Turkey Run State Park

On the way from Brown County State Park we stopped at Cataract Falls State Recreation Area. They have three falls here on the Cateract Creek. They also have a covered bridge which just happened to be rented out for a wedding. Lora and I hiked the mile up and back to the lower falls. We ate lunch there.

We did our Walmart shopping and then headed into Turkey Run State Park. Steve and Kathy had arrived the day before. Dan and Deanna arrived just before we did. We had a good visit and then a Mexican meal by Steve and Kathy. An evening hike around the campground.

The next morning we hiked trail's #6 and #7. Really cool trails. We checked out the Lodge too. We came back to eat lunch and then Deanna, Lora and I went to the river and swam. Dinner tonight was prepared by us with Dan's help on the Man stove. An evening hike around the campground.

Monday morning we hiked trail's #1 and #2. Then we had a visit to the icecream store. Another trip to the river with Dee before the storm came in.

Tuesday we hiked trail #3 which is a beautiful trail along a stream gorge. Kathy's friends joined in for the fun. After lunch we did a driving tour to see covered bridges in the area. I think there is around 32 bridges, but we only took in 6 on the yellow route. We also saw a guys collection of old farm gear and antiques. We also found a historic race track while we were driving called Jungle Park. That evening we tried the peach cobbler. 

Wednesday was canoe trip day. We did a 12 mile trip from Shades State Park to Turkey Run State Park. This was a less popular section and a beautiful section to do. We really enjoyed it. We saw heron's, turtles, an eagle, and many other birds. We even had beautiful weather.

Thursday was a rainy morning. We went ahead and hiked Shades State park. We hiked the trails that led up and down from the river and #7. It was interesting as they had ladders that were set right at the top of the waterfalls which would be interesting if the water was coming over fast. The rest of the day was a rest up day. Lora and I went to town and did some shopping.

Friday we hiked trail #10 with a minor map reading issue on trail #3. We were going to meet Dan, Dee, and Adam at the junction of 3 and 10. We were both at different junctions. When we got to the Camel's Back, we found that it was overgrown and you could no longer see the double humps of the hills. We did meet a local there and he told us about the Devil's Backbone in the Pine Hills Nature Preserve in Shades State Park. More hiking to do. 

Well we contined on to trail #4 where we saw the historic house and a coal mine. After lunch we headed over to Shades State Park and hiked to the Pine Hills Nature Preserve. We went over Turkey's Backbone first and then down a long set of steps. Trails went all over with little or no marking. We found a few different signs for different things. We did hike over the Devil's Backbone with the picture carved in the top. It was 100 feet up and six foot across. 

After our hike we had to go back to "Up the Creek" to have icecream and ordered some pizza. I highly recommend this resturant.

Saturday we woke up to rain. Everyone packed up and headed out.

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Brown County State Park

We stopped Mitchell for gas. After filling up we had a car blocking the road and waving us by. We couldn't fit so we just waited. He backed up sideways and still had the road blocked waving us by. Finally, the light changed and he pulled up and turned right but continued to drive slowly waving us to stop. Finally we stopped and he said that he wasn't crazy, but really liked our camper. He wanted to have a conversation while we were blocking two lanes of traffic. He was the proud owner of a Scamp trailer. He contiued to drive along side while I continued to speed up and finally I left him. That was crazy!

We stopped at some antique shops in Bedford along side of 231 at lunch time to get mom's fix in. We headed on into Brown County State Park and got set up. We walked the campground that evening. Mom and Dad found that a mouse had gotten into their camper and made a nest from their paper towels and toilet paper. We spent some time cleaning it up. 

The next morning we got up and hiked around Strahl Lake. Afterwards we drove Mom to the nature center and toured it. That afternoon Dad found more mouse mess to clean up. We got together and headed into Nashville to see what they had going on. It was extremely hot and we didn't stay too long. Then we drove to Yellowwood State Forest and toured the dam, Lake, and campgrounds. Beautiful place to visit. That evening Lora and I took a bucket, collected water, and started our laundry out by the woods. Of course the ranger drove up. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I said laundry and he said OK well at least you found a good place to do it.

The next morning Lora and I hiked around Ogle lake. After that we headed out to Turkey Run State Park

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Spring Mill State Park

After leaving Otter Creek we headed straight to Spring Mill State Park. We set up camp and then headed back to Salem to get Dad a new battery for the camper. While in Salem we walked the town square and had an icecream at the bakery. From there we drove out to Becks Mill which was closed but still interesting to see. We drove back to the campground and after dinner we hiked around the campground. 

