What a disappointment today. Long story short is that we got to the Hermitage. RV parking was down a hill and far away. Handicapped parking in the car lot was impossible because of the way the parking was arranged. There was no one there so Jack just pulled around and parked across 2 1/2 spaces of regular parking. We paid the $14/person senior rate for tickets. While Jack went to bathroom I decided to go back for umbrella because we were told it was 300 yards to walk to the Hermitage from the visitor center plus more for the other things to see.
As I was returning the security guard stopped me and said I had to move the rv to the rv parking lot. I explained that I could not drive the rv in such tight places and it would be really hard for my husband who walks with canes to come all the way back out and then walk from the rv lot back to the visitor center. I said we have a handicap permit but the spaces are too small but we would be willing to move there since they are closest to the door. He rejected the handicapped parking because the rv was too long. I said I thought it was an unreasonable request since at that point there were maybe at the most 12 cars in this huge lot.
I went and got Jack and by that time the security supervisor became involved. He said that these were the rules of the executive board and had to be followed. Jack said he was sure the executive board expected him to use common sense. Because they were standing with legs spread and thumbs in their belts, we just got our money back. They could have let it go or offered to pick Jack up in their golf cart in the rv parking lot. Or give us a time limit because they were expecting big crowds, etc. None of that happened because it wasn't the rule.
The point is on this trip we have gone to presidential homes of Clinton, Eisenhower, Truman, Hoover, Lincoln. I think we violated the parking rules one way or another at all of them without a word from anyone. Essentially we try to do what is most convenient -that is what will be least tiring. When they see the handicap sticker that tend to be a little more gracious perhaps because we don't have unreasonable requests. We scope things out and see what is best without disturbing others.
Anyway, we did not go back to the rv park for the second night. I called and they were very upset with the way we were treated although it had nothing to do with them and refunded the second night's fee. Very, very nice of them. I of course I have been composing my letter to the Exec Comm of the Ladies Society for the Hermitage, National Foundation for Historic Preservation, Nashville Tourism, and the State of Tennessee. They just spent $2.5 million upgrading the home, etc.
We left town headed for Birmingham. Saw a sign at Columbia TN exit for James K Polk presidential home so stopped there. Closed of course until one and it was only 11. Seems like nice little town. Never saw anything about Polk this advertised in any of our tour books. The home looks great and I know nothing about Polk so it would have been interesting. Everything in town is Polk this and that. They need a PR person. See pictures. Looked like it was privately owned home too.
That's the other thing about the Hermitage. We were there at 9 AM so even if there was an anticipated crowd, we would have been long gone before they got there. We would have even moved if they needed the spaces while we were there. There was just no good reason to go through all that commotion in an empty parking lot.
Made it to the south side of Birmingham AL. Turns out what we wanted to see in Birmingham is closed on Monday so just kept on going. Very cloudy, threatening day and traffic picked up a little as we approached Birmingham. Great park, also empty. Lots of thunder and some rain. Onward to Montgomery tomorrow. Getting close to home and a little eager.
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