So Far, I Don't See Any Raccoons....

 Day 57 - Friday, September 9, 2022

Raccoon Valley RV Park, Heiskell TN

This is a travel day, so we get an early morning exercise walk before departing '321' RV Park.  The park is small and construction at one end, that will enlarge the park, pevents our going there, so we exit the gate and explore the dead end country road nearby.

The scenery is varied and we see evidence of recent rains.

Along the way we pass a farm and see that the farmer has posted a sign against fishing.  If you zoom in, you can see some ducks swimming in the creek to the right of the sign.  There's an interesting wagon parked in the background and I wonder if it is used to hall hay or produce grown in the fields.

We get a sneak peek at the back of the RV park, but as we return to the park the dark clouds that dot the sky tell us we should hurry to get on the road before we are chased by a rain.

The sun breaks through the clouds as we head west on I-40 toward Ashville and enjoy the Great Smoky Mountains, which rise along the Tennessee-North Carolina border.  They are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, and may be the best part of today's trip.  (This being said by a flat-lander.)

A sign warning of low visibility for the next six miles is posted, and we see why:

At the highest peak, crossing the Eastern Continental Divide, the elevation is 2786 feet.  The photo below shows a tunnel ahead as we go downhill on the curving and winding road and soon into the state of Tennessee.

The Tennessee Welcome Center flies the United States flag, as well as its own state  flag, both at half mast.  The breeze plays tricks on me and I have to take several photos in order to get a nice display of the flags.  No one explains why the flags are lowered, so we assume it is in memory of those lost in the September 11 event at The World Trade Center.

On a lighter note, the restaurant where we stopped for lunch greets us with this humorous sign:

Arriving at Raccoon Valley RV Park, we are deligted to see that it is a member of the Escapees park system.  Our motorhome, Sweet Georgia Brown, lives in an Escapees RV Park on our private lot in Texas.

(I wonder how the park got its name....I'll be very watchful as I walk about the grounds..)

Willie of Sweet Georgia Brown,

   and of Walldog and Willie

   Friday, September 9, 2022