Tennessee

After leaving the Smokies, we headed for another Airstream Only park – TCPC or Tennessee Cumberland Plateau Campground.  Once again we were met by the friendliest campground hosts.  ”What exactly is a campground host?” you might be asking.  Well, these are usually retired couples who agree to work as hosts at a campground in exchange for free camping.  This can be at a National Park, a State Park, a military base campground or in this case, an Airstream Campground owned and operated by a local Airstream Club chapter.  At the National Park, our hosts had full hookups including sewer where the rest of us regular folks had primitive campsites without hookups.  So back to TCPC, we were thoroughly surprised and delighted at the lovely countryside in that area of Tennessee.  This is one of those rare areas that seems neither economically depressed nor overbuilt.  The countryside is rolling hills with mixed woods and fields.  The nearest town is Crossville with a population of about 10,000.  While Crossville does have the requisite Walmart and Lowes, it seems to have a real down town with locally operated restaurants and shops.  There is also one of many beautiful Tennessee State Parks in the area.  Our Campground hosts (who almost literally talked our ears off) told us we absolutely could not miss the catfish fry at the State Park on Friday morning.  Well, we weren’t planning to stay until Friday but we saw that it said that Tuesday was “Seafood Night” so we showered and headed out to the State Park.  The park was stunning with amazing facilities, campground, tennis courts, swimming pool, hiking trails and a gorgeous restaurant set on a lake which we approached by crossing an arched stone bridge.  For a minute I thought we were back in Europe.  With our mouths set for fried seafood we walked in to the restaurant and once we could take our eyes off the view out the floor to ceiling windows we took a look at the buffet and noticed that while it looked inviting, it was certainly NOT seafood.  What the  . . . ?  OMG, it was not Tuesday, it was Wednesday.  We no longer know what day it is!!!!  I thought this was rather funny but my poor structured, organized and dependable military man was a bit shocked by the extent that he had lost touch.  At any rate dinner was first rate and quite inexpensive.  We were totally blown away with the number and quality of state parks in Tennessee and would go back again (we still haven’t had the catfish).

Restaurant Exterior

Restaurant Terrace (wouldn’t this be great for weddings?)

State Park Restaurant on WEDNESDAY

TCPC had wifi and I had a little work that was overdue so the next day Geoff and the kids played and hiked in the local area while I got my work done and spent a little time updating the blog.

Rain set in as we headed out to Memphis to catch up with some old Navy friends we had not seen in way too long.  Pouring rain and multiple car accidents on I-40 was the scene and it continued to rain cats and dogs throughout our three day stay at the Navy base in Millington Tennessee.  Nevertheless, we had some nice times there most notably seeing our friends (oh, how the children have grown!)  and visiting the art museum in Memphis which happened to be having an exhibition of Southern Quilts.  The quilts were lovely and inspirational although it was a bit of a shock to see on display the quilts which symbolized rank within the KKK!  There was also African American freedom quilt and a pre-civil war quilt made by a man who was convalescing from an illness.  My Memphis Navy wife girlfriend is the woman who started me off quilting so it was extra meaningful to go to this show with her and enjoy a tour of historic Memphis homes and a sushi dinner afterward.  Went to Memphis, didn’t see Graceland, didn’t eat BBQ but, trailer was leaky and soggy but we still had a great time.

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