Tennessee

When we returned from our Norway and Iceland trip on August 1st, we stayed in Tennessee until after Labor Day. During this time, we took two side trips in our Ranger to visit family. In between we had time to see some interesting places in Tennessee.

TENNESSEE STATE CAPITOL

The Tennessee State Capitol sits atop Capitol Hill, the highest point in Downtown Nashville. This Greek Revival building construction began in 1854 and opened in 1859. We visited on a Saturday. It wasn't busy, but there is no access to the interior on weekends.

We climbed the 140 steps to the top, only to find there was a road up there. But we did get our exercise on this warm, humid day.

View of Nashville from the Capitol porch.

TENNESSEE STATE MUSEUM

Adjacent to the State Capitol is the Tennessee State Museum. This museum records the state's history from its first peoples to present day through interactive displays, art, artifacts and documentary films.

The view of the state capitol building from the museum.

Working Printing Press and Demonstration

VISITING SISTER IN MAYSVILLE, KENTUCKY

Leaving our rig behind, we drove to a beautiful Air BnB high on a cliff overlooking the Ohio River. Cathy and Jim drove from Michigan to meet us in this lovely two-bedroom home for four nights.

The large deck also had a treehouse that overlooked the river.

Maysville, Kentucy, is a historic town located downriver from Cincinnati. We enjoyed watching the barge traffic on the river from our perch high above the city.

While we were there, Cathy and Jim celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary. They picked a delicious Italian restaurant in Maysville for their celebration.

VISITING THE GRANDKIDS IN WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

Leaving our rig behind again at Paradise on the Mountain RV in Crossville, Tennessee, we drove our Ranger to Maryland for more family visiting.

Jacob and Logan

Julia took us on a tour of her college, Towson University, where she is enrolled as a math major.

Dinner out with the gang.

Sunday dinner with Julia teaching Grandma how to make homemade fettuccini.

THE HERMITAGE

We spent a day touring Andrew Jackson's historic home and museum. This is one of the nation's oldest and largest historic sites. The 7th president of the United States was often referred to as the People's President.

The carriage road into the home is lined with Eastern Red Cedars.

The Hermitage was built in 1821.

Garden resting place of Andrew Jackson and his beloved wife, Rachel.

Restored Slave Quarters

The Jacksons had up to 150 slave laborers.

The contrast between the two was striking, he was 6'1" and weighed only 140 pounds.

STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD

This significant Civil War battle took place December 31, 1862, through January 2, 1863, engaging over 81,000 men. This battle marked the beginning of the fall of Nashville, the first confederate state capitol to fall. Tennessee was the last southern state to succeed and the first to rejoin the Union.

The Battle of Stones River was one of the bloodiest encounters of the Civil War with over 24,000 casualties.

Over 6,100 Union Soldiers are buried in this National Cemetery, 2,500 of them unknown.

The Hazen Artillery Brigade Monument is in recognition of the men who fought along the Hell's Half Acre line. This monument was built by comrades in 1863 and is the oldest Civil War memorial in existence.

On Our Way to Keflavik, Iceland, and the Airport

On our last full day in Iceland, we explored a National Park. 

PINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK

Pingvellir, aka Thingvellir, has been a special place for Icelandic peoples for over a thousand years. About 930 AD, local clan chiefs began to gather at this geological landmark for annual meetings. 

This surface crevice grows larger as it extends into the lake.

This great fissure is where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates are moving apart. So, half of Iceland sits in America, and the other half is in Europe. The earth's crust is literally being torn apart.

This little creek flows into a small pond and waterfall.

Oxararfoss, meaning Ox Waterfall, plunges over the wall of the rift.

The vertical cliff face is original rock as it was laid down by volcanic eruptions and compressed over the eons.

This is the valley where the clan chieftains set up their temporary living structures. We walked among the archeological foundations. The Law Rock is now marked by a flagpole.

About 930 AD, local clan chiefs began to gather for an annual meeting at this hill, known as The Law Rock. This is where the locals would make laws, settle legal disputes, and arrange marriages.

Churches have sat at this location since 1030. The current church was built in 1859.

Over time, the lakebed has slid into the gap between the plates. Lake Pingvallavatn is very deep and in fact, the deepest parts of the lakebed are actually below sea level. There are snorkeling and diving tours to view the clear, deep fissures in the lakebed.

A paved trail leads from the visitor center in the rift. The North American Plate is on the left, the Eurasian Plate is on the right.

SAYING GOODBYE TO ICELAND

Our last view of Iceland as we flew out of the airport in Keflavik on July 31st.

The skies were clear as we crossed Greenland.

More vast lands with glaciers and waterfalls to explore but not many roads.

This massive glacier was extending down to the fjord.

 

On Our Way to Hruni, Iceland - The Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is composed of three essential sites made up of the Geysir area, Gullfoss and Pingvellir National Park. Ninety percent of tourists only visit this area of Iceland. Many daylong bus trips leave Reykjavik in the morning, returning in the afternoon.

GEYSIR GEOTHERMAL FIELD

Konungshver is a hot pot.

The area's centerpiece, Strokkur, is similar to our Old Faithful. It erupts every five to 10 minutes, sending one quick shot of boiling water 50 feet into the air. 

If you don't have your camera ready and pointing at the Geysir, you will miss the shot.

A green lush valley on the other side of the ridge from the geothermic area.

We walked around and waited for more eruptions of Strokkur.

We weren't disappointed.

GULLFOSS

The falls sit on the wide, glacial Hvita river, which drains from Iceland's interior. The name means "Golden Falls", which is where the name "Golden Circle" is derived. They are called Golden Falls because on a sunny day the falls are said to take on a golden color.

The waterfall has two stages; a rocky upper cascade with a drop of about 35 feet and a lower falls where the water drops 70 feet.

Gullfoss was named as one of the world’s top ten waterfalls by World-of-Waterfalls.

We walked the trail to the upper falls. On this trail we got sprayed from the thunderous falls.

Gullfoss is the largest volume waterfall in Europe.

ICELANDIC HORSES

The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland. The only breed of horses in Iceland, they are also popular internationally.

The breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history. Selective breeding over the centuries has developed the breed into its current form.

From the first day we admired these horses as we traveled Iceland's Ring Road.

ROMANTIC GETAWAY CABIN

This little cabin was a wonderful find, located just off the Golden Circle on a gravel road in a remote area. It came with a hot tub and BBQ grill.

Very new and modern, even had a dishwasher, but still no TV.