action. But this place was the first of its kind, established in 1901, and sported a fine Victorian house for the superintendent.

Another set of signs led me to Elvis Presley Lake. The wind was whipping up and the TheraFlu was wearing off, so I didn’t linger.

Would have liked to shop in downtown Tupelo, but conditions didn’t permit. As in, I was ready to lay down again.

Thanks for the two-day respite, Tupelo. I’ll be back when I’m 100%.