Mountains to Ocean

We left Clayton, Georgia Wednesday late afternoon after checking out three places that I thought we would be staying.
Well upon checking all three being Corp of Engineer Campgrounds and with no available sites for the rest of the month at which time they will close for the season I had to decide on where to go.
So with the easy way out I asked Nancy what she thought of just going to Sunset Beach, North Carolina for a month and after a time of discussion we were on our way to the beach town.

As we saw this load of pumpkins at a roadside market we stopped to look around.

Nancy bought some local grown apples that she looked at that later on proved to taste good.

We liked this Red Neck Bird Bath but didn't buy one.

We made it to Columbia just right to hit it as it was the workers quitting time and slow traffic.

After getting through the traffic of Columbia it was on route 378 for us with more slow downs as the were working on making the roads to four lanes.  Here is three large cranes at one bridge.

We made it to Sumter and spent the night at the Walmart.
We left Walmart yesterday after getting ready.

And in a few hours driving through North Myrtle Beach.

We then drove to Calabash, North Carolina to have something to eat before getting to Wishing Well Campground in Sunset Beach.
Its a good thing we did eat because by the time we got to the campground it came a real down pour of rain that lasted way to long but we did finally got set up.



 








 

In the woods

Well finally have a phone and data signal after almost a week.
we left Douglas Lake last Friday on our way to Smokemont Campground close to Cherokee.
Instead of driving around the Great Smokie Mountains I wanted to see how the old motor home would do going over the mountain.

It just so happened to be the rod run that weekend and the most crowd I have seen here.

It was real slow going but Nancy and I enjoyed seeing the old cars.  We did manage to get through and on to Gatlinburg.

Between the traffic lights and stopping for people in the cross walks some more time but a lot faster getting through than Pigeon Forge.

Now to see how the motor home would do on the long mountain climb.
I was really surprised at how the old machine did, it was a real champ climbing up at a good speed not slowing down much and ran real cool without the engine temperature getting hot.

We stopped on top of the mountain at Newfoundland Gap to have a sandwich while we enjoyed the scenery of the mountain tops in the distance.

Coming down the mountain I let the lower gears slow me down so I hardly had to use the brakes.

We got down the mountain and pulled into the campground.

 

Checked in at the office then set up at our site for the next four days.

It was really soothing and peaceful listening to the river running over the rocks while going to sleep at night.

We even got to see an elk feeding out in the large field.  We were the first ones to stop on the roadside but soon there was a large line of cars stopped and people taking pictures of the elk.

But our time was soon up and yesterday we left Smokemont Campground.
Coming through Cherokee we spotted a laundromat so we pulled in and did a couple of loads of laundry then we were on our way.

We got to Clayton, Georgia and spent the night at the Walmart.

New look at Campground

It has been rain every day and into the night since Monday although there have been a few breaks in the day time.

There is a lot of construction going on at the Douglas Lake Headwaters Campground since Recreation Resource Management has a lease on the campgrounds.

Of course with what they are doing comes with a price increase which most of the people sure don't think too much of.

Personally I liked the old look it had instead of the private look it is becoming. 

 

This is some people enjoying a day of horse back riding that Nancy and I saw when we were going out to do some shopping yesterday.
We had to get a few thing for when we stay at the Smokemont Campground on the Cherokee side of the mountain.  It is no doubt cheaper in price here rather than the other side in Cherokee.

We also ate at a Mexican Restaurant while we were in town and at the price of buy one get the other on half price was a good deal. 
Here is the Steak Fajita that I had while Nancy had the Chicken Fajita. 
Both meals were very good and filling with a lot of meat in both meals.  

 

 

No over the Smokies

Yesterday I said we were going over the Smokie Mountains where we had reservations at the Smokemont Campgrounds.

We got up early had a quick breakfast, took care of all the inside stuff for travel mode.
I took the car down to the boat launch area where I always hook back up to the motor home.
I then walked back up the hill, disconnected the electric, raised the levelers then to hook up the car.

Next was to the dump station to empty the tanks me thinking when I get back in the motor home we would be on our way.

It was then Nancy said she got the phone call that said "due to high winds all reservations are cancelled until the 14th".
So now what to do? 
Well we got another four days at the Douglas Lake Campground and set up another reservation for the Smokemont Campground.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

Over The Smokie Mountains

It is time to make a move we have been in the Pigeon Forge area for two weeks in three different campgrounds.

This past week end was seeing a lot of old cars and trucks from the past.

I have seen a bunch of the old cars that brought back a lot of memories.

We will leave today making a first trip of going over the Smokies in our motor home.
We will spend a few days in the Smokemont Campground in Cherokee.
This will also be a first staying at a campground in The Smokie Mountains.

By staying a few days will give us a chance to check out a few things in Cherokee.
We have driven through many times but have never camped on this side of the mountains so we hope we may see some of the wild animals.

I will not doubt be off line for our time here because the phone and internet is mostly none.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.



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Smokie Mountain Top

Friday we called Haven to see if he wanted to go with us to the top of The Smoky Mountains.
This has become our annual thing to do when we are in this area.

Haven did want to go and after picking him up we were going up the mountain a short time afterwards.

We stopped on the way up to look at the Chimney Tops which looked more like the mountains in the west since the large fire that was in the mountains a ways back. It will be sometime before the vegetation starts to grow.

Looking way down in the valley on the road below is a car you may see.

Once on top you get a breath taking view of the mountain tops that doesn't show up in the photo.

Coming back down the mountain you can see the reds in the trees that are starting to turn.

Once down the mountain I decided to go to Cades Cove where we haven't been in a few years.
I was hoping to see some wild life and I did see some wild turkeys and one bear in the thick forest that I couldn't get a clear photo of.

One thing is the large open fields that always make for a clear great photo.

Some of the old homesteads have building on them.

With all the beauty of the mountains and the large open fields one can imagine why these people fell in love with this area.

After seeing all this it was late so we stopped to eat at Steak and Shake for a good meal which Haven enjoyed with a chocolate milkshake.
We then dropped Haven off at his house and came home where we took off our shoes and had a good relaxing for what was left off a very enjoyable day.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

A dinner invite

When I mentioned the other day that everyone was going home after our Family reunion I failed to say the Mark and Sherry were still here.
They combined the Family reunion with a weeks vacation and are going home today.

Yesterday Mark and Sherry invited us out for dinner which we accept.

This is the view we have of Douglas Lake coming out of our site.

 

Coming down the earthen part of the dam is a nice view with the Smokie Mountains in the background. 

Here is Sherry and Mark waiting for us in front of Holston's where we met them.

The fire where they were setting sure felt good because the day had a chill to it.

This was our first time here and the inside looked real nice.

Even with the old time gas lanterns.

We had a very good meal and being with Sherry and Mark was better.
Also thank you Mark and Sherry for the good meal and to be with you again.

After our meal we sat at the table and enjoy our conversation with them until it was time to leave.

Nancy enjoying the fire after our meal.

After saying our goodbyes until the next time we went our separate ways.
It was good to see everyone but always sad to say goodbye.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.