Pickett State Park only 93 more to go

Oh Pickett...words cannot describe this hidden treasure. We camped here on January 1st 2015 - January 4th. Yep, we started the New Year off correctly. Here is the parks website http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/pickett This park was about 5.05 hours’ worth of a drive according to Google but it took us 6. Since there are five of us and "The Dog", several stops are needed. None of us had ever been to this part of TN and I was excited. My parents have been to this area several times and they always come home with the most beautiful pictures. There is also another state park close to Pickett (30 minutes) named Sgt. Alvin C. York State Park in Pall Mall TN. Here is their link http://tnstateparks.com/parks/about/sgt-alvin-c-york. This park too was equally a treasure. The reason why we picked this area this time was because it was supposed to rain the entire time we were home and I was Jonesing to get out of town and get into the woods, they were calling and I had to go, thank God I married who I did because the hubs was ready to get out and get back into nature right along with me.
On the way we laughed and talked and sang, everyone was excited. We were about 45 minutes or so from the park and then it happened. BAM! "What in the hell was that?" The wheel well (or that is what I am calling it) came off and then I see smoke bellowing out from under the camper. "Holy shit!" I stared yelling at the hubs to pull over. He doesn't pull over he just stops in the middle of the road, I mean we are going up the side of a mountain and we are pulling a camper. They always say that God looks out for idiots and fools and we were both that day. I ran down the middle of the road and gathered everything that we had spilled out. Never saw the wheel well but I did see the first aid kit, my contacts solution and all of our shower stuff destroyed all over the road. I wasn't going to let it get me down, no way, it was just a small set back. We burned the destroyed towels and shower bag as a sacrifice to the state park gods that evening and felt better. The campsite was beautiful. The lady at the front counter pretty much thought that we were a little crazy. She laughed and had no idea that we were coming up there. She looked on line and saw where I had booked it and she apologized about a million times for not being prepared. Oh course I was not at all upset, I am sure to a lot of people think we are a little nuts but DAMN it's fun.We pull up and I am in instant love. I automatically feel calm.

If it's free, it's me....FREE FIREWOOD! I love, love, love the fact that Pickett has free firewood. That is one of our main expenses when we go camping is the cost of firewood. Sometimes our family and friends will bring firewood with them when they come camping with us. However, when we go by ourselves we usually have to buy at least 35 dollars’ worth. I knew that this weekend would have cost 150 bucks in wood alone. Don't get me wrong, I am a axe bringing, digging up in the woods kind of girl, but a sister can only do so much. I would much rather buy something from the gift shop. The camp site also has a small nature center located in the middle of the camp site. It's completely free of course. It was closed when we were there and I hated that we missed it. The buildings there are simply perfect; they are what you picture a stone cottage in the woods to look like.

 Friday we decided to go on a short hike called Island trail. It was only .3 and it was like a fairy tale and a rain forest all wrapped in one. I couldn't get over the diverse plant life there. There was a beautiful waterfall, a natural rock bridge, and the clearest fresh water I had ever seen. Me and one of the children hiked that little trail every day when we were there. It is perfect! After the hike that morning we decided to go to Pall Mall and check out the Alvin York state park. We knew that it was going to rain off and on all day. If you do not know the story of Sgt.Alvin C. York you should check out the classic Gary Cooper movie, they sell it on Amazon for around 12 bucks. It's a wonderful movie. I grew up watching the movie so I knew his story well and now so do my children. You tour his home, his grave, the gristmill and several other personal moments in his life. Just so's we are clear, the man was a bad ass! There is a short trail from the grave to the house. The hike was beautiful of course like everything else there. When you come to the end of the trail you will end up into an open field just continue to walk toward the brick buildings. You will come to the drive way of his home. They have not changed one thing in the house since he has passed away. It's timeless just like Mr.York himself. Once we completed the Sgt.York tours we decided to travel to Rugby, TN. My parents told me about how picturesque the little town was and I did want to check it out. The history behind the little town is fascinating to say the least. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby,_Tennessee) We truly couldn't get enough. We ate at the local restaurant, the only one, and viewed the English/American menu. Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash along with a cheese burger and hamburger stake with gravy. It was delish! There is a print shop next door and it is an "old school" print shop. They were closed when we were there. Across the street is a great little shop where you can also rent a room. I didn't ask how much but it is perfect little place to spend a weekend with a spouse. They sold local art as well as antiques. The lady that worked behind the counter was the perfect little shop keeper. She played with the 4 year old and talked to my one and only like she was a teenager and my one and only bought some sunglasses from the 1960's like a teenager. *sigh* we left Rugby and I didn't want to. They still had cute stores to go to and I wanted more.

 Saturday we decided to get up and do another short hike and check out the weather when we came back and plan our day. We knew that we needed a backup plan in case it rained all day which is what it was supposed to do. I always take a back pack with me when we go hiking regardless if it is a .9 mile hike or a 5 mile hike. ALWAYS, take these items: water, granola bars, headlamp, bandana, band aids, alcohol pads and toilet paper. Trust me! The .9 mile hike turned into a 5 mile hike in the pouring rain. We got a little lost. I wished that I would have taken my larger backpack that has rain ponchos in it but Oh well, live and learn. When we finally got out of the woods we were drenched and the 4 year olds feet were in pain. We ended up in a completely different location from where we started. The Hubs was going to have to walk about a half of a mile in the pouring rain to get the van but an extremely nice local man picked him up and carried him to our camp set up. Once we were all in the van we drove to the nearest Chinese buffet and chowed down we were all about to starve to death. We then decided to drive back to Rugby and see one of the shops that we missed when we were there. R.M. Brooks General Store is the prettiest country store. The owner Tiffany is so knowledgeable about any tourist information and her prices cannot be beat. I was so impressed with her generosity and the time that she spent conversing with us about the area and the history of the general store that I could have spent the day chatting with her and sitting in the rocking chair next to a huge potbelly wooden stove. In other words, she made you feel like family.
 That evening it began to sprinkle and then pour down rain. We rain like mad men into the camper and had a supper of summer sausage, apples and assorted cheeses and crackers, my favorite kind of meal. We tucked in for the night laughing and singing "Hooked on a Feeling" the B.J.Thomas tune from back in the day, we are truly never board. I woke up in the middle of the night with a little Chinese water torture because the camper got completely saturated. It isn't supposed to handle that much rain at one time poor thing.

The last day we packed everything up and started to hook the camper back up and it wouldn’t “hitch”. About 30 minutes later the Hubs finally got it all together and then the electrical wouldn’t work, the wires were cut. WTH? How were we going to drive 6 hours home with no lights on the camper? Not only would we get a ticket but we could possibly get hurt. I remembered that we passed an auto repair shop and told the Hubs that we should stop there and see if they could possibly help. We pulled up in the parking lot looking all kinds of redneck and I walked into the store and asked for help. The heaven sent man Jamie Long not only fixed out electrical issue but also would not charge us. His shop is on Crockett Cemetery Road about 8 miles from the park. If you every have auto issues while you are there take it to him and he will help you. Go to Pickett and Sgt. Alvin C. York State Park. You will not be disappointed and you will not want to come home.
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