Today we drove all the way north, and then on the return, we drove out to Clingman's Dome Road and hiked up to the observatory. The views were awesome.
We also had to stop at the Walmart in Sylva to pick up a few items we forgot to pack. Oh well.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Southern Route through Great Smoky Mountains
Today we drove through the Great Smokey Mountains completing for us the entire park. We were here a couple of years ago, but up in Pigeon Forge. Back then we drove south as far as Chimney Tops.
Today we drove all the way north, and then on the return, we drove out to Clingman's Dome Road and hiked up to the observatory. The views were awesome.
We also had to stop at the Walmart in Sylva to pick up a few items we forgot to pack. Oh well.
Today we drove all the way north, and then on the return, we drove out to Clingman's Dome Road and hiked up to the observatory. The views were awesome.
We also had to stop at the Walmart in Sylva to pick up a few items we forgot to pack. Oh well.
2016 Fall Color Tour of the Northeast
Well on to our next adventure. We left on the 15th of September, for a Northeast tour. Our plan is to stop in Lake Toxaway, NC, at a Motorcoach Resort; Mountain Falls. We were given 4 nights when we purchased our new Dutch Star.
From there, we will make a brief stop in Shenandoah Valley Campground, Jackson, VA.
Then on to Black Bear Campground for 4 nights in Florida, NY.
After Florida, NY we plan 4 nights at Pinewood Lodge Campground in Plymouth, MA.
Our most northerly stop will be 4 nights at Timberland Acres in Trenton, ME.
We will work our way slowly back to Southwest Florida arriving home around October 15th.
Our hope is to get some great fall colors and see some new things.
September 17th Update.
We made it to Mountain Falls Motorcoach Resort yesterday afternoon. It was a crazy drive up Highway 11 and Highway 130 to get here, but so far it is worth it. Our campsite is up on what they call “The Ridge”. The views are spectacular with mountains and valleys on both sides of The Ridge.
Mountain Falls is a “Class A” ownership resort. They have quite a few amenities from a club house, pool, hot tub, tennis, golf and plenty of hiking.
Up on “The Ridge”, the sites are designed to accommodate a small house or pavilion and of course your motorcoach. I hear from one of our neighbors who have purchased their lot that the lots are selling for around $250,000.00.
I don’t think I see us having a fixed place to camp at this point in our lives.
Monday, July 11, 2016
Update on Travels Back to Florida
Just a quick update.
We left Valdez on the 2nd of July and stopped for the night at Tok RV Village. From there we stopped in Destruction Bay and visited with our friend Loren. He is the owner. They were having a fish derby which Loren was MC'ing. He invited us down for hamburgers and beers. We got to meet quite a few locals.
From Destruction Bay, we stopped for the night at Yukon Hotel & RV. It was a nice campground on Teslin Lake. We visited the George Johnston Museum and got another stamp on our Gold Passports.
From Yukon Hotel to Liard Hot Springs for one night. Man was it hot. About 82 degrees outside. A little too hot to spend much time in the hot springs. Last time we were there it was in the low 50's outside.
From Liard we stopped at Watson Lake to get into the Gold Raffle. We spent one night back at Triple G again and then one night at Dawson Creek.
We continued our march across Canada with one night in Edmonton, Diamond Grove RV Park, then on Saskatoon where we stayed two nights to chill a little. Campland RV Resort was a nice place to stop.
We then left this morning for Indian Head RV Park for one night.
The plan is to stop near Winnipeg, then down to North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
I was pretty giddy that we made it 10,000 miles without a chip on the windshield. We made the Alaskan Highway up and back. Unfortunately, while heading to Indian Head, on a divided highway in great shape, a small car passed us and kicked up a stone. Unbelievable, we now have a quarter sized star chip in the center of the windshield.
We left Valdez on the 2nd of July and stopped for the night at Tok RV Village. From there we stopped in Destruction Bay and visited with our friend Loren. He is the owner. They were having a fish derby which Loren was MC'ing. He invited us down for hamburgers and beers. We got to meet quite a few locals.
From Destruction Bay, we stopped for the night at Yukon Hotel & RV. It was a nice campground on Teslin Lake. We visited the George Johnston Museum and got another stamp on our Gold Passports.
From Yukon Hotel to Liard Hot Springs for one night. Man was it hot. About 82 degrees outside. A little too hot to spend much time in the hot springs. Last time we were there it was in the low 50's outside.
From Liard we stopped at Watson Lake to get into the Gold Raffle. We spent one night back at Triple G again and then one night at Dawson Creek.
