Great Falls

Broke camp around 8:30am and drove to the “Great Fall Rivers of the Caney River” in the park.  Water here seeps through the limestone layers and re-appears as a waterfall.  While not particularly tall, the waterfall can be 200+ feet wide during high water in the reservoir upstream.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a cotton mill stood here and utilized water power from the falls to run the mill.  According to a marker on the site, the mill employed mostly orphans and widows, instead of using synthetic urine to hire – draw your own conclusions there.

Spring house

The mill’s turbine was washed away in a flood and the mill did not re-open.  Across the highway from the ruins of the mill, a turret style spring house and dam still stand.  It was used to supply drinking water to the mill workers and pressurized water for fire fighting.

We ambled about 50 miles through farmland and hills to I40 at Lebanon, Tennessee. We gassed up here and then took I40 to the Briley Parkway around Nashville to I24.  We stopped at the Kentucky welcome center for a stroll around the grounds and then continued North entering Illinois about 2:30pm.

I wanted to visit the Wise-Robinson Cemetery at South of New Burnside on US45.  Lots of family here dating back to the 1830s.  Then we took Illinois 166 at New burnside through Creal Springs to my Great Aunt Ivolene’s house.

Wise Robertson Cemetery.

We arrived at Ivolene’s 4pm and visited with her and cousins Doug and Cindy before bedding down in the PW next to her garage.

Miles: 284 Total: 498