OT: Rock Island State Park

[NeveSSL]

Hi all!

Not sure how many of you have been, but this place is awesome!

Julie and I went camping there Sunday night for our anniversary (yep, she's THAT awesome! ) and had a GREAT time. I wish we could have stayed more than one night, but $20/night is a bit steep for our college budget.

Anyway, here are some highlights:

 

[NeveSSL]

This is one of the overlooks. In the distance is Twin Falls along with TVA's Great Falls Power House. Its really interesting how they have everything setup. I think on the other side of the power house is Center Hill Lake. Its definitely not a conventional TVA dam... that I've seen, anyway (with the powerhouse being a mile or two downstream from the dam and not taking water from one side of the dam).

This is Twin Falls. These Falls are HUGE! I'm guesstimating 300 ft across and maybe 100ft tall? Those little dots are people. The cool thing is that you can actually climb up on the middle ledge on the left hand side and walk underneath/behind the first fall to the middle part between the falls. I'll be doing that next time for sure! We just didn't have time this trip.

This is the far-right side of the falls.

This is the little spring castle thats across the road from the old cotton mill. I think this may have been used to hold water to feed the wheel at the mill after building it up in the pool behind the castle, but I'm completely guessing and I'm probably wrong.

 

[NeveSSL]

Inside the castle.

A picture I enjoyed taking of an old railroad bridge. This line is not used often if at all (the rails are not shiny on top). I'm going to try to find out more about it.

These are just selections. We took 403 pictures.... :lol: When the film is "free", why not? Plus we are still learning our new camera. (No comments from the peanut gallery needed *cough*Brian*cough*). There are only about 80 or so that were worthy of looking at that I uploaded to Photobucket. You can check them all out here if you'd like.

This place is only an hour from Murfreesboro and will probably become a day trip place for us, too. The facilities are really nice and very well taken care of. Its a bit steep (to me, anyway ) at $20/night, but you have water, 30 amp hookup, and a trashcan at every site. The tent campground is only $16/night, but it is really not as nice as the RV sites (that allow tents as well). Which reminds me... I think I forgot a shot of our campsite... let me find one *Brandon digs around in PhotoBucket*. Here we go. This one is from the campsite above us.

Anyway, I highly recommend it! There are lots of places to swim (including a sand beach, jumping off of the small cliffs below the dam, etc.) and a couple of short trails as well as good fishing. Check it out!

Brandon

 

[fallinapart]

Great Brandon. That really is a cool looking place. thanks

Norman

 

[NeveSSL]

Thanks Norman!

BTW, I've had that tent since I was 7! Its a JC Penney's tent... heh.

Julie wants a bigger tent, though. :lol:

Brandon

 

[ReefingMadness]

Did you get to see anybody paddling at the falls? There is a really cool little playhole there. I really enjoy it there. Calm and usually fairly empty.

 

[NeveSSL]

Nope... didn't see anyone paddling, but man I'm wanting to! I absolutely love whitewater activities. I've thought about doing Nantahala Outdoor's weekend class, but don't have the money yet.

Do you go often Thomas?

Brandon

 

[ReefingMadness]

As often as I can, so maybe once a month. Right now all I have is a sit-on-top. As I am trying to locate a RPM MAX. Have you taken the roll class at MTSU yet? If not it is a place to start. They even rent them.

 

[NeveSSL]

Yeah, I've thought about that class. I think its on Wednesday nights and then they practice. I've also thought about renting a kayak, but it wouldn't do me any good without someone who knew what they were doing!

Brandon

 

[DMBillies]

Cool looking place. I'll have to look it up. Probably going hiking this weekend... just haven't had much time to plan. Do they have any long trails with primitive sites or is it all car camping?

And...not to derail your thread, but am I hearing a slight demand for a first annual MTRC family and friends whitewater kayaking/rafting & camping trip?

 

[mamagoose45]

Looks like a good place to go camping. We usually go camping over near the Ocoee River and go rafting each year with some friends of our. We've been trying to come up with some new ideas of places to go that might be a smidgen closer and still cool. This just made the list.

 

[fallinapart]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12814028#post12814028 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NeveSSL
Thanks Norman!

BTW, I've had that tent since I was 7! Its a JC Penney's tent... heh.

Julie wants a bigger tent, though. :lol:

Brandon

good looking "old" tent, you need to get a new one, and a bigger one, then pass that one on to me that way I could go on the MTRC camping trip

Norman

 

[NeveSSL]

Nope, Brian, nothing more than some day loops type stuff I don't think. There's one thats 2.5 miles, but thats about it. Only car camping as far as I know. But man, that would be an AWESOME trip! The annual MTRC Family Rafting/Camping trip. That is an idea for sure!

To be honest, though, I'm not sure how much rafting can be done there. There wasn't a ton of whitewater. HOWEVER, the water seemed low to me and I overheard several people talking about how low it was, so I would imagine it may be a lot better at a different time in the year. Let me know what you guys find out about rafting there.

I've got a feeling we'll get a new one eventually, Norman, but it will be a little while. I think I'll probably have to hold on to that one since my grandfather got it for me!

Who all would be interested in a rafting/camping trip? I know we would be, but pretty much only if I get this new job I'm after as we are BROKE this summer!

Brandon

 

[DMBillies]

I just got back from Vegas, so I know the feeling on the broke front...

...but I did get to shoot some automatic weapons (M-16, an MP5, a Thompson, and a Grease Gun) and a Desert Eagle (definitely kicks like a mule).

Good times...

 

[NeveSSL]

Dude, thats awesome!

Sounds like a blast.

Speaking of hunting/shooting, I have a story I completely forgot to share.

Ok, so we had just downed our Nathan's Best campfire-cooked hotdogs (one of my favorite meals... and I don't even like hotdogs that much ) and were chilling around the fire for a while before succumbing to our sore muscles.

I heard a rustle behind us that sounded like something coming straight at us. I figured it was probably a possum or worst case scenario, a skunk!

I jumped up, grabbed the mag light and shined it into the woods looking for eyes. First shiny thing was a coke can. Then I saw it. Next to a large tree there were two eyes shining back at me. And low and behold, it was a voracious 8-week old kitten! Cream colored. I started laughing. I have no idea where the kitten came from. It just kind of sat there rather content. It was hilarious! I was thinking "Of all things to have sneak up on you in the middle of the woods". lol

Just thought I'd share this story with you all. My wife and I have referenced the "voracious kitten" several times since.

Brandon

 

[DMBillies]

Cute cream colored kittens grow up to be big mountain lions that chew your head off... more of a snarl than a purrrrrr

 

[crumbletop]

Nice, Brandon. Twin Falls is awesome!