A - Myrtle Beach State Park, Myrtle Beach, SC - June 18-25
B - Zooland Family Campground, Asheboro, NC - June 25-26
C - Stony Fork Campground, Wytheville, VA - June 26-July 2
D - Natural Bridge State Park, Slade, KY - July 2-13
E - Kentucky Horse Park Campground, Lexington, KY - July 13-17
F - Canal COE Campground, Grand Rivers, Ky - July 17-24
Our site is really nice. We knew it was lakefront:o)) However, we did not know that it was a steep drop to the lake and the lake view was blocked by trees:o(( That was a bit disappointing as we really had plans to just chill and do some fishing from our site. Well, that was not going to happen since there really is not any easy shore access fishing spots. Barkley Lake is all about BIG BOATS and SKIDOOS!!!
F - Canal COE Campground, Grand Rivers, Ky - July 17-24
Thursday, July 17, 2014 – Travel Day to Canal COE CG, Grand Rivers, KY
We were on the road by 9am this morning. It was a very easy and pretty ride to Canal COE Campground in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. Traffic was light and the weather was beautiful :o))
Canal COE Campground reminds us very much of MODOC in South Carolina. It is located on Lake Barkley and Barkley Canal. We were surprised how very hilly and tight the roads are. You will be backing uphill to put your rig into most of the sites!!
Our site is really nice. We knew it was lakefront:o)) However, we did not know that it was a steep drop to the lake and the lake view was blocked by trees:o(( That was a bit disappointing as we really had plans to just chill and do some fishing from our site. Well, that was not going to happen since there really is not any easy shore access fishing spots. Barkley Lake is all about BIG BOATS and SKIDOOS!!!
Once we got set up, we drove across the Barkley Canal which connects Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake to enter The Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. We were headed for the North Welcome Center to get information about what to see and do while we are here.
Friday, July 18, 2014 – Driving the The Trace Scenic Byway
We decided today, before the weekenders arrived, would be a good day to drive The Trace. The Trace is the road that runs 43 miles north to south through The Land Between the Lakes. Heading south, Lake Barkley is on the left and Kentucky Lake is on the right. Our campground is the RED star on the North end map.
Click on any photo to enlarge or hover your mouse on any photo for a description.
North End South End
North End South End
Our campground is just a mile from the North end of LBL.
Our first stop was at the Barkley Canal Overlook.
Looking towards Lake Barkley Looking towards Kentucky Lake
After that, we drove straight down The Trace about 30 miles.
We crossed into Tennessee and continued on to the South Bison Range.
We bypassed all the other attractions which we would check out on our return trip.
As we approached the range, we could see the Bison.
Perfect timing as they were moving and wouldn’t be here long:o))
After watching the Bison for awhile, we turned around and headed north on The Trace.
This photo is from the Internet.
We decided to bypass this attraction as we have done several farm recreations in the past.
FYI: There is no charge to drive through the Land Between the Lakes. However, three attractions: The Homeplace, Woodlands Nature Station and Golden Pond Planetarium have a $5 per person fee. The Senior National Park Pass does get the cardholder only a 50% discount on these 3 attractions. The other attraction that charges a fee is the Elk and Bison Prairie: $5 per car and no discount allowed.
At just about the middle of The Trace, is the Golden Pond Visitor Center and Planetarium.
We stopped and looked through the interpretive displays.
We did not visit the Planetarium which has shows on the hour from noon to 4pm.
The highlight of our day was the next stop, The Elk and Bison Prairie!!
This is a restricted access area.
You pay at the automated entry gate which opens once you pay your $5.00!!
Click on any photo to enlarge or hover your mouse on any photo for a description.
Just a few hundred yards into the Prairie, we saw two Elk tucked back under the trees.
One was standing and the other lying down.
After watching the Elk for a bit, we continued our drive through the prairie.
We didn’t see much until we saw brake lights at the hilltop in front of us…
The Bison had taken over the road and had no intention of moving out of the way!!
This is one time I wish we had a Sun Roof ;o))
But I do have a ZOOM!!
Gradually, the herd moved around us… kind of just hanging out!!
There we sat and the line of cars continued to form behind us:o))
Did I mention these are BIG animals !!!!!
After about 20 minutes,
a park ranger drove around us and tried to move the herd.
This Big Boy just wasn’t willing to budge….
No Bill, you CAN’T pet the Bison!!! 
That was waaaaay coooool ;o)))
We continued north on the Trace.
Our last adventure was to see Woodson Chapel Cemetery, one of over 200 old cemeteries in The Land Between The Lakes. You will see signs for them all along the highway. We didn’t realize it was 6 miles down a stone and dirt road!! But we just took our time and finally found it.
Sat & Sun, July 19-20, 2014 – The Weekenders Are Here !!!
We made the decision to just chill this weekend. These two lakes are huge and attract large crowds on the weekends. Have to admit between the boats and skidoos, it sounded like someone was running a huge weed-wacker all weekend;o((
During our morning walk on Saturday, we saw some neat wildlife.
