As we were traveling from Kentucky to Tennessee, I saw the sign for Cumberland Gap and asked if he minded that we stop. I had never been there before and wanted to see the much-storied and historic area.
We got directions to the Scenic Overlook at the information center and headed up some 4 miles of snake-back twisty road to see what we could see. At the top, we walked into the cool forests and discovered that they also hide Fort Lyons, a tiny civil-war era outpost. Reading the signs on location, we learned it was almost impossible to resupply, as it was two miles of steep forested mountainside to walk up, carrying gear and… how many 16 pound cannonballs could you carry at once? From the photo of the Cannon, it looks like the gun faces pointlessly out into the deep forest, but they cut the trees down for almost a mile, leaving them with a three-state view and a commanding upper elevation.
After out brief interlude with hiking, we continued on to meet up with my kids and their step-mother. I took my Redhead out to dinner, and we talked about school, her college plans, and I learned more about Batman and Robin in one evening than I thought possible. She is considering pursuing Acoustical Engineering to combine her love of music with a STEM career. I am very proud of her, and she is growing into a lovely young woman.
Today, we hunt waterfalls. I am given to understand being vewy, vewy quiet is uneccesary!
Comments
4 responses to “Day One: Cumberland Gap”
Well we can see who her mother is. 🙂
Good decision to make the detour. It is a beautiful place. I’ve been there a couple of times. Once when I was a young teen, right after we moved to Dayton. (based on my apparent age in the photo) The second time was in the mid 90’s by myself. I’ve got a shot very similar to your second one. And one that took me about 15 minutes to get – from the sand bar up the river toward the falls. I had to play mountain goat to get it, but it was worth it. (I was much younger and more agile back then.)
As to the deer: sickness and starvation are not uncommon in white tail. The only real predators they have left are humans, and we don’t cull out the herds enough. — Sorry, I’ll stop here, just ignore the soap box behind my heels. 😉
Have a safe, and fun, trip.
She is beautiful, and so grown up. I’m so glad you got to spend some time with her, and that she has difinate plans for the future.
(S.O.S. Spelling errors in the previous post! Call out the spelling police!)
She is beautiful, and so grown up. I’m so glad you got to spend some time with her, and that she has definite plans for the future.
I’m proud of my great-grandchildren–and their mother!