Photos from the GWC National Monument

Neosho and beyond

On the way to Neosho we saw the sign for George Washington Carver birthplace and made an immediate turn on Carver Road.  A wonderful stop is the Carver National Monument operated by the National Park Service.   This is a beautiful museum and education center devoted to Carver's life and accomplishments - he was an anazing man whose desire for learning never waned.  Not only was he a botanist but he was also an artist!  Time to add his name to the list of people we need to learn more about.

Current River

This photo shows a serene river bordered by trees and a high bank.  When we checked into the campground they mentioned recovery from the flood.  On April 30 -less than two months ago - this serene river crested ABOVE all previous records and measuring devices at a guesstimated 38 to 40 feet.  The campground is safe to 29 feet so the entire place was under water.  Lots of things need repair but our site had everything we needed.  

Here is "Camp Cat" who knew to go to higher ground before her people did.

She also loves rolling in the new gravel! 

Next stop Neosho!

Time for a quick lunch at a rest stop and why is it on the other side of the highway???  Hard to get to but they knew what they were doing - see photos of the most beautiful rest stop east of the Mississippi.

Paduca KY

I want to live here!!!

On to the Show Me State

Another great night of music at the Station Inn with the Doyle & Debbie Show followed by Trey, guitarist extraordinaire, and a dobro player whose name I can't remember - he has an older album called "Three Bells" with Mike Auldridge and one more dobro player.  I can only say "WOW" about the music.  

 

Before the evening's entertainnent we spent a good part of the day at The Hermitage,  Andrew and Rachel Jackson's Plantation.  Time to go back to school to learn more about Jackson - he was one interesting character who made his own rules.  With all the walking and standing at the Hermitage we missed going to the Cheekwood Botanical Garden - next time!

 

 

 

On our way now to Missouri - accuweather says it will not be Tornado Alley for the next few days!

Good Morning Nashville

 

Since we are further North than Bluffton, the sun comes up earlier - and right through the window by the bed.   That is a kayak at the bottom of the photo - have no idea who it belongs to and it would be great to paddle out to the little island we see from our chairs.  Alas, no paddles.

Last night we went to The Station - best place to hear music in Nashville.  Wonderful music and there was even a Seldom Scene poster behind the stage!

 

We will be going back again tonight to see the Doyle & Debbie Show, a Nashville institution.  

Nashville on Monday

We started our tour of the city at the Parthenon in Centennial Park and were quite disappointed that it is closed on Mondays - may have to go back tomorrow to see the inside.  In case you don't want to Google why it is there: was built for the centennial celebration of the state and was supposed to be demolished after.  Public outcry saved it and it was refurbished with better and long lasting materials.  It is now the centerpiece of the park abd we found it quite impressive - it is a full sized replica of the original.  

 

In the same park is a life sized monument to five women's suffragettes and a brief bio of each - how brave these women were in the early 20th century.

 

On to downtown and all the noisy dives where you can hear Wannabes and Onceweres and get some lunch before taking in the Mother Church of Country Music, the Ryman!  

 

 

The Ryman is more than we realized in its history before the Grand Ole Opry started there in 1943.  Who knew all the major names in music, theatre, ballet, opera (yes, even the Met), and comedy played there at one time?  Maybe someday we will be there for a live performance.  

Tonight we will go for some live music at one of Nashville's favorite spots.   Looking forward to it!

  

Grand Ole Opry stage behind us!

Nashville

We left the campground near Highlands later than planned - you just have to talk to the Hilda/Shasta fans who come by.  We took more snakey mountain  roads to Nashville - again beautiful scenery!      

Our campground in Nashville is right on Percy Priest Lake - a huge body of water with every kind of small watercraft imaginable.  (And our campsite is very close to the necessary amenities.). Plans for Monday include the Parthenon, the Ryman, country Museum Hall of Fame, and whatever else we have time for.  

 

We had dinner at our niece Lynn's house (a gorgeous restored Craftsman) and were lovingly welcomed by Mr Z.

 

Monday should be another full day!

Busy Day! June 24

We had a slow start to the day but ended with a pretty fast pace.  Went into Highlands to find the venue for tonight's concert and 

to check out the town - what a beautiful place!  Very touristy with the usual shops, restaurants, and hotels - but beautifully landscaped 

and plenty of parking (that was a pleasant surprise).   The road to Highlands is like following a snake up a mountain...

 

How is this for a lovely church???  The hydrangeas are gorgeous everywhere in the town.

After lunch at a little deli we headed to Dry Falls - we happen to have a grandson who works for an outfit called Dry Falls, so we had to go see it.  Missed the sign so did not get that photo, but we loved seeing the falls.  Now we have to find out why it is called DRY Falls because it sure isn't dry.

 

  We got back home in time for a quick nap (OK, maybe it was not so quick...) and then got food ready for dinner before heading out to the concert 

in Highlands.  Tom and Amanda arrived and the five of us enjoyed a grilled shrimp, peppers, and onion dinner that was one of our favorites when we ate at our garden in the Victory Gardens in Boston.  Back up the mountain to Highlands for the concert - FABULOUS!  A very special part was their encore which they announced was for Roscoe's request "Walk Through This World with Me".   Definitely fitting for the beginning of our trip!  Now we head to Nashville tomorrow for some more great music!  Stay tuned!

Loading her up...

08:30 on June 23 we were loading her up and got on the road by 10:30 - have a great photo that will not upload, so you will just have to use your imagination!  We arrived at the campground in Dillard Georgia at exactly 5:00 - not bad for over three hundred miles.  We brought the food so we voluntold Ronnie that he was the cook - grilled Vidalia onion, grilled mushrooms, lovely grilled steak, and salad.  Definitely a nice meal ended with fresh strawberries and blueberries and some chocolate chip cookies.  Raining now so it will be interesting hearing the raindrops on Hilda's metal roof while we sleep.  Maybe it will be sunny tomorrow and I can get some photos of the campground and maybe even all the people who come to see two Shastas, side by side.  Something about vintage campers attracts people - must be the nostalgia factor!

Ready or not!

Here we go!  Tomorrow is Day One of our Traveling Hilda Adventure. We are heading to Highlands NC for two nights.  Ronnie Bradberry, our son in law and the renovator extraordinaire of Hilda, will join us for both nights and he will stay in his camper, Lola Emmaline, Hilda's older sister!  Saturday night Tom and Amanda Felton, our nephew and his wife, will join us for dinner and then we will all head over to a concert at the Performing Arts Center.  What is the concert?  THE SELDOM SCENE!

We have followed them since they were formed in 1971 - one of the founders, Ben Eldridge, was a neighbor in Bethesda MD so many years ago.

I plan to post photos of our campground and the surroundings as well as some good people shots!  Maybe even a video of the band - is that legal? 

For those of you who have not seen Hilda, here is a photo taken at Aiken State Park a few weeks ago.  She is a 1963 Shasta that was totally redone by Ronnie, aka Clyde's Custom Campers.

We will be posting our itinerary, so come join us!  We plan to go all the way to Glacier National Park.