January 2018

In January, we enjoyed a visit to Jeff, Ericka, Megan, Gabe and Garrison during the holidays. On the way, we visited Blackwater Falls SP (near Davis, WV) where it had snowed the night before and our visit to Canaan Loop Rd was beautiful! We only went about a mile west of the park lodge before turning around, concluding we might be venturing too far. Entering the loop from the other end wasn’t quite as adventurous, but also very scenic. (Note: we visited the Canaan Loop road again during the summer, discovering that the “road” that was hidden under the snow was more than we wanted to prudently try again!)

After our visit, we proceeded towards the Outer Banks staying at a hotel in Hags Head(?), NC. After visiting the Wright Bro. Memorial, we noticed beach access roads that seemed inviting, so we drove along the beach for perhaps a mile. Then we began to think the tide was coming in, and perhaps the beach wasn’t such a great idea. And of course the sand was loose at the nearest exit. Reducing tire pressure a small amount seemed to help, so we escaped on about the 3rd try.

Next morning, after getting air for the tires, we drove further south, visiting Pea Is. Wildlife Refuge, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and the C. H. Nat. Seashore. Our plan was to continue south on the ferries to visit Ocracoke and Cedar Island, but a storm was in the forecast and the islands seemed a poor place to experience it. So we retreated inland to Washington, NC where our hotel experience was memorable in a bad way. But it was “inexpensive” and the bed was OK. Next morning we lent our snow brush to a neighbor with a new 2wd Tacoma. The 6-8 inches of snow wasn’t much impediment to our vehicle.

We proceeded west, eventually leaving the snow and visited a number of Revolutionary War sites and Congaree NP (did you know there’s a NP in So. Carolina?). An overnight in Asheville led us to a visit to Max Patch and forest areas eventually reaching Gatlinburg. Next day, we found the Smoky Mountain NP roads to Clingman’s Dome were closed, so we enjoyed visiting Cades Cove when only a small fraction of other visitors were there too.

After that, we went to Chattanooga( Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park ), Lookout Mtn. and Russell Cave NM. After traveling back through Chattanooga’s traffic and up I-75, and staying overnight, we visited Oak Ridge National Laboratory next day.

Much of my recollection of this trip is vague, but we visited Cumberland Gap and Beattyville, KY on the way to Lexington where we visited with Glenn’s and Richard’s families at a house that Glenn rented.