We stopped at the visitor center when we entered South Carolina and were given a stack of brochures on interesting places. What caught my eye right away were the ones describing waterfalls in what is call the UpCountry. There are 31 falls in the small northwest corner of the state. I asked the lady at the desk how many were accessible without much walking. She was quick to point out 4 different falls that fit the bill. 3 of them were grouped fairly close together so we decided to ride out to see them all on the same day. What a glorious day we had. The ride was great and the falls were breathtaking.

The first fall was right on the parking lot and we were able to get our pictures without walking more than a few feet. This is Chau Ram Falls on Ramsey Creek. There was a huge sloped rock on out side of the creek that we were able to climb on to get a different view of the falls. I felt like I could have stayed there forever. If I thought I could have gotten up from the rock I would have sat down. However, we had two more falls to see that day so couldn’t stay long.

Next we drove on a beautiful route through the rural communities to a narrow road leading to Stumphouse Tunnel Park. We did see a trail to the tunnel but it was steep so we didn’t go there. We decided to take the short hike to the falls instead. Part way down I knew I had to go further to get a better view. They had a great viewing platform that gave a view all the down to the bottom of the gorge. Some people did go off the paved trail to the bottom of the falls but it was really steep. This was Issaqueena Falls, named for an Indian maiden.

We had a longer drive to the third falls which went by several lakes. We took a long drive to an overlook over the valley and one of the lakes. The water was so blue and contrasted beautifully with the fall colors on the hillside.

Finally we arrived at Whitewater Falls which starts in North Carolina and ends in South Carolina. It is the highest fall in eastern America. It has an upper and lower falls. We set out to hike to the upper falls on the 1/2 mile uphill climb. I was really not sure if I would make it since I have a had time walking uphill. However, to my surprise, I made it after taking frequent rests. There were some interesting rock formations along the path that caught my eye. Tony checked out the path to the lower falls and decided he wasn’t going down all the steps. So I was not able to get any pictures of that part but a lady did show me the one she took. It was really beautiful.. So in all, I hiked over a mile at this falls plus all the hiking at the first one. I was so tired but very thankful for a wonderful day.

Next adventure will be in Greenville where we saw the 4th falls. Talk soon.

While in Cleveland, GA, we went to a great Assembly of God Church. The people were so friendly and the minister gave a wonderful message.  We really enjoyed the music so much and I got the names of several of the songs they sang.  I would love to learn them and maybe sing them when we get back home.  Nicole, if you are reading this, I will share them with you when we get back the Chehalis.  One of the gentleman recommended a BBQ place for us to go to for lunch.  We did go to Rib Country and loved the food so much that we went back the next day.  Their baby back ribs were the best ever.  We even went so far as to buy matching T-Shirts with their logo.  Yep, we like our ribs!!

We spent another wonderful day in the area surrounding Cleveland. We saw a sign for a falls and ended up in Unicoi State Park in our quest.  The falls ended up requiring a long hike so we went to the visitor center in search of the restrooms instead.  What a pleasant surprise when we walked inside.  The interior was so awesome with some really beautiful displays of animals and birds.  They had hand-made benches and tables in one of the rooms set up for meetings along with stuffed animal displays.  There was a huge moonshine still.  Even had a Christmas bear.. LOL

The center also had a display of tools that settlers in the area had used.  I was surprised that a lot of them my father had on our farm.  Some were no longer used but a lot of them were.  They also had a room set up as a settler cottage may have looked.

The area around the visitor center was beautiful with a fire pit and even a bird house in the trees.  The ranger told us about a scenic drive that was only a few miles away.  He told us if we went a certain direction we would go over the dam on the lake.  He was so interesting to talk to and so very helpful.  Unicoi State Park is a very great place for any of you to visit.

We then headed up the road to the scenic drive. I can’t remember what it was called but it was just north of Unicoi Park.  The views were breathtaking even though their was a lot of low-lying clouds that blocked our view at times. Several times we saw people looking at something along the road and just had to stop to see what it was.  It ended up being beautiful waterfalls.  I love these surprises.

