Sept 30, 2022 – Although it’s early this year, we have winterized and locked up our northern cabin, and have started our journey south (via Calgary and Regina). Sad to go with all the fall colours just coming in – but we have friends joining us in Kentucky in 2 weeks and need to get there and clear out the unpaying tenants (mice / squirrels / snakes / possums / armadillos / etc.)
Oct 3. Leaving Mick’s place in Calgary on route to Regina before turning south. And yes, it appears that my faithful travelling mascot, Scrat, has once again caught a ride.
Oct 7 – Beautiful day along the Enchanted Highway
Oct 8 – Late start after having to replace a flat tire on the tent trailer (road construction through Rapid City). Most of the people in the motels were in for Black Hills Pow Wow so some interesting regalia coming in and out.
Turned south into Nebraska and across the Sand Hills Scenic Byway. Stop at Carhenge along the way.
Oct 10. – After crossing the Mississippi River at about noon, arrived at the cabin, to find it in relatively good shape. Will need a bit of time to clean out the cobwebs, etc. After getting everything turned on – headed in for our Thanksgiving Dinner. Couldn’t find any smoked turkey legs so had to make do with this … and Pig Licking Cake for dessert (look it up folks – it’s a thing)
Oct 11 – Made up for the lack of a Thanksgiving meal today while out rounding up supplies. Courtesy of a little BBQ place over in Hopkinsville – Chicken /stuffing /gravy; mash potatoes; corn nuggets; potato salad; and corn bread for $10. Sadly no room for dessert….
Oct 12 – Living on a fixed income means having to make some choices … Trip to the Amish store helped. Dozen Boiled eggs – $.50; Mini bagels – $.10 each; Pepperoni ends 2lbs for $7.00;. Tomatoes $1.25 each. Figured my breakfast was under $1.00.
Oct 13 – Cedar Pond on the Woodlands Trace south in Land Between the Lakes.
Oct 14 – Into town for the start of Ham Fest – celebration of the traditional salt cured country ham. Food, crafts, galore. Settled on a large fully loaded BBQ pork stuffed baked potato that fed the two of us. Finished off the day by finding our favourite brew at the community store at the lake… Great day.
Oct 15 – Out to do some last minute shopping before our friends arrive. After a couple of short walks in LBL to admire the changing leaves, we stopped by the chainsaw carving competition at Kenlake State Park. From there into Murray for our supplies then home. Crossing the bridge over Barkley Lake always seems special.
Oct 18 – Into Nashville with Kim and Tammie. Got settled at hotel and then off to the Grand Ole Opry
Oct 19 – Although Nashville can be expense for food and drinks, Robert’s Western World on Broadway offers a Recession Special – Fried Bologna Sandwich, Chips, Moon Pie and a Pabst Blue Ribbon for …. $6. Great Lunch.
If you look closely on the Legends mural behind Brad Paisley, you can see a lock of blonde hair – which is what if left of Taylor Swift after they took her out for no longer being country…
Oct 20 – Nashville to Tupelo and Elvis’s birthplace. Great night at a airbnb trailer.
Oct 21 – Into Memphis for the evening. Great food and music. Nice Airbnb right downtown
Oct 23 – Memphis to Clarksdale. Bass Pro pyramid, Morgan Freeman’s Ground Zero for lunch, Sean Bad Apple Blues Club for the show, and then into a state park cabin for next couple of nights.
Oct 24 – Trip back to Cadiz. Leaving the rental cabin to Pinson Mounds via Paris and home to Cadiz… Couple of days of rest at our cabin.
Oct 25 – Doo, doo, doo, lookin’ out my back door…
Oct 26 – Travelling north to Bardstown. Trail of Tears, Jefferson Davis birthplace, Abe Lincoln birthplace, Heaven Hills Distillery, and a Hot Brown for supper … Say good bye to our friends in the morning
Oct 29 – Came back to the cabin via horse country. Now starting some chores around here – cleaning driveway culvert, replacing walkway stones, raking leaves, raking leaves, raking leaves ….
