Great Smokey Mountain National Park - TN & NC

Next we landed a couple hours north west of Asheville in the town of Sevierville, TN at a very nice little place called Up The Creek RV Park.  We have a beautiful lot right on the creek which looked more like a river when we arrived:

Check out our neighbor sitting on a branch over the creek in our back yard:

Sevierville is right next door to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN.  The first night here Dad & Alice stopped by for a visit and some cards - Dad & I let the ladies win.  The next day we drove to Clingmans Dome in the Park.  Again the scenery going through the park was breathtaking:

We hiked to the peak of Clingmans Dome (highest point in the park and 3rd highest point east of thee Rockies - very close to Mt Mitchell in height).  The hike was paved but very steep - the views all the way up and at the top were beautiful:

On the way up we passed these folks resting and enjoying the view from one of the benches:

Later that night we were visited by Ron "I'm soo cold" Stratman - lots of beers & laughs (no pictures).  It was great seeing you Ronnie!

Another day this week we headed through the park and a Cherokee reservation to go to Maggie Valley to see the elk.  The only elk we saw there were bronzed.  So we headed for Catalooche Valley to again see the elk.  Aside from the 10 mile 2-way single lane winding dirt road we traversed on the way, we saw tons of elk!

Some were bathing in the creeks running through the field:

There were many young ones too:

And many with impressive racks!

We decided to take a different 18 mile 2-way single lane winding and much rougher dirt road back even though we ran into young kids who warned us "you have no idea what's ahead of you".  Seeing all the elk made the white knuckle trip worth it!

Another day we hiked to Laurel Falls in the Park - hiking was good and the falls were beautiful:



Another day we hiked Metcaff Bottom  Trail.  There were many switchbacks over the creek along the way:

We hiked up the to Greenbriar School House:

Suze put on a class but no one showed up:

We continued up the trail and made a pit stop at the Walker Sisters house – very old, very cool house.  Incredible old 2 room house with loft and 2 fireplaces – this may be where we decide to settle down in 17 months . . .

5 mile hike, our longest so far, not too difficult but interesting sites along the way.  Later we stopped by Dad & Alice's to meet friends Ronnie, Shirley & Frank - very nice folks from NC.

We had an excellent home/trailer cooked meal and watched the Patriots win another game! 6-1, best in the NFL so far!!!

Another day we drove to Cades Cove in the Park.  We did the 11 mile scenic drive there and saw all kinds of dear:

We stopped along the scenic drive and did a moderate hike to Abrahms Falls:

Later that night we went out to dinner with Dad & Alice for Dad's birthday and then had a nice fire back at our campsite:

On our last day in Gatlinburg we drove the scenic Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail - short drive that was well worth it.  We saw more deer today but they were hiding in the woods from the cameras.  Several houses from the 1800s.  Many little bridges that crossed over a river all along the way:

Tomorrow morning (Weds) we start heading for Santa Rosa Beach on the Florida pan-handle.