Fall Colours Tour 2014: Murfreesboro and Franklin, Tennessee

We left Sevierville/Pigeon Forge Wed morning (Oct 22nd) and stopped in Knoxville/Farragut, TN at a Costco to restock fish and veg supplies. It was yet another amazing Costco with a paved hiking/jogging trail running behind it alongside a bushy, creek area. The cats had a great rest stop! They enjoyed being in the trailer while we did our shopping too... both of them love it when the slides are in.

We drove into Christiana, TN on Thurs (Oct 23rd) - which is about 45 min east of Nashville, and a bit south of Murfreesboro (pronounced "Murphy's Burrow") to visit our friends, Ron Vaughn & Shayna Perkins. We are parked on their property and it's very lovely with lots of grass & trees for the cats to explore. They have better walks here than most campgrounds.

Shayna is a photographer, specializing in women's photos, and she won 2nd place in the Murfreesboro competition, which had its reception that night. Check out her work - it's gorgeous... http://southerngirlphotography.net/

Sam continues his quest to be in trees. He is really very good at climbing up. He just can't seem to navigate his way down, that's all.

Woodstock, Ron & Shayna's lab/shepherd pup, was surprised to find 2 kitties in his backyard when he came outside to do his business. He chased Sam, who moved faster than I've ever seen him move (!) and John got another opportunity to help Sam out of a tree. There was no argument from Sam that time...

Friday (Oct 24th) Shayna, John & I headed to Franklin, TN, which is about 1/2 an hour away from Christiana. We toured the Carnton Plantation, which became a field hospital during the bloody Battle of Franklin in the Civil War. The owners, the McGavocks, took in over 300 of the wounded in the aftermath of the battle, and Carrie McGavock became a living legend of generosity & empathy. The McGavocks designated two acres of land adjacent to their family cemetery as a final burial place for nearly 1,500 of the Confederate soldiers killed during the battle. The McGavock Confederate Cemetery is the largest privately owned military cemetery in the nation.

The grounds of the plantation were absolutely beautiful, with many plants still flowering! We are a bit ahead of autumn in some parts of this area; there is still an abundance of colour - it's just not always in the trees.

We then drove to the northern entrance to the Natchez Trace Parkway, near Franklin, TN and walked along the incredible Arched Bridge. It is 479m (1,572ft) long, and is 44m (145ft) high, carrying the Natchez Trace parkway over Hwy 96.

View from the bridge

Best pic of us this whole trip.
(and the only one taken by a professional photographer!)

We next drove in to the town of Franklin, and toured the historic downtown area, with lovely old buildings (lots of brick, like I like) and gorgeous late 18th century and early 19th century homes.