Great Smoky Mountains

Everyone said, "You have to see the Smokies!" So we did. 

We explored both the North Carolina and Tennessee sides. 

And we found another Yogi Bear Jellystone campground to stay at!

After parking the camper, we made the trek over the pass. 

We saw their museum and walked the nature trail. 

There was a downed tree over the trail, but that just added to the adventure. 

We found fascinating bugs and awesome views!

And we found the Appalachian Trail! I really wanted to hike on just a portion if we could sometime on this trip. Yay!

We could have continued 1972 miles to Maine, but we didn't come prepared. Maybe next time. 

We let the kids hang out in different states. (:

Then we hiked to the highest point in the park, Clingmans Dome. 

Amazing views!

And fun talking with people hiking the trail. The couple I chatted with were from the Bay Area. He did the PCT a few years back and they are 19 days and 200 miles into the AT. They are planning to hike all the way through and should finish in late September! I've thought it would be fun, but the older I get, I'm thinking it's not a good idea. BUT they said there are so many hikers who are out doing the whole trail who have just retired! So maybe...?

Alongside the trail we saw this mama bear with 2 cubs!

Then we headed back to Yogi's place and everyone enjoyed this cool tetherball game. 

Our camp is right on this river - so beautiful and wonderful to hear the rushing water all day and night. 

After dinner even dad got in on the game!

To Atlanta... Wrong way! 5/5-8

We headed South again! Wrong way to get our last 4 capitols in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming. But the right way to visit the grandparents!

We stopped in the Cherokee touristy area. 

We saw a mill

and bought some freshly ground corn. 

Then we drove almost 5 hours to grandma & grandpa's home! Yay!

Beautiful weather to eat out back. 

Ky worked so hard to make our 4 tires look new. She and Sy also washed all the cars!

Birthday pancakes a couple days early so mama could share in the celebration. 

Sunday service was cancelled because of their church family camp so we visited Andy Stanley's local satellite campus. "They still haven't found what they're looking for" (so they sang).
Grandma picked up a kayak at a garage sale yesterday, so we took it out. 

There were quite a few people fishing. 

This was a hard photo to get, but eventually there was a smile on her face. 

Stevie B's was so kind to have their big slice come out and wish Sy a happy birthday. 

It's been a fun few days. Tomorrow, Kik and I will head to CA and leave everyone else here in GA. 

Smokies cut short ):

We planned to visit the park again today to do a hike, visit the mill, and check out the largest waterfall in the area. 

We saw signs on the way in that said 441 was closed. That was the road to cross the park. So we were glad we had driven to the other side yesterday. 

We started out on the river trail. 

But on the way toward the ranger station, a ranger approached us to let us know that the park was closed due to coming weather. The other side of he park already had downed trees, some blocking the road and others on cars! They expected winds up to 80-85mph and were advising everyone to leave the area quickly or if that wasn't possible to find shelter and "shelter in place" to ride out the storm!

Well that was a bit disconcerting. I told her I was from California and we do earthquakes with no advanced notice so I needed some advice - do we head back and hang out at our campsite 8 miles away, or do we need to pack up the trailer and head out? Of course, she said to head to the camper and ask at the campground what we should do. 

The kids had finished their junior ranger so I told them to run back to check in before the visitor center closed. So they ran, and somehow got in through a door someone had left unlocked. Oops. Since they were inside, the ranger let me in even though they were closed and I got to listen to her calling all the visitor centers around North Carolina (who send people to the park) telling them that the national park was officially closed as of noon. 

It was a little eerie being the only ones there by the time we left, but we knew we had a little time before the storm would hit. We drove back to Jellystone and asked at the office. They said they hadn't heard anything and to just make sure we put in our awning in case of high winds. 

So we did. And made lunch and hunkered down in the "Rec Room" for some yogi movies and games to wait out the storm... that did not come. 

After a couple hours, we decided to run up to the falls we had planned to see. They weren't inside the park and in fact were only 2 miles from camp. 

The 180' falls were beautiful. 

It was a little hike to the viewing bridge, but nobody was too winded - as exhibited by their climbing all over the falls!

Sy was so funny - he just had to touch falling water - and he found a way. 

It was still pleasant, so the older boys and I walked back on the 2mile path to camp while Scott drove the road with the youngers. 

When we got back the boys decided to rent these 4-wheelers while the youngers played a nature/rafting game on Xbox. (I guess it's the next best thing to being outside.)

When the rain finally came, it was a mist. Then overnight we got a good rain. But we never got the wind. We were camping on the Cherokee reservation and I think these native Americans chose their land wisely. (:

New River Gorge

Pancake breakfast with grandma!

A visit to the New River, "one of the oldest rivers in the world, second only to the Nile." ???

we explored the visitor center, then

headed down to Brookside where the caretaker, Louie, gave us a tour and guided us on a hike.

We avoided the poison ivy and made it.

The river was beautiful.

A cute moment for grandma and Ky. 

This baby turtle just hatched and came out of this little hole. We found quite a few of them near our picnic table where we had lunch.

Sadly, after our picnic it was time for grandma to take off and head back to Atlanta.

We stayed and went to the Grandview area to hike some more.

There sure was a grand view!

This was a fun path barely carved into the wall of the canyon. The drop offs next to us were quite extreme.

And we finished up our day with a couple tunnels. Still not sure how to see that they are coming and avoid them with the RV. Hoping the propane ban never becomes an issue.