ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Let me preface this TR with a disclaimer. We really wanted to attend the GG at Defeated Creek, but my wife is still training for her new job and time off isn't happening yet.I had been watching the weather forecasts and looking at the computer models last week. I knew this weekend would be a perfect time to do a little camping. Since the GG wasn't an option we decided to hit our favorite local park...Noccalula Falls. I have posted a few TR's from here before so I will go a little light on the scenery photos in this one, but I will through in a few recycled ones for newbs ;-)Tuesday 9/18I prepped the camper and hitched up. Since I had worked the weekend prior I was off Thursday through Sunday.Ready to goWednesday 9/18I go in to work really early so by 2:30 I was in the truck and headed up to the CG. My wife gets off at 12:30 on Wednesday, so she picked the kids up at school. We rendezvoused about 3:30 at the camper. Success! We were officially camping.I picked a nice site along the gorge side of the park and next to the new walking path.As I got everything set up she picked up some dinner for us and the kids. The kids got chicken fingers, and we had some great Thai food from a place near the falls. I ordered my "drunken noodle" with 3 chili peppers out of 4. I love hot food, and this made my eyes water and nose run....good times that will haunt you later :panic: :toiletreading:The weather was extremely nice this night. It was the first real shot of cool air that we have had. We also had a fair amount of rain on Monday and Tuesday so the creek was really rolling. Laying in bed that night I opened a window in the bedroom slideout and went to sleep listening to the rushing white water of Black Creek and crashing water of the falls. I was out in no time flat.The creek/gorge is just behind the camper where the lighter colored leaves are in this picRecycled pic of the creek at very low water Quote Link to post Share on other sites
YENSIDCAMPER 66 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Awesome looking place. That looks like a place I would like to go. Great weather, sorry we missed you at Defeated Creek. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LONE-STAR 370 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 New truck looks good. The f250 always looked a little small under the toy hauler. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 That campsite looks amazing! I love the fact that you were able to open the windows and hear the water.I am looking forward to the rest.TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nicki aka Rebelstand 272 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I'm in Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Awesome looking place. That looks like a place I would like to go. Great weather, sorry we missed you at Defeated Creek.It is a nice place. We overlooked it for years because it is so close to us. Who wants to camp in the same city that you live? Well, we were wrong on that one.New truck looks good. The f250 always looked a little small under the toy hauler.Thanks. I tried to make the F250 work, but it wasn't enough. If my TH'er was about 2k lighter I would have been fine. I do love the dually and the 4.10 rearend, though.That campsite looks amazing! I love the fact that you were able to open the windows and hear the water.I am looking forward to the rest.TCDThere were not many people there on Wednesday, so I had a nice selection of sites. We have stayed in the center of the park a lot in the pull throughs, but we both agreed that we like the gorge side better.It was a nice way to sleep. The flow dropped each day so it was quieter and quieter, but you could still hear it on Sunday when the wind calmed down.I'm inWelcome! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Moving along....Thursday dawned with clear skies and a chilly breeze. I grabbed a soda and sat outside while the rest slept for a bit. I am used to getting up early so sleeping in for me is about 6am. My wife would not be off of work until Saturday, but fortunately her work is only 10 minutes away from the park. The kids also had to go to school too. They were not too excited to be going while camping, but I explained to them how cool it is to be camping while their friends are stuck at home ;-)Finally, my wife left with the kids, and I was left with the baby. BTW, this was his first camping trip. At 3 months old I know he won't remember it, but we have pics. I decided to let him sleep, but by 9am I decided to wake him up to go run some errands. He probably would have slept until 10am if I would have let him.I dropped him off at daycare for a bit, did my errands, picked him up, and then checked the girls out of school at 1pm. They were busting at the seams ready to go back to the campground to ride bicycles.They spent the rest of the afternoon alternating between bikes and playing around the camper. I cooked up some grilled chicken and new potatoes with corn that evening, once my wife returned.The campground was still relatively empty and quiet this day. Friday would bring more people and a lot more excitement.Bode seemed to be relaxed most of the time Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MLM5.. aka Judy 97 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is awesome, you have inspired me to check this place out, I'm thinking next weekend I might do a quick trip, I'll be calling them today to see if I can get reservations, I love camping in the fall!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 This is awesome, you have inspired me to check this place out, I'm thinking next weekend I might do a quick trip, I'll be calling them today to see if I can get reservations, I love camping in the fall!!Great! They do take reservations on the odd numbered sites. I like the "A" sites around 13-25 the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MLM5.. aka Judy 97 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Great! They do take reservations on the odd numbered sites. I like the "A" sites around 13-25 the best.for a tent camper (need electric!), with lots of kids, do you recommend any particular one? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 The "A" are all full hookup. I am not sure it they let tents on them. They have many partial hookup sites that look to be very nice for tents. It is really shaded and close to the playground and both comfort stations. