Labor Day Week In Waynesville, North Carolina

From Creekwood Farm RV Park, Waynesville, NC      

The view going through the Smokey Mountains.  It's why I love this life. 

Fortunately we were able to secure a reservation at Creekwood Farm RV Park which was a pleasant place to spend the long Labor Day Weekend, notwithstanding the dozens of children on bicycles being followed by dogs on leashes. The site we were assigned (near the clubhouse) was too small for our rig so we were moved into one that I really liked much better. It faces a little creek that runs along the edge of the property. Everything is neat and well kept here. The campground management has arranged a Labor Day potluck dinner and live entertainment for Saturday night. When that night came around, Wayne and I were especially glad we were relocated as the music was L.O.U.D.

Creekwood Farm RV Park on Johnathan Creek.

We are but a stones throw from the North Carolina entrance to Smokey Mountain National Park but we didn't go into the park this year. Experience has taught us that our most enjoyable visits into this popular national treasure come during much less crowded times -- not during holidays.

When I posted on Facebook where we were, I learned that a second cousin, whom I'd never met, lives nearby in Greenville, South Carolina.  We met up with Rob in Asheville for lunch at The Noodle Shop, just off the square near the Vance Memorial.

Rob and me. Absolutely no resemblance for these second cousin French Canadians. 

Downtown Asheville is an active Sunday afternoon place. We'd never heard of a "pedal bar" but were fortunate enough to catch this glimpse of this one. For more information.....check out the Amazing Pub Cycle. It seems a bar is in the center of this contraption. Participants pedal to provide power to the rig. Music plays all the while...

Pedal bar.

After a delicious noodle lunch, Rob was off to tour the Biltmore House with a friend.  We walked the dogs and enjoyed the warm afternoon.

Pop and the fur kids. Ozzie (L) and Lexie (Front) 

Many people have recommended we see the Biltmore while we are in the area, so we drove out to see what would be involved for the tour. Wayne stayed with the dogs while I went inside to check it out.  A huge line was formed at the $60 per person ticket window. A nice lady asked if she could answer questions for me. I must look like I need help, but anyway, I proceeded to ask for details.  She said six hours (minimum) is recommended to tour the home and gardens. Add a couple of hours for dinner in one of the several restaurants too.  Add 45 minutes each way to and from the campground and you've got yourself a good ten hour day going here.

I asked about accommodations for the dogs and learned they are welcome in the gardens but, of course, not inside the home. The Biltmore kennels were closed, as are other local kennels, due to an outbreak of dog flu. Wayne confessed that seeing the Biltmore isn't really on his bucket list but he will go if it's something I want to see.  I only took a minute to decide we will save the Biltmore tour for another time and perhaps with friends to make it a more enjoyable day. We will make advance arrangements for the dogs.

A quick look into my History Now app and we zip around Asheville for other notable sights, including McCormick Field, where "The Bellyache Heard Round The World" caused baseball great, Babe Ruth, to collapse as he disembarked the train in Asheville. For detail reports and pictures, click here and here.

So much for Asheville....

Back in Waynesville, we found ourselves camped just a few miles from Franklin where friends we made while at Buddy Gregg RV (Knoxville) a couple of months ago, were camped. We planned a rendezvous with Sandy and Dave at  Haywood Smokehouse where we encountered some kind of delicious southern barbecue, campfire taters, smoked mac 'n cheese and creamy coleslaw. Sandy and Dave came from Franklin on their Harley-Davidson today and would stop by our campground for a short visit after lunch. We are working hard to convince them to join us on the Great Southwest To Alaska Journey.  The only photo is the one below. I asked the waitress to take a picture and this is what I got.  Cute. Real cute.

Sandy and Dave (left) had just bought a new coach from Buddy Gregg RV when we met them in early August.
They are full-time RVers from east central Florida. 

Then there's Golf....

There's a public golf course at Lake Junaluska, just a few miles from our campground. One overcast afternoon we took a ride over to play nine holes.  It was the first golf course I've played that had a gravel cart path.  Our play stunk really bad but we had a good time. Here are a few pictures...

This must be the photo point they used for their ad and brochures.

In addition to the poor cart path, the course itself was scraggly and cramped. We found ourselves playing the wrong holes at least twice. Seems the course had originally been 9 holes but was stretched to 18. The online price for play was wrong and the cart rental fee was per person not per cart, as advertised, making what was to be an inexpensive short game, a much more pricey round of golf on pretty poor grass.

We stayed only seven days at Waynesville and we didn't make the late afternoon trip to the nearby field known for the regular gathering of elk. Something else that will have to wait until the next visit, I guess.

The coach's small electric bedroom slide has developed a "rub" that's worrisome so we decided, at the last minute, to return to Buddy Gregg in Knoxville to have it checked. Hope it's nothing major.

Into All Travel A Little Rain Must Fall.

All night before and the morning of our departure from Whistle Stop Antique Mall and Campground, the rain poured... and poured... and poured.  Rain had been in the forecast and we prepared, dumping tanks before the rain began.  We both donned rain suits for dog walks and hooking Big Blackie (the car) to Endie (the coach). One last walk for Lexie and Ozzie just before leaving the property because we could use the covered sidewalk alongside the mini-storage area. 

And then we were off -- Endie's big windshield wipers whacking back and forth clearing our way.

Our destination is Sevierville, Tennessee where we're scheduled to participate in a rally.  From Franklin, we'll take the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway through the area of Cherokee National Forest, past Sylva and Waynesville, NC before getting on I-40.

