We departed Fort Knox and headed south to Nashville. Our original plans had us stopping at Mammoth Cave but excessive rains forced them to close most of the tours. We’ll stop there another year. We drove past Mammoth and into Tennessee stopping at Montgomery Bell State Park. I believe that I would probably have to say that my favorite campgrounds have been state parks. They do not always have all the hook-ups but there is an ambience that is not present at commercial campgrounds. Montgomery Bell is beautiful. Covering 3,850 acres, the park has 121 campsites, cabins, a conference center and 120-room inn with, with swimming pool, and a first class golf course. The park’s history goes back to 1795 when a Pennsylvanian built a forge here because of the Harpeth River. Using slave labor he cut a 290’ tunnel through the mountain to alter the stream flow and get the water to operate his forge. It is believed to be the oldest man-made tunnel existing in the nation.
The park is also the birthplace of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In the 1930s Works Progress Administrration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) constructed the actual park. In 1943 the park was deeded from the National Park Service toTennessee. The park has over 20 miles of hiking trails – some long enough for overnight experiences - and 20 miles of mountain bike trails.

Our first day here was a day of relaxation. I did hit some golf balls at the driving range. On Friday we ventured into downtown Nashville. Our first stop was to see the Life-size replica of the Parthenon and statue of Athena in Centennial Park.
Quite impressive. It was built as a temporary structure for a Centennial celebration along with many other structures. The other buildings were taken down and the plaster Parthenon was repaired until the decision was made to replace it with a more permanent building. It is the only life size replica of the Parthenon in the world.

Bi-Centenial Park on the north side of the Capital Grounds was impressive. A walkway along the west side of the park has a time-line covering Tennessee from 1,000,000 BC to near the present with key facts, quotes and the like etched into the marble wall. A fountain at one end of the park has facts about the Tennessee Rivers in marble and a huge map of Tennessee is engraved in Marble on the patio at the south end. A WWII memorial has a marble globe floating in a fountain. The globe depicts where Tennesseans served around the world in WWII. Adjacent to the park is a farmers market. We had lunch there but were a bit disappointed. The market did not compare the markets we visited in Pennsylvania.

I’m really starting to love Tennessee. Yesterday we went to the Narrows of the Harpeth River State Park. The Narrows are a place where the river bends around after about five miles of course and nearly meets itself. This place where the river nearly meet is separated by 200 yards of limestone mountain. Not a big mountain by most standards, it was in the late 1700s that a Pennsylvanian entrepreneur by the name of Montgomery Bell, using slave labor bored a tunnel through the rock and the water drop on the down stream side was then used to power a drop forge. While Sandi and I were investigating the area we were alarmed by a big splash. We soon saw the head of what we first thought was a beaver but then realized it was an otter—not one but three. We were entertained by their playful antics for nearly 30 minutes and although they were wary of our presence, they did provide some good photo opportunities.

In the evening we headed back into Nashville. One cannot come to Nashville without visiting the Grand Ole Opry. Our nearly front row seats at the old Ryman Theater put us up close and personal with Little Jimmy Dickens, Mel McDaniel, John Anderson, the Riders in the Sky, Whispering Bill Anderson and many more. We were probably on TV on the GAC channel since they were filming a sixty minute part of the almost three hour program for live TV. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

South into Kentucky

We pulled out of Gettysburg and drove a couple hours to Cincinnati, Ohio where we stayed at the Family Motorhome Coach Association (FMCA) headquarters. They have a large parking lot with electric for members. We stayed there the maximum allowed – 2 days – which was just enough time to visit something in Ohio to enable us to check off one more state. RVers everywhere have maps of the US on their RV and fill in each state whenever they drive in that state. We decided that we would have to spend the night or visit some memorable sit for a state to be able to be checked off. In Cincinnati we visited the Underground Railroad Freedom Museum. The museum is well done. There was little that I had not been exposed to before but I still enjoyed the visit.

