Back On the Road Again

We are back on the road again - this time for a summer trip. We love avoiding the cold winter weather by our Wintertime travels to the south.

However, visiting many of the northern national parks and attraction needs to be a warm weather RV trip.

We left our northern Virginia home on June 22nd after our grand- daughter's birthday. Our first stop was the Thousand Trails RV Resort at Lynchburg, VA.  Although the park is a nice one with pool, hot tube, and lake; it rained for most of our two day stay.

The rain was very heavy and coincided with the flooding occuring to the north in West Virginia. We had no rain related problems - no leaks or other issues. While sitting out the rain I watched an older man and apparently his teenage son attempting to set up a tent site. They were working in shorts and teeshirts in the pouring rain. They spread a ground tarp and successfully erected a fairly large tent. No more than an hour later I noticed them tearing down the tent. The tent had apparently filled with water. They rolled up the tent and tarp; Then pitched the whole mess into a dumpster and drove away. I wondered why they didn't wait in their car for the rain to ease-up.

The next day we had our own "fun" while trying to break camp. We avoided the rain and packed away chairs and satellite antenna; and unhooked water, and electric. However, the rain began again in earnest while visiting the dump station.  I was soaked after completing dumping the tanks and hitching up the car. With a change to dry clothes we were on our way.  Of course the rain stopped as soon as we got on the road. I wondered why I didn't wait for the rain to ease-up.

The traffic was light and the road was smooth. About four hours later we checked in to the Raccoon Valley Escapees RV park near Knoxville, TN. Raccoon Valley is a nice park with gravel full hook-up sites. Although the sites are closely spaced, the park is neatly maintained and quiet.

We had no plans to visit any particular tourist destinations in the Knoxville area. At the suggestion of one of the camp hosts we paid a visit to the Museum of the Appalachia.

A man lived in this tiny house for over 20 years.

Peacocks and other livestock roamed the premises.

  The museum is basically a museum of the 19th century rural appalachian culture with many log homes and farm equipment.  The museum also has an excellent collection of the country music and bluegrass celebrities who grew up in eastern Tennessee. Although it rained during our visit; it was well worth the price of admission ($10 per adult).

Our five day stay at Raccoon Valley ended  on June 28th.