October 1, 2007

Monday October 1st This morning we drove to the Pinnacle Overlook at the Cumberland Gap National Park. You get a spectacular view of three states- Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. (picture) We have a "National Park Passport Book" and we enjoy finding new places to visit so when you go there. You get your book stamped validated with a date when you were there. They also have a Beautiful stamp that has a picture of the Park. The "Cumberland Gap" trail which is one of the very few natural corridors through the "Appalachian Mountains. It was discovered in 1750 and was used for foot traffic until 1796 when it was improved and opened to wagon traffic. In the years 1780-1810 between 200,000 and 300,000 people crossed the gap heading west. Daniel Boone had a great part in blazing the trail that became the primary way to the West until 1830's when railroads and canals improved east-west travel elsewhere. In 1996 U.S. 25E road tunnel completed, bypassing the gap. In 2002, the Gap landscape was restored to its 1810 appearance. We hiked to the saddle of the Gap, to put ourselves back in history and away from the rest of the world and noises. It was a neat experience for us that warm Sunday afternoon.