Cumberland Gap

Its Saturday morning and I'm doing my blog on my computer at a McDonald's in Middlesboro, KY. The modem is out at our place. I'm not sure what a modem does, but it seems to be important. I've always kind of looked down on people that are on computers at McDonalds. Well, that condescending attituted is coming back to haunt me now. Middlesboro is a cool town. It passes my minimal big town test. It has several fast food places and a Wal-Mart. They have a sign as you come into town, "Home of Lee Majors". How cool is that? I'm not sure I've ever watched an episode of the $6 Million Dollar Man, but I'm a big fan now.

Also cool is that where I'm sitting is literally like a mile from Cumberland Gap National Historic Park. How cool is that? I was here about a month ago. Daniel Boone made it famous by coming through here on his way to build Boonesborough. I was here about a month ago and ran on the trails and took a bunch of pictures. It's a big thrill. When I was growing up, I spent a lot of time at the creek behind our house, pretending I was Davy Crockett or Daniel Boone. Just to keep things interesting, I might throw in a Kit Carson, but usually it was Davy or Daniel. I had a stick that in my mind was an exact replica of a Kentucky Long Rifle. We actually live in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Too cool.

Anyway, they have a vistor's center that is just adorable. I had imagined that the gap was large and was pretty much at sea level, cutting through the Appalachians. It isn't. You have to climb quite a bit to get to it and then it's just kind of a gap between the hills. It is the lowest elevation I suppose in the area, making it the best way to get through the mountains, but still, a climb. Another cool thing is you can hike to the location where Virginia, Tennessee and Kentucky come together. Maybe I'll write about that adventure on my next trip to McDonalds.