The Land Between the Lakes

 The Land between the Lakes, the memory lane tour started in the Smokey Mountains and continued here in full force. We stayed here on our third trip in 2017 and had fond memories of the campsite and our time here. We got the exact same Energy Lake campsite and wondered if it was really as good as we remembered it. It was different this time, the kids are all older and didn't want to spend their time swimming at the little swim beach like last time but it was good camping and everyone was still in good spirits having a relatively good time which is excellent at this stage on the back stretch of the trip.  This is about where things can easily start to unravel. 

So Becky and I were in full memory lane mode and it just filled our hearts to recall the good times we had here and relive some of those memories with the family. The kids remembered some things but not as clear as we do. They think they know so much more about themselves but they don't realize we still remember more of there lives than they do at this point, although I'm sure it's shifting rapidly. Anyway we spent some time reviewing our old blog posts and comparing things to today. This blog is really more of a personal travel journal and while we know we probably have maybe 20 fans that really enjoy it as well (thanks for reading!), I'm really our number one fan. I look back and read through the blog often either triggered by seeing something referencing a place we've been or just having a bad day and need help resetting. While it's a bit of a chore to do on vacation I'm so glad we have it. Becky and I know we're getting close to the end, we've been to most of the continental United States (looking at you Oregon), Sam will graduate next year and will need to figure out what's next in his life. Lucas isn't far behind. I hope we continue to do some epic travels but they are going to change and as this stop reminds us they already have in a lot of ways. Part of the journey I guess. Long way of saying we reminisced a LOT it was emotional but also a lot of fun. 

It's sort of crazy how much we love this place, it's really not anything that special, we didn't even get out and do much besides camping. But we've been here twice and enjoyed it thoroughly both times. Just something about this place that fits.

Do me a favor and reminisce with us a bit and read this post from our the first stop. The Marcus-isms are great.

View of the lake from our campsite

 

 

Becky down at the beach checking out the water, it's a nice root beer brown

Our campsite, #9 in the A loop.  This is the same site we had our first visit and just loved. It's a great site big and private with easy access to the swim beach. We  just loved this site our first time here and again this time just confirmed how good it was.  Kids are older so not as interested in swimming as the first time but still a great site.

Marcus made a literal log cabin with a whole bundle of wood.

We're in Kentucky, so figured I better break out my bourbon.  From Kentucky to South Dakota and now back to Kentucky.  It's a real homecoming.

Marcus and I went for a swim the first evening to check out the water. It was warm and brown.

Sunset over the swim beach

 

 

Another throw back, our first time here I had bet Lucas he couldn't complete it. But he did and I lost the bet for a Pepsi. He couldn't repeat the feat this time but his brother Marcus kept at it and made it happen, and of course he expected the same deal.

Marcus and I enjoying his fire

This is the view that sticks in my memory the most about this place.

Ah a morning fire... just hanging out having some coffee and reading our books

Yet another trip down memory lane.  Playing Carcassonne with the family. Becky at first wanted to play on the skim board like last time but found out it was at the bottom of swim stuff in the dinette seats. She didn't want it that bad so we just played on the picnic table. We've had this cheap table cloth along for all our trips this is the second time we've got it out. Also note Marcus' enjoying his payment for his feat on the playground.

 

 

Heading to the visitor center we decided to take the shorter route instead of the suggested route... see more of the land that's between the lakes. This put us through on some rough forestry department road that was full of large rocks and washed out areas. But it was an adventure and I had just said "as long as we don't run into any fallen trees I think we'll be fine", we rounded a bend and came across this. If we only had a chain saw we'd have been fine and it would have been even more fun.  But alas we had to make a sixteen point turn and head back the way we came.

Made it to the visitor center

We got tickets to the next planetarium showing. A program about light. Then they show you the night sky for that evening and what to look for. Here's everyone on there phones waiting for it to start.

Just when you think everyone's getting too old for there own good.

Some mandatory Family swim time.  Lucas is not impressed with the water color. I think it's just tannin's from the trees. Makes it look like root beer, like Tahquamenon Falls

 

 

Behind the scenes look at how the magic happens.