At 6:00 AM this morning. Out the window of my hotel room.

Good thing I was already awake and raring to go. Things start early in Memphis when you’re staying downtown, and the trolley really is a neat way to move from one end of downtown to the other.

I moved the RX8 to a closer spot at the hotel and cleaned it up for the last time. Since I forecasted sunshine, low humidity and a pleasant drive, I wasn’t worried about my work being for naught.

Looks pretty good, eh?

Robert was kind enough to check the driving directions. He noticed the Tour was on a parallel state road instead of the interstate. We took the next exit and headed North to catch up with all those folks going the wrong way. It was an empty road, and straight as an arrow.

Less than a quarter mile from the wrong road all the other Tourers were on, we watched the crossing arms come down as flashing lights illuminated a railroad crossing. Just our luck.

The train started across. Slowly.

And eventually ended, without a caboose.

If only we had been a few miles per hour faster, we would have crossed before the train arrived.

Better luck next time.

Looking off in the distance, I wondered about my forecast from last night.

Nah, they wouldn’t dare rain on my parade.

It seemed to be infested with rat rods. These guys were on a real low buck program, meaning they found their parts where ever they could,

and improvised on hardware whenever necessary.

Since their electrical systems are bare bones, they used an old style, air-powered horn.

After a week of lonesome driving, every situation becomes an opportunity to break into song, to alleviate the monotony. The trick is to match the song to your surroundings. Take this one for instance:

Does the line, “So we loaded up the truck, and we moved to Beverly. Hills, that is. Swimming pools. Movie stars.” Make you smile?

Nope, they weren’t.

Eventually, we arrived at the rig, home of the newly arrived Pro Pane. Unusual footwear seemed to be big on the Tour this year. Remember Colby from SEMA, and his attire back in Springfield? It must be catching:

“These boots are made for walkin’, and that’s just what they’ll do. One-a these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.”

Keep walkin’ there, buddy.

And ZZ Top. “Every girl crazy ’bout a sharp dressed man.“

With dirty cars all around us, I was lucky to spot an open wash bay.

But I’m not sure what to do with the one next to it.

I guess it’s for “regular” Tourers.

Cars continued to pile in. Thousands of them, including this clean ’Cuda,

and the Cheap Street Chevelle from a Hot Rod Magazine giveaway a few years ago.

Hemi, anyone?

Beep, Beep? You betcha.

I doubt anyone will try to pop the hood on this ’Cuda, thanks to its innovative grillwork.

One way to spot your F-150 in a sea of the most popular vehicle sold in America is to accessorize it. With some rims that really stand out.

I wonder if those puppies glow in the dark?

Before heading up for the stage, I watched Victor being interviewed by the TV crew. One of these days I’ll be as silver-tongued as him.

I tried to explain my way out of it, but Chad just rolled his eyes like my son Robert does when I start telling him about how I lived in a cave while growing up.

Just tell the truth with a straight face. Honesty is the best policy. If all else fails, slip a few bucks under the table.

You get the idea.

With a final giveaway, I said good-bye to the best on-stage talent any Tour could want,