Playing in the woods

I decided to stay another night at Lake Barkley State Resort Park so I could spend the day exploring the Land Between the Lakes. The sun was out, the sky was blue and I needed a day outside in the woods.

Since my sister Judy moved to Lexington some 40 years ago, I have often traveled to Kentucky, sometimes twice a year. But, even though we got to Louisville and Mammoth Caves many times, and even south to the Smokeys, I’ve never made it to the southwest corner of the state. And its amazing! Even though it’s not too green yet, the rivers, lakes, hillsides and towering trees are beautiful. And of course, there’s the rocks.

After stopping at the Visitor Center, I headed down to the Homeplace 1850s Farm, a working farm and living history museum. Dressed in period clothing, farm staff demonstrated their work chores on the farm, such as making soap, weaving, and splitting logs into roof shingles. There were also sheep, big oxen and chickens (I didn’t see the pigs or mules.) And, I found some great rocks in the stream running thru the farm.

I decided to skip the Woodlands Nature Station and instead took a hike at Hematite Lake, meandering at times up and down the hills thru the woods. I also found some cool fossil rocks.

Around dusk, I drove thru the Bison/Elk Prairie. There were over a dozen elk grazing. They are massive and the males’ antlers were huge! Unfortunately, I didn’t see any bison. Being there did bring back memories of seeing buffalo up close at Yellowstone National Park many years ago with my kids.

I hurried back to the lodge to catch the sunset. Oops — time change today so I was an hour early and it was cloudy, so no sunset to see.

I’ve decided to drive home tomorrow. I may hide in my house for a day or 2. Not sure I’m ready but there’s just nowhere I want to visit right now between here and Ann Arbor. So, that’s the plan.

what I learned today: 1. how wood shingles are made; and 2. elk have really big tongues!