Tuesday, October 15, 2013

BLUE GRASS..BLUE RIDGE...BLUE SKIES

Oct 6 2013 – Richmond, KY to Brevard, NC

The trip down I75 to I40 was crowded with cars, trucks and RV’s.  Everyone seems to be on the move.  As we passed the Corbin exit I looked across at the grass that separated us from the north bound lane and there wasn’t as much as there seemed to be when we were careening over towards it with the blown front tire earlier this summer. 

 I keep thinking about the bus that blew a front tire on I-40 killing all those passengers and ….. have to say again and again and again…..that Safe Driving Class offered by Lazy Days free of charge probably saved our lives.   The one tidbit that came to Dave’s mind as we were heading across I-75 towards the southbound lane was, “accelerate through the blown tire”.  Once he started to accelerate, the MH righted itself and he was able to drag it back across I-75.  We came so close to having a horrible accident.  I have to wonder whether the driver of the bus that blew the tire had ever had a driving class.

Not sure were everyone is going but the rest stops were full of trucks and RV’s.  We stopped off I-75 to eat lunch and could barely find a spot to pull in. 

Around Knoxville TN we exited onto I-640 heading for I-40 to Asheville.  The Smoky Mountains kept peaking above the lower mountains beckoning us forward.  On I-40 at the Seiverville/Gatlinburg exit there was a line a cars stretching over a mile waiting to get off at that exit.  Cars, trucks, RV’s, all waiting to get off I-40.  I thought at first there was some big event going on.  Then I thought, at second, maybe the exit to the Smoky Mountains is closed.  

About 45 minutes later, down the highway, the exit to the Smoky Mountain National Park had a barricade across it and it was closed.  So, all those people in the Gatlinburg area will be staying on that side of the mountain and those in Cherokee on the other side of the mountain!

As soon as we entered NC, we pulled into another rest stop but it was full!  Drove through the parking lot and could not find a place to pull in!  Pulled right back out and kept going down the road!

We arrived at Cascade Lake six hours later after lots of construction and lane closures on the highway.  We’re looking out on the lake in our favorite spot.  I wonder at Billy’s excitement and whether he remembers growing up here.  He certainly has his sights set on that lake!

Our first day in the area took us to The Moose CafĂ© where we enjoyed our usual huge lunch and waddled on out to overcast skies.  Since we were in Asheville, we decided to go to the movies!  Gravity had just opened at the huge 3-D state of the art movie theater and we arrived just in time for the movie to start.  I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.  It was all about the sound, sensations, and 3-D objects floating at you!  I thoroughly enjoyed the movie, but Dave had his hands cupping his ears.  Oh well! 

This area has had so much rain, the colors just aren't there at this time.  I was amazed as Cascade Lake usually has a lot of colors popping out along the shoreline.  Peak color for upper elevations is 10/15 and we're at 10/8 so not sure if they'll have the brilliance they've had in the past.



We met our friends Geoff & Linda and Linda & Howard for dinner Tuesday night at Dugans.  Linda & Howard have been working at the Forest Discovery Center which is part of the Pisgah National Forest so you can guess they were having to leave.  Davidson River CG is closed as well as Powhatten CG.  Cascade Lake is benefiting by getting the hosts who were not ready to leave the area for their next gig! 

It’s sad to see as this area thrives on visitors who come to the mountains for wonderful October weather and colors.  Davidson River CG was always a favorite campground and a very difficult one to get reservations in.

HOMEWARD BOUND

We’re home now, getting the house cleaned up, getting the boat cleaned up and getting the MH cleaned up.  Way too many toys!  I, of course, caught Dave’s cold and haven’t been too productive this past week; just trying to get settled in between rest stops!

It was a great summer, once again.  Northern Michigan was a really beautiful area to spend our time.  But, as always, it’s great to be home!



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