Then to our surprise we discovered another state park, Vogel State Park. This was so beautiful and had so many wonderful things to see. We stopped by the office and had to take pictures of the creek and lake.

After we left the park we continued on the scenic drive.  After a while we discovered that we were getting a long way from home and decided to find our way back.  We ended up going into some interesting areas.  We even ended up in a place called Booger Hollow.  See, I even have a sign to prove where I have been.  The last picture below is of Yonah Mountain.

When we were almost home we decided to stop at a place we had driven by a couple of times previously.  This was Nora Grist Mill which was close by our campground.  They have a working mill and made their own cornmeal, flours, pancake and muffin mixes, and much more. We bought a package of their biscuit mix with biscuit cutters attached. Have not tried them yet, but looking forward to doing so…  I included pictures of the mill-race and stream that powers the mill.  The train engine was parked in front of a book store that was across the road from our campground.

Thanks for following my blog and I hope that you are enjoying the adventures too. Next stop, South Carolina Upcountry. Bye for now.

We arrived at Yonah Mountain RV Park in Cleveland, Georgia, and discovered that the office was closed.  The sign said to check the box for paperwork if we had a reservation and if no reservation to check with the camp host.  Guess what?  There was no paperwork for us even though I knew I had a reservation.  So, I crossed the road to find the camp host.  Again, guess what??  The camp host was not in their site and their vehicle was gone.  I asked around to find out where they might be and nobody had any information.  So we settled in to wait, leaving the RV parked in the road by the gate.  After a while the site host returned.  Now to the bad news, they said it was their day off and they didn’t have the key to the golf cart to help us pick a site.  However, she was really nice and said that she would try to reach the person on duty so we could get some help.  Shortly a very sweet gentleman arrived and drove us around to pick a site.  He was really helpful and gave us some suggestions and helped with advice on where we might get satellite reception. After we settled in, we were happy to find out we did have great reception, and for the first time in a while we actually got all the channels.  Tony was so happy!!

The next morning we checked in with the office and discovered that they had not received the latest change to our reservation.  They still had us coming in several days later.  Oh well, all is well that ends well, we had a great spot right across from the clubhouse and laundry room.

Despite some rainy days we had some really great days of riding. Our first adventure took us to a quaint Bavarian village, Helen, Georgia. It was only a few miles north of our campground. The color on the hillsides changed daily and made the drive all that more enjoyable. When we got to town we parked across the street from a small park with a very beautiful little waterfall, Alana Falls. Getting a good picture was tricky as it was on the main road. Every time I got ready to snap the picture a car passed in front of me.  I kept at it, however, and did get some great pics.

We then strolled down the street but didn’t get very far.  We were attracted to a T-Shirt shop and had to go in and look around.  Of course, we ended up buying matching shirts with beautiful designs.  We got two each and then ended up with another gift for Tony’s great-niece, Kamia.  We put all the shirts in the bike and started down the street. Then it dawned on me that when the nice gentleman had picked a shirt to put on the screen print, he had said 6 months.  Oops, she is already 6 months old and won’t be able to wear this.  We needed to get the right size.  We went back into the store and asked if they would exchange it.  He was so nice and was willing to do whatever was needed.  So I told him I would mention him in my blog.  If any of you are ever in Helen, GA, please be sure to stop by Tip Top Tees at 8681 Main St.

Juanita, you will be getting another package soon for you to give your granddaughter. Does this remind you of something?  When I was expecting, Bobbie, Tony’s big sister, was so excited to have a nephew that she spent all kinds of money on Mike.  Looks like Tony and I are continuing on the family tradition.  We can’t pass up baby clothes without thinking of this beautiful baby.  Here is a picture of her in the space suit that we sent her from the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

We then walked down the street to check out the town. There are horse-drawn carriage tours, food shops of all kinds, many gift shops, and beautiful landscaping.  The buildings are all built in the Bavarian style and they even had a windmill. Enjoy the pics.

