Next Stop SEVERE-ville

Sunday & Monday

April 10 & 11, 2011

Abrams Falls Trail

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Sunday

We rolled in to RV Plantation in Sevierville, Tennessee

(yes, pronounced Severe-ville),

right next door to Dolly’s home town of Pigeon Forge,

at about 4:00 and backed into our site #432 with no trouble.

  The site is on the river but

 we happen to be in the bend of the road

which makes our site and the two adjacent to us

the narrowest of those on the river. 

We also have an industrial site

rather than a lovely treed far bank

as the view from our backyard. 

Had I known, since I may well have been the first person
to make a reservation THE day Howard announced the rally,

I would have definitely made a better choice.

BUT

this isn’t a park we would normally stay in

so we won’t be spending much time looking at the view. 

And luckily we have great neighbors to be cozy with.

We’re here for the RV-Dreams Rally

which officially begins on Tuesday April 12. 

But unofficially started on Sunday evening

with a VERY large group of, I’d guess 60,  early arrivals.   

So as soon as we’d done the minimal set up, 

we joined all the other folks who’d also brought their chairs

and some who were very kind and brought food

including Nancy Mills who brought her addictive candied pecans

which I neglected to take a picture of. 

Actually forgot to bring my camera to this gathering totally.

However, luckily, there are lots of other RVers who were there

and have pictures and blogs so I’m sure mine won’t be missed.

Our hostess, Linda Payne, made several announcements

and then walked around the circle
(at some points 3 chairs deep)

and introduced every single person by name. 

TOTALLY AMAZING LINDA!!!!

How do you do it???? 

I hope you will be giving a seminar on remembering

and memory during the rally.  J

We met up with our friends Gin & Syl from Clayton, NC

who drive Winnona’s very slightly smaller twin sister Wanda. 

She’s 32’ to Winnona’s 34’. 

We have learned SO much from these two

about the Brave

and the great modifications they made to her

as well as about wifi, TV, tires

and pretty much everything

about being on the road in this coach. 

We are in debt to them FORever for sure. 

This time Gin introduced me to a GREAT drink made with coconut vodka.  Anyone who knows me well knows that

IF IT’S COCONUT, 

it’s FOR ME.

After grabbing a bite of dinner,

we went on over to Wanda and visited with them

and Smudge, who seemed to be in fine form     

MMMmmmmm  good! 

The friends and the drink.
Now WHY didn't I think to bring the camera for a picture of these three??

Monday

Thanks to the Research and Organization Queen NANCY MILLS

(ever after known as the ROQ),

we went on a great 5 mile hike to see Abrams Falls.

The drive from the park was about 30 miles

but more than half of that was in the park

and boy is it beautiful.  

Wildflowers lined the road. 

We got to the Cades Cove Loop and half way around

we found the trail head. 

Traffic on the loop wasn’t too bad this time of year

but I’d sure hate to drive or bike or walk around it

during the summer.

Nancy knew exactly everything about how to get there

and had a big EASILY readable trail map.

Way to go NANCY! 

Bill had his GPS and could give us elevation update changes. 

We had all packed lunches and water. 

We were Set to go.

 

And off we went - Nancy and I on the initial bridge

It was a beautiful day for a hike

although the temperature

got into the, very unusual for April,

mid 80’s.

Here is just a small sampling

of the wildflowers on the trail

We passed so many trillium we began to

refer to it as Trillium Trail.

 

Some shots along the trail which followed Abrams creek the entire way.

I think the GREAT Smokies

have very liberal view of "creek". 

Sure looked like a river to me.

Bill and Nancy at the half way point.

Rocky Top

Bill studies the cautions on approaching the falls

which are just on the other side of the bridge

And here they are,

Abrams Falls.

The falls and the "creek" were named after

Cherokee Indian Chief Oskuah

whose village once stood several miles down stream

who later took the name Abram.

How’s this for the premier picnic spot?

When I complimented Nancy on the great table,

she said she knew the owner!

Thanks to Nancy for this picture of the 4 of us.

Thanks to David for this picture of a fellow water lover.

As in the Appalachian Mountains everywhere, both in

our former backyard and here, all hikes begin going down

and end going UP.

Definitely NOT my favorite pattern.
Let's do the hard part first and get it over with!!

THANKS to Bill & Nancy

for a

GREAT DAY!!

On our way back and stopped at both

Cades Cove Campground

and

Elkmont Campground

to scope out boondocking

for hopefully a week or so after the rally ends.

Boy I'd love to get a site on the river in

Elkmont.

It really is our kind of place.

What a GREAT two days with wonderful friends.

Lucky Lucky us!!

Life sure is GRAND!!