It was ony a 2-hour drive from Lenoir, NC to our next 2-night stay at Pride Resort (another $10/night Coast-to-Coast resort) in Waynesville, NC. From there, we could connect with the southern end of the parkway and check out several more parkway highlights: Devil's Courthouse, Graveyard Fields, and Looking Glass Rock.
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| There's a really long climb on Interstate 40 by Asheville - this motorhome got a little hot! Can you imagine the horror when you realize your rig is on fire! |
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| Our spot at Pride Resort |
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| In the morning, "smoke" of the Smoky Mountains |
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| passing through the Cherokee Reservation |
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| fall colors still evident here |
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| In Cherokee, the big casino (actually visible from 20 miles away on the ridges of the Blue Ridge Parkway |
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| would like to see "Unto These Hills" but we made no stops in Cherokee |
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| entering Smoky Mountain NP |
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| no kidding! |
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| Entering the parkway from the southern end |
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| Immediately, there are tunnels - actually there are many at this end, and none would clear our RV! |
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| One of many overlooks which provide expansive vistas |
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| The views are amazing, especially with the fall colors |
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| That little motorhome behind us apparently could clear the tunnels |
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| at the high point |
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| Still lots of fall colors though definitely past peak at higher elevations |
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| The devil held court in the cave which lies beneath... |
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| Devil's Courthouse has a terrific short trail to the summit and is home to many rare high-altitude plants |
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| Lots of crowds in the Graveyard Fields area |
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| This area is popular for hiking, with magnificent waterfalls, pools, and fantastic fall colors! |
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| Fall colors were all gone, but looking at these pics explains the crowds - wow! |
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| approaching home, Waynesville was mobbed - is this normal? |
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