Two Kentucky Hikes-June, 2013

Today,  I'll divide this post into two parts... These are two interesting hikes that George and I took when we were at Pine Mountain State Resort Park  in Kentucky on June  19 and 20, 2013 (on our Anniversary Trip). 

The first hike was on June 19 to visit the IRON FURNACE in Cumberland Gap,  Tennessee.   We had seen the Iron Furnace before --but this time,  we wanted to see  Gap Creek as it flowed loudly down the mountain... (Click HERE to see Gap Creek when we hiked on another trail higher up in the mountain.)

In 1819,  a 30-foot high blast furnace was built at  Newlee Iron Furnace to produce IRON which was shipped down the Powell River to factories in Chattanooga.  To produce one ton of iron,  the furnace required an exact recipe of 200 bushels of charcoal,  2 tons of iron ore,  and 500 pounds of limestone---all of which would be lit and joined inside the furnace.  The daily product produced here was 3.25 tons at a cost of $19.40 per ton in 1877 figures!!!!

Only remains are left of the Iron Furnace,  which was in operation from about 1820 until 1880 (except during the Civil War years).   The photo above is of the remains of the Iron Furnace.  The furnace was built of sandstone with a liner of firebrick. (Click on all of the photos for enlargements.)

This  is Gap Creek ---flowing down that mountain...

I took this picture of George while we were admiring Gap Creek...

George took this special 'water' photo of Gap Creek.  Isn't that a great photo?

While George took his special pictures,  I sat and enjoyed hearing the roaring cascade as it flowed down the mountain.






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The second hike we took was to CHAINED ROCK above Pineville,  Kentucky,  on June 20, 2013.  There is a HUGE rock on top of the mountain right ABOVE the little town of Pineville,  Kentucky...  As the legend goes,  the town's children were told that the rock would not come down on them since it had been 'chained'....

In 1932,  a local town committee decided to 'really' chain the rock, and chain it big enough so that people could see the chain from the ground below.  SO--with much difficulty,  a battery of more than 50 men alongside a team of mules  heaved that huge chain up the mountain...

On June 24, 1933,  the job was accomplished---and they 'secured' the rock... BUT--more significantly,  they made themselves a first-rate tourist attraction.  People came from near and far to see that huge chain and rock.

Today,  the chain (101 feet long and spanning a 75' gap) still hangs over Pineville.   The chain reportedly weighs more than a ton!!!!!  Visitors continually ask the question:  "Is there any danger that the rock 'could' fall on Pineville?"   The answer is NO.  The 'rock' itself is no more than a jutting mass of bedrock that is part and parcel of the rest of the cliff face.   It's not a loose boulder at all... BUT---it's fun to visit here ---and learn about this 'legend'.

Above is a photo of the big rock ---and the chain.... That rock really is on the edge of the mountain looking down into Pineville...

Here's  another photo looking at the chain in the other direction.

We walked over lots of big rocks to get to Chained Rock.  It was a little tricky in spots--but worth the hike!

Here is the SIGN posted at Chained Rock.   You'll need to enlarge this one in order to read it.

This is a picture from Chained Rock --looking down at the town of Pineville.

And here is a photo taken the next day (June 21) from downtown Pineville ---looking back up at Chained Rock on that mountain.  This is taken with my long lens.

Back up on the mountain,  here is another view of the surrounding area from up there.

While on our hike to the Chained Rock,  I noticed this weird tree --with its roots growing out of the rocks...  Amazing!!!!   AND if you have a good imagination,  see if you can see someone sitting there!!!!!  You can see the legs, feet,  and arms!!!!!!   See it?????????

Finally,   here is a neat photo showing the sky and clouds that day.. It was a terrific day to be out hiking!!!!

Hope you enjoyed going hiking with us today!!!!!  Both the Iron Furnace and Chained Rock were interesting places to visit... Isn't it amazing how many terrific places one can see when getting out in the world!!!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.  See you Monday.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Pine Mountain State Resort Park -June 19-21, 2013

Pine Mountain State Park Lodge,  Kentucky

We took a short vacation to Kentucky in June to celebrate our Anniversary.  We spent two nights at the Pine Mountain State Park Lodge and two nights in Corbin.   We absolutely LOVE this lodge and restaurant ---and will return in October to see the Fall Leaf Colors with friends.   Today,  I will share a little of this beautiful state park lodge with you.  I hope you can visit this area sometime since there is SO much beauty around here to enjoy!  The photo above shows the front entrance to the lodge.  Be sure to enlarge the photos for bigger pictures.

George sitting on the lodge porch. 

This is another view of some of the rooms at the lodge.

