Day-31 Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois

Truly an 'Americana' day!   Traveling through early American historical places brings childhood school history pages to life.    The day began in darkness in Marietta, Georgia.    Drove north on I-75 and changed to I-24 just before Chattanooga, Tennessee.    Stopped at the Welcome Center.   Had the look of a Tennessee mountain home inside :

Drove at little more on I-24 before venturing on Hwy.41.    Had breakfast with Southern-sounding folks at the Depot Cafe in Monteagle, Tenn.     Continued my adventures on Hwy.41 through steep hills and fall foliage dropping down into some beautiful ranch country with lots of cattle and horses.   It appears that every house, whether 1-story or more, has columns in front of the house.

stock - arch. design photo

Drove through Manchester, Tenn.   Saw a sign for Old Stone Fort.   Had to see what this is.

Drove into the site.

Walked down the trail.   Beautiful fall day.   30-deg. cooler than Georgia, yesterday!

Also around Manchester were signs for historical old distilleries like Jack Daniels. I was driving, so no.
Continuing on Hwy.41, I found a few more historical signs.

I think they meant to say .. 'Feinting'   make a deceptive or distracting movement ..

Drove into Murfreesboro and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a sign .. " .. ____ Battlefield" !!

It was for the STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD.     Never been to one.    Oh My !

This visit threw off my whole day!    But what a FUN but sobering visit.     Young me was rejoicing to now visit what I had read and studied about, but now-me was sadly thinking what a tragic time this was for families in many states.   This was one of the bloodiest battles.    Why?

After a walk around several sites on the battlefield and reflection time, it was time to get on the road.

Still a very long way to drive to get to Decatur, Ill. by dinner (late) time, I jumped back onto I-24 and drove through Nashville, wishing I had time to visit.    

Welcome to Kentucky!

Crossed the Ohio River, wow!  It's wider than the Columbia!   Stopped at Grand Rivers, KY for a few more historical signs and a look at the marina where the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers come together.

Then I REALLY had to hustle!  I had to cover a lot of highway in Illinois!    I will have more pic's and interesting historical info. on Illinois in the next couple of days.    I arrived in Decatur .. ~ 6:35pm.

Charlotte & Tom & (4) dogs came out to greet me.

Another full day.   Another adventurous back roads driving day.   Fun to see small town America!

It got me thinking.    uh-oh

Maybe next Spring's .. East Coast road-trip to DC-museum-visiting and college-lacrosse-watching, I should think about doing the entire 7-8,000 mile trip on back roads, no interstate highway travel ...

today's trip mileage :  646

accumulated trip mileage :  5688