Blue Ridge Parkway – Day 1

Yesterday we drove about 75 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway still in North Carolina. No commercial vehicles are allowed on the parkway.

Here’s three photos…

It doesn’t show in any of these photos, but we saw miles of blown-down/broken trees from an ice storm just before last Christmas.

To see the other 13 photos I took, click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/BlueRidgeParkway51010#

It was partly cloudy with the temperature in the low 60’s. There was very little traffic and much to our surprise, when we arrived at the campground…it was closed. Our guidebook indicates the campgrounds open in early May. We inquired at the visitors store and were told the campgrounds open on May 15th. We spent the night parked in front of this old cabin along a quiet country road about one mile off of the parkway. According to the owner, a Mr. McCarthy, this cabin was built in the 1880’s…his wife was born here and it was the Cherry Lane Township’s first country store and post office.

Here’s the official government website link…
http://www.nps.gov/blri/index.htm

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Ridge_Parkway

Today we’ll continue in a Northeasterly direction on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

Is This The Coalminer’s Daughter????

Jim says:

Nope! It’s Mary wearing her Energizer Headlamp. Why is she wearing that?…you ask.

We use these headlights to conserve coach battery power when we camp without electrical hookup.

Well, many times we camp at night without the benefit of being plugged into land-powered electrical system. We get electric power from our coach batteries…the process is termed…Boon-Docking.

When boon-docking (without electric, sewer or water connections) conservation of the on-board utilities becomes an important issue. My old motorhome had four coach batteries…our new/current motorhome has only two coach batteries.

To help conserve electric power while boon-docking Mary and I bought these coal-miner-like head lamps to use when it is dark. They are made by the Energizer Battery Company (you know…the Energizer Bunny!). They have a red LED and a white LED lamp. We use them when we read our books or work on with the computer. They work really well and cost only $12.99.

In other news…
We drove about 85 miles yesterday and arrived safely in Boone, North Carolina. I thought we were going to park at the VFW, but when we got there we found it to be on a very steep incline unsuitable for RV parking.

We found a some-what level Subaru dealership that was closed on Mother’s Day Sunday. We unhooked the Bronco and went exploring. First to the local visitors center we they help us with some good local information. They told us the Moose Lodge had a nice and level parking lot not far away. It sure does and that’s where parked the motorhome for last night.

In addition we visited a local attraction called Hickory Heights with old cabins.

A replica of an 1800’s North Carolina cabin.

Then we went to a genuine old-fashioned General Store.

The Mast General Store has been in business since 1883.

The colder weather front I mentioned being due soon finally arrived. They high for yesterday was only 57 degrees…30+degrees less than a couple of days ago. The low last night was 36 degrees and the Weather Wimp (that’s me) said Brrrrr!

Today we’ll get on the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway and continue our journey in a North-Easterly direction.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

Are Squirrels In Your Yard Driving You Nuts????

Jim says:

Going places where you wish they wouldn’t go?

(Note: I wrote this Blog entry while visiting my friends Bob and Judy in South Carolina a week ago and didn’t get to publish it. I thought may be some of my non-Rver readers might benefit from this tip.)

My friends, Bob and Judy, whom I am currently visiting live on a pleasant and peaceful 1.1 acres.

The front yard as seen from the driveway.

Their yard has an abundance of birds and small ground animals…including squirrels.

A portion of the back yard.

Problem..the squirrels were constantly raiding the bird feeders that hung on a piece of wire. Solution… a plastic bottle and poly pipe deterrent system. Now when the squirrels get on the plastic bottle, it rotates and they fall to the ground. Bird feeders are now safe from pesky squirrels.

The plastic bottle and poly pipe deterrent system.

They found this idea in Birds and Blooms Magazine about four years ago.

You get to see all kinds of things when you RV!

In other news…yesterday we drove about 50 miles to Greeneville, Tennessee where we spent the night in a quiet VFW parking lot. Today’s destination, Boone, North Carolina about 85 miles distant.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

Cherokee, North Carolina

Jim says:

Yesterday we drove about 50 miles upon narrow mountain roads to arrive at this small, pretty (with the exception of a huge, ugly, out-of-place Harrah’s Casino) and touristy town.

There are lots of bears like this one on the town streets.

The primary stop was at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian.

It took us three hours to go through this great museum.

The museum did an excellent job describing the 11,000 year history of the Cherokees.

The statues were very life-like.

The Trail Of Tears (the forced relocation to reservations in Oklahoma) cost the lives of about 4,000 to 8,000 tribe members.

It also did an excellent job telling the sad saga of the Trail Of Tears.

To see the other 44 photos I took, click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/CherokeeNC05061004#

Here’s the museum’s official website link…
http://www.cherokeemuseum.org

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link about Cherokee, North Carolina…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee,_North_Carolina

We’re just a couple of miles from the Southern entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and that’s today’s journey!

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

Like A Bunch Of Cattle In A Cattle Car…

Jim says:

If Mary’s youngest son Doug had been here…that’s what he would have said about our experience in Asheville, North Carolina yesterday. Moooooooooo!

I must also confess that yesterday’s experience was a first for me…in all my years of traveling. But Mary really wanted to get a feel for the City of Asheville, North Carolina and when you have woman in your life, one must make compromises…

The Cattle Car.

It’s just something I wouldn’t do if I were traveling alone. In general…despite the fact that I is one…I tend to shy away from “touristy” activities. In truth…it wasn’t all that bad and Mary really enjoyed herself.

Just one of the photos I took today.

To see the other 21 photos I took, click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/AshevilleNC5510#

Finally…the best news of the day…we got to spend the night on the pretty grounds of Moose Lodge #781 in Asheville. Peaceful and quiet with lots of pretty songbirds.

Our parking place last night.

Today we continue heading towards the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

We Arrive In Asheville, North Carolina…Well Almost!

Jim says:

By that I mean we’ll arrive later today. In reality Asheville is in the mountains and the airport is located in Arden, North Carolina…about 20 miles southeast of Asheville. I spent the night in Spartanburg, South Carolina about 45 miles southeast of the airport and will be in Arden by noon. Mary arrives on a 3:50 afternoon flight from California.

Since November 30, 2009, I’ve driven about 4,800 miles.

In other news…regarding yesterday’s Blog about my little yellow light. No parts were needed…the garage had to re-program the computer. The work was covered by warranty and Workhorse (the chassis manufacturer) paid the one-hour labor fee of $92.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com