Here I am sitting on one of the little benches around the grounds... This is a wonderful place just to come and relax ---and maybe even read a good book!!!!

Another view of the grounds around the lodge

This is George standing outside of our room.   We were in the last building on the left of the lodge/restaurant --and loved our room.  It was quiet and we had a great view from our back porch.

Here  was our view looking at the woods/mountains while sitting on our back porch.

Our back porch;   We loved sitting out there doing our daily devotions and just enjoying the quietness around us.  Our room had a king bed,  flatscreen TV,  microwave and frig  (all the conveniences of home!)....

We're on our way to breakfast at the delicious lodge restaurant.  Our building was the last building you can see in this photo.  We ate breakfast at the lodge both mornings and one of the evenings we were there. The food was delicious.

Here we are in the restaurant.  Look at our VIEW from the big picture windows in the restaurant.   There's FOG in the valley below.  (We saw fog in the valley BOTH mornings when we went to breakfast.   SO gorgeous!)

Look what else we enjoyed while having breakfast.    They have bird feeders (on pulleys) near all of the windows of the restaurant... You can imagine how much I loved that... This is a cute picture of a NUTHATCH eating upside down...   I loved watching not only the FOG --but also the BIRDS while we ate breakfast.

Here's one more photo from the lodge restaurant that morning of the FOG in the Valley below.   One of the people working at the restaurant  took us to another place in the lodge where we could open the windows and take photos of the fog and mountains WITHOUT the glass glare!  Wasn't that nice of them to do that?

WELL---we didn't get paid anything to promote this place,  but we just love it so much that we want to tell the world how much!!!!!  While at the state park,  there are lots and lots of things to do.  Besides the lodge,  this resort park has cabins for rent.  They offer picnicking,  hiking,  nature studies,  swimming,  golf and many other options.  For more information about this state park,  click HERE.

We took several great hikes while here --and even saw one small waterfall (Honeymoon Falls)...  It's just a great place to take a vacation!

Have a great Wednesday and now pop over to my Photo Blog (click HERE)  to see a photo from one of our hikes in that park.

Hugs,

Emoticons

Visits to the PINNACLE at Cumberland Gap, TN/VA/KY

A view of KENTUCKY from the Pinnacle

George and I love visiting the PINNACLE at Cumberland Gap,  TN/VA/KY ---and managed to go there twice during our Anniversary trip (June 19-23, 2013).   The Pinnacle is an overlook on top of the mountain above Cumberland Gap.   You can drive to the parking area and then walk the rest of the way up there.

The first four photos were taken during the afternoon of June 19.  The remaining photos were taken that night --as we watched the sun go down in the west... The park closes at dark---so once it starts REALLY getting dark,  we have to high-tail it outta there!!!!!! OR else, they'd lock the gates and we'd be stuck inside all night!!!!!  (Maybe that wouldn't be a bad idea though... ha ha )

Be sure to click on the pictures for enlargements... Hope you enjoy seeing some of our views from the Pinnacle.

A view of VIRGINIA from the Pinnacle

A view of TENNESSEE from the Pinnacle

Here is a photo I took of George as we hiked to the PINNACLE.  This is a neat trail --and even people in wheel chairs can come up here (since it is paved).

Another view of KENTUCKY as the sun was beginning to go down in the west

We went back that evening after dinner to get some good sky pictures as the sun went down.

Sunset from the Pinnacle

Shame on those trees for being in the way of 'my' sunset.... BUT--we're going back there in October ---and I should be able to see the sunset from the Pinnacle then.

Oh those glorious clouds as the sun was setting

Pretty clouds and an almost-full-moon!

This was on June 19--and the Super Moon (Fullmoon) was on the 23rd...  So--you can tell that we not only enjoyed seeing those gorgeous colorful clouds --but we also enjoyed the moon that evening... Neat, huh?

A view of KENTUCKY after SUNSET

This is the 3rd photo  from this spot I have showed you on this post... Amazing how different things look when the sky is different!!!  (That is Fern Lake showing off its reflections.)

As we left the parking area (at 'almost' dark)----we stopped on the other side of the mountain.   George took this picture of me standing up on top of a rock getting ready to take pictures.

Looking down at the city lights of Pineville, KY

I love seeing the lights of cities at both sunrise and sunset.... Even though there is a ridge between us,  you can see some of the city lights of the town of Pineville, KY.

I'll close this post with one more photo showing how beautiful the clouds were that evening  (June 19, 2013) from the PINNACLE after sunset....

Hope you enjoyed seeing more of our photos from our Anniversary trip... We enjoy taking photos and then sharing them.

Have a fabulous day.

Hugs,

Emoticons