Oct 31 – Quiet couple of days getting things done around the cabin. Saturday involved a local truck vendor and our meals of fish and pulled pork and 3 sides for a total of $17. Enough food for three meals. The Amish store had fresh pretzels, which I couldn’t resist… Sunday and Monday saw work being done around here – mostly by Deb as she couldn’t sit still. Culvert unburied and opened, front pathway built and fire pit cleaned out. We see Armadillos every night on our walks and Sadie really wants to go after them. Trip planning tonight for road trip to Smokies and SC. No trick or treaters so have two bags of candy to the good….
Nov 1 – So it’s Nov 1st. Clear and 21 Celsius out. Took old kayak out from hanging in shed for 2 years, cleaned out the cobwebs and bugs, and took her for a paddle on Lake Barkley. She still floats and handles great, and Deb and I were even able to tandum paddle. Finished off with picnic lunch at Golden Pond before going home to pack for our road trip
Nov 2 – Headed East. Three state day. From Western Kentucky, through Tennessee and into Alabama. Interesting High School in Montgomery, TN. Then passed a billboard for Jack Daniel’s (but was able to resist). On to Unclaimed Baggage in Scottsboro , AL, and finding a few treasures. Weather continues to hold in the low 20’s.
Nov 3 – Through Alabama, Georgia (through the always frustrating Atlanta traffic) and into South Carolina. Time to explore an old farm house with Spanish Moss everywhere, and into a small private campground – complete with free range ducks and geese (Sadie is beside herself). Got set up as the sun went down, but cooked and ate under lamp light. Couple of Lime-a-Ritas to finish off the night.
Nov 4 – Roosters crowing, and Goose and Duck parades greeted us at the campground this morning. Needless to say we booked another two nights, ( and bought earplugs). Into Congaree National Park. Hiked the boardwalk with the dog (2.6 mi.) and the put the kayak in and paddled several miles up and back Cedar Creek. Into Columbia (Home of the South Carolina Game Cocks) for a few groceries. Back to Campground for burgers and to relax by the pond.
Nov 5 – Up to foggy this morning. Quick breakfast and off to the flea markets ( they start at 7 AM). Deb scored great deals on a new life jacket and new Eddie Bauer packable down jacket. By 10:30 the fog burned off and temperature went up to 28C. Did a couple of mile hike at South Congaree and was glad to be in the shade of the trees. Found a couple of old bridges across the canals in the swamp – one car and one narrow gauge trail. Lots of lizards and geckos around (one hollow tree that I went to look at all of a sudden started to move with over 20 lizards. Rain showers this evening but had the whole pavilion to ourselves to cook, eat and clean-up in. Packing up tonight as tomorrow is a travel day.
Nov 6 – Travel day – 3 1/2 hrs into NC. Rained off and on through night, so took down wet. Breakfast at a Waffle House, after stopping at the Barnyard flea market. (I have been the south for over 30 days and this is my first waffle House – must be a new personal restraint record).
Up through Lake Lure NC (remember the lake scene from Dirty Dancing – shot here). The beach at Lake Lure Spa and resort was empty, but Chimney Rock was packed with Sunday tourists. No place for us to park- especially pulling the trailer. May try tomorrow. Into Swannanoa, NC (KOA) to set up camp and have gear dry out. Beautiful area around a couple of small lakes.
Nov 7 – Fog again this morning. We headed North up the Blue Ridge Parkway and did some exploring and a number of short walks. Nice windy roads and a pleasant day (23C). A little late in the season for all the fall colours, but still a very pretty drive.
Nov 8 – Lunar eclipse and mid-term elections. Whole family up briefly to see the eclipse, before getting a couple more hours sleep and getting up for good. Beautiful clear day to pack up. Headed south on the Blue Ridge Packway, and then turned west through the Great Smokies National Park. The park was fairly busy, with many of the parking lots for hikes and attractions being almost full. Poked our way along, with a few stops – arriving in Pigeon Forge in late afternoon. Set up at the KOA for the next three nights. I already have my pass to Dollywood, and have booked a doggie kennel for Sadie – so we will go tomorrow. I think Deb is getting a wee bit excited – as she could watch tonight fireworks from Dollywood laying on the bed of the tent trailer.
