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.

Asheville, NC

Oct 20-27, 2010 - This week we started by checking out the Biltmore Estate:

Couldn't take any pictures inside but it was very impressive.  We walked the gardens which were meticulously maintained:



Another day we drove about 80 miles north on the Blue Ridge Pkwy from Asheville.  Again the scenery all along the way was beautiful:

As we got to high altitude, you could see the tree lines where there were mostly no leafs on the trees:

We stopped at Craggy Gardens to stretch our legs and take a few pics (including one of the many tunnels we passed through today):

We continued to work our way to Mt Mitchell - more beautiful scenery along the way:

And this day I learned that Mt Washington wasn't the highest point east of the Rockies, Mt Mitchell is:

The road to and from leaves little room for error . . .

From Mt Mitchell we made our way up the Pkwy toward Grandfather Mtn. - stopped to do a quick hike up Linville Falls:

Grandfather Mtn was a very steep climb but worth it for the views:

The Mile High "Swinging" bridge joins peaks over at the top.  It was swinging in the winds the day we were there:

You have to watch your step up here, one step backwards and you'll be taking the quick way down . . .

Did we mention our little friends we saw while hiking Grandfather Mtn?:

We took it easy another day and just biked the bike path that runs through the camp ground and along the river for a ways.  Another day we drove to Chimney Rock where we hiked up to the top.  On the way up, we detoured to hike to Hickory Nut Falls (very dry fall here so little water flowing):

From the top of Chimney Rock, the view of Lake Lure:



 and the town of Chimney Rock (cool little downtown to walk too):

Then back to camp to watch the Pats whoop up on the Chargers!!! OK, maybe not whoop-up but a win is a win!  One of the last afternoons here, I noticed our neighbors doing a dance with a Miami Dolphins helmet on . . . made no sense as the Steelers just stole the game from them . . . so I asked.  Turns out it was just a feel good, happy dance (in costume).  Chi'd-up! Jimi & good friend Tony (Toe-knee) pictured and straggler G-man Jay (who had already departed for his next mission) . . . Great guys, interesting stories, check out the new business venture Chi-Up!  at http://www.chiup.org/   Buy a shirt and Chi Up!  Thanks for the laughs guys!

Off to Asheville, NC

Oct 19-20, 2010 - We headed out of Shenandoah Nat'l Park for Asheville, NC.  Late start so to stopped at Hungry Mother's State Park in SW VA.  Very nice park!  The next morning we went for what looked like a nice easy 5+ mile bike ride around the lake.  It was nice (most of the trail was lined with rhododendrons - will be nice in the spring) but some sections were very challenging:

After the bike ride, we headed for NC via the mountains of VA and TN.  Absolutely beautiful country to drive through.  Some of the mountains worked the truck a bit - stopped at the NC Welcome Ctr:

We landed at a small park right on the river in Asheville, NC - here for a week.  Headed to Biltmore tomorrow.  Check out the view out our rear window (ignore the ladder, bikes and camera flash):

more to come . . .

Shennandoah & Charlottesville

Oct 14 - 18, 2010 - We're staying at a very nice campground called Heavenly Acres in Stanardsville, VA surrounded by farm lands.  This week we visited Monticello - the house, gardens and family burial grounds of our former President Jefferson:

We stopped at the Carter Mtn Orchid on our way back.  Beautiful vineyards and views from the top of the mountain in addition to fresh fruits and homemade baked goods!

This week we also visited the Natural Bridge - touted as one of the Natural Wonders of the World:

From here we headed back up the Blue Ridge Pkwy:

And took a detour off the Pkwy to visit and hike Crabtree Falls - great steep hike up the falls!

Another day we went back up the Skyline Pkwy looking for hiking - more beautiful scenery headed South:

We stopped and hiked along the Appalachian Trail:

But hurried back to camp to sit out in the sun and watch the 4-1 Pats squeak out a win . . .

Today we hit historic downtown Charlottesville - all kinds of restaurants and cafes but 5 Guys was the place to be today!  Then took the long way back to drive through the country and hit Blue Mountain Brewery for samplings in the sun - beautiful afternoon!

Off to Shennandoah National Park

We departed a day early Oct 11^th . . . drove through NH to MA to CT to NY to Montage, NJ.  Cedar Ridge Camp Ground – place looked like a deserted graveyard for old trailers but it was getting dark and a storm was approaching.  Soon after pulling in, the rain and lighting started.  Turned out we had no hookups night #1  so we drank, played farkle (3-2 Sue) and called it a night with lightning cracking all around us.



Oct 12^th – Headed out of NJ to PA to MD to WV to Front Royal ,VA and found scary campground #2 near the beginning of skyline drive.  Aside from trees falling in the middle of the night, Gooney River Camp Ground was OK.  Saw an eagle near by and a couple of huge blue herring/pelican looking birds in the morning.

Oct 13^th  - Today we hauled the trailer along Skyline Parkway in VA.  Long steep hills with beautiful views.  We saw deer and lots of hawks along the way.  Lots of American Recover Act signs but few with people working.  We got 6mpg this part of the trip – next time leave the trailer at the campsite.

We're staying put just outside the Shenandoah National Park for a week to do some local sight seeing.