Short and sweet, “BEEP BEEP!” As the only words spoken by the fastest bird in the West, ~The Road Runner~

On Sept. 23rd, we said good-bye to family and friends back East, and headed towards Wytheville, Virginia. where we stayed overnight.

The next morning, September 24th, we headed to Johnson City in Tenneese. Our friends moved here in June so we went to check up on them.

We got to Beth’s & Fran’s new place about 12:30, hung out with them, chatting about anything and everything.

the next day September 25th, we went to check out The Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park in Elizbethon Tennessee.

The state park is listed as the most important places in Tennesse’s history. There is a museum where Dave is standing which has interesting displays, stories and artifiacts. In back of the museum stands The Fort at Sycamore Shoals which is a replica of the original replica of Fort Watauga, which is right by the Watauga River.

There is a shallow stretch of the Watauga River near the fort where The Cherokees used as a meeting place. When the settlers came they used the same location. By 1772 there were so many settlers moving to northeast Tennessee, so they figure they need some kind of government to provide law and order and organize their defense against Native American attacks. Ya’ll knew something like that was going to happen. The settlers met here, at Sycamore Shoals, to form the Watauga Association. Today this is considered to be the first majority-rule American democracy.

Three years later in March 1775, settler Richard Henderson went to negotiate with the Cherokee for the purchase of Middle Tennessee and much of Kentucky. Henderson and the Cherokee leaders met at Sycamore Shoals, those negotiations are known as the Transylvania Purchase or The Treaty of Sycamore Shoals. The Cherokee leaders sold the land in exchange for gifts. But when Dragging Canoe, son of the Cherokee chief Attakullakulla, found out he was upset to say the least. He warned the negotiators that there would be deadly fighting over the land purchased that day, he and his followers stormed away from the negotiations.

The Transylvania Purchase got settlers moving into the Middle of Tennessee. Which also started a war between settlers living in northeast Tennessee and Cherokee warriors. Fort at Sycamore Shoals the replica of Fort Watauga, a few months after the negotiations settlers living near the fort were attacked. Cherokees led by Dragging Canoe got together with the British with plans to drive the settlers back across the Appalachian Mountains. The settlers then formed a Committee of Safety. The Comittee acquired arms and built forts, including Fort Watauga. On July 21, 1776, a Cherokee invasion attacked Fort Watauga. The Cherokee’s attack was unsuccessful as John Carter, James Robertson, and John Sevier held the fort for a victory.

A display of the”Cherokee Attack” on Fort Watauga in May of 1776.

On September 25, 1780 the Battle of Kings Mountain at Sycamore Shoals begins. The over the mountain men, frontiersmen from Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee, were sent a message across the countryside for all able-bodied men to meet at Sycamore Shoals and about a thousand showed up. Led by Colonel William Campbell, Colonel Isaac Shelby, Lieutenant Colonel John Sevier, Charles McDowell, and Colonel Andrew Hampton.  They set out to find British Major Patrick Ferguson, who had threatened to “hang your leaders and lay waste to your country with fire and sword.” The Overmountain Men crossed the river to intercept British Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist army. They defeated Ferguson in just over an hour in the epic battle of King’s Mountain. Many historians believe that the actions of these men at Sycamore Shoals turned the tide of the American Revolution, and saved America from British rule and control.

The The Overmountain Men crossing of the Watauga River to defeat British Major Patrick Ferguson and his Loyalist army. 

On September 25, 2024 Members of the Overmountain Victory Trail Association will recreate the march cross the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals, just as the Overmountain militia crossed 244 years ago. They have recreated the historic march to King’s Mountain since 1975. Following the crossing, join members of the OVTA inside Fort Watauga as they share the story of the Campaign to Kings Mountain and the patriot victory that turned the tide of the American Revolution. Free Admission!

We were all excited to see the historic march take place by the reinactors. But . . . because of swift flowing water the recreation of the crossing of the Watauga River evented was cancelled. This would have been the 50 year anniversary, we were disappointed. 😒.

Pictures of last years march.

We took the Sycamore Shoals trail to see where the march would have taken place.

They would have crossed the river by the fallen tree. When we got to where they would have crossed you could see the how fast the river was flowing. A reinactor told us he was thankful they weren’t crossing the river because the boots he wears are authenic to what they wore back then, not good for crossing a river, and he did’t want to slip and fall.

All was not lost as we went to check out Fort Sycamore Shoals.

Dave ancestors are Tiptons they call themselves The Tipton Family Association of America. The Family was one of the earliest and largest families to settle in the Watauga Settlements arriving from about 1773 onward. This frontier in East Tennessee was part of colonial North Carolina at that time. His ancestors include great granfather’s and great uncles, that owned property and fought in the Rvolutionary War and Civil War. The Association got to place a Tipton Family Historic Marker on the grounds of the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area in Elizabethton, Tennessee. The Tipton’s were very fluentical in the area and were involved in making Tennessee a state. We’ll be back here for sure checking out The Tipton’s history.

Then we went to the museum to check it out.

