West Point Military Academy

The United States Military Academy at West Point, besides being the oldest military academy in our country, is also a national historic landmark.  I had been to the Academy in the early seventies, but Sid had never seen it, so it made the bucket list of places to see.

In many ways, it's just like any other military base, with an exchange and commissary and all the other facilities you find on an ordinary army post.  The difference here is the history. The Continental Army first occupied the site, Benedict Arnold tried to sell the fort to the British and Thomas Jefferson directed the establishment of West Point as a military academy.  Many of its graduates went on to serve on both the Union and Confederate sides of the Civil War and the academy has produced famous generals, presidents and even astronauts.

The post itself is sited on the eastern most point on the Hudson River and has beautiful views of the Hudson River.

View of the Hudson from the grounds of the Academy

One of the academic halls used by cadets

The architecture of most of the original buildings was described to me as military gothic.  Most of the older buildings were undergoing renovation while we were there, so they were generally covered with scafolding  and not picture worthy.  But they are build with gray and black granite and look like what you would think a fort would look like, turrets and all.s

The grounds are lovely, with many commemorative statues and monuments everywhere.  Surpisiningly, one of the monuments, the Army mule, sits on the street in the little town just outside one of the gates.

Recognizing the role the mule has played at West Point

We spent a bit of time in the cemetery, as well as the chapel, both of which are steeped in history.  Many well known alumni are buried her, including General George Custer.

Custer's marker

His wife insisted upon returning Custer's body from where is was originally buried near the Battle of the Little Bighorn.  She is interred next to him.

Interior of the new Cadet Chapel

Every bit as beautiful as the inside of the Air Force Academy chapel, many of the mandatory single cadets are married here right after graduation.

We also spent time in the West Point Musuem where they display an amazing amount of genuine military paraphenalia.

West Point museum

Overall, the Academy is pretty impressive.  Tours are not limited to those affiliated with our military, so if you ever are in the area, plan to spend a day checking out West Point.

Until next time...

Another "Cruise!"

The Dixie Belle

Sid boarding the riverboat

After touring Shaker Village (in my last post) we also got the opportunity to cruise along a stretch of the Kentucky River Palisades on the Dixie Belle Riverboat.  The Palisades section are steep scenic gorges lined in Kentucky limestone cut eons ago through the landscape and provided beautiful views for us.

The Palisades

The Dixie Belle is a 115 passenger paddle wheeler riverboat and the narrated hour-long tour is entertaining and educational.  Did you know the Kentucky River is the only river in the U.S. that is completely contained in its home state?  

Turtles sunning themselves on the Kentucky River

We saw turtles, fish, ducks and even a bald eagle flew overhead!  Relatively clean, the water in the river is green due to the algae that grows in it, but is used as drinking water in some communities.

The route went under High Bridge, the tallest railroad bridge in the world until the earliest 20th century.  On our way back, two trains passed over us!

High Bridge

A tad cooler on the river, the ride was a nice break from sightseeing and walking.  At only $10, it was a good time for the money!

Until next time...

Smoky Mountain National Park

Smoky Mountain National Park has always been on Sid's bucket list.  We spent a total of three days in the park and came nowhere near seeing it all.  I've been putting of writing this post because I know there's no way I can show or describe just how beautiful the park is.

As those of you that live in Colorado know, the Rocky Mountains are diverse in appearance from one end to the other.  The Smokies that we saw lacked that diversity, but were nonetheless stunning.  The variety of vegetation and the numerous streams that provide the moisture for all the lushness set the scene for delightful drives and, if you're up to it, wonderful hikes on the many trails through the park.  The woods are full of such a mixture of hard wood trees, evergreens, flowering trees and bushes and vines growing everywhere.

These were just some of the views we saw on our drives.  Some of the drives in the park are barely cut through the vegetation and you can't really take pictures.  It's easy to see where, given just a short lack of attention, the trees and vines would overtake the road very quickly.

We didn't see much wildlife, but did manage to get a glimpse of this guy...

Yes, I saw a bear!!!

The traffic in some places reminded me of RMNP during elk bugling season...

There wasn't even a bear at the front of this line!

And this sign, reminding me of our friend Bob P., was certainly unusual...

A new caution sign for my collection

The National Park Service has done a great job of preserving history in the park.  Multiple original homesteads have been restored and kept as historical proof that pioneers settled and lived in these mountains long before it became a park.

Cades Cove is one of the mountain valleys in the area.  The area was originally settled between 1818 and 1821 and today contains faithfully restored buildings that represent a working farm of the period.  One, a farmhouse that was owned and occupied by Rebecca Cable until her death .in 1940.

"Aunt" Becky Cable

The farmhouse was originally a store, then a residence and boarding house.  It never had indoor plumbing.

There is a working gristmill on the property and you can purchase cornmeal or flour in the gift shop.

The mill

Water wheel for grinding corn

Finally, I thought this interesting...

While the elevation is nothing like you find in the Rockies, the terrain is just as brutal and beautiful.

If you love the outdoors, consider making a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains.  It's a reminder of just how beautiful our country is from coast to coast.

Until next time...

Relaxing at Lake Eufala

We've spent the last week relaxing at Lake Eufala in a very nice little member-owned RV park with full amenities.  Despite mostly crummy weather, we have managed to do a little sightseeing, with a lots of decompressing and resting in between.

Lake Eufala,  a reservoir about 120 miles due east of Oklahoma City, is located on the same Canadian River that we encountered in Texas and is the largest lake in Oklahoma.  It's a multi-branched lake with little hidden coves everywhere.  While we didn't go completely around the lake, the areas we did visit were full of RV parks, state campgrounds and housing developments.

The dam creates one of the world's largest man-made lakes

Holding the lake water

The Canadian River below the dam

Below the dam a mile or so, on Highway 71, you come to a place called Younger's Bend.   Originally situated on a bend in the Canadian River before the dam was built, it is thought to be named after Cole Younger, a member of the infamous James-Younger gang.

Hand carved sign  

It's on a bend in the road and easy to miss, but, luckily, we were looking for it.  The site is best known as the home of and final resting place for Belle Starr, Queen of the Oklahoma Outlaws.  Initially unknown outside Texas, Belle's exploits in horse thievery, aiding and abetting rustlers and her association with Jesse James and the Younger brothers were popularized in dime novels. Murdered in an ambush on her way home from a dance, no one knows for certain the circumstances or perpetrator of the her death, but her final wish was to be buried "on the Canadian...far from society..."

Final resting place of Belle Starr.  She was only 40 when she died.

Belle Starr headstone

The crypt is on private property, but a steep, twisty trail leads you up a hill about a quarter of a mile through the woods.  It is very peaceful and beautiful, so I like to think that Belle appreciates the people who take the time to ascend and pay her tribute!

Until next time...

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