South to Nashville

22 August –

As we are crossing the Canadian/USA border today we used all the eggs for breakfast. We are never sure what we can or cannot take across the border. It seems to change every time. The border was only 6 miles up the minor road and only had one lane open. No one else around so the crossing was quick with only a look inside by the officer to make sure we had no extra people stashed inside “Ernie”. We were on a scenic route thru Maine on a nice road but having to slow down for many small towns. The drizzle settled into rain but cleared when we stopped to shop and have lunch. Our overnight stop was at Skowhegan (167 mile trip) and we refilled our liquor supplies and got LPG before finding a private camp on the banks of a river. The sun was out but the air temperature was cool. There was good internet so we managed to post the last blog.

 

23 August –

We continued on the scenic road to Bethel where we completed a large circle of Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI. Across the Maine/New Hampshire border and up into the White Mountains and back onto new roads for us passed Mt Washington and eventually across the New Hampshire/Vermont border.  Three states in one day!! It was a great road and we covered 222 miles easily. We stopped at a state park at the Quechee Gorge and walked down into the gorge for a look. It was good to stretch the legs.

24 August –

We were now on the “I-91” and followed it most of the day thru Vermont and into Massachusetts heading south towards the Connecticut border. Just before the border we stopped at a private camp (140 mile trip) where there was a nice swimming pool. It has been a long time since the bathing suits have been out!

25 August –

We drove south on a minor road before joining the “I-84” and some rough busy roads thru Waterbury and Danbury and eventually across the Hudson Riv

er into New York State and onto K-20, the camp that we had visited earlier with Don and Sue Dinsmore. We had decided to spend the weekend with them and relax. They have another couple staying with them and we had a “soup” night with the family. The soups were great with clam chowder being my favourite and broccoli and cheddar coming a close second. It was a great night catching up with everybody.

26 August –

The rain cleared in the night and it was a beautiful morning. We farewelled the other couple who were heading up into Maine where we had just left. In the afternoon Sue, Val and I kayaked the 3 lakes in this area. The lakes were joined by a culvert under the road which we kayaked thru. Back at the beach we enjoyed a swim and a sit in the shade. We lit a fire and sat outside eating toasted raisin bread.

27 August –

Don D and I trimmed a few branches around camp and fixed some lights while Val did a huge laundry and spotted 3 deer by the cabin. In the afternoon we went down to the beach for a swim. The camping season is almost at an end and we enjoyed a pot luck dinner with 70 campers at the Pavillion to celebrate it.  We have made some great friends at K-20, a unique place, difficult to explain unless you have experienced it!

28 August –

After hugs and goodbyes we left camp K20 and headed west on the I-84 and then turned south on the I-81. We will follow this interstate for about 5 days! We crossed out of New York State and into Pennsylvania and stopped at a state park at Locust Lake. We overlooked the lake and had a great swim in the clear water with a sandy beach. The family next to us were leaving and gave us a large lot of firewood so we had a big fire.

29 August –

Before getting back onto the I-81 we went into Mahonoy City to post some title documents to Florida for the sale of “Ernie”. This town stopped developing around 1960 when the interstate bypassed it. It is also in coal mining country. All a bit depressing! Trump country!!

We took a detour off the I-81 into Gettysburg, the scene of a deciding battle in the Civil War. The Union and the Confederate armies only fought for 3 days in this small town and surrounding countryside but there were huge causalities and it was the turning point in the war. At the visitor’s centre we watched the story on a wide screen before going into a circular gallery where there was a gigantic cyclorama (377ft round), painted with oils on canvas depicting the battle. This painting was completed in 1884, 20 years after the battle.

With clever lighting and sound you could walk around the scene. Very impressive! We then drove to the most important battle field at High Water Mark where Pickett lead a Confederate charge up the slope with canon and musket fire from the Unionists resulting in 5000 deaths and the end of the battle of Gettysburg. We heading west back towards the I-81. Our overnight stop was at Caledonia State Park.

30 August –

Back on the I-81 where we drove 200 miles on a great interstate crossing from Pennsylvania into Maryland, West Virginia and ending up in Virginia. Four states in one day. The private camp we had chosen turned out to be on a hill overlooking a truck stop area. Down the road a few miles was a Wal-Mart where we shopped and spied a tyre place. We had decided to replace one worn tyre and the guy said he had a tyre at a good price. Half way thru the job he realized he could not jack “Ernie” up. A great help. We phoned the truck stop where we were staying and they booked us in to change the tyre. We loaded the tyre and the spare back into “Ernie” and after having the price of the fitting deducted, head back to the camp. Trucks came and went all night but as it was a constant noise, it did not disturb us.  We counted about 70 huge trucks parked at this stop. It was hot in the night as we are now well south.

31 August –

We only planned to drive 153 miles so it was a casual breakfast watching trucks come and go. Back on the I-81 and another great drive thru to Hungry Mother State Park. We had stayed here last year before going into the Great Smoky Mountains. The unusual name came about in tragic circumstances. A mother and child escaped from being captive by the Indians and got lost in this area but the mother died of starvation, the child survived and the only words she spoke to the rescuers was “hungry mother”.  The creek is now dammed and we biked the 6 mile trail around the lake. A great ride. In the evening it started to rain so we had dinner inside.

1 Sept –

The I-81 curved south west and again we made good time averaging 60 mph with every vehicle imaginable flying passed at 70+ mph. I am now very used to the huge semi-trailers passing us first pushing us one way and then sucking us the other. Over the Virginia/Tennessee border, at the junction of the I-81 and the I-40, we stopped at a rest area for lunch before heading west thru Knoxville. There had been a crash on the outskirts and we travelled slowly for about 8 miles. Our overnight stop was at a camp in the Tennessee Valley at a dam. The trip distance was 185 miles.

2 Sept –

The highway became increasingly busy as we neared Nashville. We had booked into the same camp we were in last year in Music Valley. It is Labour Weekend so we will stay here until Monday. There was a nice pool so we had a swim and sat in the sun in a nice cooling breeze.

3 Sept –

We pottered around in the morning and swam in the afternoon. At 4:30pm we caught the shuttle into Nashville city and Broadway, the area of bars and restaurants with live bands at every venue. We had bar hopped in this area last year. The atmosphere was great. Many groups of “bachelorettes” with the bride in cowboy hat and veil. We visited about 6 different bars all with good/great bands mostly playing various versions on country music. At 9:00pm we were awash with beer and caught the shuttle back to camp. All good fun.

4 Sept –

We filled in the morning by taking “Ernie” to a Jiffy Lube and treating him to an oil change and filter. Back at camp Val did laundry and we went back to the pool.  The whole camp was invited to a Labour Day Party at 4:30pm. Pulled pork, chicken rolls and coleslaw was served with beer & wine. This was followed by sweets. All free. The band started at 5:30pm and just went on and on with great country music. Not only was the band great but singer after singer came on and did a couple of numbers. Fantastic entertainment and only in Nashville. The night eventually wound up at 9:00pm.