The School of Hard Knox(ville)...

We left Pigeon Forge this morning, heading for Nashville.  About 25 miles east of Knoxville, we began to see signs like these...

Having seen these kinds of signs many times in the past, I expected one lane to be higher than the next (as in the lower sign).  Oh, nooo... they put blacktop on a section of road, then stopped as they came to the bridges.  Then started up again.  You would think the road construction people would taper the height difference between the new surface and the old... you would be mistaken, here.  We launched off the first drop in height, then hit what was like driving up a curb!  Yes, at Interstate speeds.

The impact (repeated about 6 or 7 times, but we figured it out after the first one - SLOW DOWN!) knocked the door open on the microwave.  Joan sometimes stores bread or produce in the microwave while we're moving...  a package of cherry tomatoes launched out of the microwave and scattered around the coach like marbles.  Fortunately, the glass turntable in the microwave didn't self-launch.  When we got down for the day, we discovered that a pants hanger in Joan's closet busted from that impact, as well.  Easier to find all the pants than the cherry tomatoes.

The traffic in Knoxville was crazy; it is obvious they like their NASCAR here... trying to stay with the flow of traffic, I was driving just under 10 mph over the speed limit and cars (and trucks) were blowing by me on either side.  And constantly changing lanes.  I was thinking I could use a pit crew to change out our tires after the earlier impacts.

When we got through Knoxville, the traffic eased off.  I could drive less than the speed limit again.

That lasted for almost a half hour and then...

Traffic stopped on the Interstate.  It took us about a half hour to go two miles.

The reason for the traffic jam: 100 yards of road repair that closed off all but one lane for a couple miles...

We wound up having to drive on the shoulder... which is big fun with the rumble strip there.  Once past the road construction, it was easy cruising again.  Looking in the Exit Guide, we decided to stop ahead for lunch - there was an exit that had plenty of food places and a Walmart (which means a place to park).  Turns out there were no food places anywhere close to the Walmart and the traffic was crazy.  Joan said, "I'll just make us lunch."  One of the many nice things about traveling with your "house."

Back on the road, we enjoyed the light traffic and mare's tails in the clouds...

With the help of a time change from Eastern to Central, we were able to meet our 2/2/2 Rule when we pulled into the RV park in Nashville.  This is a decent park, with nice folks at the front counter who offered some tips on what to see and do here.  And, a city ordinance we appreciate: no campfires!  Ah, blissful fresh air to breathe while sitting outside.  ;-)

Of course, little Izzy was in need of a walk-about once we were set up...

Supper out, some music in the RV park, and putting together a plan for what we want to see here.  Welcome to Music City!

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This campground has live entertainment a couple nights a week...

She sings to backing tracks (pre-recorded music), but does a good job engaging the audience.  She said this is her 6th year entertaining at this campground... and drives a cab when not singing (really, her cab was parked nearby).  If you aren't a headliner or a sessions musician, you have to have "a day job."

Pretty sunset this evening...

It has been a while since I've photographed a sunrise or a sunset - every place we have been lately has been very wooded.  I was able to get this shot because we were near the office (where the entertainment was) and it is more open.