A Red-bellied Woodpecker at its nest, going in and out.
There are deer all over the campground.
At the Camp Host’s site, we saw this pretty bird and funny weather forecast station;o))
Sunday we decided to go to Miss Scarlett’s Restaurant for breakfast.
Nice people and place, but the food did not live up to all the advertisement. 
After breakfast,
we drove to see the dams that create the lakes that border The Land Between The Lakes.
Kentucky Dam controls the Tennessee River to form Kentucky Lake.
Barkley Dam controls the Cumberland River to form Lake Barkley.
We could see them jump and there were Bow Fisherman trying to shoot them.
Both Saturday and Sunday afternoon,
we just enjoy the beautiful weather from our recliners and let the hummingbirds entertain us:o))
Monday, July 21, 2014 – Hiking The Honkers !!
During our driving tour of The Trace, we skipped the Woodlands Nature Center. We knew we were coming here on Monday to hike The Honkers Trail. Up until today, we have had mild weather. This week, things will be heating up, so we arrived at the trailhead by 8:30am to try and beat the heat!!
The Honkers Trail is a 5 mile loop trail.
Halfway, you cross Honker Dam, which creates Honker Lake.
It was a pretty walk through the woods.
Our first view of Honker Dam.
Crossing Honker Dam
Honker Lake on the left Lake Barkley on the right
Honker Lake has been closed to boats because of the Invasive Water Lilies;o((
By the time we crossed the dam, the temperature was near 90 degrees!!
The last two miles were hot and buggy:o((
At the end of the hike there was a gazebo.
Staying cool in the shade of the Gazebo were momma and baby barn swallows:o))
Tuesday, July 22, 2014 – Highs In The 90’s!!
After yesterday’s hike in the heat, we chose to take care of chores today.
Hopefully, it will cool down by Wednesday, our last day in The Land Between the Lakes.
Late this afternoon, we did one of the really touristy things to do in Grand Rivers, KY.
It was another scorcher, so no one was walking around!!
We are really hoping that Patti’s is much better than yesterday's breakfast at Miss Scarlett’s.
We both ordered burgers which come with coleslaw and homemade chips:o))
Bill had a double cheeseburger, so big he had to eat it with a knife and fork.
I had a chicken & portobello mushroom burger which was wonderful.
We both agreed we could have made a meal on just the Homemade Chips!!!
Patti’s is famous for her desserts.
If we ever get back this way,
we will order a dessert with a side of chips for our meal :o))
Wednesday, July 23, 2014 – Cooler, But Raining ;o((
Well, we got some cooler weather, but the rains came in and stayed.
Since there would be no outside adventures, we prepared for our travels tomorrow.
We made a run to the grocery store, got fuel and tried to get the blog up to date ;o)
Tomorrow, we will be leaving Kentucky and heading to Tennessee
where we plan to meet up with some old and new friends!!
Anywhere to see bison is pretty cool :-)
ReplyDeleteI didn't see that nasty old "no dogs" sign at the Honkers trailhead...are dogs allowed on the hiking trails? We've thought about stopping there on the way to Amazon in the fall.
ReplyDeleteThis is from their web site FAQ.
DeleteAre my pets allowed in LBL?
A. Pets are allowed at LBL, including hiking trails and campgrounds, but must be on a leash and under physical control at all times (especially when encountering other users on the trails). For health and sanitation purposes, you are required to clean up after your pet. Pets are not allowed inside the Camping Shelters. You may also have your pet at the Elk & Bison Prairie; pets must remain in the vehicle or on a leash at ALL TIMES while inside The Prairie. Pets are allowed at The Homeplace, and the Nature Station offers kennels for pets whose owners want to visit the facility (due to the wild animals in the backyard). Exceptions are made for dogs used for accessibility, such as guide dogs.
I'm trying to figure out if you were sitting in your bison jam the same time we were sitting in ours. They are so cool those bison. Big and imposing. This is a great summary of your week. Don't envy you the motor noises at the big lake but sometimes you just don't know what a place is like without going there. Looking forward to hearing about the old and new friends.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing bison up close, they are such amazing looking animals, but boy do they smell! ;c)
ReplyDeleteI love the young bison- they are so much fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteThe bison reminded me of the Black Hills. They are fascinating to watch...and huge when one comes up to the car!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a safe trip to Tennessee and that Texas T works OK for you.
I enjoyed your visit to Land Between the Lakes! It's been on our To-Do List for a long time . . . need to get there one of these days!
ReplyDeleteThank you! We're planning a family trip to LBL and your blog is proving very helpful! Do you recall where the playground was in Canal Campground? We have two children who love to camp near the playground and play til it's dark! We like when they tire themselves out!
ReplyDeleteIt has been 3 years since we visited and I can't remember where the playground was located. However, if you call the campground ((270)362-4840), I think they could tell you what sites are closest. Have a great time!!!
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