The next adventure will be in the hillsides and parks surrounding Cleveland, GA. Be back soon…

On our way from Langston Alabama to Cleveland Georgia we made an outstanding discovery. We discovered Little River canyon on the side of the road and, thankfully, they have RV parking. We pulled in and parked. We asked people if there was a long walk and were directed to a ramp that led directly to a very beautiful Fall. On the way to the river we passed the most beautiful foliage in bright fall color. This was such a fantastic find. We have seen some many waterfalls and sights on this trip but this one was not something we were expecting.

The beauty right by the side of the road was a real blessing for us. So many times we have had to pass by something we would like to see because we couldn’t park the RV. It is not easy to find a place to park a 35 foot motor home towing a 10 foot trailer. So to find the RV parking was such a blessing. After traveling 4-6 hours from one campground to another we don’t really want to have to drive back a couple of hours to see something that we missed. So we just don’t go there.

We took lots of pictures of this place so I am putting it in a blog of its own. Enjoy. Our next adventure is from Cleveland GA… Bye for now.

On our way to Langston, AL, while driving through Huntsville, we saw a bunch of rockets above the cityscape. I was so excited and knew that we had to find out why they were there. As we drew near we saw a sign stating NASA Space and Rocket Center. Right away I determined that we would find a way to come back and see those rockets close up.

The campground we stayed at in Langston was on Lake Guntersville. It is a very large lake and we had to drive quite a bit out-of-the-way to get to town. The campground was right on the edge of a state park and right on the lake. Enjoy the pictures of the lake. I wish we could have come here in the summer so we could have enjoyed the water. Oh well, next trip??

When we did make it back to the NASA Space and Rocket Center I was blown away at the scope of the facility. The outside had multiple rockets, a space shuttle, airplanes, and multiple military vehicles, and much more. A blackbird spy plane was in front and there was a Space Camp on the facility campus.

They had an awesome area with interactive activities for kids. They have simulators of all kinds and Tony tried one out. He had to try to drive the MARS rover on the surface of Mars. He did pretty good, I guess the experience driving the RV has helped him a lot. LOL Outside they even have more for people to experience the feeling of going to space. This would be a great place to bring children of all ages. They even have a rock climbing wall. Maya, you would have loved this, I know how much you like climbing rocks…

In the Center we saw a mock-up up the international space station that was so awesome. Tony’s sister did some work on the Space Station when she was working for McDonnell Douglas in Southern CA. So it was so awesome to get more information on the station and see what it was like for the astronauts who have to live on it for months at a time.  Note the pictures of the treadmill and sleeping bag that look like they are hanging on the wall, they are.

They also had information on the plans NASA has to go to MARS. They even have a restaurant there called the MARS Grill. The sign over the door says it all…

They had a gallery in the Center with jewelry with a space theme. Wow! I have never see such fantastic pieces with so many jewels. I hope the pictures I took portray their beauty, but I am sure that my camera can not do them justice.

We watched a movie in their IMAX theater on going to space and living on the space station. The movie was so fantastic and unbelievably like we were actually there on the space station. The views of space and earth was the best I have ever seen. Knowing that these were actual pictures taken by the astonauts in space was awe inspiring. God’s creation is so wonderful and spoke to my heart about the awesomeness of my God. He cares so much for us that he created a vast universe of beauty for us to enjoy. I wish I could share some of those pictures from the movie, but alas, that is not possible. If you ever have a chance to go there don’t forget to see the movie.

In the last building at the Center we saw space artifacts. Everything was so big and so interesting. Outside of the building they had a life size replica of the Saturn rocket. Hope you enjoy all the pictures.

Next we are headed to Cleveland GA. Talk to you soon.

