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Do this!  The Virginia Creeper Trail, located not far from family that we used to visit on a regular basis is an award winning Rails to Trails bicycle (hiking, backpacking and horseback riding) route from White Top Mountain to Damascus to Abingdon.  It’s a ride I have always wanted to try and never had the time, or the money or the weather.  Today, I finally got to fulfill that wish.  I caught the 9a shuttle to White Top and virtually coasted for nearly 17 miles back to Damascus.  The weather was nice, the trail was dry (mostly) and I was back in town by lunch time.

I would recommend to anyone that they put this on their list of things to do.

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr

Broke camp early, but did not leave the park right away.  Decided to visit some of the overlooks that I missed on my bike ride yesterday.  Drove the RV back to the main lodge and followed the park road around to the Nature Drive.

First was the Tower Tunnel Overlook.  Too foggy.  I stayed for a bit to see if I could get a decent shot, but could not see across the valley.  I could barely make out the river below as well as the railroad.  Moved on down to the Clinchfield Overlook and got to see a bit more, but still very foggy.  Took a few pictures and decided I would come back later.  It was a pretty good climb out but I was pretty sure it would be worth it.  The last stop was the Stateline Overlook and it was a bit clearer.  You can see Kentucky from here, as well as the railroad, rivers and Highway 80.

Drove the loop back around and stopped at the lodge for a light breakfast.  Took the kitchen about 30 minutes to figure out that they were all out of EggBeaters.  This is not rocket surgery kids.  The biscuits were good though.

I went back to Clinchfield overlook and it was definitely worth the return trip.  The fog had cleared and just as I was climbing down the hill I heard a train coming into the tunnel.  Perfect timing.  Lots of good photo opportunities of the train, the river below, rock outcroppings and even a self portrait.

After enjoying the peaceful view for a bit I moved on to Damascus by way of McClure and more importantly, Nora.  Dad and many of his siblings were born and grew up here.  I stopped for shots of the Clinchfield viaduct, and Granny Long’s old place.  Then continued to move south to Damascus.

Arrived in town and found that the RV Park I had intended to use was full up, but I moved on to the edge of town and found me a good campsite at the Laurel Creek RV Park.  Tomorrow I head out to the Creeper Trail.

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr

Bicycled the park today.  Climbed out of the camping area and went out by the lodge and visitors center and made the loop.  There are several very steep uphill climbs and of course the fun downhill run on the backside.  I managed to pedal all of the uphill sections until I reached the visitors center.  From there it became quite steep and was uphill of the better part of a half mile or more.  Too much for these old legs especially since they only have a handful of miles in training before I left home.  There were several overlooks that I decided to skip because  was concerned that I wouldn’t have enough leg left to pedal myself back to camp.  Saving those hiking trips until tomorrow when I can bring the RV up here and focus on hiking only.

I did pick up a partner near the lodge.  I heard something coming up behind and turned to find a dog (or some say a wolf) and he spent the better part of the climb walking point and quartering left to right and back again in front of me while I pushed my bike uphill.  I left him far behind when the time came to turn downhill and I coasted most of the way around the loop.

After lunch I took a quick turn through the camping area and found that I had to push most of the uphill sections as my climbing legs were done.

This is a great place to camp, and I am sure that the lodge is nice as well.  Lots of roomy campsites, decent privacy and lots of play areas for the kids.  There is a water park, a lake with rentals and of course the views are amazing.  The park is not exactly conveniently located but this is definitely a place worth stopping into if you are ‘in the neighborhood’.  I will keep this one at the top of my list of places to hideaway.

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr

Not much going on today, breaking camping and making an early run to see family in Virginia.  Took some scenic shots around camp before leaving that are quite rustic looking so I shot them in black & white.  Spent the afternoon and evening lounging around and catching up.  Spotted a couple of deer just as the sunset and watched Venus pop in and out of the clouds.

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr

I was amazed last night by how dark it is up here on top of Mount Pisgah.  Without much of a moon for most of the night and overcast skies it was as dark as one can imagine.  I awoke to the sound of a Robin singing away and announcing the start of day.

I leave camp and continue to head north on the Parkway.  My first stop is the Folk Art Center in Asheville.  It’s amazing to see the artistic talents of the local people going back 200 years or so leading up to today.  They had live demonstrations of a basket maker and a carpenter making nesting boxes.  I picked up Parkway map and guide book finally to help find my way.  I also picked up a CD of mountain music to listen to on my way down the road.

I made a quick lunch and moved further up the Parkway arriving at Linville Falls in the mid-afternoon for a little .5 mile walk down to the upper falls.  This was my first chance to ‘hike’ as it were since surgery a little over seven (7) weeks ago.  I took a very slow pace and periodically stopped for a brief health check.  There is some elevation change but not so much that I can’t handle.  It was nice to feel my trail legs coming back in short order as well.

One little pet peeve of mine while traveling, especially in tourist areas is the number of people who either can’t read or feel they deserve special treatment and park in the “RV/Bus” Parking Area.  When I arrived at Linville Falls there were only a couple of RV spaces left as all of the other spaces were occupied by cars and pickup trucks.   This is rude people, and makes it so that the rest of us can’t stop to visit.

After Linville Falls I go just a bit further north and head into Boone, NC for the night.  I find a nice little campground where a large number of sites are creek side.  Lots of little cabins too tucked back into the woods so this would be a good place to spend a mountain week and it’s close to town including several tourist attractions.  Can you say Tweetsie Railroad?

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr

I slow down a bit today as I have no place to really go and no specific time to get there. Other than finding a place to camp tonight, I have no plans for the day. I take my morning walk, get a good breakfast and break camp around 10a.

At 11a I climb up to th Blue Ridge Parkway near Maggie Valley, NC and head north towards Asheville. The speed limit is 45 MPH, but no way I can do better than 35 in the RV. Fortunately there is not much traffic up here so I pretty much have the road to myself.

I intentionally did not go down as far as Cherokee to access the parkway because there are three tunnels that have a clearance lower than my 12′. I officially tested my clearance when I came upon a tunnel that was 13′ 2″. For the record, they give you about 100 feet warning that a tunnel is coming up so if you find one too low you have to jam on the breaks.

I did make it up to the highest point on the parkway, took the obligatory pictures and then essentially meandered along until I reached Mount Pisgah. Pulled into the campground to see if they took RV’s and there was plenty of room for me. No power, no water, no sewer and barely any cell service. The only dilema I have is that the fridge no longer wishes to run on LP. I could stay up here another night if it would, but losing that much food seems like a bad idea.

The temps cooled to a comfortable 64 degrees inside the cabin overnight. I spent my evening playing my banjo and editing photos. Tomorrow I plan another leisurely morning and then driving down to Asheville to play tourist for the day. Again, my only real concern for the day is where to camp overnight.

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr

Headed for cooler weather.

I’ve grown tired of the 95 degree heat and feels like temperatures of 105 to 100 degrees, so I’ve packed up the RV and headed north for the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia.  The first two days I have spent putting on mileage (700) on mostly highways.  Total interstate mileage probably less than 75.

Day2 finds me in Travelers Rest, SC and at the foothills of the Appalachians.  I will leave you with the following.

The Men That Don’t Fit In by Robert Service

There is a race of men that don’t fit in,
A race that can’t stand still,
So they break the hearts of kith and kin,
And they roam the world at will.
They range the fields and rove the flood,
And they claim the mountain’s crest,
There is the curse of the gypsy blood,
And they don’t know how to rest.

Photos ~ 20150713~MountainAir | Flickr