Gorgeous morning. Our campsite is on a hilltop overlooking Huntsville, AL. While the temperature is still in the 30s it didn’t go below freezing overnight. I have to admit, the hour difference threw us off a little. Because we are so far east in this time zone, it was dark by 5 pm. We did have a spectacular sunset last though.
We are now experiencing what it’s like to camp in late November. It does change how we do things and what equipment we use, where and when. It’s been to cold to cook outside when it’s dark therefore we don’t need the folding chairs, the BBQ and anything else we use outside and we are not in camp during the day.
Driving north of Huntsville today we are passing cotton fields. Travelling in this part of the world brings a lot of music to mind! Think of all the music played and songs written about this part of the U.S.!
While Tennessee is all mountains, trees and rivers, this part of Alabama is flat and agricultural, as you would imagine it to be.
Heading back to Tennessee today. This is ‘distillery’ discovery day, and hopefully, a quilt shop or two.
It’s also Thanksgiving eve. Wonder what traffic will be like? Judging by the number of families with school age children we have seen, I think there is no school this week.
Tennessee Whisky (1): We stopped to visit a small local tennessee whisky / moonshine distillery. It’s a little early for whiskey tasting but the location was very scenic.
Gas prices have been fairly constant throughout TN and AL at $3.15 to $3.20. This morning in Fayetteville we filled up at $2.95. First we’ve seen below $3.00/gallon in a long time.
We are now west of the Appalachians and the scenery is very pretty with long rolling hills and valleys.
Tennessee Whiskey (2): We stopped in Lynchburg to visit the Jack Daniel’s Distillery which is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and averages over 250,000 visitors every year… including us apparently. We did a tour here. Every ounce of Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey is produced here, fed by the pure, iron-free cave water springs nearby.
How is tennessee whiskey different from bourbon? Both whisky and bourbon must be distilled to 160 proof or below, put in a barrel at 125 proof or below, and bottled at 80 proof or above. Whiskey is a dark distilled spirit made from fermented grains such as rye, corn, wheat, and barley. It is an overarching term for this classification of spirits. Bourbon is a type of whiskey, but it comes with different distinctions and rules. To be classified as bourbon, a whiskey must be made from at least 51% corn, be made in the United States (many whiskeys are made in Scotland or Ireland), be aged in new, charred American white oak barrels, and be at least 80 proof. Bourbon often has a sweeter taste than other whiskeys because it is made from mostly corn. Tennessee whiskey distillers are permitted to add up to two percent of coloring and/or flavor.
And in case you didn’t read my post on Moonshine a few days ago, the difference between moonshine and whisky is that moonshine is basically pure colorless alcohol. Moonshine purists define the spirit as a homemade, unaged whiskey, marked by its clear color, corn base, and high alcohol content—sometimes peaking as high as 190 proof. Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar.
Lynchburg, TN… Lynchburg is best known as the location of Jack Daniel’s, whose famous Tennessee whiskey is marketed worldwide as the product of a city with only one traffic light. Despite the operational distillery, which is a major tourist attraction, Lynchburg’s home county of Moore is a dry county.
Lynchburg is a pretty little town with a town square with interesting shops surrounding its county courthouse.
We had lunch in one of the local BBQ spots… honestly these local restaurants are so much fun..
We got into camp about 3 pm. The sun is already going down however it’s warmer than it has been so far so … fingers 🤞.. maybe we can BBQ tonight? We are backed up beside a stream… very pretty. First time I’ve had to sweep leaves off the campsite.
The Old Stone Fort Archeological Site
The Old Stone Fort was built during the Middle Woodland Period, 1,500-2,000 years ago. Native Americans used this area continuously for about 500 years, eventually leaving it abandoned. By the time European settlers arrived, it was unclear of what the area had been used for which resulted in it being misnamed as a fort. In 1966, the state of Tennessee purchased 400 acres of the Chumbley estate as the core of what is now Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park.
Sitting outside writing this blog before the sun goes down. It is already starting to cool off but at least we didn’t need coats today for the most part.
Louise and Brian McLeod Travel Blog 
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