written by George Hedges

You know, sometimes you have to drive to the end of the road to find what makes you really happy. I mean that literally. A few of us remember when Saundersville Road ended in Old Hickory Lake. Actually it did not end there…the road is still there under the lake. If my car needed washing I would drive it into the lake, throw a bucket of water on it and wash it. Then drive off.

As a young boy, life was good. I would ask my friend Don if he wanted to go camping and off we’d go to “The Point”.

There were no parking lots, no beach, no camp sites. There was only a road running into the lake and a large field with one tree in it near the west side. We’d pitch a tent and spend the weekend, usually without seeing another person.

I remember waking up in the middle of the night once because the tent floor was floating. We thought, “what the heck is going on?” It had rained and we had pitched the tent in a low spot. By the way, I don’t advise doing that.

We would cook on the open fire (anything that we could find that was cheap) and stay up most of the night telling stories while watching the stars move past.

Later, as young adults, Karen & I would get together with friends for the weekend under that tree. We’d pitch tents, have a grand campfire and sit around it playing music. We all know you cannot do that without breaking out a guitar, singing the songs of the times and just enjoying being together.

I remember one summer night when the moon was in its awesomeness (I’m a moon guy) and all was quiet with only music and crickets chirping, we noticed something strange. The moon was disappearing! It was a total eclipse!!! After a lot of “Wow,” “That’s Awesome” and “No Way.” we went back to playing music, telling stories and watching the stars move past.

Since then we have camped there with our sons and our grandsons…with campfires, playing music, swimming, canoeing, telling stories and watching the stars. We have also celebrated several birthdays at ‘the Point” with our grandsons.

Those were special times. Friendship, family, music and campfires. “The Point” now has a beach, playground, parking area, group pavilions, and a boat ramp. The road does not run into the lake anymore, so you can’t wash your car!

If you have not experienced “Cedar Creek Campground” you need to. It’s Mt. Juliet’s best kept secret. You can have the “Good old days” now! You can sit around playing music, telling stories and watching the stars move past with friends and family.
Life is Good in Mt. Juliet