1st Post - Land Between the Lakes, KY

This Spring we have decided to follow the Santa Fe Trail. In previous years we have followed the Lewis & Clark Trail (2006) and the Oregon Trail (2010). It always seems better to have a "theme" to a trip rather than just go willy-nilly here & there (although we have done a lot of that too).

The Santa Fe Trail was different than the other trails. The Lewis & Clark Trail was one of exploration, the Oregon Trail was one of western settlement, but the Santa Fe Trail was one in a thread of international trade routes spanning 900 miles of the Great Plains from the United States (Missouri) to Mexico (Santa Fe). It's heyday was for about 60 years from around 1820 to 1880 (then came the railroads). After the Mexican War in the 1830's, Santa Fe became part of the US in the New Mexico Territory. Not only was the trail used by traders and military freighters, but there were also plenty of others who frequented it - adventurers, gold seekers, emigrants, mountain men, hunters, American Indians, guides, packers, translators, invalids, reporters, and Mexican children bound for schools is the USA.

Our trip will take us to the beginning point in Missouri, across Kansas, Southern Colorado, and then down into New Mexico -- let the trip begin!!

We couldn't very well head north without stopping a few days in Cades Cove in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park - one of our favorite places. We left home on Thursday, March 31st, got to Cades Cove and set up camp for 4 nights. Thursday was a rainy day, but God took care of us and held off on the rain until we had made the trip, stopped for groceries, and got into our site. Then it rained -- heavy during the night.

Friday was a somewhat cloudy day, Saturday was sunny, cool & breezy, and Sunday was cool and beautiful -- cloudless skies all day. Sunday morning was a cool crisp 39 degrees, but warmed up later. Saturday morning we went out to Townsend for breakfast, and Sunday we attended a great worship service at Bethel Baptist Church in Townsend.

It's definitely Spring in the Smokies -- the Redbuds are all in full bloom, the Dogwoods are almost there, and the wildflowers are starting to come out.

There has been lots of rain over the winter and even lately, and all the streams are really full.

We went around the Cades Cove Loop Road almost every day - not a great amount of wildlife. The average number of deer per trip was around 25, with lots of turkeys and an occasional coyote. We did see a buck that had not shed his antlers - even this late in the season. Usually by this time, they have all shed and bumps for the new ones are starting to show.

Today, Monday April 4th, we left Cades Cove and headed northwest. Up through Knoxville, through Nashville, and to Kentucky Dam Village Campground at the head of Kentucky Lake at Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky. This is just an over-nighter - tomorrow on to Missouri.