It's Funny How Things Work Out

We only had two things left to do while we were in Kentucky: See something about coal mining and the Cumberland Gap. I found a possible exhibit concerning coal mining and it wasn't very far from the Cumberland Gap or so I thought. What made this exhibit sound so great was that you actually went down in a mine. The exhibit was called Portal 39. I had read about it in several books and it said it would be open by April 2007. What I didn't know was that it had been saying that for 4 years and it still isn't open. I thought the place was located near one town when actually it was near a town 30 miles further.
Our last day was kind of gloomy and a little foggy ;the perfect day to visit a coal mine but not so great to see the Cumberland Gap. We decided to go to the museum and hope for a weather clearing by the time we got back. The museum was interesting but I wouldn't have bothered if it hadn't been for the Portal 39 but the trip did work out because by the time we got back to the Gap, the fog and mist had lifted.
The Cumberland Gap is a beautiful National Park which borders on three states:Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Animals and Native Americans had long ago discovered this pass thru the mountains but it wasn't until Dr. Thomas Walker traveled it in 1750, that the white man first heard of it. In 1767, Daniel Boone began leading settlers thru thus opening the west
for expansion. It must have been an awesome sight to see the beautiful country on the other side of the Appalachian Mountains but it was a hard trek. Many traveled it without shoes and in all kinds of weather. The picture of the hawk was taken from Pinnacle Point where you can see the tunnel(that is how you get thru the Gap nowadays) and all three states. The other picture is of the Historical Gap where Dr Walker first came thru. It was a hike to get there and I almost gave up but I made it and it was worth it. I am proud to be in a country that has such brave people. What courage it took to set out for the unknown. I too will be setting out on a trek but I know what is waiting for me: a loving sister and friend............................ and a home.