July 13 - August 12 Williamsburg, Va to Cumberland Gap, Va, Tn Ky.

Just when my blog was back on schedule our computer caught a virus (better it then us) and it took a month to get it fixed.  We are now in Cumberland Gap National Park, Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky where the three states meet at Triple Peak, it was about a 4 mile RT hike to find the survey marker, up hill both ways!!!!

We spent the week of July 13 - July 20 at Cheatham Annex, another great military park except for AT & T customers, we had no service. Our first day there, temp 111 with the heat index, the AC went out on the Jeep.  Meineke got us right in the next morning.  We had to rent a car in the middle of summer in Williamsburg, Va.  The only car they had left was a 2018 BMW convertible.  What fun we had, it took 4 days to get the AC fixed, they had to take the whole dashboard out to get to it.  A busy week, we visited Jamestown, Yorktown and Norfolk. 

The week of July 20 - 27 we were at Ft. Pickett, a National Guard training base that was built in 1941.  The park was so-so, but only $11.00 a night,  just outside the small town of Blackstone, Va., a nice respite after the traffic in Williamsburg and surrounding area. The highlight of Blackstone is their Brew Haus, we went there twice for dinner.  Gary was in hog heaven visiting the Civil War Trails.  Sailors Creek, Farmville, (not the game) Five Forks, Petersburg and Richmond, the instrumental locations in Lee's  retreat.  We spent a day in Richmond seeing Maymont Mansion and Gardens, the Hollywood Cemetery where Presidents Monroe and Tyler are buried along with several Virginia governors and generals.  

We spent 3 nights in Appomattox, Virginia, where Lee surrendered, Appomattox Courthouse National Park.  A village of 27 structures, the Courthouse and McLean house were reconstructed.  The parlor of the McLean house is where Lee surrendered to Grant.  We went to Patrick Henry's last home about 30 miles out in the country from Appomattox.  Thank goodness for the GPS, I'd never found my way back if I'd had to leave bread crumbs.  After an informative movie we took a walking tour of his home, law office grave site and outbuildings.  The most beautiful 300 year old Osage Orange tree stands in front of the home.  

After a night in a Mocksville, NC Wal-mart parking lot we spent 3 nights in Asheville, North Carolina.  We drove 30 miles south on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the 469 mile parkway runs along the crests of the southern Appalachians and links two eastern national parks - Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains. We've been at sea level since last November, the elevations here made us  huff and puff.  We drove up to Mt. Pisgah, elevation of almost 600 feet, then hiked up to the the viewpoint..  Lots and lots of trees but also Monarch butterflies on their migration.  So Beautiful!  The reason we came to Asheville is to see The Biltmore House, 178,925 square feet home and Gardens.  It took 6 years to complete the 250 room mansion, opening on Christmas day 1895.  He also had a town built for the construction workers and servants, including a church.  My favorite garden was the rose garden, I affectionately call the "nose" garden because I like to "sniff".  On the grounds are a hotel, stables, farm, winery  and of course shopping for the wealthy.  We bought a bottle of Biltmore Malbec and  a six pack of Cedric's Brown Ale. We spent most of the day at the estate, after the self-guided tour of the mansion we strolled the gardens.  We had a nice lunch in the former barn.  Luci got to go to Doggie Day Care twice.

A short drive 98 mile drive took us to Pigeon Forge, Tn.,  we stayed at Up the Creek RV Park for 4 nights, what a great place, one of our favorites.  We took in the Dixie Stampede, a dinner and show.  We had vegetable soup. quarter of a chicken, pork loin, corn on the cob, baked potato, biscuit and apple turnover all of which you had to eat with your hands, no forks spoons or knives. The show was entertaining, we had front row seats to all the horse showmanship and even a little magic.  They also have a show in Bronson, Mo.  We didn't go to Dollywood theme park, it was $60pp and we didn't think we'd enjoy $120.00 worth of rides, etc.  Smoky Mountain National Park is just 6 miles up the road,. we asked a park ranger for a " kinder gentler" trail.  We took the Little River Trail along the Little River, it reminded us of hiking along the Santiam River a 8 mile RT walk, I was so glad it wasn't too steep.  We can't forget mini golf, we played on two different courses, I won by one and then Gay won by 6!  A very pretty area but!!! major traffic!

In 2004 a friend of mine, Trudy moved first to St. Louis then to Pound,Va.  When I contacted her and told her we'd be in E. Va., she told us she and Roy were moving to Kingsport, Tn..  Perfect, only 98 miles from Pigeon Forge (East)  It was so good to see  Trudy and Roy and their little Corgi Willie.  They invited us to dinner, only a couple of days after they moved into their beautiful new home.  The next day they took us to one of their favorite camping spots, Natural Tunnel State Park, we took the tram,  (not one of my favorite things to do) down to Stock Creek to see the 850 feet long tunnel carved out of limestone.  Amazing!  Back on top we took the  trail to the Indian lore, "Lovers Leap" a hike over the top of the tunnel on the other side of the creek.  Roy, who had knee replacement surgery in May led the way, his first hike since surgery.  He took it slower on the way back down.  After leaving Trudy and Roy's home we drove to Bay Mountain and Planetarium, the last Zip Line of the day was at 4, we just made it with a little whining they let us go.  This has been on my bucket list for years but Gary didn't want to try it.  I was so surprised he was going too.  You had to climb up a rope cargo ladder to the platform,  about 20 feet, the hardest part.  By the time I got up there my mouth was so dry I couldn't have spit if I wanted to.  We both went at the same time, coming into the opposite platform backwards.  Gary went for another "zip", I didn't think I could climb the rope ladder again.  Fun, fun, fun!  

Gary and Luci in our BMW

Historic Ft. Jamestown

Tight fit

Archealogist still working at  Ft. Jamestown

Gary signing up for Army Yorktown

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Musket firing demo

Moore house where Cornwallis surrendered

16 guns on USS Wisconsin, Norfolk harbor

Luci rolled in paint at Ft. Pickett

Maymont House Richmond

White House of Confederacy, Richmond

President Monroe grave site Hollywood cemetery rRchmond

View of James River from Hollywood Cemetery

Appomattox Courthouse

Gary at McLean house where Lee surrendered

Patrick Henry's home and 300 year old Osage Orange tree

Monarch butterflies at Blue Ridge Parkway

View from Mt. Pisgah, Blue Ridge Parkway

We usually skip KOA's with good reason.  Built in the side of a hill, it was very steep down to the spaces, we never were able to get the coach leveled.  It was fun, flinging yourself out of the shower.  

We are spending 3 nights at Cumberland National Park Campground, only 90  miles from Kingspsort, Tn. The weather has been "sketchy" rain on and off.  Great campground, we were able to get a "pull-thru", happiness is a pull-thru.  We hiked up the Wilderness Trail that Daniel Boone took through the Gap of the Appalachian Mountains.  We have been in so many places where historic people have walked, it is awe inspiring.  We took a 4 mile RT hike up to the point where Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky meet.  

That's it for now, let's hope the computer hangs in there.  Enjoy the pics.

TTFN

Gary and Pam

Sorry about the jumbled pic's. More pictures on next blog.