Smokey Mtn, Blue Ridge Pkwy & Shenandoah

I've been in gorgeous country and campgrounds, but no cell service and no way to update the blog. I left my cousin in Murfreesboro TN early to avoid driving in rain.  I arrived in the Great Smokey Mountain national park in time to set up camp and take a hike.  I had great neighbors at the campsite and we visited.  Heavy rain came in the night.

In Smokey Mountains I saw bears twice!  One time it was a momma bear with 2 cubs.  

One of the cubs scampered up a tree so quickly!  That little blob is a bear cub!

I got out my bike finally and was biking along a portion of the loop road at Cades Cove campground in Smokey Mountains when I saw the bear family, deer, and a coyote!  I did well on the biking...

I did more hiking and biking the next day.  

Because it was Memorial day weekend, I could not camp more in Smokey Mountains, so it was off to the next park--Blue Ridge Parkway, which travels from North Carolina to Virginia.

I stopped the first night at Mt Pisgah campground near the southern entrance of the 469 mile parkway.   

The view was amazing and wildflowers were out.

There were wild rhododendrons, azaleas, (including a bright orange flame azalea) and mountain laurel and so many other wild flowers.  The motto on the parkway is "enjoy the view but watch the road" and I could see the temptation to look at the wonder set out before my eyes!  But I often pulled over and enjoyed the view or took a hike.  The mountain sides are very steep.

I took me a few days to work my way up the parkway, stopping at the folk art center, the Blue Ridge music center, Linville falls, among others, and also spending nights at Doughton

campground and a private campground near Roanoke (I needed a shower and my rig needed a charge).

I met a guy who was hiking the Appalachian trail and meeting up with two of his friends.  We had a great talk and then they were off on the trail.

I was inspired to hike a couple of miles on the Appalachian trail just to say I did it!

I finally left the Blue Ridge Parkway and entered the Shenandoah Valley Park..  I stayed two nights in this park, in the southern most campground at Loft mountain and again at the northern  camp at Mathew's arm camp.  

The terrain is not quite so rugged as in the Blue Ridge Parkway, and you saw towns rather than mountains and forests.  

I had a chance to meet up with  some friends from home. Bob and Eleanor Manley, who were visiting family in Front Royal, the town at the north end of Shenandoah Park.  It was a great time to visit  and hear from home!  What a special time!

Now I'm looking forward to seeing some historical places in the area.