The museum had displays, artifacts and reinactors who talked about what their role in the area and at Sycamore Shoals Historic State Park during the Revolutionary War.

It was for sure a impressive place ad we decided we’d have to go back to see the River Crossing one of these days.

Later in the day we went to Elizabethon, Tennessee.

Settled in the late 1760’s, Carter County does have a lot of history behind it. The City of Elizabethton is home to both the oldest building in the state of Tennessee, the Carter Mansion, and one of the first written constitutional governments west of the Appalachian Mountains, located at Sycamore Shoals State Park.

Downtown Elizabethton has a variety of restaurants, vintage and boutique shops. Beth and Fran go here for different things like sporting events and concerts. It definitely seems like a nice city to visit and see what’s happening.

On a hill in the city there is a section of old mansons that looks really neat.

Elizabethton grew throughout the 19th century. However, Lynn Mountain was kind of cut off into the east and the Watagua River lay to the north. The Doe River flooded often and limited growth to the south. To grow westward, to the site of the current downtown, the city would need a bridge over the Doe River. After extensive debate, in 1882 the Carter County Court approved $3,000 for the bridge and $300 for approaches. The court appointed a committee to select a site for the bridge. However, the committee encountered an unexpected problem — the men could not find a qualified contractor to erect the bridge.

After county officials were unable to find a bridge contractor, a local doctor, E. E. Hunter, accepted the contract and hired experienced people to work on the bridge. Hunter selected Thomas Maston who had been an engineera for a railroad as an engineer and architect. Hunter referred to the bridge as his “five dollar bridge” since he made a profit of $5 as contractor.

Although logs from a lumber operation and a barn were thrown against the covered bridge and its supports during a disastrous flood in 1901, this was the only major bridge in the area to survive.

The first court meeting was held under a sycamore tree in May 1772 in Tennessee. The court was called The Watauga Court Association. The Watauga Association was the first free government in North America, established by settlers in the Watauga Valley. The court was likely the first English-speaking court west of the Alleghenies. The dedication plaque from July 4, 1991, reads: “In 1772, four years before the Declaration of Independence, settlers in the Watauga Valley adopted the Articles of the Watauga Association, the first written constitution in North America.

The sycamore eventually died to disease and age, and the stump still stands near the old covered bridge in Elizabethton. The tree is located on the west side of the Doe River, across from an old covered bridge. The stump of the tree still stand there.

I think it’s neat that they preserved the memory of a meeting under a tree. Couldn’t image any kind of governemrnt meeting held under a tree now.

After we left Elizabethon we went back to our friends place. As it was starting to sprinkle and we had our excitement for the day, so we hung out there for the rest of the day. It rained off and on during the night but nothing bad.

On September 26th we started to hear about the hurricane getting closer and they were predicting rain later. Since we couldn’t do a whole day event. Our friends took us thru different subdivions near Johnson- city that they have been checking out , as our friends haven’t decided if they want to stay in an apartment or not. They were all really nice areas, as they have been checking these areas to see what’s there and are looking at the houses that are for sale. Hurrican Helene hit Johnson City that night with lots of rain and strong winds.

On September 27th, a lot places were closed and didn’t have electricty or even running water to drink. We couldn’t go to the places we wanted to, so we decided a good choice was to go to the town of Jonesborough, Tennessee.

We wanted to go through the shops and and check out their merchandise but they were all closed due to Hurricane Helene, with no power and minor flooding. But we did see the Fall decorations that were out side the stores, they were all very impressive.

The Chuckey Depot and W.C. Rowe Park officially opened in October 2017. The park project started in 2011 following a railroad expansion project that was going to leave the Chuckey Depot in danger of being torn down. It is now a railroad museum because the Town was important in bringing the railroad into East Tennessee. 

Close to the rail road museum is the Tweetsie Trail.

The Tweetsie Trail is a rails-to-trails project to cut across the former ET&WNC railroad right-of-way between Johnson City and Elizabethton.  It’s been nearly two decades since trains rumbled down the narrow tracks and emitted a unique high-pitched whistles that gave the rail line— “Tweetsie” and now it’s called the Tweetsie Trail.

Beth & Fran walk on The Tweetsie Trail a lot and we all wanted to join them.

When we started walking down the trail we noticed some people walking back that were in front of us. That’s because the hurricane did much damage on the trail and the surrounding areas.

Tweetsie Rail road to remain closed for fall season as community focuses on Hurricane Helene Rocovery.

Hurricane Helene left a trail of devastation across the High Country, impacting countless families, small businesses, and employees. Due to the widespread damage, Tweetsie Railroad will remain closed for the rest of the fall season, allowing our staff and the surrounding area to prioritize rebuilding and restoring what was lost.

After we couldn’t continue on the Tweetsie Trail so we went back to Johnson City and walked on the Winged Deer Park path.

On September 28th We knew Helene did a ton of damage in Tennessee. Where we were staying we were higher up so there wasn’t any flood damage but we had a few power outages and saw numerous trees and fallen branches.

We checked on a places where we wanted to go but they were closed due to the huricane, so we went to the zoo, because it was

At Bright’s zoo in Limestone, Tennessee.

