Sunday, September 6, 2020

THREE STATES SALUTE – August 18 - 20, 2020

AUGUST 18  I had made a tentative itinerary before our departure, planning on 3-4 hours of driving each day and an eight driving day trip.  Day three was planned to take us to another Army Corp property – and another dam!  As life (and my never-ending ability to change my mind) would have it, a State Park another half hour’s drive past the original plan boasted a more lush setting and I got myself excited about it.

The ride was uneventful for the most part and the scenery was beautiful with the mountainous terrain of eastern Tennessee.  We stopped for lunch at the dam of our original destination but got right back on the road.  We crossed several state lines that day saying goodbye to Tennessee, a jaunt through Kentucky and ending up in Illinois at Fern Clyffe State Park.

Covid makes for a unique feel everywhere and parks are no different.  We arrived to find no staff on site including no camp host (a day off, apparently).  Neighboring campers filled us in on protocol and we grabbed a site and set up without further ado. 

Fern Clyffe had some unusual geographic features with rich vegetation covering massive stone outcroppings making for some interesting hiking.  The park boasts a waterfall but, being late in the summer, there was barely a trickle.  We meandered further finding an inviting lake before calling it quits for the day.

Wanting a campfire, we gathered what we could find and set about the task when neighbor, Bob, brought three great pieces by and we ended up with a fine fire to wind down to before a game of cards and ending the day. 







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