September 12-15, 2024 - Bristol, TN/ VA
I’ve driven through Tennessee before at night, but that is it. I’ve never had the chance to truly immerse myself in its stunning scenery—until now. This trip was long overdue!
Using my GoWild Pass, I flew into Charlotte, NC. All of the airports were about 2.5 hours away. Charlotte offered the best rental car prices, and I have friends in North Carolina if, for some reason, I needed something, so I chose that one.
From the moment I landed, I was struck by how green everything was! The rolling hills were absolutely gorgeous, a vivid contrast to the mountains of Colorado, which, while breathtaking, lack that lush greenery.
The roads here, also quite different. They’re narrow, windy, and curvy, with hardly any shoulder. A lot of you may not know this, but North Carolina has a state speed limit of 55 mph unless otherwise posted. So, for those of you from Texas and Colorado who are used to flying down the interstate at 85+, that's not going to happen here 😂. There is one section that allows 65 mph, but the cops are ALWAYS out. The road going out by my campground had a series of switchbacks. There were at least 3 different spots, starting about 10 miles out, warning semi trucks of the switchbacks.
After picking up my rental car, I headed north on Highway 321/421, passing through a few hole in the wall spots: Hickory, Blowing Rock, Boone, and Mountain City, before reaching Jacobs Creek Campground in the Cherokee National Forest, TN.
The drive over the bridge was just gorgeous. You come around a corner, and it opens up to the bridge and views of South Holston lake. It was breathtaking. Pictures can't do it justice. I need to add side cameras to go with my dashcam to get the full view!
When I travel, I usually opt for camping instead of hotels or BnBs, depending on the area and what events I have going on. For this trip, camping worked out perfectly. I packed my sleeping bag, tent, mat, camp stove, cup, spoon, and a few other basics. Since my campsite didn’t have charging stations, I made a habit of stopping at local coffee shops to recharge my devices. Bristol had a Planet Fitness, so on my way into town I would stop in and shower and swing in again on my way back out to the campground to get ready for bed.
There were campgrounds in town with amenities just 5-10 minutes from the festival, but I craved peace and quiet. The town sites were basically just giant parking lots, lacking shade and privacy, with people on top of each other and rates starting at $35 a night. Instead, I drove 25 minutes to the lake, and it was amazing! The maximum number of people I saw around my site was about 10. I could get up and enjoy a hike, walk, or run before work. During the couple of days I had to work, I sat right next to the lake and enjoyed the solitude. I used my camp stove to make oatmeal and coffee, and with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees, the weather was perfect! 🤗
While I was researching the area, I found out I would be right next to a section of the Appalachian Trail (AT). I didn’t have time to hike the entire section, but I managed to explore a few miles. The feel of the trail was so different from what I’m used to in Colorado or Texas. The whole trail was shaded, surrounded by trees is an understatement... so many spider webs 😬 ... and so many bears 😳. I am crazy excited to come back out this way and stay for a while!
The main purpose of my trip was to attend the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Festival. It’s been on my radar for a couple of years, and this year, the dates finally lined up! The festival kicked off Thursday night and ran through Sunday evening. I flew in on Thursday and left on Tuesday, giving myself a couple more days to explore the area.
This festival is a music extravaganza! It features a mix of Blues, Jazz, Country, Folk, and more. I was excited to see some artists I already knew, and I discovered many new favorites! The town has a museum at the center of the event, the Birthplace of Country Music Museum. They shut down an almost mile by mile section of downtown Bristol for the festivities.
They had over 20 food trucks with everything from basic american, smoothie bowls, Greek cuisine and more. There were at least six different stages with performances starting at 11 a.m. and going until midnight. I had a list of must-see acts, including Wilderado, 49 Winchester, Stephen Day, and Silverado. I also couldn’t miss the Red Clay Strays and Drayton Farley both whom I’ve seen a couple of times before, but so worth it. The biggest surprise for me was seeing The Wallflowers—yes, the ones from the '90s! My favorite new find was a blues artist named Justin Golden. I added quite a few songs of his to my collection. Over the weekend, more than 60 different artists/groups took to the stage!
The whole event had a very laid-back vibe. People brought lawn chairs and claimed their spots for the day. You could come and go as you pleased, and bring in food and empty water bottles to refill at one of the many water stations. State Street, which runs through the event, is also the state line—if you’re on the south side, you’re in Tennessee; on the north side, you’re in Virginia!
I felt like I was transported back to the '70s while I was there. There was definitely fell under the “hippie” category, with plenty of polyester bell bottoms and short-sleeve button-ups revealing chest hair on men, and high-waisted flare legs on women with natural hair flowing and thin headbands adorning their heads.
I love seeing the history and how far we have come in all aspects, but escpecially with music. I love new music and the merging of the new and old and the mixes and mashups. You will never appreciate how far we have come without knowing where we started.
Comments