Last week I spent a few days at Montgomery Bell State Park in Burns, Tennessee, as part of an employment-related “training” activity. Seen above is the view from the smaller of the park’s two lakes (17 and 50 acres, respectively). While I wasn’t thrilled about having to be away without my family, the stay was not altogether unpleasant.
Certainly the inn, itself, was staffed by friendly, helpful employees. The lobby and conference-room floor has a strong wireless Internet signal. My room on the third floor had a signal of adequate strength for web-surfing and watching a movie on Netflix. The room was clean and had a coffee-machine, an iron and ironing board (which you can bet I didn’t use), and a hair-dryer (which I likewise didn’t use – I got no puff-cut). The inn’s buffet had a limited but good selection of fresh fruit and salad greens, cooked vegetables, in addition to fried fare. For breakfast daily, I ate fruit, cottage-cheese, yogurt, and a bowl of oatmeal served pretty much the way I eat it at home – with cinnamon, brown sugar, and raisins.
Did I mention the canoes? Canoe rental (17’ Osage aluminum) is a mere $3.50/hour. Hot day after the work activity on Thursday, but I took the opportunity to paddle the lake’s perimeter. Those of my peers who also took to the water did so on pedal boats and some complained afterward of back and knee pain.
Christov_Tenn 