We drove along the beginning of the Natchez Trace Parkway on the way to our campground in Hohenwald TN.   The parkway is 444 miles through three states and years of history from Nashville, Tennessee to Natchez, Mississippi. This is the most significant highway of the Old Southwest. The natural travel corridor dates back many centuries. It bisected the traditional homelands of the Natchez, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations. As the United States expanded westward in the late 1700’s and 1800’s, growing numbers of travelers tramped the rough trail into a clearly marked path. In 1801 President Thomas Jefferson designated the Trace a national post road for mail delivery between Nashville and Natchez.

The next day we got on Optimus, our Can Am Spyder, and rode back onto the Trace towards Nashville. The road was an excellent motorcycle ride, smooth riding, fall color all around, and beautiful views and waterfalls. We stopped at a place called Falls Hollow and discovered a small stream with a wonderful waterfall. There were other waterfalls but they required hiking, as you know I don’t do that. However, we did see great views of the surrounding area as well as lovely fall colors on the trees.

We then rode into Nashville to see the sights. We were not really interested in stopping anywhere, we are not into nightlife, so we just drove through and took some pictures. I had to at least get a picture of one recording studio. It was a beautiful town with a fantastic surrounding area. I have never seen so many expensive homes in my life. Here are a few of the pictures that I took.

The weather turned really cold so we didn’t do much riding in the area after that. We were planning on going towards Memphis but we changed our minds and decided to move our plans up so we could get to warmer weather. We then left for Langston, Alabama. Next adventure coming soon. Bye all…

While in Kentucky we went to the Corvette museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. This was the best car museum that I have ever seen. They didn’t just show a bunch of cars, they had sections on the designing of the cars, building the cars, materials used, corvette racing history, and musuem history. This is the Corvette Musuem that had a sinkhole in the middle of the musuem a couple of years ago. 8 Corvettes fell into the sinkhole and it was caught on video by the security cameras. I remember watching this on TV right after if happened. Tony has always been fascinated with the Corvette. So we were really excited about this visit and the pleasure of looking at all the different models.

After they repaired the sinkhole damage they painted a yellow line on the floor of the room showing the size. There is still a cavern below the museum of immense size. They have built up the ground below to make sure that another sinkhole does not appear. There was a whole section of the museum devoted to the story of the sinkhole. It was fascinating to see how the damage was repaired. Most of the cars have not been restored yet and they are on the musuem floor in the same condition as when they were pulled up out of the hole. The one millionth Corvette made was in the sinkhole and has been restored. What a beautiful car. See the pictures below.

Our next adventure is the Natchez Trace Parkway and Nashville, Tennessee. See you there…

We stayed in Park City, Kentucky, just a few miles from Mammoth Cave.  The whole area is a maze of caves all around.  Everywhere you go there are signs about another cave.  Across the street from our RV park was Diamond Caverns.  We were going to go there but they said there were about 360 steps on the tour.  Well… that was definitely not for me.  I was disappointed because I really wanted to go into a cave.  When I called Mammoth Cave Services I was told that the minimum amount of steps was 60 down and then the same 60 up…  Well, here again I was disappointed.

But, when we went to the visitor center we were told they did have an accessible tour which went down via elevator.    So we decided to go on that tour.  I was thinking they would take us down and then we would see all the beautiful caverns.  Boy, was I wrong!  The area we went to was really plain compared to some of the other areas of the caverns.  However, we did get to see at least part of the cave.  They turned off the lights and we experienced the total darkness of the cave.

The guides were fantastic and we learned a lot about Mammoth Cave.  There had been a cafe in the section that we saw.  When they needed water they tapped into the water in one of the cave levels above the cafe.  This is the only place where water has been pumped down instead of up.  The cafe is no longer open but the pipe they used is still there.  See the picture below.  They told stories about famous people who had come to the caves.  We saw a section of the cave where Jenny Lind sang and that was named after her.  Other famous people had part of the cave named after them and they never even stepped foot inside the cave.

Mammoth cave has 412 miles that have been explored and mapped.  Yet there is a lot more of the cave that has not even been explored.  It has many levels and is quite a maze.   All these explored miles are within the boundary of the park which is about 26 square miles.  Amazing, isn’t it??

