As with every paragraph that begins with anything about 2020 it is required by law (or Dr. Fauci) that it begin with a disclaimer: It was not a good year and nothing that was planned happened. In our case plans were disrupted but we have done well. Being in the home more, while we missed friends, travel and an occasional restaurant, was not really bad and in many ways pleasant. But we know that is not the norm for many people.
Our travel plans and the parks we intended to visit and photograph were completely changed. 2020 was supposed to be the year we completed the upper mid-west parks (most of which did not even open) and visit Hawaii (most of which did not even open)- which would be our 50th state to visit and view the parks there. Those plans were canceled. However we did get a trip done in September and October. Hauling your own bed, bath and kitchen (i am so tempted to write “beyond” here, oh, guess I did:) enabled us to be comfortable and safely travel. A big plus for a trailer in a difficult situation.
We started with a park near Atlanta, Kennesaw Mountain NBP where the visitor center was open and we walked a short hike and drove around the area. Then, after a stop in Birmingham for a wedding and the Birmingham Civil Rights NM we crossed Alabama to Mississippi and Vicksburg Battlefield. This was a revisit but first time photographing. Most of the roads were open, the VC was not nor the museum at the ironclad. Our next stop was the Natchez NHS. Neither of the two main buildings were open but the grounds of the mansion were. No VC and no exhibits. We did tour a private home, Rosealie, that was very nice and a neat history. The travel also included several miles on the Natchez Trace Parkway. We stayed near Jackson but did not know about the Medgar Ever’s home now the 423rd park. On to Louisiana and Poverty Point. Like most of the mounds in the NP system, it is not too visually exciting but the culture it represents is fascinating. From there we took a side jaunt to the Chennault Aviation Museum in Monroe. It was pretty well done for a small museum and we also watched volunteers across the street rebuilding historic aircraft. Then on to Arkansas Post. The NP site grounds were open and the state museum of the same name a few miles away had some exhibits and buildings open. Next stop was the Central High School in Little Rock. The civil rights VC/museum was open and well done, the school was not but walking the grounds was fine. We then spent two days at Hot Springs National Park. Only parts of the park were open yet the downtown was interesting and kept us occupied. The last stop in Arkansas was President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home NHS. It is the longest name of any park I recall and the least to offer. The house was closed. The VC open with eight or so banners with information on people important to him. That was it. The property is crowded by highways and streets and generally one of those that make you wonder how on earth it became a NP unit.
Back in Louisiana we arrived at the Cane River Creole NHP and what an intriguing place. We visited two old and nearly intact plantations, explored the town of Natchitoches - which was beautiful and just excellent -good food, nice people, great time there. That completed the NPS units in Louisiana for us. We still visited Baton Rouge, stayed a night at John “Bo Duke” Schneider’s movie set and toured Mobile and nearby state parks. Traveling to Montgomery we were able to visit parts of the Freedom Riders NM, then north a bit to Horseshoe Bend NB, Little River Canyon NPRES and, completing Alabama, Russell Cave near the Tennessee line. Of the four only the VC at Russell Cave was open. The drive around LRC was fine but the state park nearby was quite interesting with a nice campground. Stamps were few - available either outside on a table, in the VC if open or just not there at all.
Finally we spent two weeks in the Great Smoky Mountain NP: five days on the south side, one week on the north side and two days on the eastern end. A big bonus of the trip was that we visited with several friends and that was special.
So for the numbers, 13 new parks bringing our year end total to 279 of 423.
Splash of Yellow