09 Dec Happiness Is A Warm Puppy…
So, like we shared in our bio, we hope to check off as many as we are able to, National Parks, Monuments, Battlefields, Cemeteries, Heritage Corridors, Historic Areas, Historical Parks, Recreation Areas, Parkways, Rivers, Trails, Seashores. Seriously, when you start looking into all things National, the list is pretty impressive. Not sure what a lifetime of checking off this exhaustive list would look like, but we are hoping to put a small dent in it. Found this online and decided to share. https://nationalparkstraveler.org/national-parks-directory. Check off even one for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.
Left Memphis and we made the decision to camp just over the border of Tennessee, in Kentucky. This way we would be rather central to all things around Nashville and Kentucky we wanted to visit. Ended up in a former KOA (who knew a KOA, for my fellow campers, would go out of business?) called Dad’s Bluegrass Campground in Franklin KY. This place had no view of graceful egrets hovering over the water, or majestic trees ready to drop some kind of nut on us, but the owner couldn’t have been nicer, the price was just right, and we felt good about being in one campground for more than 2 days.
Sunday was rainy and gray. Perfect day to explore Bowling Green a bit. We decided to find a local church in the area there. A wonderfully real lesson in never judging that book by its cover. Crossland Community Church, located in a non-discipt building in a rather plain strip mall in Bowling Green, turned out to be an amazing stop for us. The pastor, the music, the experience touched us both profoundly. After services, lunch was in order. Nothing appeared open, oh except for White Squirrel Brewery much to Dave’s displeasure….(not)…..Cozy corner table, a make your own Bloody Mary bar, WHAT?, great food, awesome bluegrass band.
Dave’s favorite author Hunter S. Thompson as a white squirrel at the brewery
We do like Kentucky. Exploring the areas this day must have been tiring for us. Laying in bed that night we were positive we were hearing nuts hitting CR yet again. Really, here too! But..we knew there wasn’t a tree to be had nearby. What on earth was going on? Dave’s midnight brave exit to explore had us laughing so hard pretty sure we woke our fellow campers. Turns out the wind was blowing the awing over the bed just outside. We may need counseling for a fear of falling nuts. What do you call this fear anyway. Hmmmm.
Monday was another exciting Kentucky day. Good thing our tour of Mammoth Cave National Park, the longest known cave system in the world, was inside.. Because it was yet again cold and gray. To descend inside the earth 280 steps to see caves, tunnels, drip formations was beautiful.
Tall Dave short cave
Having to squeeze through or duck down in dimly lit areas that open up to these vast rooms underground was spectacular. Good thing neither of us are claustrophobic. Take that back, I really don’t like being around lots of humans all at the same time, but nature is a totally different experience.
Wish list item for Dave would be a Ranger hat
Tuesday and I’m already thinking about Wednesday. Will explain in a moment. Today we head into Nashville. A much different experience from the last time we visited. Busy, busy, busy. So many events going on in the city, place was crazy. Parking was an adventure in of itself. Finding space for Clifford (our big red truck) is always interesting in cities. Prevail we did. Hattie B’s for the famous hot fried chicken. Silly me, I thought hot meant, “careful may burn your tongue”. Nope. Hot here means ”careful, this may be the highest SHU (measurement of how hot peppers are) you have tasted”! When I was asked how I wanted my chicken prepared, I should have chosen Southern or Mild instead of Hot (we felt the heat for many hours!). Not sure how the brave souls can conquer “Damn Hot or Shut the Cluck Up
Nashville
We managed to get to Broadway and Second Avenue for some “walk in and hear some good music along the way” places. This is what we so enjoy about Nashville. The strolling down and popping into any establishment where live music of all genres is at your pleasure. This time we enjoyed some country and rhythm/blues/soul music.
Me and Mack
What’s with the rain and cold weather Kentucky? That wasn’t going to dampen my Wednesday at all! We headed to my favorite non-profit. Seems weird that one might make a non-profit as a destination, but we did cuz we could. We were soooo close and Dave so willing to make this silly little dream happen for me. The Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary in Mt. Juliet TN is pure love! I have followed them for years on Facebook and am so missing a furry child in our home, that this seemed just the right fix for me. Even though my sinuses were throbbing, we soldiered on. A private tour with Sally led us stepping and meandering through over 120 pups (my name for any dog, regardless of their age) was so wonderful.
Rocco
Sharky
Mack
Memphis
This place takes in the senior dogs that, for so many different reasons, no longer have a home to call their own. They love on them, they care for them, they make sure that until these guys take their final breath, they are in the most fantastic environment despite their age and ills. We petted and hugged deaf, blind, puggy, skinny, and yes even some smelly old doggies. Rocco, Howard, Mack, Sharky, Memphis, Florence…so many cuties, too many to name. Hard to explain to someone who isn’t an animal lover that this for us was a definite highlight of the trip! My heart was so happy the rain and my head didn’t matter at the moment.
More friends
There was nothing on this day left in my mind that was going to top OFSDS, so back to CR we headed and prepared to head out the next day for our 33rd day of travel.
For Us, It’s Not Abad Day 🙂