Day 5 - Heading Home

We left Panther Creek State Park about 10 am headed east to I-81 and northeast after saying goodbye to Jerry, Heidi, and their dog Bonnie Roo. One of our first sights on the drive home was an 18 wheeler with amazing Christian art and Bible phrases all over the trailer. 

Day 4 - Panther Creek

Thunderstorms contributed to a lazy start to the day today.  We have had a few breaks in the weather to take dog walks and sit out under the awnings but not enough to adventure out. It has been nice to just visit with Jerry and Heidi as we only get together once or twice a year. 

Although it rained much of the day we enjoyed playing games through the afternoon and then cooked a steak dinner to finish out the day. 

Day 3 Panther Creek

The day started with biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and sausage. It was a cloudy morning with a few rain showers but then the sun came out and we enjoyed sunshine thru the evening. Jim and I coached Jerry and Heidi on using the tandem kayak from the boat ramp. They did well for their first outing. We also let them try out our e-bikes which was a challenge as the terrain here is very hilly. I managed over 12000 steps today also, walking one of the trails with Heidi and the dogs as well as just walking Gus. We enjoyed a Mexican dinner that Heidi fixed and after dinner enjoyed a campfire before calling it a day. Rain is expected overnight and through tomorrow so we will see what happens.  

Day 2 at Panther Creek State Park

The day started with rain showers but they ended before 9 am and the rest of the day was sunny and HOT!  The guys went into town for some hardware for the kayaks we gave them and for some underwear for Jim who forgot to pack any. While they were out they explored the rest of the park.  Heidi had a few things to do and I was reading a book so we stayed in camp with the dogs. Later in the afternoon Heidi and I left the guys working on the racks for the kayaks while we went exploring in the jeep. We first went up to a beautiful lookout of the lake, the downbto the boat ramp at the other end of the park and finally stopped at the visitor center. My big purchase was a magnet for the RV refrigerator. We are having shrimp and veggies on the grill tonight with ice cream for dessert. 

on to Panther Creek State Park

We left Warriors Path State Park about 11:30 this morning. The drive to our "home" for the next 5 days is about 65 miles southwest of there...Panther Creek State Park. 

Unlike yesterday, when we enjoyed blue skies and puffy white clouds, today the sky is very hazy, maybe smoky. We are on the edge of the Smoky Mountains. 

We have never been to Panther Creek State Park before but are meeting Jim's brother, Jerry, and his wife, Heidi, for the week. We will also be meeting their new dog, Bonnie, for the first time. Our sites there are sites 9 and 10, next to each other.

Jerry & Heidi are taking the tandem and single kayaks home with them at the end of the week. We still have our fishing kayaks at home for our use. 

Short Journey to Eastern Tennessee

We are headed west to eastern Tennessee for a week. Tonight we will stay at Warriors Path State Park near Bristol, before heading to Panthers Creek State Park to meet up with Jerry & Heidi for 5 days. Other than a bit of rain between home and Charlottesville the drive has been good. The sun is out, we made it across Afton Mountain without trouble, and the rest of the drive is on I-81 going southwest.