Sunday, April 4 - Day 25
Normandy, TN to Elkmont CG/Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
Today was a good day for scenic enjoyment. Not of the "oh" and "ah" variety, just pleasant.
There was some rain and wind during the night - to be expected, since I had the van washed yesterday - but nothing bothersome. It was partly cloudy in the morning and essentially stayed that way all day. Temp was 60F during the night and in the low eighties during the day.
Got on the road by 9:15 AM after dumping the gray water and refilling the fresh water tank. Picked some backroads at whim in the Normandy area, and ultimately ended up where I wanted to be, Wartrace, TN - a lovely and well-kept little town. Took TN 64 to I-24 (a pretty road) and stayed on the interestate for a few miles to the Murfreesboro, TN exit - a university town worth getting off the interestate for. Just drive around town for a while and admire the antebellum mansions.
Took US 70S east and TN 146 to Smithville (nice lake and bushes in bloom) and US 70 to Sparta (ugly) and Crossville (also ugly.) If you're going east on I-40, jump off at Crossville and take US 70 instead, at least as far as Ozone. The road snakes through the Cumberland Mountains and the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area in a rather pretty way and there is another state forest before you get to Rockwood and back on to I-40. I avoided I-40 and headed for Spring City instead, where I got gas for $.999/gal at the Shell station. Picked up TN 68, a lovely road that winds by a lake and the front yards of the houses that line the road are ablaze with dogwoods in full bloom. Stayed on TN 68 all the way to Sweetwater and Madisonville.
Had no choice but to get on US 411, as unattractive a road as can be. Picked up US 321 to Townsend, TN and entered the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Stayed on the Little River Road (one of my favorite scenic roads, this is the fourth time I've driven it) until I got to the Elkmont Campground.
It's a lovely setting near the river, with picnic tables and fire rings. Facilities are somewhat primitive: no showers, no hook-ups. Cost per night is $12.00 for the pre-Golden Age Passport set, 1/2 of that for me. I had expected that, with Tennessee spring break being this week, the campground would be full. But the ranger told me that they hardly ever fill up, except on weekends from mid-May to early September.
Drove 286 miles today and was on the road for 6 3/4 hours.
Monday, April 5 - Day 26
Great Smokies, TN to Glen Maury CG, Buena Vista, VA
A fellow in a site nearby has a generator. The drone of that infernal piece of equipment kept me awake until 10 PM last night when he finally turned it off. But he restarted it at 6 AM this morning. I guess it's music to his ears, but it does make me wonder why so many campers are totally oblivious to the disturbances they create. How can you expect wildlife to come wandering through an early morning campground setting when there is a generator running or a boom box playing?
It had been a pleasant night, with the temperature dropping down to 58F, just cool enough for a good night's sleep without the furnace kicking in. Was on the road by 8:30 AM, beautiful sunshine to boot. Followed the Little River Road to the main park road (Newfound Gap Road) to the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The road climbs from about 2,000' to over 5,000' - at one time even looping over itself. There are plenty of viewpoints and turn-outs, so it's safe for RVs. Views are spectacular:
After passing the visitor center, took a left turn for the Blue Ridge Parkway. This, too, is a spectacular road.
Unfortunately, the last section - Balsams to Asheville past Mount Pisgah, was still closed, so had to get off at US 74/23 - a road that's a shining example of how to spoil nature's beauty. Picked up I-40 West, and that's a beautiful road through the Smokies. Then picked up I-81, the home stretch for me. Called home to let Antje know I'd be arriving tomorrow afternoon.
I-81, both in Tennessee and Virginia, has some scenic stretches. The more scenic alternative would be the Blue Ridge Parkway, but that road is just too much for too long, and it's a good distance away from the interstate. I'm convinced that there are some scenic byways running close to the interstate, but I haven't explored yet. Usually, once I hit I-81 I start getting itchy to get home.
Jumped off at exit 179, US 11, picked up VA 130 and then US 501 (a road that seems worth exploring on future trips) to Buena Vista, VA. They have a municipal campground, Glen Maury CG where I got a full hook-up site (including sewer) for $15.00 (after a $1.00 "Senior" discount). The bathhouse looks spotless, will see what it looks like tomorrow morning. The sites are a bit close together and slanted, but with only four sites out of 20+ occupied, the neighbors aren't crowding in.
Since this is my last night on the road for this trip, did some cleaning up inside the van, ate leftovers, used up the charcoal, and sat outside for a while looking at the stars and reflecting on this trip.
Drove 408 miles and was on the road for 8 1/2 hours.
Tuesday, April 6 - Day 27
Buena Vista, VA to home, NJ
Got under way at 8:45 AM. A bit chilly at 51F, up from the night's low of 45F. Bought gas at Buena Vista for $.979/gal and headed for I-81. This interstate is actually quite pretty in parts, but after 90 minutes of buzzing along, I just had to get off. Left at exit 269 and followed county roads more or less at random, provided they headed either north or east. Ended up on Moreland Gap Road, which soon turned into a one lane dirt road as it went through (I assume) Moreland Gap. Then it became a two lane paved road again and took me to the Fort Valley Road, a very pretty rural byway. Especially scenic is the stretch through the George Washington National Forest. The road merges into US 55 and I drove on to Front Royal and the interstate that took me back to I-81. From then on, sheer boredom on I-81, I-78, and I-287. Topped of the tank for $.969/gal when I got home.
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It's been a wonderful adventure, but it's amazing how few specifics I remember. The days all seem to blend together. I'm sure that re-reading the journal and looking at the photos will help me recall the many fabulous places I visited and sights that I saw. Stayed at 23 different campgrounds for $247.36 in total. Drove 9,308 miles and was on the road for 202 hours. Used 534 gallons of gasoline, $545 in total, or $1.02 average per gallon.
I hope that you have enjoyed this journal and your virtual trip with me. Why not send me an e-mail and I'll be happy to let you know whenever a new or modified journal (section) has been uploaded. Just make sure that I always have a valid e-mail address for you.
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