Lake Powhatan Recreation Area & Campground, Pisgah National Forest, Asheville, NC
It took us over 7 hours to drive to Lake Powhatan Recreation Area & Campground in the Pisgah National Forest in Asheville, NC. At Lake Powhatan, we had booked a pull-thru site with no power or water hook-ups. We had our small generator with us for the coffee maker and microwave, so we didn’t miss having power. It was a Wednesday in the middle of May and still a little chilly in the evenings, at over 2000 ft. elevation. The areas without power were sparsely populated. We were only staying one night and were too tired to drive into town, so we did not have to unhitch.
The main reason we kept one night there on our itinerary, was to check the place out. We decided a couple of years ago, that we very much prefer traveling through that area instead of I-75 through Atlanta and the rest of Georgia. The camping is better and we love the mountains. Also, driving through Atlanta traffic is not fun. In the morning, with only a short drive ahead of us, we walked the entire campground and day use area, roughly 4 1/2 miles. We checked out the lake and every campsite and recorded the most desireable spots for next time.
We will definitely return again, even if we can’t see the town. We’re disappointed that we will never see the River Arts District, now destroyed by the major flood. “Next time” is never guarateed for anything.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, TN
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is only 2 hours from Asheville. We really couldn’t pass through the area without stopping there for some hiking and sight-seeing. Since we planned ahead this year, we had a reservation in the park’s Elkmont Campground. Dave’s parents, Gary and Shirley, camped and hiked all across the country, but spent more time in the Smokies then any other destination. Most trips, including many with their three boys, they camped at Elkmont Campground. For Dave, it was like taking me and the RV back to his childhood.
The first day, we walked the entire campground and hiked to Elkmont Ghost town and Daisy Town, a neighbohood in the Elkmont historic District where the park is restoring the old cottages. My feet were pretty sore as we approached nearly 10 miles total, for the day. As we hiked, Dave recounted many family adventures in the park, including about how his parents often spent all day driving there and would immediately head out for a 6 or 7 mile hike, even well into their late 60’s (maybe later). I know they didn’t train for these things (typical for his family – no training needed). Of course, I had to keep going, even with sore feet.
The second day we did a more challenging hike, maybe 7 or 8 miles. I was too tired to eat lunch, so opted for the best cold Miller Lite I have ever had. We headed into Gatlinburg, walked all over town, had a great dinner and found some live music. Then we returned to the campground and walked around. We always enjoy checking out people’s rigs, setups and campfires. Dave shared more stories about camping there with his family. We also identified which riverside sites we would try for next time. It was another 10-mile day. Yes, I slept very well.
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site, Union, KY
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site is not far from I-75. We booked a spacious pull-thru site with water and electric for our 92nd and final night of the trip. The name of the park comes from the Mammoth and Mastadon fossils found there. The animals are believed to have been drawn to this location by a salt lick deposited around the sulfur springs.
After we set up camp, we took a short hike to see the bison. Dave convinced me I didn’t need boots for a short, flat hike. It turned out to be the most slippery muddy hike I have ever done. By some miracle from heaven I did not wipe out or ruin my shoes at all, though I came very close many times. We saw the bison. Unfortunately, we missed the “yoga with the bison” class by one day (seriously…???). I felt bad for them. After seeing them in the wild in South Dakota, I can’t imagined they enjoyed being fenced in, in humid Kentucky.
With the hot humid weather, the mud, my sore feet after 20 miles the previous 2 days in the smokies, I was a bit irritable until we finally just chilled out in our campsite. Overall, it was still a good final day camping.
The next day, on May 19 after 92 nights – 1 hotel and 91 nights camping, 14 campgrounds, 23 campsites, in 5 states, and 5700 miles, we arrived at home.
Lake Powhatan Recreation Area & Campground, Pisgah National Forest, Asheville, NC
Lake Powhatan Recreation Area & Campground, Pisgah National Forest, Asheville, NC
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
