All About April (Part 3)–Fri, April 25 to Wed, May 7, 2014

Continuing our Two Week Stay at River Plantation, Sevierville, TN

 

                                    
                                     A – Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina
                                     B – Buck Hall Recreation Area, McClellanville, South Carolina
                                     C – Magnolia RV Park and Campground, Kinards, South Carolina
                                     D – River Plantation RV Resort, Sevierville, Tennessee


(D) Sunday, April 27  to Tues, April 29th – River Plantation RV Park, Sevierville, TN

 

On Sunday, April 27th, we took the day to recover from our AT  Trail hike:o))

   It was a wonderful hike but, by far, the most strenuous hike we had done since last summer when we were in Acadia National Park.  So we needed a day of rest!!  That’s exactly what we did…NOTHING!!!

 

On Monday, April 28th, we drove to Smokemont Campground.

 

We had one more GSMNP campground to checkout for future stays in the park. 

 

Smokemont CG is located near the Cherokee entrance to GSMNP.

 

If we like Smokemont CG, that would give us access to hiking in another part of GSMNP.

 

We left River Plantation and headed south on Rt 441 which changes to Newfound Gap Road.

 

We drove directly to the park without stopping on our way.

 

The views were beautiful and we decided to save pull-offs for on the way home. 

 

 

It was about a 90 minute drive to Smokemont Campground!!

 

Click on any photo to enlarge or hover your mouse on any photo for a description.

 

     

 

The campground is located along a beautiful creek. 

 

Loop F, the RV only loop, has several beautiful sites along the creek:o))

 

The F Loop is only open May 15 – Oct 31.

 

 

Every site in F Loop is long and level.

 

Any one of the sites would be nice, but we did have two FAVORITES!!

 

 

Site F8

 

 

 

Site F34

 

 

 

 

Sites F36 & F 38 are on the creek also and more open for those with solar panels;o))

 

 

There are no hookups but there is a bath house with flush toilets and sinks.

 

 

There is a nice dump station and fresh water access station!!

 

We both agreed that this beautiful campground would make boondocking enjoyable:o))

 

If your rig is longer than 35 ft.,

 

I would not choose Elkmont, but Smokemont could handle larger rigs.

 

 

 

We took our time and enjoyed a few scenic pull-offs along our ride back.

 

 

We stop for lunch at this pretty spot with a waterfall across the road!!

 

 

When we reached Newfound Gap at the end of our hike on the AT Trail,

we didn’t take time to check it out.  So we stopped on our way back today.

 

Click on any photo to enlarge or hover your mouse on any photo for a description.

 

Beautiful View!!

 

 

 

Lots to Learn

 

Click on any photo to enlarge

 

 

The Appalachian Trail runs through Newfound Gap.

 

 

Rockefeller Memorial

 

 

Mount Le Conte  -  Our last view of the day:o)

 

“Man has created some lovely dwellings-

some soul-stirring literature.

He has done much

to alleviate physical pain.

But he has not…

created a substitute for a sunset,

a grove of pines,

the music of the winds,

the dank smell of the deep forest,

or the shy beauty of a wildflower.”

Harvey Broome, Naturalist

 

 

 

On Tuesday, April 29th, the RV-Dreams Rally begins.

 

This is our third RV-Dreams Educational Rally. 

 

Bill and I, along with several others, volunteered to help with Rally Registration.

 

Click on any photo to enlarge or hover your mouse on any photo for a description.

 

 

Great facility for 175 people!!

 

 

 

 

The Registration Table is set up and the Helpers are ready.

 

 

Let The Games Begin!!!

 

 

 

Yep… I think it’s gonna be a fun time :o))

 

 

After registration, there was a catered dinner and the rally icebreaker.

 

No one captures the action better than Howard, so check out his blog post.

 

RV-Dreams Rally Blog – Day 1