Thursday, March 27, 2014

LouTex Day 32

March 26, 2014

Yep, it was a cold night. There was even frost on many rooftops as we headed out of town towards the Shiloh Battlefield. But it was a sunny and bright morning.

There were more Daffodils, Forsythia and Pear Trees in bloom, and it was nice to see the colour despite the chill. Along the country road, someone had even put up blue-painted bird boxes everywhere!

We spent three hours at Shiloh, starting with the National Cemetery (Union, of course; the Confederates are mostly in mass graves on the battlefield):

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Though we are very interested in Civil War sites while on our travels, I still have so much difficulty keeping everything straight. And occasionally, the bias of the state (North or South) affects how things are presented. But mostly, there is great pride.

We got “lost” on our first attempt at the driving tour (only could happen to us) but lucked in to the Eagle Nesting Area, and spent an hour or more looking at and taking pictures of one adult American Bald Eagle and one Eaglet (maybe two weeks old) in the HUGE nest:

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We left and drove the tour properly and again, I was affected by the loss of life that would have occurred so horribly here:

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We headed back to the Trace and passed through Savannah, TN and saw about 20 inmates doing yard work in a municipal garden. They were being overseen by the Warden, who was just standing there, eating peanuts. Interesting.

We got to the Meriwether Lewis free campground on the Trace and saw signs and fire trucks for a “Planned Burn”. As we climbed to the camping area (with nobody stopping us), we were deluged with the sight and smell of smoke and the sight of smouldering and burning trees. No staying here:

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The Camp Host suggested the Fall Hollow Campground just up the road, and we are here for one night ($22). It’s in a beautiful setting with very nice owners. We hiked a little, I continued my hike with the campground doggie, Roscoe, and we’re snug with electricity for the computer and heater (but no TV):

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Today’s Cat’s Eye View is Mandy helping me blog:

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And here’s the view of our hollow from my chair:

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Tomorrow begins the long, two or three-day drive home.

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