Here are a few of the pictures that we took.  It was not possible to get real clear pictures due to the darkness.   The cave is so much more beautiful than what we saw.  I included a picture that shows the different levels of the maze that makes up the Cave.  Also picture of the names written on the wall.  Years ago people paid money to the guides for the privilege.   Look it up online and check out the beauty that God created in the mammoth cavern.

After our cave tour we rode around the park to see the other sights.  At one point we crossed the river on a ferry.   We also drove down a gravel road to see an old Baptist church and cemetery.  We also saw some of the beginning fall colors along the way.  It was a great ride.

The next day we went to the Mammoth Cave Wildlife Museum.  It was really awesome.  Real stuffed animals in life-like habitats.  I have included just a few of the pictures that we took.  Hope you enjoy.

Our next adventure will be the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  Bye for now.

We had originally wanted to go to Dollywood.  When we found out it would cost almost $70 dollars to get in we decided not to go.  It was gospel music month there but all my favorite groups were singing the day before we got there or a day or two afterwards.  So, knowing it would take a lot of money and more walking, we decided to do something else.  There was a lot of other things to do, such as miniature gold, go carts, dinner shows, magic shows and more. We decided to stick with miniature golf.  So we picked one of the many different courses and had a fun afternoon.  Tony lost by a couple of strokes… The course had African animals all over so I took pictures for your enjoyment.  Alyssa, the elephants are for you, I know how much you love them.

I thought you might enjoy seeing the buildings of other attractions in the area.  They have an upside down building, the Titanic, Hollywood Wax museum and much more.  One interesting building was the Hatfield and McCoy Dinner Theater.  Also on the way into town we went by the Bushes Bean factory.  I included a picture of their Bean store for those bean lovers in our friends and families. LOL  Even the hotels were worth a second look, many of them were really beautiful.

On our ride about town and the outlying area we did find a little bit of fall color.  So for those of you in the Evergreen state, here is evidence that Fall is here.  More to come on future blogs.

Our next adventure is going to be in Park City, Kentucky, the home of Mammoth Cave. Talk soon… Hope your days are blessed.

After leaving North Carolina we made our way to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. There we were only a few miles from Smokey Mountain National Park so we went for a ride. We stopped at a campground to use the restrooms and were blessed with another exciting experience. A ranger had tranquilized and captured a black bear just a little distance from the restrooms. A crowd quickly gathered so we had to see what was going on. Tony took some pictures of the ranger as he pulled the bear’s tooth, tagged an ear, tattooed the lip, and checked all his vitals. While doing all this the ranger explained to the crowd what they were doing.

As we drove through the park we saw many old buildings and homesteads along the road as well as churches.  We did find a couple beautiful waterfalls by the side of the road that were spectacular.  A short walk and we were able to get some wonderful pictures. I am including some pictures of the other scenic sights along the way

We had previously met a man who suggested that we go to Cade’s Cove in the park. He said it was the best place to go. Well, afterwards we were not very glad we had gone there. It is an 11 mile loop in one part of the park but it took us 5 hours to go those few miles. And that time was not spent in doing fun things or looking at animals or museums, it was spent waiting for traffic. It was a one way loop and there were hundreds of cars on that route. Every time someone wanted to stop and take a picture, or just look, they held up everyone else on the road. We did see some wild life, but it wasn’t enough to make us feel that 5 hours was worth it. We did get a picture of a bear and some deer. Enjoy the pics, hope you can find the bear. LOL

Also on this loop was a village with historic buildings including an actual working grist mill that was built in 1870. There was also a cantilever barn which provided cover for the animals during bad weather and room to store equipment. This is different style of barn than what we see on the West Coast. There was also a blacksmith shop, corn crib, mill-race and dam, sawmill, smokehouse and a house built in 1879. It was interesting to walk though the buildings and see how things were built that long ago.

Next blog will be about the time we spent in the town of Pigeon Forge.  Talk to all of you soon. Please let me know if you are enjoying these posts. Thanks