Day 43

Well, I'm sorry that I haven't written in awhile! I got to take this past weekend off and head down to Cumberland Gap National Historic Park with Scott to visit my friend Tom who is working on a black bear project in eastern Kentucky. Cumberland Gap is unique for 2 reasons- 1. the park includes parts of three states-Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. 2. Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road is found here, or the route that early pioneers took to cross the Appalachian range and establish settlements in the wilds of Kentucky.

We got to see several great overlooks, tour the Gap Cave by flashlight, hike up to Tri-Peak and sit in Ky, Va, and Tn all at once, and camp in the campground at the national park. By far, the best part of the whole weekend was the food. Tom took us to Heavy's BBQ in Tennessee. It literally was a shack in the middle of nowhere down by the river that served barbeque and rented canoes. And it was the best pork barbeque that I have ever had! We also went to Webb's Country Kitchen in the town of Cumberland Gap (also in Tn) for a night of bluegrass music and excellent country cookin'. It was so nice to have a real weekend, and I definitely enjoyed my trip down to Cumberland Gap!

Scott and I at Cumberland Gap.

Tri-Peak- the border of Va, Tn, and Ky.

Hike up to Tri-Peak- I am in all three states at once!

The Wilderness Road that pioneers traveled through the Appalachians.

Wilderness Road State Park in Va- they had a living history museum of John Martin's frontier waystation along the Wilderness Rd. around 1775.

Coal is life down here- for me and the locals.