Beach to Beach

You probably have heard of the trail blazers: Daniel Boone, Lewis & Clark, and Kit Carson. But have you heard of “Wade” H. Candler, Robert A. Blair, Tom Gallagher, and I. O. “Sonny” Chitwood? On July 10, 1927 these four men from the Corbin Kiwanis Club and a specially rigged Model T Ford made the historic trail-blazing journey from Corbin, KY to Cumberland Falls. By September of that year the Kiwanis Trail to Cumberland Falls was complete. Work to improve the route continued and by 1931 the highway and the “Dryland Bridge” was finished.

Trips to Cumberland Falls were common outings for my family.  We loved seeing   the famous moonbow. Cumberland Falls is the only place in the western hemisphere where this phenomenon happens. My sister and I have seen the moonbow in the spring, summer, fall, and winter. Winter is my favorite time to see the glow of the moonbow's arch as it stretches down the Cumberland River. The glow reminds me of Mother of Pearl.  Legend has it that Native Americans used both Cumberland Falls and Eagle Falls as a place of worship and it is believed the reason for this was the moonbow. The moonbow is definitely worth seeing. Rainbows can be seen almost any sunny day.

                                                                

                                                                 

Another spot at Cumberland Falls State Park that holds a special place in my memory- the natural sand beach. During my teenage years we would spend those lazy summer days at the beach. Picture for a moment this sandy beach nestled in the Cumberland Mountains, the soft, gentle waves of the Cumberland River kissing the shoreline, and the sound of the Falls in the background.  Peaceful setting? Let me say, it was anything but peaceful during the summers of the 50’s and ‘60’s.

 The record, “What’d I’d Say” by Ray Charles comes blasting through the Jukebox at the  Beach House, echoing into those mountains.  Next someone plays Cozy Cole’s “Topsy Part II”.  Yes, lots of 50’s & 60’s music blasted from the Jukebox on those lazy summer days. Swimming was excellent. A little dancing in the sand was fun. Kentucky summers were hot. The Cumberland River was gorgeous and refreshing.

                                                               

                                                            

 I live in Dunedin, FL now.  Honeymoon Island State Park is about a ten minute drive from my coach.  Yes it is different. The Gulf of Mexico’s waves are louder and stronger. The beach is huge compared to that little sandy beach on the Cumberland River. I love walking along the shoreline here. Sure I could take my media player and listen to those songs of my youth. But instead I let my imagination take me back to “hear” the music and “see” those fun youthful days.  Anyway, I might miss the sound “Grandma” coming from little Evelet as she runs along the beach.

The beach at Cumberland Falls is gone due mainly to flooding. The beach house, destroyed by fire in 1968, was never rebuilt. When the horrific oil spill accident happened in April of this year, the scare of oil destroying our beaches was real. For the present the beaches here in the Tampa Bay Area are safe. Let’s hope that we continue to have these marvelous beaches and that our grandchildren’s children will get to enjoy them as much as we do today.

--The History of Cumberland Falls by Jeannie McConnell was my source for some of the facts and dates about Cumberland Falls.

White Pass/Yukon RR

Walking and Riding the Rails

Have you ever walked on those wooden railroad ties between the steel rails? Smell the creosote wafting from the ties? Walk stretches of railroad tracks as they cross over a high bridge? Yes, I’m sure many of you share this experience if you lived or grew up in a railroad town in the ‘50’s as I did.

                                                            
One of my early childhood memories is walking with Daddy on those railroad ties. He liked being daring and I liked it too. I’m sure when I wasn’t with him he was much more daring.

As we were walking the railroad bed early one spring morning, Daddy, wearing his blue overall jacket and cap, turned and said, “Anna, bend down and press your ear to the track.” I did. The steel was cold. He asked if I could hear anything. “Nope.” When a train is coming you can usually hear it through the steel rails. Daddy knew the daytime schedule trains rumbled through the Woodbine area since he worked on the L&N. I never felt fear or panic when I was walking the rails with him. But I did feel a thrill. (My brother Eddie wanted me to touch my tongue to the tracks of his O scale model train layout-but that’s another childhood memory tale)…

We fished near the railroad bed in the Woodbine/Corbin area. I think it was the brick pond- rather murky. I don’t remember catching much. But I sure loved being out in the wilds/thickets of Whitley County with the train track nearby.

Later as an adult I got to ride the rails in Alaska. No putting my ear to the steel this time! We rode the White Pass/Yukon RR, a popular route for tourists.

The narrow gauge railroad– built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush days- is referred to the “railway built of gold.”

You get the thrills of a perfect train ride. Over high bridges and wooden trestles and through two tunnels, the train climbs 3000 ft in about 20 minutes. The vintage parlor cars offer one way to view the spectacular panorama –mountain peaks and summits, crystal clear waterfalls, deep gorges, and Alaskan glaciers. Joan (one of trio making the trip) chose to be inside. Or, you can stand on the small swaying outdoor platforms. Carolyn and I chose to be a little daring. Oh what a view. Oh what a ride. Oh what a thrill. Yes, I wished Daddy could have ridden with us. I’ll bet he was in the vicinity.

We plan to take my granddaughters – Eve & Sophie on the Gatorland Express this fall. It will be a calmer train ride than the WP&YR, but lots of fun for them and me. My grandson –Asher has already ridden the rails with “Thomas.” We are keeping the love of trains in the family!

Steam train going over bridge

Steam train going over bridge

Steam whistle

Steam whistle

Bird fun

Hello,
I now have 3 bird feeders next to the carport. Yep, the squirrels found them first. I've had a few feathered friends-Purple Finches to visit and I hope they tell their friends.

Grandma Ruth introduced me to the joy of bird watching as a child. We visited Grandma most Sundays and it was from her big picture window where I came to love  birds. I think her favorite bird was the "redbird"-Northern Cardinal (redbird of happiness).  Her second favorite was the "snowbird" -Dark-Eyed Junco. It seemed to always snow the next day or two after the snowbird visited.

Later in my teen years Mama and Daddy always had bird feeders. They kept the fun of birding alive long after Grandma Ruth had passed. I sometimes wonder which Florida bird would have been her favorite?..

Here in Florida I enjoy seeing the birds at the beaches, salt marshes, mangroves, slash pine forests, hammocks, state parks, Gatorland, and of course bird feeders.

What are some of my favorite birds? Chickadees, Kites, Woodpeckers and Pelicans. Birds are fun to watch and get to know.