Jordon Lake State Park - Apex, NC

Left Smokemont, in the sunshine, through the Cherokee Nation (kind of run down, except for a thirty story Gambling Casino). As soon as we got to the interstates, the rain started to fall.  Drove half way home to Jordon Lake State Park, with over 1,000 sites.  We stayed in G10 (our first Electricity and Water in four days) which is tucked back in the woods, but with all the rain, it was mosquito rich!  Last week, Deb said she missed going to Chili's.  Well it was Friday night...there was a Chili's ten miles away...with a big Lowe's parking lot across the street.  At the state park we had mosquitoes and "no achoholic beverages allowed" signs.  So off to Chili's...

Saturday, breakfast - sausages and eggs...and a late start for home...at least we have reservations there! Total trip - 1,224 miles (5 nights)

Smokemont Campground - Smoky Mountain NP

Clingman's Dome

We packed up early, looking for the elusive Internet.  The Elkmont Campground has no dump station, so we stopped at the Sugerland Visitor Center's dump site.  In the driveway were two turkeys struttin' their stuff.  Feathers all out in a pinwheel, Deb was really excited, but the lady turkey was unimpressed.  After a short hike to find a waterfall (all tourists come the Smoky Mountains to see waterfalls and bears...it says so in the guide), and a brief stop to gather mail, get caught up on Duolingo and Dungeon Boss, we headed over the mountains.  At one point the road does a full circle going over the tunnel that was just before it.  Lunch at Newfound Gap, and then to Clingman's Dome.  A seven mile drive and a 1/2 mile fairly steep climb to the observation tower.  On the way we saw more people watching bears. (As Deb points out, way better pictures of bears on the Internet)

Bear watchers!

Finally down the mountain to Smokemont, snuggled into our site...found out it was not our site, left to go to our site, snuggled into our site.. Ate dinner, still no internet, watched an episode of House of Cards, and went to bed...8:30

Elkmont Campground - Smoky Mountain NP

Another sunny day and we are headed south.  First stop Gatlinburg...not our kind of place, amusement parks, Ripley's believe it or not etc, etc.  there is a one lane road through the woods, but "NO RV'S". So we headed for Cade's Cove.  Now that is an 11 mile, one lane road, 10’ wide.  When you see a bear (we saw two), you pull off the road, a little, not wide enough for anything but a little compact to get by.  Then after 60 or 70 cars get stuck behind you, you move on at 5 mph looking for another bear.  It's interesting...and we found a nice place for lunch.

Perfect form!

On the way back to Elkmont, we found some internet.  So I got a fishing license...then we found a nice spot along a big stream.  Deb got her book out, and I got my waders.  I haven't worn them in thirty years...and they still leak!  Caught a little brookie (Deb, wants to know why I bother fishing if I am going to release them...wish I had an answer).

Finally got the Campground...no internet, so Deb, with nothing to do, started gathering firewood. (I thought I knew where this was going...but no, she didn't want a fire, she wanted some exercise) so we went for a little walk in the woods...by the time we got back...well, there is a pile of wood....it would be shame to let it go to waste.  So we had a fire...then we watched an episode of House of Cards and went to bed... 9:30... Tomorrow we go in search of Internet.

Cosby Campground - Smoky Mountain NP

With the prospects of a wet and dreary day, we looked for indoor activities.  We had always wanted to visit Heartwood, the artisan center in Abingdon.  It turned out to be right on the way.  The architecture is suppose to remind you of farm buildings.  I guess it does.  Afterwards we headed for the Smoky Mountains.  As soon as we left the Interstate, the sun came out.

Cades Cove meadow

Cosby campground is on the northern end of the park.  The ranger suggested that we see Cade's Cove.  We now have it in our plans.  As the afternoon went on Deb and Drex needed a walk.  So I walked them on the Nature Trail.  Lots of little babbling brooks.  I knew Drex couldn't stay out, but I was surprised when Deb went in for a dip... (Probably not on purpose).

There is very little internet in the park.  Since both Deb and I are millennial wannabes, we suffer without the net..  After an episode of House of Cards we were both ready for bed (maybe 8:30 or possibly 9:00)

Hungry Mother State Park - Marion, VA

Even though the weather is suppose to be bleak and rainy, we headed out for a short week to the Smoky Mountains.  The drive to Hungry Mother is all interstate...not too exciting, but this is a State Park I wanted to try out because it is near the dreaded Grayson-Highlands State Park (according to Deb...worse than a night in a Walmart parking lot...which is her camping equivalent of a root canal).  We retired our Rand McNally RV software, so Deb was navigating with a new checklist...we have a few bugs to work out... Missing  cheese, crackers, luncheon meat, etc.  fortunately, we are still close to Grocery stores...

Hungry Mother is now one of our favorite state parks.  Our campsite is right on the water, with ducks and little ducklings and aggressive male ducks.  Drex has barely gotten a second's sleep with all the excitement.  Our selected site was a challenge to get into because of the turns and the large trees.  Campers in the other sites were sitting in the deck chairs, all pointed at our site, just waiting for me to crunch a tree.  Wow, never knew camping was a competitive sport..