Our first week back on the road is in full swing and we are stoked! Our new tent (Mountain Hardware Optic 2.5) is amazing and has withstood the rain every night this week… thank goodness! There is something about the rain on a tent that is so peaceful which could be why I’ve had some great sleep the last few nights. 

From Austin we headed northeast for a quick drive through Arkansas. We didn’t get to see too much but we stayed the night at DeGray Lake State park which was very beautiful despite the unending rain. The drive took a little longer than anticipated so we pretty much got the tent set up and hit the hay. From there we headed toward Nashville, Tennessee and stayed at a quaint little campground about 25 minutes from the city. There was a great trail along a stream that was just what Franklin and I needed after a couple days of long drives. So I unhooked the leash and we ran and it was awesome.

I was pretty excited for the next leg. Not only were we driving through the Great Smoky Mountains and part of the Appalachian Mountain range but we also hit our 20th National Park! HOORAY!  I feel like a giddy little kid when I see the official National park sign and yes, I am one of those people that gets out for a photo.

We stayed at a primitive campground called Cataloochee that is on the east side of the park, the less popular side and I’m very thankful for that. Apparently this is the one of the most popular National parks but most pour into the entrance near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We realized that once we attempted to visit that side and sat in traffic for nearly two hours before making the executive decision to turn around.

To get to our campsite is not an easy task. There are two options; take an 18 mile gravel road to the next town/campground within the park or take a 15 mile windy gravel road to the highway. Either way is a pain, especially when you decide to drive an hour to Asheville and upon arriving realize you left your wallet in the tent and have to drive an hour back and then an hour again… Let’s just say it wasn’t my smartest move nor was Franklin very happy. But that leads us to Asheville.  Asheville is a adorable college town packed full of breweries, outdoor activities and a growing arts community. We drove around the city and then went to a few recommended breweries. It was a nice day and a great teaser to get back to the city in the future. Anyone want to come?

On to the east coast…