From Nashville to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

'CAT' being 'all cat!

Last Thursday Dave arrived right on time at Nashville International Airport. It was late afternoon so we stayed at the campground in Nashville overnight and then headed east toward Knoxville, and south to Gatlinburg TN which is the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. It was late but we followed the parkway into the park a little ways to have a look around and as luck would have it, we found a dog; a great big German Shepherd wondering around aimlessly on the road, moments from possibly getting hit by a car so we stopped and picked her up. We had no idea what we were going to do with her but luckily, as we headed back to Gatlinburg for the night we saw a Ranger Vehicle stopped on the side of the road. Once she saw the dog, she mentioned that she had gotten reports of a wandering dog for the last few days and said she would drop it off at the local shelter. It was the best we could do under the circumstances so we handed the dog over to the Ranger with hopes that her owner would come to claim her.

 

We found a campground just down the road in Pigeon Forge TN. The whole area is very touristy being such a pretty setting up in the mountains. Dollywood is located here, for Dolly Parton fans! Unfortunately, I was feeling very sick with a bad cough and pounding sinuses so I didn't feel much like touring but we headed into the mountains to see the area. Thankfully I didn't have to drive now with Dave taking over that task! We found a little town in the mountains called Franklin NC that seemed to have a lot of history associated with the area so this is where we stayed on Saturday. After checking the weather in a one-hundred mile radius, it looked like this would be good place to stay for the entire week so we're booked in until next Saturday the 16th March. Sunday we took the US-64 east to find some waterfalls. There have to be as many as 20 or 30 falls in the area but not a great road for an RV. There was no place to pull over to view the falls so we looped around back to Waynesville and then back to the campground here in Franklin. Monday it rained all day....a good day to get some rest and try to get rid of my cold.

 

 

'Cat' and dog are NOT friends! Houdi now changed his mind and wants to play, but 'Cat' is not falling for that...."once bitten, twice shy" as the saying goes! She has her toys to keep her occupied so you seldom remember she's here. Except for Houdi,

 of course....he hasn't forgotten, not for a minute!

 

 

 

 



So today is Tuesday and the sun is shining and it's just a gorgeous day so Dave is out 'Birding' and I'm resting and feeling much better. There are so many Eastern Bluebirds here, they're beautiful! And Tufted Titmouse!!

 

 

 I'm anxious to know how Mary Lou and Lee are making out with 'Awesome' tagging along with Taz and Peanut! I'm so happy knowing that they have decided to bring him home. They've both put so much time and effort into helping Cinderella Pet Rescue Animal Shelter not too mention all the funds they've raised or donated. This is one lucky dog!

 

'AWESOME'

 

Here's last year's lucky dog!! Houdi and Lee

 





 We have three days left to tour the area and three sunny days in the forecast. Hopefully we can get some good pictures and give you an idea of what's here. Thanks for following my ramblings!

 

 



1100 MILES LATER....

A week has gone by already with lots of miles in between. I wasn't expecting to leave on Monday the 4th but with the blowing wind and the fact that I have to be in Nashville on the 7th to meet Dave at the airport, we left Goose Island State Park at 4 PM and headed northeast on US-59 towards Houston. With a few stops along the way for gas and 'Houdi time' we arrived in Houston just in time for rush hour! That caused a bit of a 'white-knuckle' drive, especially since it was starting to get dark but my GPS guided me through the city just fine.

On to the I-10 east, looking for a good place to stop, I decided on Winnie since I was familiar with the area. Just as I got off the highway, Dave called and mentioned that 'Doug' had stopped at the Walmart in Beaumont TX so, with only another 19 miles to go, off to the Walmart we went. Doug was right, it was reasonably quiet with other RVers parked for the night.

Tuesday morning I got back on the I-10 east and turned north at Baton Rouge, Louisiana onto US-61 N towards Natchez, Mississippi where the Natchez Trace Parkway starts. This is a favourite route for me because there are hardly any other cars on the road; the speed limit is 50 mph and it's so nice and peaceful. It's 444 miles long from Natchez MS, through three states to Nashville TN.
The first free campground we came to is called Rocky Springs. It was still early but it was a much needed break from driving so Houdi and I explored the trails, his favourite pastime. Then, continuing up the Natchez Trace we exited in Jackson to get gas and returned to the Trace to find another campground called Jeff Busby, where we could stop for the night. By this time it was getting dark and I was a bit worried that I might hit a deer since there were so many of them lurking along the side of the road at night. 

Wednesday morning, up early and on our way. Next gas stop was in Tupelo MS and then back to the Trace. There are lots of places to stop and explore along the way. Once we crossed the Tennesee River bridge we were in Alabama. It was getting colder now and the winds were brutal but we had to walk the shores of the river! Another great stop was Davis Lake. It's a 'pay-per-use' area but very pretty and 4 miles off the beaten path...very peaceful.

