November 12, 2025 (Wed.) - Sunrise & The Hermitage.
Today was our final full day in Nashville. Lynn was up early at 6:00, braving a chilly 41° (feels like 32°) with coffee in hand while catching up on the blog. The sunrise was spectacular—an orange glow spreading across the water with a mysterious streak of orange in the sky. The colors kept shifting, so glorious that Lynn went outside three separate times in the cold to capture more photos. Kirk, who didn’t get up until 9:15, missed the whole show.
We took it easy in the morning and headed out around noon in search of a car wash. Washtopia turned out to be perfect—it could fit a dually. We gave the truck a deep clean inside and out, using their vacuums and even a car mat washing machine we’d never seen before. A kind employee came out to show us how it worked (after Kirk had already scrubbed half of them by hand). What a time saver! By 1:00, the truck was sparkling clean.
Since it was our last day, we decided to visit Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, a site many had recommended. Located just outside Nashville, The Hermitage is the historic home of the 7th U.S. President. Today it serves as both a museum and National Historic Landmark, offering visitors a glimpse into Jackson’s life, the mansion, and the plantation grounds. We arrived around 1:15 and stayed until 3:00. While photos aren’t permitted inside the mansion, it was remarkable to see how well the furniture, wall coverings, and personal possessions from the 1800s have been preserved. The tour was fascinating—we learned that “Hermitage” means a reclusive solitary retreat, that Jackson’s wife Rachel was technically still married when she first wed him, and that she tragically passed away just three weeks after he won the presidency. After exploring the mansion, we strolled the grounds for a bit before heading off in search of lunch.
We ended up at Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen for lunch. Kirk couldn’t resist ordering The Jackson sandwich, made famous on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. It was decent, though a bit light on the meat. Lynn’s turkey avocado sandwich hit the spot and was a solid choice. Afterward, we ran a few errands to get ready for tomorrow’s travel day.
With only a short time in Nashville, we chose to skip Broadway (Honky Tonk Highway). There just wasn’t enough time to take it all in. Still, we’re certain we’ll be back again—Tennessee was a place we truly enjoyed.
By 5:30 we were back at the RV, getting our first taste of rush hour traffic—something we hadn’t dealt with since leaving California! The evening was quiet: Kirk relaxing, Lynn blogging and stepping out for aurora checks (though nothing appeared), and both of us winding down. Tomorrow we hit the road again, bound for Arkansas, so rest was in order.
Weather – High 64*, Low 41*. Winds 8-10 mph with 22 mph gusts. No rain, no humidity.
Traffic – Rush hour 5 PM traffic.
Food – Homegrown Taproom & Kitchen – pretty good.
Notable – Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage, Sunrise.
