Best Life

 Despite an early night we awakened later than usual.  That plus yesterday's extended park visit - I had to choose wisely with our stops today.  Our goal to arrive in RI sometime on Monday meant we had needed to cover at least 400 miles.   My choice - Draper's Valley in Pulaski, Virginia.  Gorgeous.  Not too far from the highway, a great place to wander and stretch.  And it was the last bit of sunshine until early evening! The remainder of the Sunday drive - agonizing.  So many trucks and people, all attempting to arrive somewhere fast. We landed for the night in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.    A brand new hotel - Microtel - that fits our needs perfectly.  A cute little, historic town that had great BBQ.  We managed a few more steps after dinner strolling around the nearly empty downtown. The plan - early departure and afternoon arrival in RI!

 After dropping the kids and the rental car off at the airport, we headed north and west.  We had no real plan and while checking out the area I found Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  Why not? We wound up spending almost 5 hours driving through the western end of the park along the loop road and Cades Cove.  With intermittent rain getting out of the car was minimal.  Lots of spots to pull over  and check out the creeks, old buildings and churches, fields and horses.  The only wildlife we saw - turkeys (not surprising since we never actually entered the woods).  The mist was prevalent and beautiful.  Very glad we made the detour and I would definitely return and hike to some of the waterfalls.  I would choose any day other than a weekend though - way too many cars even in the less than perfect weather. We have landed in Bristol, Virginia, just over the border.  Cold and rainy we have no desire to do anything but take hot showers...

  Our morning adventure - The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.  When thinking of music and the greatest songs, the thought of the logistics -  minimal.  The composer, engineers, band - all just a passing thought.  This museum focuses on all the great musicians behind the artists.  A museum very well done.  Lots of interactive areas where everyone can be the star singing or the engineer adjusting the sounds or be the drummer, keyboard or guitarist.                                                         The silver and platinum wall. Tons of memorabilia, anecdotes and narrated history.  This museum was more than anticipated.  I highly recommend! After a very quick lunch in a sketchy park we headed to Marathon Works.  Since Paul and I had visited a few days ago and though...

 Today's first adventure took us to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky (a Scott recommendation).  Well worth the 1.5 hour drive.  The state park is over 52,000 acres and the cave system over 400 miles long and 379 feet deep.  The temperature in the cave - 54 degrees.  Outside temperature low 70s.  Very impressive.                                                                Brianna's alleged favorite part - the squishy,                                                              soapy disinfecting mat outside the cave.                   ...