I was planning to stay at Meriwether Campground for the night but it was so chilly, and there were no other campers in sight. I was also having battery problems. It seems they wouldn't last through the night so I decided to head for Nashville and look for a campground with hookups, but with one last little bit of exploring at a place called Swan Lake on the trails at Meriwether. I think Houdi was smiling as he ran up and down the creek!

 

 



Little Swan Creek

 

So here I am at a place called Nashville I-24 Campground in Smyrna, TN. It's freezing!! 34 F degrees last night and it's only 43 degrees now at noon! I have to come back and do the Trace again when it's warmer and I can spend at least a month traveling and exploring. What a fabulous Parkway!

Get the washing done and then head to the airport....let the fun begin!

 

 

 

DAY 2 - GOOSE ISLAND STATE PARK

Early Saturday morning 'Cat' went to Rockport to see a Vet to get her shots. I was also able, on short notice, to book her in to be spayed. So, Cat will be dropped off at the Vet's office nice and early Monday morning while Houdi and I go off birding for the day.

I was hoping to take my time to get to Nashville to pick up Dave on Thursday, but it looks like I have long days of driving ahead of me. So, Houdi and I will stay right here in the park until Cat is ready to travel which will be Monday afternoon at 4 PM. No use leaving that late so Tuesday morning we'll head north east in the direction of Nashville TN.

But that's okay because there's lots of 'birding' to catch up on. Houdi loves to go birding. Especially when he gets to jump in the water and chase the ducks. In Rockport there's a very nice city park with nature trails, ponds full of ducks and turtles, and even a huge off-leash dog park separated for big and little dogs. We saw Lesser Scaup and Mottled ducks in the ponds.

Back at the pier near our campsite there are all kinds of shore birds. American Oystercatchers, Semi-palmated Plover, Common Goldeneye, tons of Pelicans, Little Blue and Black-crowned Night Heron, Egret, Laughing Gulls, and many more too numerous to mention. The bonus is the four Whooping Crane just down the road!

American Oystercatcher

Turtles in Rockport TX city park



Yesterday, back at my campsite #118, I had a chat with the parks' bird guide, Ed LeBlanc. I met him in Anzalduas Park in Mission TX last Monday!
Again I was invited to a big fish fry. All my neighbors are either Texans or from Ontario and this coming weekend is the big Rockport/Fulton Oysterfest! My neighbors wasted no time getting about 35 lbs of oyster and started the party early. I heard singing into to night...boy, they sure had fun!

It's getting late (5 pm) so time to get back to my site. I have to get out in the open to get a good internet connection. All the RV sites are under the trees, which is great for shade but no good for internet. The weather has been perfect during the day, a little chilly at night but I just plug in my electric heater and it's nice and toasty. Dave is out shopping for a new TV....the old one just up and quit on him! I expect tomorrow to be just as relaxing, just me and Houdi!

DAY 1 - BACK IN THE SADDLE

Well, it's been another fun-filled Winter! Four months went by much too quickly but here we are, Houdi and I, heading home once again. When we arrived here in November I was quite surprised to find out that just about everybody in the park knew Houdi. He's been quite the Celebrity this year! After his big win at the Pet Parade fun raiser for Cinderella Pet Rescue sponsored by Bentsen Palm Village RV Park, where he spent six months being cared for, he won another big basket of goodies from the Retama's River Palapa Fund raiser for Cinderella. Bravo for Houdi!

I've met so many people this year at BPV, some I remember from last year, but so many new folks that I met because of Houdi. You see, 'dog people' stick together! And Houdi's favourite people are my favourite people too.

Now we're heading North, back to Ottawa, Ontario but with a few detours here and there. You see, 'Cat' is hitching a ride home with us. Yes, 'Cat'! She came to us and asked for help so Houdi and I are going to see that she finds a good home. Today, our first day on the road, got us all the way to Goose Island State Park. Not having reservations didn't help because oddly enough, the park is full. But, there is an 'over-flow' which suits me fine. I'm prepared for 'Boondocking'. I have solar panels and enough water, not to mention, I'm right next to the restrooms and there's also water and a dump station available.

This looks like a good 'birding' spot so we might stay a day or two. You see, I like nature trails so Houdi and I are a good match. He LOVES nature trails! There are so many things to sniff and chase and dig for. We don't see eye to eye when it comes to chasing deer, however! He's so patient, though, when I want to stop and take a picture. I got this Blue-headed Vireo at Anzalduas Park last Monday so I hope the birding here at Goose Island will be good too. I hope you'll enjoy following along with our little adventure.