Truckin' Across Tennessee

As I write this post, Mary is at the wheel as we careen west of Knoxville on Interstate 40, heading in the general direction of Nashville. Having left Earthaven Ecovillage this morning under the threat of sleet and ice this coming weekend, we are heading westward into Tennessee in order to visit The Farm, the aforementioned famous intentional community located just south of Nashville in Summertown.

 

Today's drive, "interrupted" by a detour on Route 40 due to a landslide, found us happily making our way through Smokey Mountain National Park, with resplendent and majestic views of the peaks and valleys that make this park one of the most visited in the country. We even hiked a portion of the Appalachian Trail!

 

Disturbingly, the park is sandwiched---like an island of peace and beauty---between two vast seas of the worst commericalism that American culture has to offer. We even had the opportunity to drive past "Dollywood", Dolly Parton's eponymonous theme park extraordinaire. Needless to say, we didn't stop, nor did we slow down.

 

 

So, this evening we are driving into the night, making tracks in order to shorten our drive to The Farm tomorrow. We may sleep by the side of the road, in a campground, in a parking lot---only the road knows for sure. As I write, Mary rocks to Led Zeppelin's "Ramble On" as the miles roll beneath our eight spinning wheels.

With earnest and heartfelt greetings,

Keith

PS: By the way, this is post #100 on our blog!