Cherokee side of the Smokies.

 We left Joe and Mishell headed for the Smokie Mountains.

Pigeon Forge was crowded and the traffic slow moving and Gatlinburg was more traffic.

Plus if you take the right side lane going through Gatlinburg you have to watch so you will not hit the people on the sidewalk..

For some reason the like to walk right on the traffic side as close to the traffic as possible that some of them have to turn side ways to avoid getting hit,

                                                                        

We stopped on the mountain top to have a little lunch while enjoying the view which is always very relaxing.

But this view of a snake with its four youngin's all cuddled up, is not good to see. 

Soon we where going down the North Carolina side of the mountain headed for our destination of Smokemont Campground for a couple of nights.

After checking in Vicki and I unhooked the car pared the motorhome, parked it leveled up then extended the slides and we were all set for a couple of days.

                                           

The next day we went out for dinner and by the time we finished as we had it timed the elk where out in the field.  We got a chance to see a couple of the very young one out with their mother and father.

Here one of the small ones where hungry and just had to have some milk.

While while we were close to the visitors center and "Heritage Village" 

Vicki and I walked around to look it over.

First would be an old house that you would have in the 1800's.

A view of the back porch.

Here is the meat house with the barrel of salt to put the meat in.

I remember Dad having a small smoke house to put fresh killed and butchered hog in.

Big barn on the left.

The inside where the horses are stabled.

They even had an old oxen yolk hung up inside.

It took us around an hour to walk through the village, but worth it to see some of this old stuff that brought back some memories.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

  

 

  

Dandridge, Tennessee

We are still visiting with Son Joe and his wife Mishell and we are enjoying the visit with them.

Although Joe has retired he still is doing a part time job at Dollywood, so visiting time with him is limited. Still we did get to make a trip out to the land fill.  This is always interesting in the they have a section that when people buy new things for their house like furniture or washers and dryers it is in a section for these so you can buy those and some of the things are usable.

                                                     

Getting down to Joe's house is very steep off the main road, so steep that Nancy rode down in the car with Vicki.  

                                          

                                                 Another view of the driveway .

Joe and I put in 50 amp connection last year so the completed what we needed for staying with water and  a place to dump our tanks. 

But there is nothing to do about the steep incline

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

                                                           

                                                                                                                                                         

Around Cumberland Gap

We just finished up visiting The Cumberland Gap area where we stayed in the Wilderness Road Campground.

The main reason for this stop was to have the rear levelers repaired at the G & S Truck Service that is a very good place for service.

                                                  

We did get to play tourist around the area. Here is a cannon to represent a look-out position on pinnacle mountain during the Civil War.

                                       

And from this position the enemy could be spotted.

                                                

                                                         And looking the other way.

                                    

We drove down into the old town of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee.   Here is an old church that they are redoing it to the way it was.

                                    

                                                      The old covered bridge in town.

We really enjoyed our time here in the "gap" getting the levelers repaired and also enjoying the scenery, resting up a bit.

We are now visiting with our son Joe and his wife Mishell and enjoying it. 

                                    

   

                                                        

Cumberland Gap

We made it to Danville and the first thing I did was filling up the gas tank on the motor home at $2.79 a gallon for gas.

Then it was to the Pioneer Campground  where I expected it to be better then it was, but that's another story and if you are planning on being here, check it out first.

                                                

The ticket office and campground office is combined into one for both of them.

                                               

                                                   

The old village is real old and they do get more visitors to see the play  then I thought they would have.    

                                                 

Nancy and I enjoyed our visit with our grandson Jarod his wife Chelsea and their four children.  Wow, that was a blast, non stop. We really enjoyed the little ones and their antics.

Thank you Jarod and Chelsea for a wonderful visit.

Our older daughter Vicki is on the trip back to Florida.  This is the first time that she will be  trip with us, so we shall see how she likes the rv style of living.

We are  now at Cumberland Gap staying in the Wilderness Road Campgroun         

                                       

                                                    

                                                                   

Last day with Jackie

Looks like our visiting with family that the time we have is over before getting a good start.  But we do have to move on down the road slowly on our way back to Florida.

                                                    

As with other family members we have a spot in the drive way at Jackie's,

Parking next to the garage with a 30 amp electric connection, water and a place to dump the tanks is all good but the best part is visiting with each  family member.

Once again visiting Jackie has been so good.  Also seeing her daughter Chris and Jackie's grandson Tyler and family. 

Thanks so much Jackie for a wonderful visit. 

                                            

Nancy even got the time to cook me up a mighty good breakfast couple of eggs, home fries, country ham, gravy, Hungarian Hot Peppers, biscuit, with coffee to wash it all down.   Now that was a breakfast fit for a king.

Today will be making  preparations to hit the road tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day. 

                                                                 

                                                                    

Visit with Peach and Don

After we left Mark and Sherry's house we were on our way to Culloden to visit Nancy's sister "Peach" and her husband Don. But not before a stop at The Walmart in Ripley for some needed supplies.

                                                     

After unhooking the car from the motorhome I backed into my spot beside the house.

Don has us a good spot with 30 amp electric, water and even a sewer connection and we really want to thank them for this.

