Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
… and Smoky Mountains Tennessee
It is Autumn even where we are! September was still full summer up in North East and kept being summer temps even after we left end of September. Shenandoah NP is mostly up in 2300ft and above so autumn was creeping in little earlier than down in the valleys.
Rhona’s jacket been tucked away since Bryce Canyon snow days
We had 3 full days at the park and got some epic hiking done with Rhona and Ian rode the Scenic Road and forest roads. Government shut down was on but it did not disturb this NP too much, except there was no entry fee and the visitor centers were closed otherwise business as always.
Scenic Drive that runs from north to south end in the middle of the Shenandoah NP ridge. All the hikes and scenic overlooks + campsites are off this road.
Big Meadows Campground is a big place but good to know it is all” dry camping “campground. There are showers for $5 fee and running water toilets. No electricity except what you can create yourself
First foggy autumn morning for us
We have started to hike a little longer trips with Rhona. This one was close to 7 miles with few thousand feet of elevation.. There was a stream and waterfalls for Rhona’s water needs and cooling. I carry water back pack with Rhona’s rescue sling in it as well. I have a back pack for Rhona as well but in these temps it’s too hot for her to wear… well that’s what I think!
Where can you spot Rhona???? ha ha
Morning hike with the Kids
Shenandoah NP was definitely worth of visiting but again if you have a car to move around to reach more trails… it’s perfect place. Dogs are very welcome, and wild life is there and around your campground, very tame deer gracing on the green grass.
The Shenandoah NP area is on the back yard of Washington DC so it is a very busy campground and popular day hiking area. Quite a few bicycle riders are riding the scenic road on the ridge as well.
Smoky Mountains, Tennessee….
On our way south towards Texas and Ian’s catamaran race beginning of Nov.. we decided to score an other National Park on the way, Smoky Mountains NP… Drove past DollyWood and Dolly Parton highways… quite swifly.. and got stuck into a traffic jam before we even got into the park… SOOOOOO many people… well kinda our bad as we realized later on that it’s Columbus Day bank holiday weekend and Tennessee schools are mainly on Autumn school break… ups!!! So the campground was and is… packed! Elkmont Campground is one of the biggest campgrounds in the park and is 100% dry camping spot and people are loving it!
An other my bad is for not reading about the place enough before hand as NO DOGS ON THE TRAILS is very much in force here.. darn!!!! Well… as I said the campground is huge so we ran around the campground roads with Rhona… found a fire road close by and managed to get Rhona off leash … until 2 min later I saw a black bear with a cub on the road front of us!!!!! Rhona was not interested about them (uhhh… thank goodness!!!) and they retrieved into the forest and we continued our run with Rhona until we saw an other single bear close to a river… hmmm… it was time to get back to the bigger roads!!!
This pic is from Yellowstone.. young black bear right next to my car!
These guys here are Black Bears and really not a danger to anyone. They are easy to shoo away with some loud noise and they are small bears compared to ones up north in Glacier NP where one did not know which kind of bear it is that is coming to say hello.. Brown and Grizzly Bears are little more hungry and aggressive teddies and really don’t care how much noise you make! There we walked and biked with bear spray in hand… everywhere !!
This morning Ian got back from dog walk… I’m still in bed… ha ha!!!
There is a small camp spot with scouts close by our campsite and last night they had a bear cub climb into a hammock with a kid in it!! Mommy bear was sitting close by peacefully! Nothing happened to anyone.. bear is fine.. kid little shaken and scratched.. Camp rangers are up and moving trying to find the bear and give it a scare and a “bad memory” of the visit so it will not happen again….
“We” are always a little cynical about “wild life warnings” around everywhere but in these campgrounds in full forest areas warnings are not for shit and giggles… there is a real reason! If they tell you to put your BBQ grill inside a car or camper for the night and use a bear box for your food… do it! Ian has had his “bear close encounters “ before so he knows what and how to deal with stuff.. even when I’m like…” really????? I don’t think we really need to !!!?!”
Camping at Elkmont Campground at the Smoky Mountains, Tennessee
After this we are starting our trip towards Natchez Trace Parkway that runs from Nashville to Natchez Mississippi. It is a Parkway that runs through 3 States and has 10 000 year history. Can not wait to learn about the Old Southwest.
