Leaving Oak Park Inn was more difficult than I thought.  So nice and chill, it would have been a good place to rest up.   But a sunny day was calling and I did want to get onto the Blueridge Parkway.

Waynesville up the I-40 was an experience.  Narrow winding highways with trucks all lined up in the right lane.  Too many trucks together to be able to stay far enough back away from the buffeting, and highly questionable when trying to pass with a high divider on the left and the trucks on the right.  Just not a lot of visibility.   I was happy to take the first exit towards Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

And better yet, it was the entry way to the Foothills Parkway!

Ride was decent, as were the views.

Gatlinburg was a gateway/tourist city.  Kind of like Banff on steroids.   Traffic was terrible, tacky stores all around.  Happy to get through it..

The road cutting through the park was really nice – if a bit congested.  You aren’t going to make up time on that road.

Smoky Mountains – at the border of NC and Tennessee

But as it is out east, it wasn’t long before the rain caught up.  I ducked out and took the road up to Clingman’s Dome since it looked clear up there.   It wasn’t raining, but certainly wasn’t clear.

Hike up to the observation tower

Spectacular views!   Kind of reminds me of the first time I went up to Montserrat in Spain…  Hiking into the clouds.  But I did go back and both times since, the hiking was awesome.  Guess it just means I have to come back here one day.

It cleared up by the time I got to the bottom.  It wasn’t a great idea to go up there in full gear, but the hike still improved my spirits.

Back down to the Cherokee end of the Park.  Farming museum, but as it had started to rain again, I just took a picture from the Visitor Center.

Blue Ridge Parkway!

Ducked out to Asheville for gas and some food.  I had been craving a hot dog and was about to eat one of those gas station roller concoctions when I passed this:

All The Way – Carolina style dog w/ coleslaw, mustard, onions, ketchup.

Great little hot dog joint.  Nice owner…  And I clued in after finishing eating that they were having a classic car show and shine.  And Mendy was taking up prime real estate.  Seems like what Wally’s on Kingsway should have been.  Oh well, it’s gone now.  I snapped a picture and got back on the Parkway.

Where the main Visitor Center for the Parkway was closed – after 5pm.

I wasn’t really sure where to go, so I pulled over at the next Visitor Center to use their washroom and look at their map.   3 bikers were pulled over eating some sandwiches/dinner.  We chatted briefly before I continued on to try my hand at some camping.

Mount Mitchell State park had camping, but all the sites were taken.  I was just about to leave when a Buell rider came down to say hello.  She mentioned that the sites were all taken and her site was too small for another tent, but I might try asking the BMW rider for some help.  She made introductions and we moved the picnic table and I piggy-backed at the site.

She was also unemployed and taking some time from looking to travel the country.  He was a teacher on his summer break and on his way to his cabin.  We sat around the fire chatting until after it got dark.  They both nagged me to call home, but I had no reception.

All in all, a great day, even with the rain.   National Parks, hiking, fun twisty roads and hanging out with other riders and campers.  Very much a throwback to being in the Grand Tetons.  I wish more of the trip was like this!