June 23, 2007
Time of departure: 7:15 A.M.
Temperature: 68 degrees
Elevation: 885 feet
Total Mileage: 173
“Yes, ma’am. I’ll have the banana Moon Pie Sundae.” And, I have to tell you, it was wonderful. Literally, it was a moon pie, cut in half, warmed, and put under a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Somehow, warming the moon pie, really set off the very fake banana flavor.
We were sitting in the Bell Buckle Cafe, in the quaint town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee, a town whose claim to fame is the annual R.C. and Moon Pie Festival. Hence, my ability to order the above culinary confection.
Meredith and I awoke in Sparta, Tennessee this morning to fair skies and headed southwest towards our destination of Columbia, TN.
An hour’s ride took us to Rock Island State Park. Within the park is a waterfall known as Twin Falls. An inte
resting situation, water seems to pour from the side of a mountain in to a river valley. And, this is in the middle of drought. I’d love to see the wet season!
I’ve learned that eastern Tennessee has a physical feature known as the Cumberland Plateau. The land here is broken farm and pasture land, with deep gullys, wet enough for ferns to easily grow, even in a drought.
By days end, the land had flattened. At times I’m reminded of East Texas, with one difference. There are large rocks very close to the surface. Creeks are rock lined, very un-East Texas.
Tomorrow, we expect to be in Selmer, Tennessee.
See y’all down the trail.
Ron and Meredith
