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Silver Threads · 07-31-2007, 09:47 PM

It was hot and muggy. It rained almost every day for a couple of hours. There were lots of people swimming in the deeper parts. It felt good once I got past the numbing effect,lol. There was a couple on a trolley we were riding that said they saw a mother bear and 2 cubs crossing the road higher up in the smokies. We only went about 8 miles in for a picnic. Hope you get to see some. Maybe one day I will. I may take a ride up in a couple weks to look for more of that pirite, who knows, maybe I will get lucky and find a nugget!

klattu · 08-01-2007, 12:07 PM

Probably not the best choice for a towd...

Fresh batteries in the cameras...were on a mission to see some Smoky Bears...not the kind that wear sunglasses

Silver Threads · 08-01-2007, 12:54 PM

Are you taking I-40? Have fun!! Do you know where you will be staying?

vswingfield · 08-01-2007, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klattu

Probably not the best choice for a towd...

Fresh batteries in the cameras...were on a mission to see some Smoky Bears...not the kind that wear sunglasses

Love your rig!!! My first reaction, before I read your post, was "Now that's a towd!"

Have fun.

Vaughan

vswingfield · 08-03-2007, 04:56 PM

Just noticed, both you quys are creeping up to 500. Secret rivit master rituals must be coming up.

Vaughan

klattu · 08-05-2007, 07:56 PM

Back home...
Lots of photos and good camping info...
Tons later,

We did see a couple of bears...

Turned into a quest for water falls, it had been raining and we found some good ones...

klattu · 08-05-2007, 07:57 PM

So good to be back home though...

Silverhobby · 08-05-2007, 08:55 PM

With a front lawn like that, you could host a great rally. Thanks for the pics.

klattu · 08-10-2007, 12:18 PM

Heres some good info on camping around Cherokee, NC outside the Smoky Mountians on the Smokemont side.

We stayed at Bradlys right in the middle of town.
$19 full hookups...and you will see why so cheap...
Still tough to beat the location as the river is on the side of campground that flows right thru town...whew it is cold at first!

So we drove around to check out all the other campgrounds.

OH...FORGET the photo way back about 'Unto These Hills'
It is totally different!
They no longer do the 'Eagle Dance' that was so popular.
Is now so 'politicaly correct' its like the
New York City version of a high school play.
The Trail of Tears is easy to miss with all the other minorities (non-indians)complaining.
What a waist of time, along with a shattered pleasent memory.

OK, got that of my back.
Back to more fun...

Airstreams spotted...
This one in the parking lot for the 'play'

Off Big Cove Road...

Federal Campground in Bryson City

Natahala River<sp

Over the Mountain in Maggie Valley

More in a minute...

klattu · 08-10-2007, 12:33 PM

We drove around town before heading out for campgrounds...
These are all in Cherokee, NC

Just out side of Cherokee,
On your way into The Smoky Mt Park is a turn off to
Big Cove Road...lots of campgrounds down this road.
It follows the river for a while.

Right or left ?

klattu · 08-10-2007, 12:50 PM

River Valley was the first one we visited...
Wow!
So much better than where we were...almost moved.
Full hookups available, just a few on the river.
Great for wading in water or trout fishing.
Not best for tubing, lots of rocks that are great for tring to walk across on.

Next we came up on the KOA...
Now this was 1st class place!
I don't really like camping on concrete, but they really put on a show for campers.
Kids are gonna want to stay here.
So many activities thru out the day.
Pool, hot tub, games, free ride to tubing if you rent there tubes, just all kind of stuff going on.
They have their own trout pond in front.
River does go along side, BUT a chain link fence separates you from it ?

Wanted to move here too...
Next is our favorite!!!

klattu · 08-10-2007, 12:58 PM

Where is our picnic basket?
Oh man...wish I was here now!
This one had the best river flow right inside campground (thats what sold me)
You could float all day.
And with it hitting 100 last few days...whew...I want to get wet!
A few full hook up on river, not all.
Not all decked out like the KOA,
Yogi gets my vote on the next trip.

more soon

Silver Threads · 08-10-2007, 02:48 PM

Great looking Pictures! I too want to stay at Jellystone. They have a lot of activities for the young and the young at heart!

klattu · 08-10-2007, 03:14 PM

Oh yes...I forgot they call them "Jellystone"
I saw so much I wanted to do myself that I did not ask about their organized ones.
They had a nice pool too.

Tubers everywhere...

See ya next time Yogi...

Next...
WATERFALLS !!!

ibgl6 · 08-10-2007, 03:30 PM

Man them was some goodlooking pictures and the caddy too..

klattu · 08-10-2007, 03:53 PM

First one is Mingo Falls
It is between KOA and Jellystone just off Big Cove Road
Very short trail, just all up a l o n g row of stairs...
Most of these small campgrounds had too many full timers...kinda shanty town looking.
Falls parking is just past campground, not a part of it.

View from the bridge looking up...

Overcast days are best for photos as you will see, as the next day the sun came out

The next one was a long trial...2.6 miles...whew,
So glad it was a cool morning, and most of trail was thru the woods.
You go past Cooper Creek trout farm, he supplies most of the local resturants.

Past his cabin...

supper time, back soon

klattu · 08-10-2007, 06:23 PM

Cooper Creek Falls are half way between Cherokee and Bryson City

Can you find the happy camper in photo above ?

Breaktime

Lost in the Sun...

On to Bryson City
Cooling off station just on edge of town...

This one is in the Federal Park just outside Bryson City.
You know your on the right track by all the tube rental places along the way.
A very short hike

Coming up...
Biltmore and Rafting on the Ocoee !!

vswingfield · 08-10-2007, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klattu

So good to be back home though...

Did you get a chance to go through the winery? The Biltmore house is incredible and many skip the winery tour. There are several stained glass windows by John La Farge. La Farge was one if Tiffany’s mentors, and his word is more representational, while Tiffany’s is more geometrical. Best of all, while most stained glass is mounted way up on a wall, these are mounted just above floor level with only a velvet theater rope keeping you back about 18”. A fantastic opportunity to inspect the work of a master close up.

That being said, great photo documentary! I still approve of the towd. Now there’s a way to ride around. Let ordinary people tow a KIA.

Makes me want to hit the road and revisit the Carolinas. Looks like the two of you had a great time. I had to check out Jellystone’s website. I never considered them in the past, but will now.

Vaughan

klattu · 08-10-2007, 07:49 PM

See the nice house?
See the fans?
See the hot tourists?
See the billion dollar mansion without A/C ?

Whew...go early...it was hot!

Turn on the water...

Roll your paints up and jump in...

Its too hot to smile ?

Look close...
This is the B-52s practicing at Biltmore...told to stop taking photos too.

Now on the way home,

This is the site of the Olympics back in 1996...that was just two years ago right?

Just before you go over the dam...most stop here

Past the Ocoee dam this makes a dividing point upper/lower rivers

Bus Boys

klattu · 08-11-2007, 07:19 AM

If you continue out Big Cove Road....past all the campgrounds (not recommended)
You will find yourself on a one lane black gravel road going thru Tribal Land.
Super curvy and ends up on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Fun in a SUV...not a Eldorado.
Now the Blue Ridge is fun...three tunnels within the last 20 miles

Why do they call it the Smokys ???