You Meet Interesting People While Camping

[Mike and Carol]

We left the Oliver Rally and headed for Helen, GA.  We had a nice site at Unicoi State Park just 2 miles from Helen - a very nice park.  While there we had a very friendly camping neighbor.  He asked where were headed next and I told him we were going to a COE campground near Boomer, NC just north of Wilkesboro, NC.  His reaction was the same that we got from Topgun when we told him.  Not the best area and not much to do there.   Our Helen neighbor lives in Banner Elk, NC.  He offered us a parking spot next to his business on the edge of town.  50a Electric and water, he sometimes parks his RV here.  After a night in our COE campground, we drove up to Banner Elk and are now camped next to his business.  What a great site!  Banner Elk motto:  "Ski Capital of the South".  You do meet interesting folks while camping!  Mike

 

[MikeandGerri]

Yes, you certainly do!! Glad things all worked out.  Have fun!!

[rideandfly]

Mike,

 

Sounds like you camped at Bandits Roost Campground? We Kayak there and plan to take a motorcycle for two up twisty riding next trip.

 

Agree, never know who you may be talking to while camping. Posted this photo here last year of a camping trip to Glacier NP MT with our previous aluminum CampLite camper a few years ago.

 

One morning a nice fellow was looking at the camper and showed him the all aluminum structure. Took his photo with Debbie, Jungle Jack Hanna:

 

[topgun2]

How'd ya like Helen?  Of course you can not say that you've been to Helen back.  How'd you like those roads around Banner Elk?  Generally they are not very wide and most have a few curves in them.  Anything north of Interstate 40 gets a bunch more snow during the winter as compared to places like Brevard.  However, it is really the ice that causes problems and the fact that many of these mountain towns do not have appropriate snow removal equipment.  Depending on the direction you are heading next, Mount Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi River) is worth a quick stop.  Boone is a college town and Asheville is called the "Paris of the South".  If you "do" Asheville and have the time and money (it will take you virtually all day and the admission fee is something north of $60 each), the Biltmore house is the Oliver of homes.

 

Bill

[KarenLukens]

:)

[ScubaRx]

Banner Elk, home of the Woollyworm festival.

[SeaDawg]

Great photo!

Camping truly does bring together a lot of people from different locations and vocations, doesn't it?

We love Banner Elk. So much to do in s tiny town... I'm sure there's live music somewhere today, lots of great food.

Some great views of Grandfather Mountain from Seven Devils.

Sherry

Steve, the Woolly Worm Festival was a blast... And great company that year...

[Mike and Carol]

How’d ya like Helen? Of course you can not say that you’ve been to Helen back. How’d you like those roads around Banner Elk? Generally they are not very wide and most have a few curves in them. Anything north of Interstate 40 gets a bunch more snow during the winter as compared to places like Brevard. However, it is really the ice that causes problems and the fact that many of these mountain towns do not have appropriate snow removal equipment. Depending on the direction you are heading next, Mount Mitchell (the highest point east of the Mississippi River) is worth a quick stop. Boone is a college town and Asheville is called the “Paris of the South”. If you “do” Asheville and have the time and money (it will take you virtually all day and the admission fee is something north of $60 each), the Biltmore house is the Oliver of homes. Bill

 

Helen was nice.  We had the town to ourselves.  Unicoi State Park there was also very nice.

 

 

We also enjoyed Anna Ruby Falls.

 

 

Here in Banner Elk it's interesting to be parked "in town", very convenient.

 

 

The Mast General Store was fun and we enjoyed Grandfather Mountain.  There is a lot to do around here, warrants a trip back!  Mike

 

 

[bugeyedriver]

Banner Elk, home of the Woollyworm festival.

 

I've got my ticket!  It's an awesome small town, big fun experience.

[SeaDawg]

Aww, you still have your ticket? I just found the calico scraps from the storytelling festival... The safety pin was only slightly rusted. What a great time. Six trailers egg rolling around the Appalachian autumn for four to six weeks.

Some of my best camping memories. Because of the people.

We've been camping foreign too much. Time for another egg roll.

S

(When we get stateside .. ..)

[Mike and Carol]

Aww, you still have your ticket? I just found the calico scraps from the storytelling festival… The safety pin was only slightly rusted. What a great time. Six trailers egg rolling around the Appalachian autumn for four to six weeks. Some of my best camping memories. Because of the people. We’ve been camping foreign too much. Time for another egg roll. S (When we get stateside .. ..)

Hmmmm.  Oliver egg roll?  Sounds like fun!

[SeaDawg]

It was a lot of fun. 5 camping venues, fun people. Some could only stay a week, others two, some of us six... It was great.

Hopefully, another time. We're all so far flung, anymore,