June 6

Day 9

Today we decided to play tourist in and around Sweetwater, TN.  We visited the Sweetwater Valley Farm, where local cheese is produced.  Of course we sampled and bought some.  Unfortunately, there are no tours until 2019 because of upgrades they are making.  Most of the milk and cream is sold to Mayfair Dairy Farms where ice cream is produced.  Can you believe they don't have tours on Wednesday!!

Our next stop was at The Lost Sea Adventure.  This is a guided 3/4 mile tour of the Craighead Caverns that are 58 degrees F all year long.  It was known as a great place to have a still because the water is 98 percent pure.  At one time there was a bar there during prohabition that only lasted 2 months. At the bottom of the cave you board a boat for a trip on the Lost Sea, America's Largest underground lake.  The lake is located 140 feet below ground level and 4-1/2 acres.  An experiment was done a long time ago by planting rainbow trout.  The idea was to see if the fish could find their way out.  This experiment was a failure because in the total darkness the fish get lost, so never found a way out.  The fish run about 14-16 pounds.  The walk back to ground level was totally up.  After days in the Motor Home, we definitely got our exercise.

After Cheese and Caverns we went to Tsali Winery.  Beautiful location and unusual wine.  The wine is made from Muscadine grapes which are indigenous to the Southeast.  This fruit combines health benefits with a taste both delicious and sweet.  Renie even found one that she can drink a small amount of.  That is saying something!!

The weather has been beautiful here in Tennessee.  Warm, a little humid, no rain.  So far so good.