Trip West - Smoky Mtn Nat'l Park

The Smokemont camground doesn't have water, electric or sewer, so we use a small generator to keep the batteries charged to power lights and the refrigerator.  I quit on us so we headed over to Sylva to have it looked at.  They were quite helpful, determined it was water in the gas and drained it for us at no charge.

On the way back, I wanted to stop at the Barker's Creek Bridge we passed on the way out.

It is a Suspension/Swinging Bridge over Barker's Creek.  Limit 4 people at a time.

Tucson wasn't too happy about it - but was a trooper

Barker Creek is flowing pretty good after the rains

The other side ends at private property, we check out the train tracks and head back

Back at the Park, it is a much nicer day

Tucson gets a dip in the Oconaluftee River at the campground

We do a hike in the Campground

We take a hike along the Bradley Fork Trail from the Campground.  We encounter 3 groups of horseback riders along the way.

It's a beautiful creek and I walk in to get a better shot

and look down to see a dime - Hi Mom!

Tomorrow we do a "real hike"

 

Trip West - Smokey Mtn. Natl Park

We head down the road towards the Visitor's Center by Cherokee, NC 

and spot a couple of Elk walking down the road

Elk have the right of way - always

We arrive at Mingus Mill

We continue on to the Oconaluftee Visitors Center..

 Behind the Center in a field and along the Oconaluftee River, the Park Service has recreated a late 19th century mountain farm with authentic log structures moved from their original locations throughout the National Park.

Hmm, what kind of tree branch is that??

Guess it's not a tree

Looks like they are replacing/repairing the fence

a nice morning stroll!

 

Trip West - KY to Smoky Mountain National Park

We leave Kentucky and head towards the Smoky Mountain National Park.  Our reservation starts Sunday so we layover in Tennesse for a night

Just over the border is Indian Mountain State Park, we were lucky enough to 

find a spot for Saturday night.

Looks like a nice one

The sites are all paved and good size

Did a quick walk down to the Lake to check it out - otherwise way too hot to be outside

Sunday we head out early to get to Smokemont Campground in the Smoky Mountains

Pass through Knoxville

and get to the West side of the Park

The Temperature in Gatlinburg was 93

Now the scenic drive begins

through tunnels

and a more than winding road

Wonder why they are called the Smoky Moutains??

We arrive at the Park, here's hoping the site I got is a good one

and it is

We got all settled in and the rains came in the early evening - the temps were in the low 70s

The next morning we get up early and Gary cooks breakfast outside.

Now it's time to explore

 

Trip West - Danville, KY

We arrive at our next stop, the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, KY.  They have a campground and a Dinner and Show

They don't take reservations and according to their website they are never full, but when we get there there are only 3 sites left and we only barely fit into one.  The neighbor on our right had been there for several months waiting to buy a house.  The majority looked like they were there long term.

It is a cute set up 

With a little main street town.  They open it up a couple hours before the show

It even has a secret garden

Dinner is at 6:30 and the show starts at 8:00

We get a nice table

BBQ Pork, potato, corn and slaw

A few well known actors got their start here

A nice outdoor theater set up

Sold out for tonight and the rest of the run

A cute play.  Southern Fried Funeral.  Had a bit of a problem understanding it all, the sound was a little too loud and the accents sometimes hard to follow.

We visit the Perryville Battlefield nearby.

Nice little hike, except at the end I took off over 20 ticks off Tucson

Before heading out, we do a whirlwind tour of Town.

Constitution Square is a free open-air museum and park devoted to Kentucky 

at the time it became a state in 1792

This central garden commemorates all the Governors of Kentucky

There are several historic buildings.  

They were setting up for a farmers market this morning.

Gary looks pretty happy for someone heading to Jail

We stop and check out the train station

on our way to Millenium Park to walk Tucson

A really nicely done park

Time to move on towards Smokey Mountain National Park