HEADING NORTH TO MICHIGAN AND STORM DODGING!

We thought we had the last job on the trailer fixed - the furnace which has never worked properly since new, but they couldn't find out what was wrong. So we spent another night
at Holmans car park with electric and next day they fitted a new one but was still not working properly. They then discovered that it should have four exhausts but ours had three.
Success! All sorted but too late to set off so we stayed another night at Holmans.
We are so pleased these jobs have been done under warranty - at $100 an hour, goodness knows what it would have cost.
Feeling a bit like a zombie being stuck in this place for three days but it has been worth it. 

Roy got all his jobs done - we got a new tyre and he put new brake shoes on the truck.

Finally drIving north towards Michigan - its so hot 27oC and there are storm warnings all around us but we seem to be missing them - again!
I'm getting withdrawl symptoms from not using my camera for 4 days, this is the best we could do today.

CUMBERLAND GAP HISTORICAL NATIONAL PARK

We made it - Cumberland Gap is a big National Park campground, but not many electric sites and we got one!

The original Wilderness Road

This is the famous Cumberland Gap..."The story of the first doorway to the west is commemorated  at the national park, located where the borders of Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia meet. Carved  by wind and water, Cumberland Gap forms a major break in the formidable Appalachian Mountain chain. First used by large game animals in their migratory journeys, followed by Native Americans, the  Cumberland Gap was the first and best avenue for the settlement of the interior of this nation. From  1775 to 1810, the Gap's heyday, between 200,000 and 300,000 men, women, and children from all  walks of life, crossed the Gap into "Kentuckee."


Tri State Peak & Roy

Standing in 3 states

 We walked in the footsteps of Dr. Walker, Daniel Boone and 250,000 settlers on the Wilderness Road trail, stood at Cumberland Gap then hiked up to Tri - State Peak and stood in all three states. Drove up to Pinnacle Point and viewed Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.


Cumberland Gap

Looking at Tri-State Peak 

WILDERNESS ROAD STATE PARK
We had a leisurely day looking round this park - a replica of Martin's Station, an 18th century frontier settlement, we were transported  back in time to 1775 when it was the last outpost of civilization on Boone's Trace, which eventually became known as the Wilderness Road. Folk in period costume - a blacksmith who made  me a nail, the gunsmith who explained the intracacies of making and firing one of the guns and a lady who  tended the gardens, fed the animals, cooked and actually lived in the Fort, while working there during the  summer - that's certainly going back to basics!
A Fun Day - rounded off by a free concert in the Amphitheater by "Wild Blue Yonder" playing Bluegrass  and American Folk.

Wilderness Road State Park

Blacksmiths

Roy in shooting mode

Our last day saw us hiking up to Skyline Cave which had a sign saying closed due to White Nose disease risk  to bats, but we didn't want to go right in so I just sneaked in the entrance for a photo!
We then went up on to the Ridge trail of the Cumberland Mountains and I had already said to Roy I didn't want to do the whole loop of ten and half miles but it was so pretty on the ridge trail with my beautiful mountain laurel in bloom, I recklessly said lets do it! It was a lovely hike, took 5 hours and its the longest hike I've done since I reached 64 - but we wont overdo it - once a year is enough for that distance!
We had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend - another place to re-visit.

Fiery Pinks

We drove all day up through Kentucky to get to Cincinnati and the trailer company. Stopped for lunch - where else but Kentucky Fried Chicken!
We were booked in for first thing Tuesday to get all the jobs done that have happened since we bought  it last August. Not a good day's drive - got a big nail in truck tyre and developed more sqeaking from the  trailer - not that I'm complaining but it didn't help that it was 30oC!

So today we spent mooching around waiting for the jobs to be done on the trailer - and they are - well almost sorted. So we are back on the road tomorrow heading towards Michigan and meeting some friends for lunch. 
Slight change of plan - - we spent last night at the RV center in their park - there was a part coming in a week and they were going to post it to us but we were woken up this morning at 8am as the part had arrived and they wanted our trailer in the shed asap. Up and out in 10 minutes and out for breakfast! Moving north tomorrow although I do wish this band of storms/tornadoes would stop following us.

Our new Rig???? - I dont think so!

BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY

Two days on the relaxing Blue Ridge Parkway, campsites still not open due to sequestation!
I love that word but sadly it means cut backs - I think! So we found two great sites just off the parkway.
We have spent today travelling north towards our Memorial Day campsite taking us through east Tennessee and from last night to tonight we have had sunshine interspersed with torrential rain, lightning, hailstones and the loudest thunder I have ever heard - all courtesy of the weather coming up from Oklahoma. Thankfully no tornados! But we did have to stop and nose the truck under some trees to protect us from the hail stones.
We drove through Boone - birthplace of Daniel Boone and also Davy Crocketts birthplace - we didn't stop - it was raining!

 So because of the weather and campsites we found a site with internet tonight. We need to get to Cumberland Gap tomorrow early as its a first come first served site.

Dramatic weather on the Parkway

these beautiful trees were everywhere - but dont know what they are called

just love how the hills roll on and on and on - its how kids draw them

Hundreds of Magnolia trees in bloom on the Parkway

Grandfather Mountain on the Parkway

CATALOOCHEE VALLEY IN THE SMOKIES

We left the main area of the Smokies, vowing to return. We stopped at Maggie Valley for a couple of nights so we could visit a remote part of the Smokies called Cataloochie Valley. On our first evening in Maggie we went to an outdoor concert by the Hayward Community Band - it was great - from 633 Squadron March to Michelle to Over the Rainbow and All Shook Up - average age of band was probably 70!
 

Cataloochee

Palmer Place built 1860

Palmer Chapel built 1903

Roy felt the need to tell me that the bible was open telling about Noah

Spent a great day up the twisting mountain road over into the remote and spectacular Cataloochee valley in the eastern Smokies.
Cherokees named this area Ga -da -lu - tsi meaning "standing up in ranks" refering to the endless ranks of timber that lined the ridges.
As many as 1200 people in this community left behind their beloved homes, farms, churches and schools when in the 1930s the national park idea became reality.

on the trail to nowhere

messing about in class!

Elk

 

Caldwell Place built 1903

Tailgating

Horse manure heaven for these butterflies

We enjoyed seeing the buildings that still remained and hiked 5 miles looking for a little church in the wilderness but ran out of time. We headed back to see the majestic Elk venture out of the woods in the evening - saw 15 in all. A memorable day - another on the " will return" list! 

We move tomorrow on to the Blue Ridge Parkway for a short while, we are heading to Kentucky and the Cumberland Gap Historlc National Park for Memorial Day weekend - so no internet for a while.

Sun goes down at the end of a perfect day

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK

Old Elkmont, these people had to sell out to the Parks and leave their beautiful homes

Old Elkmont

Mountain Laurel

 

Laurel Falls

Back to the stunning Smokies - Smokemont and Elkmont, the same sites we stayed at last
year when it rained quite a bit! Sunshine this time and much busier. The nightly, natural light show of flashing synchronized fireflies was just as amazing, a butterfly bonanza, black bears, white tailed deer, gorgeous scenery, wild turkeys, a black snake, and a toad you would not want to kiss! - add great hiking and it was a recipe for fun.

 We had a lovely time watching the Momma bear feeding and playing with her three cubs and chasing them up the tree when she felt they were in danger - best free show ever - I just love my bears!

Momma bear

Three cute Black bear cubs

hanging in there!

Pretty as a picture!

Mountain Laurel

Abrams Falls

Toad of Abrams Falls

Toady went a wooing

He sure is an ugly boy!

another black snake on our trail