We left Ohio and moved south into Kentucky. We stayed at Fort Knox Army Post for several days. Within minutes of setting up I met another golfer and the first activity for Kentucky was to go play a round of gold at the Fort Knox course. My 43/45 88 was satisfactory for never having played the course before. No birdies and no triple bogeys so I was consistent at least. Sandi took the day to relax. On Tuesday we took advantage of the rainy day to visit some in-door attractions. We drove by the gold depository. No tours are allowed and no one offered any samples. We continued on to Abraham Lincoln's birthplace.
Although nothing remains of the original home except for a few tools, an example of the 16 X 18 log cabin is enshrined in a monument near the spring that flows on the property. It was interesting to note that Abe’s dad, Tom, saw his own father shot to death by an Indian. Abe’s lineage traced back to Massachusetts, I assumed the Massachusetts Bay Colony of the 1600s.

After visiting the Lincoln Birthplace we drove a short distance to the Jim Beam distillery. Since it was election day, the distillery cannot sell any liquor or give out any samples. How is that for bad timing? Never-the-less the movie and self guided tour was interesting. One the way back to the RV we stopped at the PX and Commissary for a few supplies. The commissary is noticeably cheaper than off base so we try to take advantage of any opportunities we get to shop at them. Milk, for advantage was only $1.55 a gallon at the Commissary compared to nearly $3.00 off base. Not everything is that much cheaper though.

Our last day, today was spent at Churchill Downs, sipping Mint Julips, and watching the horses. We’re not much on gambling so neither of us bet even $2.00 on anything but we still enjoyed a very good diner in the Silky Club and had fun picking horses. Sandi would probably have won a dollar or two if she had been betting.

From the Banks of the Ohio

We left Delaware, Bill, Ann, and the grandkjids for Pennsylvania where we visited Mom and Dad for several days. Nice to visit. We did spend a morning at the Shillington farmer’s market. Sure wish there were more markets like these along our travels. In addition to pig stomach, and sho-fly pie, we bought some apple dumplings, ring bologna, and some great sharp cheese. We parked our RV in the back yard (at the corral) of Bob and Shirly Reeser along the banks of the Schyukill River. Canada geese were in abundance and the river invited me every day for a canoe float or fishing excursion. A heavy rain one night raised the river considerably.

We left Reading and went to York for a great visit with my college roommate Harry Zart and his wife Julie. Had a wonderful visit. Julie served (of all things) hog maul – pig stomach stuffed with fresh sausage, cabbage, potatoes, and onions. Very good. After lots of wine and a tour of the Rojhan cabinetry plant (www.rojahnkitchens.com) we continued on to Gettyspurg, PA where we parked at the Gettysburg RV Resort courtesy of a coupon from my niece, Brooke. Thanks Brooke!!!!

Our first morning in Gettysburg was beautiful so we packed the bikes and drove a few miles south to the MD/ WVA boarder to bike the C&O bike trail just west of Harper’s Ferry. Beautiful day for a bike ride.
There were lots of paw paw trees, painted turtles, pileated woodpeckers, downy woodpeckers, kinglets, wrens, and others. The C&O bike trail follows the old C&O canal and follows the Potomac River. The scenic trail coincides with the Appalachian trail and we followed that across the Potomac into Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia where we walked around and had an ice cream cone during a break. I found the camping cook wear I want in an outfitter’s store but the $35 for a pot made me think about waiting a while to buy a much needed pot.

11/1/2006
Yesterday was for hiking. Absolutely gorgeous day. The temperature got up to 70+. We drove down into Maryland west of Frederick and got on the Appalachian Trail near where I -70 and rt 40 meet. We hiked about 2.5 miles northbound to Annapolis Rocks. Annapolis Rocks is every bit as awesome as McAfee’s Knob in Virginia. We had lunch of Lebanon Balogna sandwiches, radishes, and cheese. Out on the rocks we feel as if we are suspended over the valley. Red Tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures soared overhead. The hike was relatively easy for me but a bit arduous for sandi. We saw lots of chipmunks and grey squirrels and there was a lot of bird activity. Saw some of the grey thrushes but without my field glasses I could not tell what they were.
Today I met my brother for a round of golf at the Bridges in Abottstown just east of Gettysburg. Another beautiful day. I shot 45/42 for an 87. My little brother tried but could not keep up. I don’t get to beat him often so I’m relishing this. Actually I’ve had a good series of golf here in the east. Despite Bill my son, and Ken my brother both claiming to play great golf, neither were up to the task of beating me. I loved it.

Thursday I spend all day slow cooking ribs for a very special get together with our dear friends the Zarts. Harry and Julie came from York to spend the evening with us at Gettysburg. We drank and talked until well into the evening. We had an absolutely great visit.