Take the Last Train to Clarksville

I think I failed to mention our Tennessee destination, we're in Clarksville, Tennessee. It's an old river town. The older downtown area is perched on a bluff overlooking the Cumberland River. Yes, the same Cumberland River that recently flooded Nashville. The lower portions Clarksville were also flooded.

The old railroad trestle has high water marks painted on one of the steel beams and it's hard to imagine the water rising to some of the levels indicated by horizontal paint lines.

The old downtown was forever altered when a tornado ripped through in 1999.

CLARKSVILLE TORNADO

Over the years the town has grown, the long strip of land out near the interstate has become a mecca of shopping and chain restaurants. The loss of regional indentity (good southern home cooking restaurants) and local businesses in the downtown area is a significant blow to the identity of the area. (My opinion) A man in the elevator at our hotel commented on the same subject.

"They call it progress", he said.

We all nodded our heads in agreement.

If you're ever headed down to Nashville on I-24, be sure to get off and check out Clarksville. Fort Campbell is just across the bridge over the Cumberland, in Kentucky. It's the home of the 101st Airborne Division and tours are given starting at Gate 4.

If you take the road west out into the country you can find a wonderful barbecue stand out past Tarsus Road. It's called Shiloh barbecue. But be warned, he's only open 3 days a week.

If you continue a little further west and north you'll come to Fort Donelson. In the summertime college students portray Civil War soldiers in a renactment camp.

Find The Trace, which is the road leading up and through the Land Between the Lakes. There are herds of bison and my favorite living history farm, The Homeplace. Reenactors work the farm daily and year-round, as it was worked in the 1800's. The time of year will dictate what you will see. In the fall they will be smoking hams in the smoke house. Every day the women will be cooking a meal in the open hearth. Don't miss this interesting place.

Travel north to the end of the Trace and you'll find Patti's 1880's Restaurant. The food in great. Have the beef sandwich with the French Dressing. But Patti's is known for their pies!!! And you know, I'm all about the pie. I've baked her Sawdust Pie for you before.

Sunday morning we are leaving Clarksville and traveling to the Homeplace and Patti'
s for lunch. I'll give you a review when I return. Maybe tomorrow if I'm not too road weary.

Thank you all for being here for me and for all the kind comments concerning Gene's passing. My cousin has grief work to be done, as Vee has mentioned. But she is so grateful beyond measure for having such a wonderful man in her life for 45 years.

Until tomorrow.......