Land Between the Lakes

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

We were up and showered about 8 am. Wilma and Betty fixed a breakfast of scrambled eggs, hash browns and bagels that we enjoyed at the large picnic table overlooking the lake. We made a quick stop at the dump station and then departed the Canal Campground in the Land Between the Lakes and headed south on “The Trace.” The north/south road in the Land Between the Lakes is called “The Trace.” About half way down, we turned east on route 68 and 80 to Hopkinsville, KY.

The stop at Hopkinsville is a “Trail of Tears” memorial to the Indian tribes that were relocated to the “Indian Territories” in Oklahoma. About 13,000 Native Americans were moved to Oklahoma by the army in the 1830s. Thousands died on the trail due to various forms of malnutrition, disease and cold weather. It is a pretty sad commentary on our country’s treatment of the Indians during that period of our history. The museum at the park was closed but we got 2 stamps at the Information Center a mile or so away. 

We went south on route 41A to Fort Campbell, KY where we stopped at a local Taco Bell for a quick lunch. We skirted the Fort Campbell Army Base and turned west on route 79 then zigged and zagged till we got to the intersection of route 22 and I40 where we made a stop at Parkers Crossroads. This was the site of a Civil War battle where CSA General Forrest and Union General Dunham engaged in a one day battle. We received two stamps at the VC and a somewhat lengthy commentary on the good things that the Civil War Trust is doing to preserve Civil War historical places.  The lady we talked (“listened”) to there is really passionate about her job and the history of the area!

We continued south on route 22 then did a little more zigging and zagging and ended up on route 57 between Ramer and Pocohontas at a place called Big Hill Pond State Park where there is supposed to be another stamp. The VC was closed when we got here. We have settled into the park campground and will check out the stamp situation tomorrow.  We are very close to the Mississippi border, so covered the north to south distance of Tennessee with all of our zigging and zagging today. There are many trees in various ranges of fall colors, and we are enjoying the state.

Good night from the Bedrock Bunch.

Check back later to see if I’ve been able to add pictures to yesterday’s blog.