Nancy, Patricia, Jeanne, Deb, Mary Anne and Janis all joined us at Warriors Path State Park outside of Kingsport.
Unfortunately, the rain, rain, rain followed us all the way to TN and really hung around for the whole week we were out.
It didn't dampen the excitement of attending the concert and the campfire, fueled with pie and chocolate martinis, which took us into the wee hours of the morning. Saffire played a lot of their new music and were out mixing with the crowd during intermission. We all had a great time being together. There is a story about a rabid fan who was sitting next to Nancy during the concert, but I think you had to be there to really appreciate it. Suffice it to say, we were in our usual hysterics being together!
Tuesday found Luanne and I heading home in the pouring rain. We planned to go to Cumberland Gap National Historic Site which has a nice campground and lots of good hikes.
We drove through driving rain which thankfully cleared as we set up at the campground. It is times like this that I really love my Saffire. It was really nice to have room to move around in Saffire to eat and watch movies as the rain later dumped on us again.
The Gap is the opening in the mountains which Daniel Boone explored and brought pioneer families through into the rich farmlands of Kentucky. We hiked all through the same paths that the Boone party and the Indians traveled. Knowledge of the history of the land really makes the hikes a special experience.
Wednesday brought more rain, but we went to the top of the mountain and walked in the clouds, which was really pretty cool. We returned to the same walk Thursday when we actually a some sunshine and were amazed at the view when the clouds lifted! The visitors center, movies, all the trails, everything is really well done in this park. I'd love to go back when the rain isn't a constant threat.
Cumberland Gap, TN is an historic town just east of the Cumberland Tunnel. We discovered a nice little restaurant there and had lunch both days. There was a historical site just down the street, so after lunch on Thursday we went down for another short hike. The site was an old iron furnace, and as we approached it we heard a growing roar. The reward for days of rain was an amazing mountain of water cascading just beyond us! It really was the most magnificent site.
We packed up and headed home Friday, with yes, more rain! We chose to drive some back roads and found a wonderful little city park to have lunch and let the dogs run while we had a bit of sunshine. Saffire makes it easy to pull over, get out a couple of chairs and make yourself at home. The drive was beautiful, and all too soon we hit 75 to go north.
As we were going right past Mammoth Cave National Park we went in to check it out. Just after we arrived a really huge, black, blowing, scary storm arrived, so we sat it out in the restaurant. We were really glad not to be on the road. This park is undergoing renovation, and unless you want to go on the cave tour isn't much to see.
We ended the day at a pretty awful place, Grandma's RV park in Shepherdsville, KY. It was just a big gravel motorhome site, full of million dollar rv's. No campfires, no place for the dogs, nobody outside, quiet everywhere. But we were tired and it was the only place around to stop. Luanne came over around 6 am and told me she was packed and leaving. I got out around 9 and home early afternoon.
It was a good trip in spite of the rain, but I am really, really tired of dealing with all the damp mess that rain brings with it. Skidaway, then TN, now I'm home and it looks like rain again.
Stay tuned to the blog, if it's not pouring Saffire leaves with Susie, Christine and me for the Heartbreak Hotel and Graceland next Thursday!!!!
Next stop after that....Hunting Island, June 21st!
I'm going to post a bunch of pictures from this trip, enjoy!
