Sorry we are already behind with this blog as we have been to some beautiful sites – but without Wi-Fi. 

The state parks are beautiful – especially for me as they are hook up for electric and water. The poo pipe on the other hand is done centrally so not so good for Matt!  You drive to an appropriately named ‘dump station’ and hook up to the sewer.  Trump would be very proud of the division of labour on this trip.  All things outside Matt deals with and I am the boss inside… all very traditional.  See the purple gloves with Matt in action!

Anyway, we left Cape Girardeau in Missouri and on the recommendation of the man in the bike shop we went to Land Between Lakes.  This was the other side of the Mississippi and is shared between Kentucky and Tennessee.  

We stayed by a lake which was just stunning. The trees were great colours; it was warm and we had our first alfresco meal.  After all the shopping, planning, paperwork and worries – this seemed to be where it all clicked into place. It was exactly what we had hoped the trip would be like.  It is a funny feeling to put the blind up in the bedroom and be right bang in the middle of a lake or forest scene – as you could never get views like this from a house or hotel. It is completely unspoilt.

We cycled and walked at Land Between Lakes but they also had a sort of Longleat vibe going on – in that they have recreated a prairie and introduced bison and elk to roam again.  There was a three-mile loop on the edge of this area and we drove around and saw both herds. They seemed rather placid and used to cars.  Reg did look totally ridiculous with his rather nasty brown paint stripes – hardly camouflage.  I think the bison must have been thinking what the heck is that scary white monster truck?!!

After a few days, we then drove south to Tennessee.  We had a night by another lake – this time called Reelfoot.  This was a Friday. The weather was warm and the site was full of hardy Americans eating by camp fires.  We had a curry and a beer and settled down for the night – only to be awoken just before dawn by the most unbelievable bombardment. Half asleep we could not work out if they were fireworks or we had in fact woken up in Aleppo.  It was not just shooting – but some of the noises sounded like bombs.  Stupid us for camping in a place where weekenders like to hunt.  We giggle at the camouflage boats that they like to use on the lakes.  Are they worried that the fish will spot them?!

That same day we pushed on south to Memphis, going over the river to West Memphis which is in Arkansas actually.  Amazing sunset as we drove over the river and we could tell that Memphis was going to be good even at that stage…