Great picture of Fran sitting on the gorilla’s hand.

The last parrot is called a Scarlet Macawa. You gotta like parrots, they are beautiful colors and they even talk back to you.

This is an East African Crowned Crane, check out their hair. The Grey Crowned Crane even has a wine named after it.

Thi is a male Southern Ground Hornbills, I know that because a female would have a patch of blue on her neck with the red.

The Canis Mesomelas, black-backed jackal, looks so cute and calm, I felt like taking it home and giving Cooper a brother or sister.

This cute but prickly animal is an African Crested Porcupine. Beth and I watched as they were teaching it to go into his inside cage and come out in the winter to be fed.

The Scottish Highland Cattle are known as the cow with the bangs.

Camel Fun Facts: One of the camel’s most notable physical traits is its hump or humps. While the dromedary camel has one hump, the Bactrian camel has two humps. They store fat in these humps, which later can be used as an energy source.

They have other features that allow them to survive in the desert, such as double rows of extra-long eyelashes to help keep sand out of the eyes. They are also able to close their nostrils to keep out sand.

Wouldn’t you like them for pets?. They are so cute especially together. Their an endangered spicies.

This zebra sat right next to me and said have a seat, so I did.

This Ostrich kept following Dave and making a kind of skreech followed by a kind of thumping sound. I wonder what he was trying to tell him?

This is a Two-Toed Sloth, they can turn green. They can grow a layer of algae as a camouflage method to help protect them from predators.  And cause they hang up side down all the time, the hair on a sloth’s belly is parted to help water flow off, instead of having a part on the top of it’s head. 

I don’t know what these animals are but I believe that they are Scimitar-Horned Oryx and Sable Antelope. I didn’t get a picture of their sign. But what ever they are they like hanging out together.

I saved the best part for last!

A rare spotless giraffe was born in a Tennessee zoo, and we got to see her!

A female reticulated giraffe was born at Brights Zoo on July, 31st 2023. But unlike her mother she was born without any spots, a rarity. Giraffe experts believe she is the only solid-colored reticulated giraffe living anywhere on the planet. Zoo officials say the only record of a reticulated giraffe being born without spots was in Japan in the 1970s. Her name is Kipekee, which means “Unique” in swahili.

It was definitely awesome seeing Kipekee

Brights Zoo is a private, family-owned facility in East Tennessee. Animals living here include some rare & endangered species such as addax, bongo and scimitar-horned oryx, and bactrian camels. The center also contains more common but exotic creatures like red kangaroos, spider monkeys, pandas and zebras.

I don’t know if we saw all the animals that are mentioned above, but we all enjoyed Brights Zoo. It reminds me of Reid’s zoo here in Tucson. Both are prvately owned and sometimes that gives them a more personal touch.

Beth made delicious chilli for us on Sunday September 29th. We hung out at their apartment and walked around the apartment complex.

They are Buffalo Bills fans, as you can tell.

Beth made popcorn for Dave. He loves her popcorn as you can see, she made a tub for him for the Bills game and for our trip back to Tucson. Unfortunately the Buffalo Bills lost that night. 😒

We left Monday Morning to continue our journey west. Thank you our dear Beth & Fran for your hospitality! Your food, home, and company were an was awesome. We’re So grateful to have great friends like you!

In the Hills of Tennessee there are one lane bridges next to a nice subdivision, old barns going down the road to another new subdivision. It’s nice to see both old and new the same road.

Our friends told us to stop at Buc-ee’s cause it’s definitely a different kind of shopping experience. We stopped at the Sevierville, Tennessee. location. They say they are the biggest convenience store, I agree with that. They have Texas-style BBQ, Buc-ee’s brisket sandwiches are the chain’s biggest-selling item at all locations. Clean restrooms and 120 gas pumps, (60 double-sided pumps) are their claim to fame. They have just tons of everything. People consider it a vacation destination and even get Buc-ee’s T-shirts? If i’m near one, I’ll stop in , especially if I have to use the rest room cause they are clean.

Our next stop was Memphis Tennessee where we stayed over night.

Our next stop was Fort Worth, West of Dallas, where you don’t want to take the highways during rush hour, or should I say any hour.

It gets a bit nerve racking.

The road from El Paso, Texas and Tucson, Arizona are mostly flat stretches on interstate 10. Texas has desert scenery of an oil field, followed by an oil field, followed by you got it, another oil field. With lots of signs saying to watch the occasional wind storms.

We made it to Voyager in Tucson AZ. on October 3rd.

Where we’ve been spending a lot of time in the pool, when we first got here it was in the low 100s.

Voyager Sunrise and Sunset

We like watching skies where ever we go. In the first picture the moon is passing under a cloud and it contines to pass thru the cloud making it black until it passes above moon.

It’s getting close to the end of October and people are starting to come back to the park, which means there will be lots of fun Halloween things happenings. 👻🦇🎃. We’ll keep you posted.

We are also very greatful that our dear friends Mary , Mike, and Dave’s brother Jeff are beating cancer. Yippee!