FRIDAY - I went online last night before going to bed to check and see if the campsite we have reserved for tonight was vacant last night.
Turns out it was vacant, so we're going to take a chance and see if we can check-in early, and I mean real early, like even before check-out time comes around early.
We're currently in a Walmart parking lot where we spent last night and it's getting pretty busy, and pretty noisy around here with all the renovations a crew is making to the facade of the building. Not to mention the store has been open for nearly three hours now and the parking lot is filling up fast, making it more difficult by the minute to maneuver our way out of here.
During the 78-mile route between Walmart in Norton, VA and the Wilderness Road Campground in the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park we were delighted to see more of the fall colors showing up along the roadway.
We arrrived at the campground at around 11:00AM and the first thing we did was stop at the dump station and fill our fresh water tank with enough water to last through our 4-day visit here.
While at the dump station the camphost came by and asked us if we were just arriving. After we told her YES she asked if we were aware that check-out time wasn't until 1:00PM, and that anyone currently on the site had until then to vacate it.
I told her I checked and no one had it reserved for last night. Then she said she would be by after 1:00PM to hang our permit on the post and we should be fine in the meantime.
That was easy! Why can't they all be this way?
After getting all set up and having lunch we decided to drive over to the Visitor Center to get my Passport Book stamped and watch the short movies they offer about the history of the Cumberland Gap.
Who knew that during the 5.8-mile drive to the Visitor Center we would travel through 3 states (VA-TN-KY) and a nearly 1-mile long tunnel to get there.
Upon our arrival at the Cumberland Gap Tunnel we found traffic stopped and the tunnel closed?
That semi-truck must be carrying hazardous material is getting an escort through the tunnel.
It was only a few minutes later before we had the green light to proceed through the tunnel.
2 separate 2-lane tunnels (east & west bound) are connected by passageways every 300'.
The tunnel was finally completed in October of 1996 after six years of construction.
We'll have to return to the Visitor Center tomorrow morning at 9:00AM for a special tour of the nearby Hensley Settlement which was occupied from 1903 until 1951 by as many as 100 people at a time.
SATURDAY - At 10:00AM this morning we and eight other tour patrons piled into a 4x4 Freightliner Van, powered by Mercedes, along with our Tour Guide and driver, to make the 15-mile drive up the mountain to the location of the Hensley Settlement.
At first I thought the van was a little bit of overkill for the trek that lay ahead for us, but it turns out the last 1½-miles to our destination are straight up a narrow 1-lane gravel road on a sheer mountainside. Our driver negotiated the road like a pro and we were soon out of the van and exploring the grounds and buildings of the Hensley Settlement.
THE HENSLEY SETTLEMENT circa 1903-1951
Our van ride ended at the cemetery, where the walking portion of the tour began.
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While walking this long fenceline we all discussed the settlement's crops and livestock.
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This is the blacksmith's shop run by Willie Gibbons.
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Inside were some period pieces like what would have been used in the shop.
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All pieces found in the settlement are period pieces. When the people began leaving in the late 1940s they took all their possessions with them.
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Any guesses what this small structure is?
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It's a spring house where fresh water and cold storage was located.
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In 2000 a stranded hiker started a fire in that chimney...
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...and now it's the only thing left of Willie Gibbons' cabin.
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This oversized two seater outhouse was also part of Willie Gibbons' homestead.
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For a short period of time this was the grain mill.
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One of the largest structures still standing is Willie Gibbons' barn.
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Inside the loft you can see the construction technique used for the roof.
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This sled was used to haul items up and down the mountain by mule power. In front is a large horse drawn carraige, again not original to the settlement.
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A large 10x12 solid chesnut floor joist is probably why this structure so solid.
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Not too bad of condition for a 120+ year old barn that hasn't been maintained very well for the last 70 years or more.
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This small hog pen is located behind the barn.
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An inside look at the hog pen.
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Next door to Willie Gibbons' farm is his brother Lige Gibbons' farm.
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Lige's cabin is similiar in size to the burned down cabin belonging to Willie.
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On the front porch a room was added to house the visiting school teacher.
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I hope this was only sleeping quarters and they ate meals with the family.
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Inside of Lige's cabin this room was probably used as a bedroom.
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Above the bedroom was an attic space.
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This room was probably used as a kitchen due to the vent hole in the wall.
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Newspaper was used as insulation on the walls and ink was transfered in several places.
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In the living room is the heating source for the entire house.
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More period pieces that could have been used during the 1940s.
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Another bedroom, probably the parents, due to the outside entrance.
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This shallow root cellar was located just inside of the front door.
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A four room cabin was pretty fancy for the early 1900s.
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The dove tail joints were a pretty stong construction technique.
