Great Smokies KOA Campground
Eastern Cherokee Band Reservation
Cherokee, North Carolina
Monday, April 20, 2009, 5:45 pm EDT

Cloudy and Breezy, with Sun and Rain Shower Intervals
Temperature: 58F
Altitude: 2168 feet

A strange day. We got off about 8:30 am and drove south into rain and fog. As we climbed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway near the North Carolina border, the fog became so thick, we couldn't see where we were going--we just followed the center line on the road! We only drove the Parkway for a short distance before deciding this was just too dangerous and took the first opportunity to drive back down to the valley. And as soon as we did, the fog lifted, but the rain continued. With the mountain ridges in fog, we stayed on the main valley roads and got to Cherokee, NC, by 4 pm, a day early. We actually drove the last few miles on the Parkway, since by afternoon, the rains and fog had dissipated. This last portion is also the highest part of the Parkway (gaps about 2 to 3,000 feet and ridges between 5 and 6,000, so the Explorer earned its keep today pulling up and down winding roads. In the valleys, the azaleas and dogwoods were blooming and most of the trees were leafed out; on the Parkway this afternoon above 3,000 feet, it's still late Winter--no leaves, no flowers, and only a few buds.

So here we are (picture) set up at the KOA, with WiFi and a weak cell signal. Tomorow we'll go into the Great Smokies National Park for a bit of exploring and then probably stay at a Park Service campground (no hookups or WiFi) tomorrow night.