Shiloh

Even though things didn't go as planned we had an enjoyable day. The original idea was to drive to Pickwick Lake State Park in Tennessee, set the motorhome up and then drive the jeep to the Civil War Battlefield National Park called Shiloh.

On the way to Pickwick we detoured north off the direct route so we could travel for 15 miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway. Like the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline drive, this scenic road is better taken in short doses and our chosen duration worked out about right. After 15 miles of looking at manicured grass along the parkway I started yearning for rustic tobacco barns and old gas stations.

We drove thru Pickwick State Park and couldn't find a site that our motorhome would fit in, so we continued on to Shiloh. They have RV parking at the visitors center so we left Maggie in the motorhome while we watched the movie about the battle. Afterwards we drove the 12 mile self guided route around the park.

These monuments to our history are always thought provoking for me and I've been trying to summarize my introspection into a profound statement. The best I can come with is just stating the facts.

On April 6 1862 forty thousand Confederate troops engaged an equal number of union soldiers in the forests and fields surrounding a Methodist meeting house called Shiloh. The two day battle produced 23,000 casualties and was the bloodiest battle in American history at it's time.

After our visit to Shiloh National Park we continued westward for about fifty miles to a Thousand Trails campground. It is called Cherokee Landing and is located near the town of Saulbury Tennesse. 

National Park fees= $0

meals= eaten aboard motorhome=$0

Fuel= none purchased today=$0

Campground= $20.00
Distance traveled today=150 miles
odometer=64899