Day 2: Richmond, Kentucky to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee  Monday, June 20, 2011 ??? miles I left Richmond, Kentucky, at 8:54 am once a big thunderstorm passed by. Gas was $3.499/gal in Richmond, Kentucky. My first goal of the day was Cumberland Falls, Kentucky.  I got to the state park at 10:21 am. The state park had free admission. Until I got there, I had never heard of a moonbow. I guess Cumberland Falls and Victoria Falls both have predictable moonbows! Here I am at the upper overlook. Cumberland Falls reminded me of Balls Falls in Ontario and Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan. From the upper overlook, there was a Niagara Glen-like path down to a lower overlook. The lower overlook is very close to the falls.  There had been a lot of rain in the day or two before I visited, so the falls were very strong. A kind lady took my picture with the falls (the one on the right). After Cumerland Falls, I went to the Sanders Cafe in Corbin, Kentucky, to see the original Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. Here I am outside the historic Sanders Cafe, the original KFC, in Corbin, Kentucky.  Half of it is historic restaurant/museum; the other half is modern KFC. I got a $5 chicken strip meal (3 chicken strips, potato wedges, biscuit, and pop) and ate it in the historic dining room. Notice the wooden tables with the modern chairs.  A historic kitchen exhibit is in the background. It was also fun to look at th historical items related to Colonel Sanders and Kentucky Fried Chicken. My favorites were the 3-D map showing the original Sanders Court and Cafe and the model motel room in the middle of the restaurant. Gas was $3.339/gal in Corbin, Kentucky. My third goal of the day was Cumberland Gap, but I got to Middlesboro, Kentucky, at 1:11 pm, only to find the road flooded! I turned around and retraced my steps, next heading to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. I enjoyed the American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for about 45 minutes before they closed. (Now I know the way to see this museum is to register in the morning to go on the 12-3 pm bus tour, but I missed out by arriving so late.) The outside of the museum is not intriguing.  (In fact, it is down-right boring.) As a science teacher, I appreciated the exhibits about energy and radioactivity, including this one about radioactive water. I came to Oak Ridge to learn about the town during the Manhattan Project.  When I paid my $5 admission, I was told that the second floor and Flat Top would close early, so I should go there first.  I did, but I didn't know what a Flat Top was.  It turns out that it was a kind of manufactured housing that was used in Oak Ridge during World War II. I didn't realize that the Flat Top was relatively new to the museum.  With only minutes to spare, I went to explore it.  Amazingly, you are allowed to go in! I was so neat to see how people would have lived during that time.  (Plus it is air-conditioned!) The Flat Top had a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and two bedrooms.  It was the highlight of the museum for me.  So cool! There is a little about Oak Ridge on the second floor.  Here I first saw this iconic photo of the women coming into Oak Ridge.  I learned just this year that my grandmother worked at Oak Ridge as a secretary! Right at the entrance of the museum is a giant tesla coil, much larger than the one we use in class to set off methanol cannons! After that, I pushed on to find a hotel near Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  I arrived without a reservation, so I ended up choosing the Royal Inn in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for two nights at $34.95 per night + tax. (with wifi and donuts + coffee included). Here are pictures of my room on the fourth floor at the Royal Inn.  The room had two beds, a TV, fridge, microwave, air-conditioning, and good wifi. Standard bathroom Great view of the Smoky Mountains from outside my fourth floor room! On my first night in Pigeon Forge, I got Taco Bell for dinner and brought it back to my room to eat. Gas was $3.439/gal in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Back to Itinerary On to Day 3