Natchez Trace Parkway

I haven't posted in several days because "we" lost the cord that attaches the camera to the computer. I really wanted better pictures than the fuzzy ones from my phone. After three hours of searching every corner of the RV, Larry finally remembered putting it in the camera box. His logic for storing (that means hiding) things is infallible. Our memories are not. And what really amazes me is that we are living in around 400 sq. ft., and stuff disappears hourly. At home we have four times that space, and yet we can find things there. What is it with this RV?


Larry likes advertising our hometown. The shirt says, "Banner Elk".


This is our current campground. It is a Thousand Trails Campground in Hohenwald, Tenneesse. It sounds a lot like Hole-in-Wall, but nothing wrong with a small town. We went driving down a nearby road yesterday and thought we were back in Piney, 25 years ago. The ramshackle houses, cars on cinder blocks, overgrown yards...kinda brought a little lump to the throat...NOT. But it sure did look familiar.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We took a few hours and a picnic and went out on a little visit to the part of Natchez Trace Parkway. We saw the place that Meriwether Lewis died under unusual circumstances.
"In September 1809 Lewis set out for the nation's capital to answer complaints about his actions as governor, and on this trip died a violent but mysterious death in a tavern about 70 miles southwest of Nashville, Tennessee. Whether he committed suicide, as Jefferson believed, or was murdered, as his family maintained, remains uncertain even today."
(http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/people/i_r/lewis.htm

 We even walked a short distance on the original trail that began as a bison trail along the ridge that bisects Tennessee. The bison were following salt licks. Later Native Americans cleared the trail more and used the Trace to connect various settlments. Then settlers used it to connect the Tennessee Rive and the Mississippe.  It really is 10,000 years of history.

The gnats were a serious nuisance so we didn't get far. Hopefully we can try some other stretches when we get to Mississippi and remember our "OFF"'

 And finally a question: What plant is this? I have seen it in North Carolina, but it isn't very common. I don't know what it is. I suppose I could Google it, but... maybe some of you would like to just tell me.

 

 

Tomorrow we move to another Corps of Engineer campground in Mississippi. You know, I'm not sure I've ever been to Mississippi. But we are FIRED UP AND READY TO GO

 

 

 

Nights in the RV thus far: 22

 

Miles traveled: 626

 

 

Final good-byes and on the road for sure

Today we are in Hermitage, Tennessee, at Seven Points Campground. This is a Corps of Engineers campground and possibly one of the prettiest places we have camped. This is the view from the windshield tonight. It was prettier earlier when the sky was red, but I'm never ready to take pics.

If there is anyone reading this that isn't on my facebook page, here is a pic I put there today. I like it, but then     I like our RV.

 

We left the last of the family on Sunday night. We took Tyler to baseball practice.

where he had a triple, two doubles and a single. Don't let the pants to his knees fool you. He's a slugger.
Then we were sent off with a wonderful meal of Doug's famous smoked shoulder, prepared the Lexington way. What a great way to leave family, with a meal that we enjoy making and sharing. Thanksgiving isn't any better than this.

I read Tyler the beginning of chapter book and Larry put Grant down for the night. One of the sweetest things we do with the boys that we will miss so much.

I couldn't help but think of how sad my mother used to be when Peggy, my older sister would leave Lenoir to return to Florida. Mother, who seldom showed any sad emotion, would nearly cry. I felt the same way. This journey is exciting, but I will miss my family and friends. I know that, but I am grateful   that modern communication will keep us close.

So please post something here about what you are doing. I'm not putting up earth-shattering info so I want to hear what you are doing, too.

And, lastly, are you registered? Have you asked a neighbor or friend? This is beginning to be like that old question, "Are you saved?" This is a pic I took at the convention when I got to see and hear the First and Second Ladies. Not a good pic, but, hey, I was there. That counts for something, right?

Lenoir City, Tennessee, and surrounding area

It is now Thursday, September 13, 2012, and we have been at Lazy Acres RV Park since last Friday. It truly is Lazy Acres for us and the management, it would appear. We we arrived there was huge pile of red clay around the newly poured pad for the picnic table. Since it all looked very fresh, I had high hopes that someone would be coming soon to take away or at least redistribute the mud. Not so much. Oh well.

