Ewing, VA & Cumberland Gap National Park (May 24, 25, 2023)

​Getting to Cumberland Gap and the Wilderness Road campground turned into a long driving day. Part of that drive was along the Wilderness Road and Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail historic scenic drive.  Traditionally these roads were walked and ridden by horseback and highlights the westward migration.  Along the drive I saw many confederate flags, churches, and signs for church functions.  Upon arrival I learned that the campground did not have water until the pump system was fixed, and they had had sightings of black bears in the campground, Ugh!   
The day I visited Cumberland Gap National Park turned into a very long exciting day.  Originally the plan was a few hikes in the national park. I started by taking the scenic drive to “The Pinnicle” to see Middlesboro and Cumberland Gap TN.   But after talking to the Ranger at the visitor center the rest of the day took on a life of its own.  I took the Gap Cave tour with one other couple from Kentucky and two tour guides.  Gap Cave is considered a dry cave in existence for millions of years.  It played an active role in the civil war, changing hands three times as can be seen with the graffiti and candle burn markings.  There were different rooms; a music room with wonderful acoustics and the ballroom with sonar sounds that could have been bats.  After the Gap Cave tour, I went to lunch at the local coffee house right on the creek in town, then on to a hike the Tri-State Peak to “Saddle Gap” where the three states of VA, WV, and TN come together. Then I went to Wilderness Road State Park and the Martin Station living history museum.  Martin Station is a wilderness station during colonial times when the west was being settled.  There were log buildings, wooden fencing, and not far away the Indian teepees and settlement as contrast.  All volunteers were in period dress and working on the station. 
After some relaxation, I decided to take a recommendation from the Kentucky couple I met at the Gap Cave tour to attend the opening night of the 92nd Mountain Laurel Festival Country Music concert in Pineville KY.  The opening ceremonies were a cross between a Prom, a Debutant Ball, and a Beauty Pageant.  After speeches by the MC, the Mayor, and the director of the festival, the court was presented in anticipation of crowning a Queen and Princess by the end of the festival weekend. The concert headliner was Kameron Marlowe.  I got back to camp around 11pm.  It was a very full day.