As usual on our travels, we hit several National Parks on our recent vacation: the Great Smoky Mountains, Cumberland Gap, Mammoth Cave, and the Stones River Civil War Battlefield in Tennessee. Over the years, we have hit several of the biggies--Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, the Grand Canyon, Mesa Verde, Canyonlands, and Arches. We have also hit several of the lesser known parks, such as the Black Canyon in Colorado, Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota, Cumberland Gap, and Bandoleer in New Mexico.
No matter where we are, we are in awe of the majesty and variety of the United States. And we appreciate the work that is done in the National Parks. The knowledge and courtesy of the Park personnel. The facilities. The variety of opportunities in each park.
My very favoritest on this trip was Cumberland Gap. For one thing, it was quiet, very quiet. I don't recall hearing a single airplane while we were there. Tucked into the corners of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia, the gap is nestled among tallish, soft Eastern-style mountains. This mountain girl felt protected and very much at home.
On Sunday when we went to the visitor center, we learned of a ranger-led trip up to the Hensley settlement, an early 20th century settlement that is much more like the 19th century. It was a slow day at the park, and it turned into a private tour for Dick and me.
The settlement consisted of one large extended family. It sits on the absolute top of the mountain, in Viriginia. It would have been a cold, wind-blown desolate place to live in the winter. But on this July day, it shone under the bright blue sky; the fields were green and lush.
We visited several of the remaining cabins and outbuildings on the property. The ranger pointed out lots of flora to us, including a few chestnut saplings, which unfortunately will not reach maturity because of the blight. I could have spent several hours hanging around taking photos and just being.
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