The next morning we attempted a hike around the lake, but was stopped by rain. Luckily we were at the nature center and spent time being entertained by a dancing turtle. We headed back to the the campground, got rain gear and then headed back to complete our hike. We got soaked!. From there we toured the Village which was very impressive. They had a three story mill and a dozen buildings open to tour. It took up our afternoon. We stopped to see Donaldson Cave, but it was a long way down and it was already hot. We did stop at the Twin caves to check them out. Water flows from one cave into the other, but the water was cold and the cold air felt great! They were not doing tours at that time due to Covid.

The next morning Lora and I hiked the bike trail near the campground and got to see a couple of deer. We also, while tring to find a waterfall, ended up back at the lake. When we got back we packed up and headed out for Brown County State Park.

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Otter Creek Recreation Area

Trip up to Otter Creek Recreation Area. We headed out with a plan to meet Dad and Mom in Cookville to start our trip North for the family get-together. The gathering was to be in Indiana at Turkey Run State Park. So after meeting up with them we headed North taking back roads. We didn't get far before we had to find a place to eat lunch. Turned out to be an out of business resturant in the drive way. Our next scheduled stop was the Cars of Yesteryear in Elizabethtown KY. This was an amazing collection of antique cars and trucks and a free tour to boot. It just so happened that a major storm came through while we were in the museum so that worked out well for us.

We arrived just before dinner at Otter Creek and got set up in camp. We had a spaghetti dinner and then walked around the campground before dark. It was too hot to have a campfire.

The next morning we got up, had breakfast, and then hit the trail. We hiked the 3 VOT trail down to Otter Creek. It was a great trail through old growth forest. It was pretty flat and then took a steeper downhill path to the creek which was very muddy from the previous storms. After lunch, we packed up and headed North. Spring Mill State Park next.

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Lora's Retirement

Lora retired today from Tencate after 38 years of faithful service.


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Hornsby Hollow Campground

Another great time at Hornsby Hollow Campground. This time Mom and Dad, Uncle Rick, and Aunt Linda, Melissa, Samantha, Kaylin, and Braedon all joined us. We swam, canoed, walked, and played. A great three days.

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Washington Creek

A little canoe time on the 4th of July without getting run over or shot with fireworks. Headed to Washington Creek for a morning paddle. We visited with some fishermen along the way, saw deer, fish, turtles, birds, and the likes. We also explored David Campbell Park.

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Craig's retirement

Craig retired after 24 years at the City of Murfreesboro.

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Black Bear Resort

Lora and I headed to the Roan Mountain area for a three day getaway. We camped at the Black Bear Resort in Hampton Tennessee. Very nice place up on a mountain. Very clean and very nice owners. After we set up camp, off we went on our first hike right from the campground. We did the 3.5 mile Coon Den Falls loop. That night we just relaxed around camp.

The next morning we attempted to find the Doe River Gorge train tunnel. Almost but not quite. A bridge missing the floor stopped us. We headed up to Roan Mountain to see the flowers. We crossed the Balds and made it to the top of Grassy Ridge Bald before the rain set in. It hit us hard trying to find some shelter before we got washed away. We made our way back though thoroughly soaked. We drove up to the Rhododendron gardens and walked through enjoying the flowers. After that we drove down to Roan Mountain State park and hiked the Fred Behrend trail from the campground. We got wet AGAIN! We headed back to camp and got dinner cooked before it rained again.

The next morning before we headed out we tried to hike the Laurel Fork trail out of the Dennis Cove recreation area. We didn't make it very far before we came to the first river crossing which did have a cable to use but it was so high it wouldn't do us any good. We turned around and headed back.

We loaded up the trailer and headed out. On the way back we stopped at Sycamore Shoals State Park and toured it. Then we headed to Jonesborough, Tennessee's oldest city, and toured the downtown area. After that we headed to David Crockett State Park and toured it. Then we headed to Greeneville TN to tour the Andrew Johnson Homestead. On the way home we stopped just East of Knoxville to let the rush hour traffic clear and a very large storm pass.

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TTA Tennessee River Float

On Sunday June 7 ten kayakers from the Murfreesboro, Highland Rim, Nashville and Soddy-Daisy Chapters paddled about twelve miles up and down the Tennessee River Gorge.  The kayakers were Sara Pollard, Joan Hartvigsen, Lora and Craig McBride, Chuck and Patty Deen, Paulo Smith, Cathy Conley, Kim Meeks, and Joni Perrine.  We put in at TVA Raccoon Mountain Ramp and paddled upstream about four miles to Pot Point.  We enjoyed our lunch on a shady gravel bar on river left and went for a swim.  We then headed back down river, stopping a long the way to swim at several points. We took out at Sullivans Boat Ramp.  Our journey took us through Prentice Cooper State Forest, where we paddled under four occupied Osprey nests.  We also saw Great Blue Herons, King Fishers, turtles  and Loons.  Craig saw a couple of snakes swimming along the shoreline.  Through out our river journey we were surrounded by cliffs and beautiful Tennessee mountains.

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