Comedy of Errors

Took the long, winding road to what I thought would be the cemetery.  Had the correct address put into the GPS.  No cemetery, just a hayfield and a church.  Scratched the spare tire cover by backing into a barbed wire fence trying to get out of the hayfield.  Back down the road, this time it seemed longer and more wind-ey.

Then to Bean Station.  It is still a thriving town, and the people at the tourist information center were happy to meet the great-great-great-great-great granddaughter of William Bean.  I was thinking there was a monument here, but there was none.  Just a plaque on a scenic overlook that says,

BEAN STATION

One of Tennessee's earliest settlements.  The valley you see was a warpath for the Cherokees, led Daniel Boone to Cumberland Gap and was traveled by Davy Crockett.  Across Highway 11W to the right stood Bean Fort, built by William Bean, first permanent white settler in Tennessee.  In front of the fort stood Bean Station Tavern, the largest tavern between Washington, D.C. and New Orleans.  It hosted Presidents Polk, Johnson and Jackson.  During the Civil War, the Battle of Bean Station was fought around the tavern.

It was time to find the campground for tonight.  I had not made reservations, but had the address.  A camping friend of mine, who also travels solo, said she never makes reservations, so I was not too worried.  Famous last words.  Found the campground, all right, but there was no one in the office which was locked tight at four in the afternoon.  Wandered around and found there were no sites that I could drive my RV straight through - I am a danger to others and myself if I need to back into a space.  So I decided against that campground and drove on.  And on.  And on.  Where is a sign pointing to a campground when you need one?  After a few hours I found a sign and followed it.  When I reached the campground there was yet another sign, this one stating the campground was permanently closed as of May 15, 2013.  I literally laughed out loud!  On the road again, I passed a Hampton Inn and seriously considered staying there.  But stubbornness won out and I continued to follow the next campground sign.  I am now only an hour away from tomorrow's campground!!  But this campground sign proved reliable and I am now cozily ensconced in a forested area with darkness descending.  My site is not supposed to receive wi-fi, but so far the signal is good enough.

Definitely time to turn in for the night.  I am now traveling in the Eastern time zone, so I lost an hour crossing over some bridge in Tennessee.