The Great White Shank is on vacation and he’s ready to hit the road.

The plan? Around 10 AM today I’m picking up a rental car at Hertz location down the street – the destination? Memphis, Tennessee via the low road – Tucson, El Paso, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and New Orleans, then north on Highway 61 along that big ol’ Mississippi River up to Memphis.

Stops along the way? Oh, I don’t know – I’m looking for nothing but an open road, some small cafes, blues bars, barbecue, and hooking up with my friend Pat for a night cruising the Memphis night scene before dropping the car off at Memphis International Airport and flying back to Phoenix a week from today.

Work’s been hard and stressful, and the open road is a perfect time for a little contemplation and some much-needed space for a little peace and quiet. Of course, they’ll be plenty of time for more than a few favorite CDs to play along the way: some T-Bone Walker, a 5-CD blues compilation, Texas Tornados and some assorted Tex-Mex and Zydeco, and The Doors. Oh, and a Phil Spector/Ronettes CD for if I ever get to feelin’ frisky.

I’ve got a Super 8 V.I.P. card and a litany of possible stops, all with free wireless internet, so you can keep track of my progress along the way each day right here at Goodboys Nation weblog. Wish you could all come along with me, but on this trip, there’s only room for one.

See y’all on the open road.