We only stayed five days this time but enjoyed it so much visiting and being with them.

We even enjoyed an evening at Peach and Don's son Mike and Teresa Showing their remodeled large house, also having a very good cook out.   Thanks bunch Teresa and mike Nancy and I really enjoyed it.

Thanks Peach and Don for another good  Family visit   

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.                                                                              

A little about Spencer, Wv

Spencer is where our daughter Sherry and her husband live and is a nice small old town.

                                                

On Friday and Saturday they have the Market and  Flea Market sale going on in town.

I went down to check it out one Friday to see what was for sale.  Home made jams and jelly, some old rifles and pistols, various old tools, but I didn't see any fresh produce.

                                                     

The old train station from by gone years is now a museum and a caboose sitting beside it.

                                                     

Like many of the towns we have passed through the old band is on the corner of the main street.

                                                    

An old building that was completed in 1927.  Its really nice that you can drive through these towns and see these old buildings.

                                                    

                                        

Here is Spencer's pride and  "The Robey Theatre" Built in 1907 is one of the oldest continuously running theatres in the USA. 

Thank you Mark and Sherry we enjoyed our time with you.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

            

                                                         

                                                        

                                                         

                                                                                

Bad roads and no roads

Well we finally came off the mountain tops and moved on south to drop Sherry off at her home. Not dropping her we did stay a week before it was moving time again.

                                                     

We drove the interstate until the town of Ripley, West Virginia then took route 33 to spencer but not before we came upon road conditions that made sure you was paying attentions. You know the road ahead is pretty rough when all of a sudden you come upon a traffic light.

                                                        

 Yeah, over half of the road washed  out "I mean gone" over the mountain. 

                                                        

How would you like going passed this and thinking the road under you may be washed out also.

                                                              

And many more places like this along a stretch of 25 miles. 

The driving from Ripley to Spencer is not for the faint of heart for sure.

But I-77 does prepare you for it!  From the time you enter West Virginia I-77 is like driving over corn cobs and to think you have to pay tolls to drive on this road?   

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.

                                                                

                                                           

                                                         

                                                                           

More from the mountain tops.

Here are a few more photos from the many look overs along the Skyline Drive.

Each campground we stated in had many hiking trails. Short hiking trails and long ones and I mean long like one I was reading was 7.2 miles.

If you wanted a good meal you can come off of the mountain tops to a near by town for a good meal.

The towns being Blowing Rock, Boone in the North Carolina and Luray in Virginia.

 

In the town of Blowing Rock is the Town Tavern, but I would not recommend The Philly Cheese Steak because the one I ordered looked like chili for a hot dog.  Maybe they needed a cook at that time?

Sherry, Nancy and I did enjoy some good meals.

Thanks for stopping by and do have a great day.

 

Way to long gone

After a much to long a time not posting I hope I can get on some schedule.  The problem was to long on the mountain tops without phone and internet signals.

                                                  

After finishing up on the Blue Ridge Parkway we were on the Skyline Drive.  We saw many places for photos and one was the photo above of where used to be an old grist mill.  That is our daughter Sherry posing for me and her to put in our albums for years to come and enjoy the memories.

                                                  

I noticed some minnows in the back waters so I decided to give them a few bits of crackers and this is what happened next!   I've never seen this many minnows in one place,  Hundreds and maybe close to a thousand of them.

                                                 

Another nice place called Otter Pond, there are so many stops where you can take pictures. 

 

                                                 

Another scenic overlook to pull over and enjoy.  I really like the Smokie Mountains, but the Shenandoah National Park with its deep valleys will hold a special place in my heart.

More photos to come later.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day

 

                                                

                                                                            

Mountain top driving

It seems as though I have been extra busy the last few weeks so I had better be catching up on the old blog.  We have been staying in places where we did not have any king of signal.

June 16--We  were parked at the Petersburg Campground on the Thurmond Lake and I think all three of us were somewhat disappointed in the we did not have a site close to the water.  But we did enjoy the time there.  

I did some work on the old car thinking that the radiator fan had quit I got one at the Advance Auto. But before I changed it out I did a little more checking and found out that the 134A fluid gauge was not working so I tried and gage I had to add the fluid that's when I saw I had a 134A fluid leak somewhere in the line.

                                                              

                                                                 

We did go into the town Evans at the Monterey Mexican Restaurant.   I had steak with refried beans and rice with a salad.

                                                                  

Nancy  had grilled chicken with refried beans and rice.

                                                           

June 20  After four days at the lake and started our drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway.   We spent  two days at the Julian Price Campground.

We really enjoyed our time there going into the towns of  Blowing Rock and Boone, North Carolina.

                                                                     

Here is Price Lake a nice size lake for kayaking and fishing, also picnicking while cooling off.

                                                                        

                                                                      Sherry and I went for a walk on one of the trails.

                                                                            

                                                                                         Moss covered log.                                             

                                                                           

I have heard of Stone Mountain, Georgia, but not stone mountain, in North Carolina.

We stopped to stay Mayberry Campground in Mt. Airy for a couple of days and tomorrow we will get back on the Blue Ridge Parkway all the way north to the Skyline Drive in Virginia and yes we are going to drive that mountain top drive.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.