The campground is actually located in Clarksville, Indiana across the Ohio River from Louisville. The leaves were changing colors so we took several long motor scooter rides on back roads along the river. One time we hit that dreaded sign "Road Closed Ahead" so we had to ride on interstate I-64 back to the city, but the scooter had no problem keeping up with the flow of traffic cruising 72 mph. Since the scooter gets 60 miles per gallon it is not only fun but cheap transportation.

The second Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Signature Event was October 14 - 26 on both sides of the river so we took in many of the events. (We are traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail next summer so we'll be writing a lot about Lewis and Clark. This month we added a full page article on those men and the Corps of Discovery.) Louisville had a free breakfast, entertainment and speeches on opening day, but the rest of the ceremonies were canceled due to heavy rain and wind. A statue of York, Clark's slave, was unveiled on the riverfront and it was raining so hard we did not attend. York was the first African American to cross the United States. The governor, mayor, congresswoman and other dignitaries were asked to return the next day to continue the opening ceremonies and we returned too.

After many short speeches and entertainment Meriwether Lewis came down the Ohio River in his keel boat and came ashore to shake hands with William Clark. We walked to the riverfront and studied the keel boat and asked many questions of the crew. The "nine young men from Kentucky" who became the core of the Corps of Discovery were dressed in uniform and camped nearby. Those men were eager to answer all our questions and they knew their history well. There were many display tents with Indian artifacts and information on Lewis and Clark and the National Park Service gave us their Media Press Guide since we plan to follow the trail and write about it.

Clay Jenkinson from Lewis and Clark College of Portland, Oregon portrayed Thomas Jefferson one night and Meriwether Lewis the next night at the Louisville Free Public Library. His talks were so interesting the two hour sessions seemed to go by in thirty minutes.

When Lewis arrived to meet Clark and pick up the men from Kentucky they had to cross the Falls of the Ohio, a two mile long rapids flowing over ancient fossil beds. Today a lock and dam has made navigation easier but also flooded many of the fossils. The day we visited the river was low so we walked across fossils imbedded in rocks millions of years old. A ranger joined us and explained the many fossils and how old they are. As part of the Lewis and Clark commemoration Shawnee Indians were at the falls demonstrating Indian culture and lifestyle changes.

Our next stop was the beautiful Kentucky Horse Park campground north of Lexington. It has always been one of our favorite campgrounds since the sites are large, the park is immaculately manicured and there is much to see and do in the area. While there we washed the motorhome, visited Norm's son Darren and his wife Martha and mostly relaxed. One day we took an eighty mile drive through Kentucky horse farms, the most beautiful horse farms in the world. The farms breed, raise and train many breeds of horses - thoroughbreds, Morgans, quarter horses, saddle horses and even mules. This year did not not visit the Horse Park itself because we have been there before. Even if you are not a horse fan we recommend you visit the park and spend all day there. When you leave you will be a horse fan.

We usually avoid interstate highways but the drive down I-75 through eastern Kentucky and Tennessee was beautiful. Trees were in full color and every hill and valley showed a different color. This was the third time in five years we followed fall colors down the eastern Appalachian Mountains and the colors are always different. Experts say the colors are determined by summer and fall rains and late fall temperatures. We grew up watching fall colors but still get excited seeing leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, red and crimson.

Home Again - Raccoon Valley

The third campground we stayed in when we started fulltiming was Raccoon Valley RV Park, near Heiskell, Tennessee, owned and operated by the Escapees RV Club. We fell in love with the park and the friendly Escapees who camp there and often compare other campgrounds to Raccoon Valley, but others seldom come close. Again, this stay was a positive experience with managers Bob and Shirley Chrimes doing a great job. We stayed one week and seldom left the park. There is much to see and do in the area but we had been there several times and seen it all. For those new to the area we recommend you see Smoky Mountain National Park, Gatlinburg, music shows, Museum of the Appalachia, Norris Dam and Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Energy Museum.

On arrival we were greeted by several old friends and we made several new friends before leaving. Some of those we met were Doug and Ann Craw, Ken and Joyce Carlson, Reed and Margaret Moser, Ron and JerriLea Hopf, Nick and Terry Russell and Joei Carlton Hossack. Norm had a special visitor, Harry Brooks, a Tennessee State Representative, who is also a RVer. They discussed motorhomes, traveling, Tennessee State Parks and a reservation system for the parks. A few days later Harry brought his wife Mary and the four of us had a good visit and went to a restaurant for lunch. If Tennessee's other representatives are like Harry the state is in good hands.

While at Raccoon Valley talked to many of the campers, Linda attended craft classes and taught others how to make Wal*Mart bag rugs and went on a lady's day out. We attended a campground eat-in, Bluegrass music (16 people playing and singing), a pancake breakfast, ice cream social and daily 4:00 p.m. Happy Hours. In addition to Linda teaching crafts we volunteered to be the clean-up crew for the pancake breakfast and we served ice cream at the Sunday social. We recommend everyone stay a week or two at Escapees Raccoon Valley whether you are an Escapees member or not.

Below are a few pictures of some friends, park activities and the surrounding area.
 

Ron and JerriLea Hopf	Margaret and Reed Moser	Mary and Harry Brooks	Shirley and Bob Chrimes
Pancake Breakfast	Linda with Crafts	Bluegrass Music Jam	Smoky Mountain Area
	Smokey Mountain Area	Norris Lake