Land Between the Lakes, Kentucky: Lake Barkley and Hurricane Creek Campground

 Hurricane Creek Campground is a COE (Army Core of Engineers) campground. Very tidy, nice wooded area right on the water, sites for RV's as well as tents that are far enough apart you have plenty of room and, very quiet! We needed this stop! 

The Trip from Cape Girardeau to Lake Barkley

I have to digress for a minute and tell you about this eventful drive. It should have been less than two hour drive, even pulling a 5th wheel and taking the "scenic" route. 

We crossed the Mississippi River in high spirits, leaving Missouri and onto Kentucky!

Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge

The GPS routed us through the very southern tip of Illinois where we cross another bridge taking us from Illinois into Kentucky at Paducah. This is Interstate 24 Eastbound that henceforth will be a bad word in our vocabulary! About 3 miles before crossing the bridge into Kentucky, all of a sudden traffic comes to a screeching halt. It is backed up all lanes solid and nothing is moving. Gradually we inch-bug our way to the Metropolis exit (last one before the bridge) and the Highway Patrol is making people get off the freeway. Apparently the bridge is closed down for repairs. 

After trying another bridge further east at Brookport, we got turned back because we are too tall and too long. Back to Metropolis to wait until they open the bridge. We were told 3 hrs. but not sure from when, so we pull into a rest area and wait. We searched websites for any information about the bridge closure and can find nothing! No notices, nothing! How can they shut down a major interstate without telling someone ahead of time?! All those truckers are working people who were mightily delayed by this.

I told Johnnie "This is a Saturday, I bet the crew knocks off at 4 and the bridge will reopen". Sure enough, 4pm and the bridge reopens and the line up begins for all the vehicles now going back onto I-24. Mostly big rigs and RVs on the road now since the cars were able to cross at Brookport. 

Notice the big line of trucks in front of us

After crossing the one open lane over the bridge, I-24 has construction two other places where traffic is down to one lane before getting to our cutoff . What a mess!

We finally arrive at Hurricane Creek Campground about 5:30pm after being on the road since 11am! 

Hurricane Creek Campground

You can imagine how delighted we are to be greeted by such a wonderful scene as Hurricane Creek!

The Fall colors and blue sky
Some lingering morning fog

Our campsite view of the lake

After I-24, we have to remember
 "Enjoy the Journey"

Hurricane Creek Campground is on a small finger
 off the main body of the lake

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