Can you find all five deer? I know this picture is so far away they look like turkeys, but they are deer. Trust me.

On Tuesday we visited Cades Cove. Those who are familiar with Cades Cove, you may be as surprised as I was that it was so crowded. We arrived fairly early on Tuesday morning, and the traffic was almost like a train around the eleven-mile loop through the settlement. I was shocked at the amount of traffic. But even though we were pretty much compelled to keep moving, we did get to see a herd(?) of five deer and a bear in a tree.

Can you see the black line in the center? That's a bear. Really. I was there, I saw it, and it moved. There were too many cars for us to stop and get a better picture.

If you don't know about Cades Cove, it is a beautiful valley in the midst of the Smoky Mountains that was settled in the early 1800's by a few hardy pioneers. Their sturdy cabins still stand. It is a truly wild and beautiful place. Larry and I even talked about whether the people who lived here had time to appreciate what a wonderfully beautiful place this is. Larry says that was probably one reason they came, that and the fertile bottom-land.

If anyone remembers that TV program that was based on a young girl who came here as a school teacher, I hope you will post the info here. There was also a book that I think the TV program was based on, but I haven't been able to find that either. I know some of my family and friends will know what I'm talking about. INFO NEEDED.

On Wednesday we had lunch with Doug and Suzanne and then got to pick up Grant from preschool. His grin when we came to the door of his classroom was worth the whole trip. He is a sweetie.

Not much exciting yet, right? What's up with you?

Still Day 1: A little more alert

We arrived in Lenoir City, TN at about 1:30. The campground is perfectly named for our use of it, Lazy Acres, but it doesn't compare to our Thousand Trails campgrounds. No pool, no activites, just a campsite on a hill. And, man, is it ever hot. We waited to put out chairs, rug, etc. until the sun went down. I guess we are just spoiled by the mountain air. But we 18 miles from Doug and Suzanne and the grandboys, so it's all good. We are going to see them in the a.m. So different to drive 30 minutes instead of three hours.

Now back to my wonderful week at the Democratic Convention. I met people like me from Arizona, Washington, Washington DC, New Jersey, Los Angeles, on and on, who were there to do exactly what I was doing, just volunteering. They never got on the convention floor. They were not assured of seeing the President or any other leader speak. They just wanted to be there. Committed, dedicated, excited...even when we were dead tired or soaking wet. It was gratifying to say the least.

I am more determined that my party is the party of the people, everyday people. I am delighted that the platform is speaking in favor of marriage for people who love each other, for reasonable gun control laws, for affordable healthcare that gives Americans what other industrialized countries have all ready learned is best for their citizens. If you are reading this and you are a Democrat, especially one in NC, please try to find someone who needs to register and encourage them to do so. So many people really believe that voting isn't worthwhile, that things won't change, that their vote won't make a difference. That is not true in NC. We have seen how the Republican legislature in NC has decimated education and teachers. Yes, government does change things and quickly sometimes. As far as making your vote matter, five votes in each precinct in NC would have changed the outcome of the election.  I am not at home, but you can bet I'll be contacting people on facebook to encourage them to vote.

If you have time to read this, please take a minute to tell me what you are doing too. I really want to hear what's going on "back home" even if you aren't near my home. You are near my heart and that's even better.

Day 1: Heading Out

At 8:15 we officially started on our journey. Gray skies have not dampened our spirits in the least. I'm trying to take in all the lush green I can as we head out of North Carolina.

The past few days were exhausting and exhilerating and. The Democratic National Convention was an experience of a lifetime. Even though I could not be on the convention floor, it was thrilling to be there with so many like-minded people. And let's see, I saw lots of famous people: Barney Frank (still have the hots for that man's brain), Jim Clyburn (such a stately gentleman), Chris Cillizza, Michelle Obama, Jill Biden, Lily Ledbetter... can't remember them all. My goal now is to be a delegate in 2016. Thanks to my husband for never complaining about this wild hair of mine. He knew I would be in Democrat heaven.

Hopefully I will have more to write after I have rested.