We started hearing about Buc-ees a few years ago when we were on our way to Canaveral National Seashore in 2022. There were Buc-ees signs along the interstate for miles on either side of the new Buc-ees. We did not stop – we didn’t need gas – but I did look up what it was. …
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park
On a recent day off, Tom and I headed to Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizabethton, Tennessee. It took us about two hours to get there, but it is a lovely drive through a valley beside the mountains. Sycamore Shoals is historically important for three reasons. The first relates to Kings Mountain National Military …
Volunteer Robin Smith, Campground Host
When Tom and I changed sites at the end of June, we did it to make way for Volunteer Robin Smith who was coming in as a campground host. We had heard the name but weren’t sure what kind of person or campground host he would turn out to be. I am happy to report …
Folk Fest at Cumberland Gap
On Saturday, August 12, Tom and I participated in Folk Fest in the town of Cumberland Gap. We were there, along with most of the rangers, to represent the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. The ironic thing about our representing the park was that no one remembered to bring a sign showing that we were …
Stones River National Battlefield
To finish off the National Park sites close to us, Tom and I stopped by Stones River National Battlefield on our way from Mammoth Cave back to Cumberland Gap. We had been to Stones River National Battlefield before, but we were there before the Passport program started in 1986, so I didn’t have the stamp. …
Bucky Bee’s BBQ in Cave City, Kentucky
After hiking around Mammoth Cave above ground, Tom and I were ready for some supper. We chose to eat at Bucky Bee’s BBQ in Cave City. It got good reviews and we like to try out local BBQ places. We got to Bucky Bee’s BBQ around 4:30, which was early locally, but was really 5:30 …
Mammoth Cave National Park
After our visit to Abraham Lincoln’s birthplace, Tom and I headed south to Mammoth Cave National Park. I had never been there, but Tom said he had been a couple of times. Nevertheless, I had to get the stamp, so I had to go there. We signed up for a Historic Cave Tour as soon …
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park
Tom and I continued our exploration of Kentucky by heading to Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. Whenever we are working at a National Park site, we try to see all the other National Park sites in the state. It doesn’t always work out, because some of the sites can be pretty far away. But …
Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee
On one of our recent days off, Tom and I traveled the hour to the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, Tennessee. We stopped by there last year, but went too late in the day to make it worth paying the admission, so we just looked around at the wonderful gift shop. When we returned we …
Going Without Television for the Summer
Tom and I are going without television for the summer. There are so many trees here at Wilderness Road Campground that we can’t get any kind of a satellite signal for our Dish TV system. We have been other places where it was difficult to get the signal, but here in Virginia it is impossible. …