We’ve Been Sightseeing, Again

Since we’ve last posted, we have been busy seeing a lot of this countryside.  I have always been curious about this area: where Tennessee meets up with 5 neighboring states.  For anyone who likes “up, down, and twisty” all mixed together, this is the place! 
Monday we took the motorcycle east and north to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (see http://www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm ). 

This is where Daniel Boone led 18^th century settlers over a relatively low spot in the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky.  At a scenic overlook, we looked down on the spot 3 states (including North Carolina) all come together.

 

On Tuesday we took the car (for a change of pace) to Greeneville, where we will be volunteering for the next 3 weeks.  Holston Home for Children (see

http://www.holstonhome.org/ ) is easy to find, and has a very large campus.  We will learn later this week where to find our parking area.  On the way back to the metro Knoxville area we found the corporate headquarters of Bush’s Beans.  The headquarters are found way out in the country – nothing else is around.  This is a huge canning plant, and a major employer in the area.  While they do not offer plant tours, they do have a museum, gift shop, and café.  It was a fun, informative, and tasty stop.

 

Wednesday was fairly quiet.  Paige found the website of a yarn shop that we searched for.  They had moved from their original spot, but we were successful finding their new place, although they didn’t have what she was looking for.  We finished that trip with grocery shopping, and a little larger dinner.

Today, we took another motorcycle ride.  First we went back to Oak Ridge for a little more history, then to the north to Norris Dam.  This was the first flood control dam built by the Tennessee Valley Authority in the mid 1930’s to control flooding and provide electricity to this area.  It was named after someone named Norris, but can our readers figure out who this person was? 

 

Most of the days this week we have returned in time to get to the Happy Hour sessions at the RV park.  We have met many of our neighbors.  They are a very interesting bunch.  Tonight there is the regular Thursday night Bluegrass jam session so we may walk up to catch some of that. 

The weather here is still beautiful; in the high 70’s.  On Saturday a cold front is forecasted so highs will dip to the 50’s.  Still warmer than the 37 in MN today!