Made it to the Smokey Mountains--busy place worth it all -went up to Clingmans dome over 6000ft great views --as you can see in the photos smog has moved in and limits the range--best be here in the fall they say is more crisp. Lots of hiking trails and no lack of bears . One side of the mountain --town of Cherokee NC indian reservation -no problem finding shops for headdress  mocassins and beads --gonna get the five tees for 10 bucks perfect for the hot weather coming up in Alabama and on the gulf.Other side of mountain Gatlinburg TN-home of the most profound Ripleys Believe it or Not--Store to buy any AS Seen on TV stuff  indoor outdoor rooftop underground miniature golf   tourist trap--cant believe it how crowded this was .Sort of good they are there and not where we want to be.Heading out for a hike today enjoying it all and meeting great folks 

Moving on south down the Blue Ridge Parkway and staying at some great campgrounds but most often no computer or cell services so that is the delay on the blog.  We have done lots of hiking to waterfalls, kayaking in rivers and lakes.  Drove up Grandfather Mt and I crossed the bridge which was 1 mile high but Moe didn't want to go across. Drove up Mt. Mitchell which is the highest mountain east of the Mississippi even brought the trailer up with us, 6684 ft-quite a climb for the "house on wheels".  We are now in NC at Mt Pisgah and tomorrow heading to the Great Smoky Mt.  All is well and we are having a ball.

 Believe it or not, we are only 1200 miles from home 3 weeks away and yet we are only in NC but enjoying the heck out of our trip so far.  We are now on the Blue Ridge Parkway and boy is this a beautiful parkway.  Rhododendrons grow everywhere and just imagine how beautiful when they all blossom.  One of the best drives to recommend.Today up to grandfather mountain about 6 thousand feet Mim climbed it I drove.So got to a suspension bridge at the end I caved Mim went the rest of the way I stayed back like a scared pussy cat.Went ito the town of Boone --yep Daniel passed thru here so they named it after him . They have the engraving of I D B killed a bare here carved on a tree--Did a five mile hike thru the Moses Cone 3500 acre homestead-textile tycoon -gave it all to to park service --thanks Moses and Bertha---gotta tell ya get here on this drive 70s during the day 50s at nite..Posting a picture of their mansion and a bowl from a bowl from a burl from a birch tree.Next stop to Michell Mountain --the biggy on the east coast at 6600 ft  gotta love it  --live for the moment

6-16 12 Moving on down the Blue Ridge Parkway this is one of the best-- think about travelling the Kancamagus in NH for 500 miles thru several states and getting off  now and then into small towns 5 miles or so.One of the best Floyd VA. Woowee home of the Floyd Country store  friday nite jamboree   roll all the shelves back set up the folding chairs  and bring on the groups blue grass and country --and the dancing from the crowd with tap shoes  geeez some of these guys looked like Amos on the real Mcoys - so Mim ask a couple of fine ladies 80 or so behind us what to do to hold our seats -leave something on the seat hat, napkin--whatever or Yall dont worry about it we well tell them that they are reserved for them yankees So outside in the street more going on -town a tad bigger than Wellfleet musicians gather up and start playing- each taking their turns to lead-- banjos--guitars- fiddles-cellos-auto harp --five or six groups in different spots --play a while with one group then move on to another, Young ones learning from the old. Sort of like pick up and  fit in where they need that  instrument.Had a blast get down here.Great trip down the Little River 10 miles or so --Gezz the rhodies all of the banks and up the cliffs --beautiful .Went to a daylilies farm -about 600 species  Met Lou-yep one of six--she said cant go onto that house-her mom and dad had just past away that year --was their business and the girls took it over  Mim loved this place taking notes of all the colors and names --so Lou and I talked about whats happening --yep the tar heels and yankees moving in --and they think they know all about us --They dont know shit--gotta love these folks salt of the earth .The view along this vista drive is one of the best we have seen but more to go.

6-5  Mim ran into a campground host,  Rich Hayman from the cape (Wellfleet to be exact) that said Billy Newcomb was his uncle- another small world connection. Stayed one night in Maryland--Catonctin Nat park --home of Camp David --nope he was not there but lots of security if he did .Moved on to The Skyline Drive in Virginia -Sheandoah Nat Park --it is beautiful up here lots of overlooks --and hiking trails the Appalacian Trail follow parrallel to the drive  took one for a five mile hike to Overlook water falls--now in Rattle snake country   So always looking down when hiking --we rather deal with the bears they are bigger but run when they see you--lots of those guys and deer crossing the parkway..Campgrounds are the best-- met lots of people .After 120 miles the drive ends  and the Blue Ridge Parkway picks up for the next several hundred miles thru Virginia and thru North Carolina to Tennesee.Right now 6-11 we are in Roanoke Virginia---moving south and warming up --storing the flannel sheets today.  We have been out in the boondocks so no cell phones or computer access so that is the reason for not having daily updates on the blog.

Philly Pa  is a great city to visit get there when you can--moved on to a Caledonia state park  next to Gettysburg Drove thru and stopped at many battle sites--- We did think about  -the civil war and all the folks lost in  those battles to do what what we needed -to do-so going south now across the Mason Dixon and with Mims Boston acccent  we will do fine

So lucky to be back on the road again to explore more of our country --our path began in the Catskills to step out of NH and from then on --wing it looking at maps, weather,and suggestions from friends and folks on the road.Reading PA WW2 yearly event of the folks of the greatest generation so far .Wow what gathering thousands from all over the country who come with equipment original and restored military equipment--set up tents to show living conditions--bunkers --machine guns  M1 rifles-lots of originals tanks, lots of jeeps.WW2 bombers and fighter planes all props back then were amazing to see and fly.The B-29 Flying Fortress  not the one but a brother of the one that carried the the big one over Japan to end the war..Best of all was a speaker platform allowing some of these folks who were there ---to tell their stories -- Walter Mattson B24 bomber pilot flew many missions over Italy 93 years old now got there and told his spoke like he just got back  -born on Ascension day still believes there is someone up there looking after him. There is!!!
Gotta tell ya after that day got some real history sunk into you

Moved on went into Philly --We got a Philly sub next to Betsey Ross house with chicken

What a GREAT city  got a picture of the Liberty Bell --lots to learn there to-then spent day day with Faith-- our Costa Rican  can not hold her down best friend  and family in Philly .
Live for the moment