Spring Has Sprung – April 29-30, 2013

Spring has sprung,

The grass is ris.

I wonder where,

the birdies is.

We found them.  They are alive and well in Tennessee!  At 4 a.m. yesterday in Nashville and today in Athens they began their loudest songs that would wake any sound sleeper.  So Tennesseans, what’s the deal?

Yesterday, we left Nashville and headed to Athens, Tennessee for one last side trip before coming home.  In that part of the state, there is something called the Lost Sea which is the largest underwater body of water in the U.S.  It is part of the Craighead Caverns which were used to produce saltpeter for the ammunition during the Civil War.  The lake was not discovered until 1911, not fully opened up until 1962 and is 4 acres large with the deepest point being 70 feet deep.  While this is obviously no Carlsbad Caverns, it was really fun to see, along with the boat ride on the lake.  In the early 70’s they put some trout in the lake to see if they could find their way out, but since they were being fed everyday, they became the fish equivalent of food stamp recipients and decided to stay.  Now they have become permanent residents.  They are fat and happy with the largest being 36 inches.Entrance to The Lost Sea Underground lake with rainbow trout, the ripples in the water are the fish coming to the surface to feed.

On the way to the Lost Sea Adventure, we saw a sign advertising Mayfield Ice Cream tours and we stopped to take the tour.  This is a family owned business that started 103 years ago by a single family and the hard work and innovative minds of their heirs.  You know those yellow plastic jugs that claim to keep the milk fresher than the clear jugs?  They were created here at Mayfield Creamery along with other equally innovative dairy ideas, like the first to transport in refrigerated cars.  If you shop at Walmart Superstores, look for Mayfield Ice Cream and see what you think.  I had a sample of something called Cherry Chocolate Chip and would go back to have another.  I have to admit Jim’s White Chocolate Raspberry made we wonder about my choice but give me either one and I would not complain.

We hope to be home tomorrow evening and I know we are both ready.