Eager
I was eager to get moving and ride some more cool roads in the area, so I got a early start from Redd’s place.
South Carolina sunrise.
I hit the road before 7 and headed towards Gatlinburg.
Trouble?
Turns out through, in North and South Carolina gas was still a rare thing due to the pipeline closure. There was no premium gasoline to be had anywhere and you were limited in the amount of regular you could buy. Lucille needs premium to run well and I prefer to use only the top half of the tank. That turned out to be a good thing as I lost track of the number of gas stations I stopped at to fill Lucille and failed to find gas. But in Tennessee I finally found some premium! However, Pigeon Forge, the town in which I found the premium, was a madhouse!
Made it to another state!
Home to Dollywood and Dollywood’s Splash Country, there were a bazillion people out looking for a good time, post COVID. Poor Lucille was getting hot and it took us 3 or 4 green lights to get through every intersection. I don’t need to go back there!
Great Smoky Mountain National Park
I made it up into the park, which I’d heard was a wonderful drive. I stopped at the visitor’s center and talked to a couple of great guys riding their Harleys.
The visitor’s center at Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
They had a good time making fun of me being from California and we shared some military memories. They were awesome!
Making it through some states!
My phone gave me some trouble (so did my GoPro), so I didn’t get photos of them all, but today I went through SC, NC, GA, TN, VA, and ended my day in KY! It was a long day, but the country I drove through was beautiful!
Army Corps of Engineers camping
If you didn’t know, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates several recreation areas around the country. The campground I stayed at in Arkansas was a USACE campground and the one I stayed at in Red Fox, Kentucky was also. It was a really nice place. If you’re in the area, it’s Littcarr campground.
My campsite for the night.
The daily laundry hanging to dry.
Tomorrow should be a big day too, so I’m excited to see what it brings!
Keep going Deb! Your on a trip of a lifetime! Enjoy all the moments, good or bad.
Stay safe!
I’m definitely having a good time, but I certainly have my moments!
That’s a lot of states in one day!!! You must be exhausted or just high from the excitement of the trip. Love that you are talking to all the locals! The Corps actually has more visitor days at our recreation areas a year than the National Park Service. So glad you are getting to stay at some of the Corps facilities.
I AM tired at the end of the day. Riding a motorcycle is hard work! But I’m having fun too and seeing so much of the country!
Lots of driving, and I hope you and your backside aren’t getting too tired! (smile) You rode thru some beautiful country and I can’t wait to hear about what’s next!
My butt is definitely done sitting by the end of the day, that’s for sure! I’m awfully glad I’ve done this, though I miss all the animals and the family.
Out in California gas isn’t necessarily scarce but it is over 4 bucks a gallon now like it was pre-recession.
The Corps does do a decent campground. I see the grass is green. Definitely not Cali. How is the buggy-ness?
Gas is definitely pricey out here, but not California pricey! This place was really nice! The bugs weren’t bad at all. The only complaint was you could hear a lot of traffic noise from the road.