I’ve never had the opportunity to experience Fall Foliage like this. It’s amazing! This week, Dave drove us along scenic byways, we cycled along a rails-to-trail surrounded by gorgeous autumn colors, hiked to a breathtaking mountain top vista, I jogged with Murphy each morning with the fallen leaves crackling under our feet, and the best part – visiting with a very dear friend who Dave and I met many, many years ago.
The week started at Watauga Dam Campground, with the river right out the back of our campsite. Our friend, Anne, who we met when we lived aboard Thirsty Whale (our Island Packet sailboat) over 20 years ago, lives on nearby Roan Mountain, in the northeast corner of Tennessee. Anne and her friend Jim, surprised us by bringing their camper and camped along with us for two nights. What fun!
Anne and Jim suggested Dave and I ride the nearby Virginia Creeper Trail, an abandoned railroad converted to a multi-use trail. There is a 17-mile segment which is slightly downhill. The town of Damascus has many bike stores which rents bikes and then takes a load of cyclists and their bikes up to Whitetop Station to ride down. Jim and Anne took Dave and I to the top and we enjoyed riding down through the gorgeous autumn colors and fallen leaves.
Dave and I moved our RV to nearby Woodsmoke Campground, in Unicoi, TN for more hiking and a trip up Roan Mountain for a breathtaking vista and fun evening with Anne & Jim at her house on the mountain. Murphy enjoyed chasing a deer off property and Jim climbed up an apple tree, gave it a shake, and I came home with a bag full of fresh apples. Yum! The single lane road up to her house is a bit nerve racking for me (especially coming back down in the dark). It takes about 15 minutes to get down the mountain (in good weather) and then another 30 minutes to get into closest “big” town of Elizabethton or over to Johnson City. I guess you can’t just run out to the store if you forgot an ingredient for dinner!
Next week we continue to head south visiting parks in North and South Carolina. It’s getting pretty chilly in the mornings, so Dave and I are looking forward to a bit warmer weather.
Thanks so much for following along on our 2022 RV Travels.
So excited to see Anne Brenda, loving the fall colors Dave, and I chased a deer Murphy
Looks like you hit the jackpot on Fall Colors! Who knew Tennessee could be so beautiful 😉
Thanks for sharing those great scenes of the outdoors. We have just started to emerge from our airconditioned cocoon;-)