Made it to Tennessee, so we're getting closer

September 10 – I’m really starting to wear down. My left shoulder is worse by the day. We got up at 7 and had cereal again so we could be on the road by 8. We got directions from one of the campers to get on the interstate one exit up from where we got off so we didn’t have to back track. It was quick and easy and we see where the guy told us wrong getting there.

 

It was a boring day of pretty much nothing but driving. We stopped once for fuel and had lunch and we slowed down so Bill could try to get a photo of the golf ball/tee water tower.

 

We managed to get to our campground at Land Between the Lakes by 4. That was so nice. This is a National Recreation Area in KY and TN. We are in the southern end in TN in Piney Campground. Parts of the campground have spaces that back up to the water, which would be nice. I made a mistake and booked us on line for an electric only site but luckily when we arrived they had a full hookup site that we could switch to. We’ve been to the area before but we stayed at a campground outside of the park as we were new and didn’t back in at the time. All of the sites here are back in. Bill got me right in, so we’re getting better. We’re here for 2 nights so I can have a day of rest. I rode my bike to the washer and put in a load to get us home on. Bill didn’t want to take his bike off the rack but mine has been riding inside the RV. We took Xena for a nice walk. There are a lot of people here still, but then it’s warm still and these are seem to be retirement age people.

 

I grilled brat burgers for dinner with frozen corn and a can of green beans. I’m trying not to put any thing new in the fridge or freezer as it’s more to empty out when we get home. Bill was perfectly happy having his 2 favorite vegetables.

 

The antenna is not getting us much in the way of TV and Bill watched one DVD but then the speaker starting a loud buzzing that we couldn’t fix to now it’s computering and reading. Well, no internet either as I don’t have enough bars to get a decent connection. Oh well, it’s quiet and peaceful and I don’t have to drive tomorrow.

June 22

Fixed bacon and eggs for Bill and I had my oatmeal with yogurt and berries. I think Bill had a bowl of peaches and milk before I got up! Left by 8:30 for Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area (LBL). What a neat place. If you were into boating and camping this is the place to go. They flooded 2 rivers after building dams and moving many little towns from the area and created two huge long lakes on each side of the land. There are no remnants of there ever being towns other than the family/town cemeteries are preserved.

We saw one of the Bison herds, 3 wild deer along the roads, visited the Nature Station where they have wild animals that were either domesticated or injured and cannot be put back in the wild and The Homeplace. It’s a living museum of and 1850’s homestead with working interpreters. They had all the farm animals typical of the time and crops planted and today there were 2 men plowing with a hand plow and mule and 2 ladies quilting on the house porch. They said it was too hot to cook. We sure have it easy! I packed us sandwiches, soda and apples to have for lunch so we sat in the shade of a tree in the truck and had our lunch.

Before leaving the LBL area we went to one of the campgrounds. They are all on the water and there were over 200 sites at this one. Not all have utilities. A lot have electric but no water or sewer. I don’t know how long we could camp without water. Some people bid on the 90 spots they allow people to rent for 9 months of the year. They sure must like to fish and hunt!!

I dropped Bill off at the RV to take Xena out at around 3 and went up the road to Piggly Wiggly. We go through a lot of water so I got 2 more gallons and a few other items. Made chicken enchiladas with refried beans and salad for dinner. Have enough leftovers from the last 3 nights to not cook tomorrow since we will be on the road and stopping in Paducah and Metropolis tomorrow.

Bill hooked up the wastewater pipe, affectionately known as the “poop tube”. During the draining process, he discovered it had a tear in it. Luckily we have a spare, so there’s another item on our shopping list. After dinner I did one load of wash and we took Xena for a nice walk and then visited with the owner for a while. Got a new family in one of the cabins behind us. Another trailer arrived late last night so there are THREE of us camped tonight. Getting crowded so best to move along tomorrow!