To Horse Cave, KYMay 1, 2011
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Fort Donelson National Battlefield
Historic Cumberland River
Water Is High
You can learn a lot at breakfast. We listen to the locals. Many roads are closed. One man owns a marina. He claims to have collected a dock fee this morning before the dock floats away.
The Land Between the Lakes is a great area. The Tennessee and the Cumberland Rivers join the Ohio River north of here. Dams created the Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. The area between the lakes is a National Recreation Area.
The lakes are at 370 feet. I am not sure how that is measured. According to the locals, officials will open the floodgates soon adding water to the Ohio River. The Ohio and the Mississippi have not yet crested. It is such a balancing act.
We could drive the main road through the Recreation Area but the side roads that lead to the lakes are closed. What is the point? We plan to return here some day.
We head east. We expect rain all day. By the time we get to Fort Donelson National Battlefield, it has stopped. We watch the video in the visitor center and learn more about the Civil War. The battle of Fort Donelson was a major victory for Grant. Control of the rivers was essential to win the war. Gunboats again played a part in the battle. (I get another National Passport Stamp.)
The ride east is good. We cross into Kentucky. We continue to see downed trees. The last thirty minutes is a push as it is on the Interstate.
Again, we are in an almost empty campground. I guess school has not gotten out. We take a walk in the evening. We see a deer in the field. We see many goldfinches and many redheaded woodpeckers. I hope that I will get some good pictures before we leave.
Route: 79, 68, I65
Campground: Horse Cave KOA