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Here is a link to the maphttp://issuu.com/online_guest_guides/docs/noccalula_falls?mode=window&backgroundColor=%23222222I suggest E10-18 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I am impressed that you watched the baby, picked the kids up from school and had dinner ready for the wife.Way to go.Now the rest of us look bad.Bode is a good looking baby!TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 This sounds like an awesome place! I really wish we had a place to camp that was close to the house. I have nothing within an hour. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 24, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 I am impressed that you watched the baby, picked the kids up from school and had dinner ready for the wife.Way to go.Now the rest of us look bad.Bode is a good looking baby!TCDWhat can I say....I'm a great husband.Plus, with 3 kids I couldn't afford a divorce;-)This sounds like an awesome place! I really wish we had a place to camp that was close to the house. I have nothing within an hour.It is nice. I wish that we would've started going sooner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stefa70 205 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Love the truck! The baby is adorable.Lol at your divorce comment. :rofl2: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mecha Geek 1 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Really cool CG. Love the pics of the creek.The new truck looks like a much better match than the other.I like your garage/shop too! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wak648...Bill 94 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 What can I say....I'm a great husband.You and Dave are really making it hard on the rest of us!Plus, with 3 kids I couldn't afford a divorce;-)My wife and I both joke (at least I think she is joking) that is the same reason we stay married. Neither of us want the kids in a divorce! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southern Blessings 4 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 What a sweet baby! Looks like a nice trip so far! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PureTcrazy...rita 380 Posted September 24, 2012 Report Share Posted September 24, 2012 Bode is just precious! Love all the other pics, but the baby got my attention! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Love the truck!I bet that you could hardly contain yourself when you hear its diesel clatter ;-)The baby is adorable.I'm halfway responsible for that....thanksLol at your divorce comment. :rofl2:Truth is funny sometimes ;-)Really cool CG. Love the pics of the creek.The weird thing is you can go a half mile upstream or downstream from here it is completely different. It is like a microcosm.The new truck looks like a much better match than the other.Thanks....it is. The F250 was under on GCWR but over on GVWR.I like your garage/shop too!Thanks....its my man cave.You and Dave are really making it hard on the rest of us!My wife and I both joke (at least I think she is joking) that is the same reason we stay married. Neither of us want the kids in a divorce!LOL....married lifeBode is just precious! Love all the other pics, but the baby got my attention!Thanks! I think we are going to keep him too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ImDownWithDisney 342 Posted September 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Moving right along now.Friday morning was a bit warmer, but there was still a nice chill in the air. I chillaxed under the awning for a bit while watching people start to stir about. Like TCD, I also like early morning camp activity.My wife left for work around 6:45, and I had a surprise for the girls. I let them stay out of school. I figured one day every now and then wouldn't hurt. That meant that I had to keep track of 2 girls and an infant for 11 hours. I had my fingers crossed that Bode would be good.Friday also brought new neighbors. (Let me backtrack a bit....my girls seem to always make friends with some kids when we go there to camp. They met some kids there 2 years ago several times by coincidence. It seemed that our families were always camping at the same time. Last year we were surprised to see them in my kid's school. Their parents had moved to our town and switched schools. So Tish and I are never surprised when they drag some kids back to the camper).So the new neighbors had 2 daughters that are 10 and 8 yrs old. Also we found out that they live less than 5 miles from us too. I have never seen kids become friends so fast. It was like insta-friends....just add dirt.They rode bicycles, played at the playground, made mudpies and frog houses, literally poured dirt over each other's heads, and laughed the whole time. I just let them have at it. I figured that was what outside showers were made for.Bode was pretty good too. I just had to keep him fed and dry, which wasn't too hard.The wife showed up at 5:30, and I handed off the baby and fired up the grill. We had some black angus burgers, which were pretty tasty.That night is when the fearless raccoon raided the trash. To be so well fed that guy was pretty skinny. Must have been the rabies or something.The motley crew....I swear the other kids have faces....not sure if the parents want them on the net tho.At one point I looked up to see my youngest on the very top of this swing. I think she is part monkey.The neighbor's rigI'm not sure if I have posted this video before but here is a sweet one of some guys doing a first kayak descent of Noccalula. I thought some may enjoy seeing what this area can be like.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z132Np3ze2E Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveInTN 3,247 Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Please don't tell me you are thinking of trying that. :bugeyes: Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tri-Circle-D 2,059 Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hooray for skipping school and pouring dirt on each other's heads!What could be better than that?And, please tell me who that guy is over there on the left in this photo and where the rest of his body is. WTF? :TCD Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jjbescher 17 Posted September 25, 2012 Report Share Posted September 25, 2012 Hooray for skipping school and pouring dirt on each other's heads!What could be better than that?And, please tell me who that guy is over there on the left in this photo and where the rest of his body is. WTF? :TCDThe guy looks to be in a hammock.jon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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