Cumberland Mountain State Park, Crossville, Tennessee
New view!
But come this weekend, it will change. . .
Today, we explore!
We strapped two-pound weights to each foot (aka hiking boots), grabbed our stabilizers (aka hiking poles) and one bottle of water, and headed for the hills!
Unfortunately, there is very little information to be had about the trails in this Park. Essentially, all we have is a list and a general idea of where they are. And a guess as to how long they are. Blaine guessed we’d be home in about 2 hours. Just in time to eat lunch.
But first we have to find it.
We encountered a few picture-worthy things along the way.
We thought this was a lodge and restaurant, but after walking around it, it seems to just be a restaurant and maybe a meeting place, too.
The spillway from the other side.
I picked my way through this . . .
. . . to get this picture.
Not sure it was worth it.
So I took this one too! : )
Meanwhile, Blaine found this . . .
. . . and this . . .
. . . and some information on David Crockett.
We don’t know who this is. We’ve only ever heard of Davy Crockett and he was King of the Wild Frontier. : )
They’ve kinda let the place go . . .
that’s a picnic table in there.
Seriously?!?!?!
Now what???
This is the boat launch area.
Can’t wait to get the kayak in here!
Blaine thinks the start of the trail is across the bridge.
It was a terrific trail! Beginning at the man-made lake (the spillway) which is actually more like a river in it’s shape, we traveled over roots and rocks, climbed every mountain and forded every stream (some pretty good sized!) and had a grand time!
Here we go!
This is a camping cabin.
One of several they have in the Park.
This moth was trapped inside the display case.
There was supposed to be a map in here with it, but it must have eaten it.
That’s a golf course up there!
Just one of several streams we had to cross.
We crossed this one too.
We barely fit.
Moss or fern?
How to cross a creek:
There’s a little sign up there that says, “Trail”.
We had to look for it. . .
My turn!
I love this! Even though I get a little nervous, but only because I don’t want to hike in wet shoes.
Blue Violets
Now that poem makes sense! I’ve always wondered why the violets were blue!
Guess there used to be a bridge here . . .
We had to walk on the road
This is a suspension bridge and you know what that means
Lots of movement!
Wheeeee!!!
Flag stones outside the restaurant. Aren’t they beautiful.
Between the length (5 miles!!), stopping to take pictures and enjoying the views, it ended up taking about 3 hours. We were too late for lunch, so we decided to have dinner instead. 😊
The BEST salmon!
Empty today, but full by Friday night.
(there are reservation cards on the sites)
After that yummy meal, we spent some time just relaxing.
Until Blaine got the bug to go out again. About 3:30pm. This time, we returned to finish the trail we started yesterday. People we ran into yesterday told us it was about a two mile loop. Mmmmm . . . . I don’t think so. It seemed longer. More like 3 miles by the time we returned home. But another wonderful hike!
Follow the yellow dot road . . .
We came out here, right onto an old street.
Now what?
Turn right, the road ends.
Turn left, and it’s this.
Here’s why the road is no longer in use. Although I don’t know why they never fixed it.
And then we spotted this.
Here’s where the right arrow pointed.
It’s a true adventure hiking here.
We found a Boy Scout bridge!
Well, Blaine explained to me that it’s actually an Eagle Scout bridge.
I guess Eagle Scouts have to have a project in order to earn that ranking.
Seashell or fungus?
Pretty!
So much sand, you’d think we were on a beach somewhere!
OK. So. Down there is where we started the trail.
Remember the water we couldn’t get close to? That’s it. And the 5th Wheel you see is in our campground, just a different area.
Our trail ended on the other side of the river from where we were yesterday.
Not nearly as much water flowing today!
Glad we got to see it yesterday.
I felt the need to make some of these black and white. : )
Ghirradelli Brownies and Vanilla Ice Cream for dinner!