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This is the one room schoolhouse for as many as twenty students at a time.
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Notice the outhouse in the woods next to the front of the schoolhouse.
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Grades 1-8 were taught at the same time by one teacher and a few helpers.
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The chalkboard is one of the few "original" pieces left behind.
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On the other side of the settlement were the Hensley family farms.
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This is the only structure on this side of the settlement you can still get inside to see.
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This one is a little more "decorated" with period pieces.
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No one else has been buried in this cemetery since the settlement's founder passed away in 1979, a full 28 years after leaving the settlement for the final time.
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Only those who passed away between 1903 and 1951 while living at the setlement are buried here.
MONDAY - After taking a day off from sightseeing, this morning we climbed into ROVER and drove through the tunnel back over into Kentucky.
During our van tour ride on Saturday we saw a road that mentioned the Pinnacle Overlook, it sounded like something we needed to investigate.
Well today we drove the winding twisting road up to Pinnacle Overlook do just that. The road up here has a restriction on vehicles over 20', thankfully ROVER is just a few inches short of 20'. Some of the tighter inside curves required us to cross over the yellow line to make it around the turn, not a comfortable thing to do when you can't see more than 10' around the corner.
PINNACLE OVERLOOK
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The 200-yard trail to the Overlook is wheelchair accessible.
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It's a nice little stroll through the woods...
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...with several spots where you can see for long distances.
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I like the way they used the large flat stones to hold back the cliff.
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It wasn't long before we were approaching the Pinnacle Overlook.
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Down below is the small town of Cumberland Gap, TN.
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On the left side of this photo you can see the 4-lane highway as it enters the tunnel.
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It comes out the other side to the much larger town of Middlesboro, KY.
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Time to drive back down the mountain. Let's go check out that small town.
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This old mill is now the Olde Mill Inn Bed & Breakfast of Cumberland Gap, TN.
Our van ride ended at the cemetery, where the walking portion of the tour began.
While walking this long fenceline we all discussed the settlement's crops and livestock.
This is the blacksmith's shop run by Willie Gibbons.
Inside were some period pieces like what would have been used in the shop.
All pieces found in the settlement are period pieces.
Any guesses what this small structure is?
It's a spring house where fresh water and cold storage was located.
In 2000 a stranded hiker started a fire in that chimney...
...and now it's the only thing left of Willie Gibbons' cabin.
This oversized two seater outhouse was also part of Willie Gibbons' homestead.
For a short period of time this was the grain mill.
One of the largest structures still standing is Willie Gibbons' barn.
Inside the loft you can see the construction technique used for the roof.
This sled was used to haul items up and down the mountain by mule power.
A large 10x12 solid chesnut floor joist is probably why this structure so solid.
Not too bad of condition for a 120+ year old barn
This small hog pen is located behind the barn.
An inside look at the hog pen.
Next door to Willie Gibbons' farm is his brother Lige Gibbons' farm.
Lige's cabin is similiar in size to the burned down cabin belonging to Willie.
On the front porch a room was added to house the visiting school teacher.
I hope this was only sleeping quarters and they ate meals with the family.
Inside of Lige's cabin this room was probably used as a bedroom.
Above the bedroom was an attic space.
This room was probably used as a kitchen due to the vent hole in the wall.
Newspaper was used as insulation on the walls and ink was transfered in several places.
In the living room is the heating source for the entire house.
More period pieces that could have been used during the 1940s.
Another bedroom, probably the parents, due to the outside entrance.
This shallow root cellar was located just inside of the front door.
A four room cabin was pretty fancy for the early 1900s.
The dove tail joints were a pretty stong construction technique.
This is the one room schoolhouse for as many as twenty students at a time.
Notice the outhouse in the woods next to the front of the schoolhouse.
Grades 1-8 were taught at the same time by one teacher and a few helpers.
The chalkboard is one of the few "original" pieces left behind.
On the other side of the settlement were the Hensley family farms.
This is the only structure on this side of the settlement you can still get inside to see.
This one is a little more "decorated" with period pieces.
No one else has been buried in this cemetery since the settlement's founder passed away
Only those who passed away between 1903 and 1951
The 200-yard trail to the Overlook is wheelchair accessible.
It's a nice little stroll through the woods...
...with several spots where you can see for long distances.
I like the way they used the large flat stones to hold back the cliff.
It wasn't long before we were approaching the Pinnacle Overlook.
Down below is the small town of Cumberland Gap, TN.
On the left side of this photo you can see the 4-lane highway as it enters the tunnel.
It comes out the other side to the much larger town of Middlesboro, KY.
Time to drive back down the mountain. Let's go check out that small town.
This old mill is now the Olde Mill Inn Bed & Breakfast of Cumberland Gap, TN.