We continued our march across Canada with one night in Edmonton, Diamond Grove RV Park, then on Saskatoon where we stayed two nights to chill a little. Campland RV Resort was a nice place to stop.
We then left this morning for Indian Head RV Park for one night.
The plan is to stop near Winnipeg, then down to North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin.
I was pretty giddy that we made it 10,000 miles without a chip on the windshield. We made the Alaskan Highway up and back. Unfortunately, while heading to Indian Head, on a divided highway in great shape, a small car passed us and kicked up a stone. Unbelievable, we now have a quarter sized star chip in the center of the windshield.
Friday, July 1, 2016
June 30-July 1, 2016 Valdez wrap-up
I feel we really got to know Valdez.
For the last couple of days we just hiked.
Yesterday, we hiked Mineral Creek which has a pretty nice waterfall. We were told there was a black bear that was following the hikers around, but we did not run into him.
Today we hiked up to Solomon Lake which really is a reservoir for the hydro power plant. The hike up was very steep, but all on maintenance roads.
I do want to correct something I said earlier. I indicated that the Pink Salmon were not running until August. Actually the Coho are running in August. The Pink Salmon should be running right now, but are late. They actually believe they should arrive within the week.
Unfortunately, we are leaving tomorrow for Tok.
After Solomon Lake, we came back to town and hiked the Observation Lookout Trail. It is right downtown. There were spectacular views from the top.
On the way down we found bear scat, but no bear.
For the last couple of days we just hiked.
Yesterday, we hiked Mineral Creek which has a pretty nice waterfall. We were told there was a black bear that was following the hikers around, but we did not run into him.
Today we hiked up to Solomon Lake which really is a reservoir for the hydro power plant. The hike up was very steep, but all on maintenance roads.
I do want to correct something I said earlier. I indicated that the Pink Salmon were not running until August. Actually the Coho are running in August. The Pink Salmon should be running right now, but are late. They actually believe they should arrive within the week.
Unfortunately, we are leaving tomorrow for Tok.
After Solomon Lake, we came back to town and hiked the Observation Lookout Trail. It is right downtown. There were spectacular views from the top.
On the way down we found bear scat, but no bear.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
June 29th, 2016 Valdez
What an awesome day of hiking and exploring.
Today we started out by taking the Jeep up to the Worthington Glacier. There were really two hikes; One up to the ice field, and the other up to some spectacular waterfalls and the toe of the glacier. The hike itself was pretty challenging due to the loose rock and glacial stream crossings. I will say though it was well worth it.
From there, we headed back towards Valdez stopping at the two unfinished train tunnels. There were two competing companies that wanted to get train service to Valdez in 1905. The competition got so severe that a gunfight ensued. Several people were hurt and one person was killed. After that, they stopped construction.
From the train tunnels we went to the other side of the bay to check out the Salmon Fish Hatchery. Nothing is going on right now as the Pink Salmon do not return until August. However, there were dozens of Bald Eagles. I really mean dozens. We both lost count.
Then on to the original site of the town of Valdez. The town was pretty much destroyed during the 1964 earthquake and tsunami. After the event what was left was condemned. Quite a few people died, and the town was moved to the current location.
After seeing nothing at the old town site other than some photos on sticks, we headed up to the Valdez Glacier. I did not think we could drive up all of the way, but to my surprise, we ended up at a lake with remnants of the glacier. It is very strange that these chunks of glacier are still in this lake as the toe of the glacier is miles away.
Overall, a really nice day.
Today we started out by taking the Jeep up to the Worthington Glacier. There were really two hikes; One up to the ice field, and the other up to some spectacular waterfalls and the toe of the glacier. The hike itself was pretty challenging due to the loose rock and glacial stream crossings. I will say though it was well worth it.
From there, we headed back towards Valdez stopping at the two unfinished train tunnels. There were two competing companies that wanted to get train service to Valdez in 1905. The competition got so severe that a gunfight ensued. Several people were hurt and one person was killed. After that, they stopped construction.
From the train tunnels we went to the other side of the bay to check out the Salmon Fish Hatchery. Nothing is going on right now as the Pink Salmon do not return until August. However, there were dozens of Bald Eagles. I really mean dozens. We both lost count.
Then on to the original site of the town of Valdez. The town was pretty much destroyed during the 1964 earthquake and tsunami. After the event what was left was condemned. Quite a few people died, and the town was moved to the current location.
After seeing nothing at the old town site other than some photos on sticks, we headed up to the Valdez Glacier. I did not think we could drive up all of the way, but to my surprise, we ended up at a lake with remnants of the glacier. It is very strange that these chunks of glacier are still in this lake as the toe of the glacier is miles away.
Overall, a really nice day.
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