ImDownWithDisney

Camper refrigerators can get full quick. Bring a small 110V mini fridge for extra room. It can go under the camper or under the awning. Some even have keyed locks to prevent the otters from stealing beers.

Sweet TR and pics. We saw the hotel when we were out there, but we didn't take the time to visit.

As for the "orbs" they are definitely particles illuminated by the flash. You don't see them in some pics, because they have to fall into the right place in the focal plane to be visible. Its the same principle that allows you to take a photo of through a chain link fence and have the chain link become invisible or not depending on aperture and focal length.

We've overnighted at Wally Worlds, Cracker Barrel, interstate rest areas, closed auto parts stores....really just wherever I feel like pulling over will usually do.

BTW, there is a really nice welcome area (non rest area) in Perry, GA. It's near the ag fairgrounds and Cracker Barrel. They have a nice RV dump station too. We always stop here on the way to the Fort.

Beautiful! My wife and I visited a lot of these places about 8 yrs ago during the summer. Although, I prefer to visit the west in the winter, it is equally nice in the summer.

Wow! Although, I am not really surprised. That stretch of 192 is squirrelly at best. I went into a "camera shop" there once. It was full of BS artist crooks. I have bought tickets from Maple Leaf twice before without any trouble. Although, the first time I visited their "store" I was thinking "wtf is going on here". For those who haven't had the privilege of visiting...the store is a tiny room in the front of a crappy hotel on 192.I think from now on I will only buy from Undercover Tourist.

I picked up a 6 gallon 150 psi pancake style Bostich compressor last year. My old compressor would not put 110 psi into the G614's.

CynicalBus?

We are at a point now where we can grab some clothes and perishable food and be ready to go. I do like to rearrange things and find handy gadgets for the 5'er. We never had enough room for storage in the previous campers (van, TT, small 5'er), but now we have many empty cabinets.

I agree 100%! I check psi every day of travel, and I also check tire and hub temps at every stop with an IR thermometer. Overkill? Maybe, but I learned the hard way about Chinese tires and improper inflation. I also would like to add to change out tires every 5 years or sooner, regardless of tread depth.

Ah...."high season"....they are not kidding! I had no idea that it started in Feb...crazy.

Both weekends that we are looking at are run weekends. I have no idea why one is $40 a night higher.

WTF...how do they figure rates these days? We are booked for Thanksgiving week this year. I think the average rate is about $89 for a premium loop. We are looking at going back for a half marathon in Jan or Feb (or both). A full hookup site is $68 for Jan 4th....a full hookup site on the weekend of Feb 25th is $106. What justifies such an increase in Feb? It's not even a holiday on my calendar.

Thanks a lot for the info! I am thinking that this may be our best option for back to back trips.

We will be visiting the Fort for Thanksgiving week, and we will be returning in January for another short stay. We thought about staying in a value or renting at the Fort, but it may make more sense just to store the 5'er near the Fort.

I know there was a thread months ago about a new possible lot near the Fort. Does anyone know if that panned out or any other suggestions for secure storage?

I have 2 young daughters too....all of the talk about daddy's girl and the music video are getting me all choked up.

Here's my idea, I think.

Disney makes a virtual 3d version of Walts EPCOT and makes it a ride-thru attraction, complete with 3d glasses. You pick the vehicle you want to ride and where you want to go. Your choice of a car, monorail, flyover, or WEDway.

Think of how many times you could ride it before you repeated a route?

That's a great idea!

I keep getting choked up, too.

Loving this report, though. :heart:

Me too! Great report!

Awesome TR! We love the Smokies and go often. I am not that fond of Gatlinburg's touristy stuff, but I love the surrounding area.

I have to call you out on this, though.

This is a close up shot of the 3/4 to a mile hiking path to the observation tower. With it being 95 degrees out, we opted for the close up on the camera vs. the hike

A high temp in the 80's has never been recorded at Clingmans. It's quite amazing how different the climate is on the highest peaks of the Smokies.

Here's some weather data from the 4th.

SMOKY MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MORRISTOWN TN

222 PM EDT WED JUL 6 2011

FOLLOWING IS THE SMOKY MOUNTAIN TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION

INFORMATION, VALID FOR A 24 HOUR PERIOD ENDING AT 7:30 AM.

STATION ELEV HIGH LOW PCPN

SUGARLAND CENTER 1600 83 63 0.04

NEWFOUND GAP 5000 71 58 0.04

CADES COVE 1900 81 63 0.11

OCONALUFTEE 2040 85 63 0.38

MOUNT LECONTE 6400 68 52 0.20

Looks like a great park. Looking forward to reading more. :popcorn:

X2!

I really like LRC and Desoto SP. The campground has mtn bike trails leading from it too.

I live less than 1 hr from there, and we visit the canyon often. A few years ago I bought some acreage on the mtn about 15 min from the canyon. It reminds me of being in east TN or NC. I thought about putting in a single campsite or a small cabin on the property for a little quick getaway place.

Here's the falls with a little more flow. Sometimes it is really rolling.

There used to be an amusement park and mini golf near Eberhart Point on the canyon rim. It even had a scenic chairlift that ran down to Canyon Mouth Park, but it has been shut down for decades.

Sorry for the highjack....i get excited about LRC.

We leave around 1600 and are home set up again by 1730.

I hate you.

When did times change that we bitch loudly about $4 gal of gas but have no problem spending $8 a day for a cup of coffee.

Exactly! And people have no problem paying more for water than gasoline. My water plant at work makes 700 gpm of PURE demineralized water for about 60 cents a gallon.

The wife started couponing/buying on sale last month. I was astonished at how much good food (ie steak, chicken, etc) that she got for $100

Great TR! I must be slow on the uptake...I didn't realize HBW was BigKahuna on the other board. I do remember that nice Cyclone from the Halloween GG a few years ago.

We ate there several years ago, and it was not too great. I left thinking that we could have had much better for much less offsite. I hope the new iteration is much better.