The Land Between Two Lakes is in Western Kentucky and partly shared with Tennessee. On the west side the Tennessee River is dammed up to form a long skinny Kentucky Lake. On the north and east side the Cumberland River is dammed up to form a long and skinnier Lake Barkley. The land between is full of natural areas, trails and camping places.

We visited the Golden Pond Visitor Center and walked four miles of a trail there. It was beautifully wooded, but even shade is a warm place to be when it’s a humid 92 degrees with no breeze. We met a dripping bicyclist on the trail and he told us this is typical weather by mid-May, and this year has been atypical. We lucked out in missing the high winds and tornado, yet seeing the beautifully full waterfalls as a result of the extra rain, and enjoying cooler temperatures (until now).

It would be nice to come back in cooler weather and explore more here. The past two days of 90+ in high humidity are making us realize it is time to move north and go home.

Tony is quite taken with the blooming mimosa trees here in the forests of Kentucky. He grew up in Colwich, Kansas, with a big mimosa in the front yard. He loves seeing them “out in the wild” here. So occasionally he has an appreciation for plants-ha ha!

Every now and then we come across a campground sign that we understand, but would really love to hear the story behind the special rule. The My Old Kentucky Home campground forbid chainsaws. Haven’t noticed campers using chainsaws anywhere, but that must have been a problem for them. For Barkley Lake, did the lanterns burn down some trees? Maybe even start a forest fire? Just curious:)

The orange ball is a particular favorite toy on this trip. Sometimes it is gone for a few days, maybe into the Fourth Kitty Dimension where cats and toys and small important things like work badges or my favorite wool socks disappear for a time. Notice Primrose’s weird “bird wing” pose of her front legs. Catnip doesn’t do this.