Melton Hill is on the Clinch River, a tributary to the Tennessee River. It is actually the only facility run by the TVA that is a tributary dam serviced by a navigation lock. The picture does not show it too well but the lock is on the side closest to the observation platform from which the picture was taken, behind the trees.
Melton Hill dam and lock.
The dam generates 72 MW of electricity from two turbines and impounds quite a large recreational pool upstream. The campground was very nice with solar heated showers in the lower bathhouse and large, level and clean sites. It had begun to get cold at night and because of the proximity to water, we had a good fog layer in the morning. This quickly burned off and another beautiful, blue skied day began.
Fog at Melton Hill.
The TVA is the nation's largest public power company, operating a combination of hydroelectric, nuclear and fossil fueled generation facilities. The Authority was created in May of 1933 by congressional charter. It's primary purpose in the beginning was to modernize the Tennessee Valley and improve what was described as Third World agrarian practices of the time. Many of the farmers operated subsistence farms on depleted, eroding soil. TVA brought not only electricity to the valley but produced fertilizer, and had an educational mission to teach farmers about crop rotation and soil conservation. In addition to the agricultural mission, flood control and the recreational areas it created, TVA ultimately provided electricity for aluminum production during WWII and for the enrichment of uranium at Oak Ridge, TN as part of the Manhattan Project. It was at a TVA facility, the Kingston Fossil Plant,where in December of 2008, over 1 Billion gallons of wet coal ash was released from a failed impounding dam, over three hundred acres of wetlands and tributaries of the TN River.
October 9. After departing Melton Hill CP, we had another pretty boring drive. Again the weather was beautiful and Rose performed well, but there just was not much to see along the road. There are always side trips like at Oak Ridge but we were getting a little anxious to be home. Driving now on I-81, we got as far as Natural Bridge, VA where we pulled in to a KOA. Little did we realize that not only was it a long weekend for many folks, it was Trick or Treat night in the campground, which was very full. This campground was the most expensive that we stayed at during our trip and also the most crowded. It was like being in the suburbs, complete with chatty neighbors, barking dogs and screaming children. It was fun, though and seeing all the little kids dressed in their Halloween finery, going from camper to camper for treats was a blast. And yes, Virginia, some campers even bring their inflatable ghosts and witches and pumpkins to the campground for Halloween night.
Rose was in good company for the night but confessed to feeling a bit inadequate, size wise.
Rose at KOA in Natural Bridge, VA.
Finally, just before departing for home, Kathy ceremoniously, actually just threw away, our faithful plastic spoons with which we had eaten every meal that we cooked while on our trip.
Kathy with the spoons.
We arrived home around 1700 on Sunday evening, October 10 after stopping at a friend's house for a short visit, and our favorite pizza shop for a take out dinner. After unpacking a bit we zoned with the pizza and watched the Eagles vs. San Francisco 49ers football game. Good to be home. My next post will be in the form of some statistics and observations. Thanks for your attention and support during our CA2PA bustrip.
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