I am continuing my morning walk, at least on the mornings that I don’t work.  We started at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park on May 16, so we now have three weeks under our belts.

I love to get out for a morning walk first thing.  I get up, shower, have breakfast and do my devotions, then lace up my shoes and head out.  When we were at Cumberland Gap two years ago, we lived in Wilderness Road Campground.  This year we are in the Interpretive RV site, which is about 1/2 mile from the Visitors Center.  We no longer have to drive from Virginia to Kentucky to get to work.  Although we enjoyed the campground, we like the quieter space after working all day.

The Interpretive RV site is situated in Bartlett Park, which is a gorgeous little hollow with picnic shelters.  Bartlett Park is well-used by the locals.  They often rent picnic shelters, especially on the weekends, for parties, showers, reunions, and other gatherings.  The RV spot looks over the park.  From the RV we can also see the Law Enforcement center, the Administrative Building, Seasonal housing, and the maintenance building.  It is a busy area with people coming and going all day long.  But it is very quiet and peaceful at night.  We can hear the bullfrogs in Little Yellow Creek, the owls hooting, the creek rushing, and the wind blowing in the trees.

My morning walk takes in all of these things.  I can do the two-mile fitness trail which goes up the mountain on the other side of the creek.  I usually prefer the paved trail that goes over the creek, past the Visitors Center, and through the woods to the edge of Middlesboro, Kentucky.  We are only a mile from Middlesboro which is incredibly convenient.  In fact, Tom and I are surprised by how much closer it feels.  One mile versus six miles.  Same state versus three states.  We have been to Middlesboro just about every day.

My morning walk is beautiful.  I especially love seeing the creek winding back and forth.  I cross it twice.  I also go by two Cumberland Gap National Historic Park signs.  One at the Visitors Center and one at the entrance to the park just outside Middlesboro.  If I walk the other direction, to the fitness trail, I walk along the creek and can see the high railroad bridge.  Trains go by very close to the RV several times a day.  They don’t honk their horns in the park, so they sometimes surprise us.

I am enjoying my walks in the park very much.  The trails are close and convenient and I can walk as far as I want.  And enough people use the trails every morning that I don’t have to worry too much about bears.