quick breeze-through of my first weekend in Memphis
Saturday I decided I'd do a bit more exploring. Starting off at my dorm, I headed west on Central, then north on South Highland. I passed the shopping center that had been the northernmost limit of my explorations on Friday night. I walked north for a while. It was pretty much a suburban area with some nice homes. Nothing overly expensive, but a nice good place to walk. Somewhere along the way I made a side-trip to a yard sale, where I picked up a small bowl with a handle that has been my main vessel of eating here at the dorm. I also discovered that in Memphis they get their new coins from the Denver mint, so I'm filling in the holes of my Denver state quarter collection at a rapid pace. I crossed some railroad tracks that I can only assume to be abandoned. There was four-foot-high grasses growing right on the trestles. You can see it on the map right before the golf course. Look for the white X's in the road. Also notice how most of the roads I need to walk on around here are five or six lanes wide, and a bitch to cross. Eventually I made it to the highway (Sam Cooper Blvd.) and walked one block more to the intersection of what was by now North Highland and Summer Ave. There were a few stores here, but the neighborhood was looking a bit more run-down. I got a few more supplies at a Family Dollar (where everything is NOT a dollar, boo) and went to a Salvation Army/Goodwill type thrift store. I think it benefits the local little league or something. I got another pair of shorts and a sports bra that was surprisingly comfortable. Then I turned around and went home.
On Sunday, I turned south on Highland. I found the bars where most of the university students go. It's a pretty sketchy part of town, like worse than Goulding. I also found the intersection between Highland and Park, which amused me greatly. I kept going until the "main" road curved ninety degrees westward, while the actual Highland street kept going. It was a suburban area with lots of tall trees, but the houses were very run down and you could tell it was a poor section of town. I probably shouldn't have even been in the area, but I wasn't just going to turn around now. I followed the street to its actual end at Vanuys Road. I was a little turned around at this point, as some jackass had fucked with the street signs, but I went west for a few blocks and finally continued south on South Prescott. This was a main road and the houses were a little better, but it was still kind of sketchy. I took a break at O'Brien park, which had very nice trees but broken glass everywhere. Right after the park as you can see on the map was a marine store that sold boats. I find it kind of amusing, Memphis being so far from the ocean and all. It's not even like this store is vaguely close to any major body of water except the Mississippi, and I'm pretty sure most people don't buy a boat just to put it on that river. I walked all the way up to where Prescott merged into Lamar Ave and then turned around. Before I passed the park again I stopped in a gas station and filled up my water, then headed home.
You can see pictures of my first few days around Memphis (though unfortunately not of these two escapades, as I forgot my camera) here.
On Sunday, I turned south on Highland. I found the bars where most of the university students go. It's a pretty sketchy part of town, like worse than Goulding. I also found the intersection between Highland and Park, which amused me greatly. I kept going until the "main" road curved ninety degrees westward, while the actual Highland street kept going. It was a suburban area with lots of tall trees, but the houses were very run down and you could tell it was a poor section of town. I probably shouldn't have even been in the area, but I wasn't just going to turn around now. I followed the street to its actual end at Vanuys Road. I was a little turned around at this point, as some jackass had fucked with the street signs, but I went west for a few blocks and finally continued south on South Prescott. This was a main road and the houses were a little better, but it was still kind of sketchy. I took a break at O'Brien park, which had very nice trees but broken glass everywhere. Right after the park as you can see on the map was a marine store that sold boats. I find it kind of amusing, Memphis being so far from the ocean and all. It's not even like this store is vaguely close to any major body of water except the Mississippi, and I'm pretty sure most people don't buy a boat just to put it on that river. I walked all the way up to where Prescott merged into Lamar Ave and then turned around. Before I passed the park again I stopped in a gas station and filled up my water, then headed home.
You can see pictures of my first few days around Memphis (though unfortunately not of these two escapades, as I forgot my camera) here.