The rain was steady as we travel up and down and all around on the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway. Suddenly, on an incline, without warning, the instrument panel illuminated, in red letters: STOP ENGINE.  Oh no! This isn't the "Check Engine" light... this one means business.  Is says STOP ENGINE. That seems pretty straightforward.

And so we did.  There was a place along the roadway with about 10' of shoulder so we pulled off, stopped the engine and pulled out the coach information. 

This photo is blurry because I'm a nervous wreck and didn't let the camera focus, but here's what it says:  "The STOP ENGINE lamp indicates, when illuminated the need to stop the engine as soon as it can be safely done. The engine must remain shut down until the engine can be repaired".  

In his normal, unrattled, cool, calm and collected way, Wayne begins pulling together the Roadside Assistance information, pen and paper and begins to make the necessary calls. 

I'm just relieved to have walked the dogs that second time before we left Franklin.  
  

Because we're sitting with the roadside wheels on the pavement and the curbside wheels off the pavement, this is how the coach looks. And we don't know how long we'll be here. Yes, that's Lexie and Ozzie in their window seats... sleeping.

There was a flurry of telephone calls, Wayne to Roadside Assistance, then Roadside Assistance to the wrecker service. Wrecker service to us, us to them, them to Roadside Assistance and so forth.

Adding insult to injury, Wayne donned the rain gear once more and unhooked Big Blackie from Endie.  The nice thing about the pouring rain was that it washed away the mud and road grime that was being thrown by the passing trucks.  We knew the day was passing quickly and we were on the side of a mountain in a motorcoach.  At least we had all the comforts of home... even if they were leaning to one side. We ate lunch sitting at the cock-eyed table.

After what seemed like hours, but in reality was just about an hour, this gargantuan wrecker comes rolling up, light flashing.  And when I say "lights".... it had more yellow lights flashing than any fire engine I've ever seen.  

 

There's a lot of talk about exactly how, where and when to load big Evie onto the wrecker.  Alan, the wrecker truck operator says we'll have to start the engine, get Evie onto the flat roadway, and then hook her up.  Wayne hesitates... sure don't want to do anything to jeopardize that Cummins engine warranty. 

More telephone calls... this time one to Cummins to talk about the need to start the engine to get the wrecker hooked up.   We get the okay to do as Alan requests.

In the end, Wayne held his breath and turned the key. 

The "STOP ENGINE" light did not illuminate.

Alan is ready to tow... but is it needed?

If Endie's "STOP ENGINE" doesn't come back on, Wayne can drive her directly to the repair shop.

Did I mention it is in Asheville?  It is.

Did I mention that it's 2 o'clock on Friday and none of the repair shops are open on Saturday?  It is and they are not.

Did I mention that we have a non-refundable reservation at the Sevierville campground?  We do.

We agree to caravan.  Alan will lead, Wayne will follow and I will drive Big Blackie.  If the "STOP ENGINE" lights comes back on, we'll stop and load Endie for towing.  If not, we'll make our way to Ken Wilson Sterling Diesel Truck Service in Canton, NC (not far from Asheville).

As so, off we go, Alan in the enormous yellow flashing lighted, bright red tow truck.  Endie close behind and me in Big Blackie.  In the pouring rain.  Still.

By 3 p.m. we Endie was in one of the bays at Ken Wilson Sterling Truck Service. By 4 p.m. the problem had been diagnosed by way of the computer port that keeps track of everything that goes on in this behemoth.  Turns out a filter in the crankcase was bad and would have to be replaced. It was not a warranty item.  It would cost $250 or so.  Oddly enough, with so few miles, everyone wondered out loud why this item went bad.  Never did figure it out. But  by 5 p.m. it was replaced and were hooking up Big Blackie  for the ride to Sevierville. The relentless rain continued until we reached the Tennessee state line.

So far the "STOP ENGINE" light has not re-illuminated.

"All's well that ends well" my Mamma would have said. 

Whistle Stop

In Franklin, North Carolina we made one of those "have to" stops to get a repair made to the car's computer.  I call it a computer because I don't know what it really is. It's the screen that has navigation, phone, climate and entertainment in one system.  It's all touch screen and I hate it. Furthermore, it probably knows I hate it and so it went out just to spite me.  The only good thing about the whole system is that it has a "back up" camera that helps me back up a little straighter. 

On US Highway 441 in Franklin, NC

We stayed three nights at Whistle Stop Antique Mall and Campground.  Cost $20 (no tax?) per night for 50 amp full hookup.  There are absolutely NO frills -- just basic service.



It's only about a 10-12 space campground. All asphalt, good satellite signal and convenient to all of Franklin!

As we're not antiquers, I can't say if shopping at the Whistle Stop Antique Mall was good or if it wasn't.  It was a clean and seemingly well managed place though.  Lots of old equipment was parked on the property. Some of it was for sale.  

What I am qualified to talk about is pork barbecue.  The photo below is of the tiny Cash's Barbecue stand at one end of the campground on the Whistle Stop property.  It is, without a doubt, the best pulled pork barbecue I have ever eaten. The baked beans were the same --- stupendous!  I'd go back just to eat there.

During winter months Cash's closes at 2:30.
It's a lunch only place -- no dinner.

I took this picture sometime after the 2:30 (closing time) at Cash's.  From about 10:45 'till 1:30, customers are lined up to place their orders.  There's no dining room but some outside tables with umbrellas and 5-6 patio tables inside the small green building.  Everything in and around this little food stand is clean and neat.  But most importantly... the food is too good to miss if you are in Franklin, North Carolina. 

Oh! About the car: the computer had to be replaced and we learned it's a common problem.  Ours was still under warranty and the service we received  at Franklin Ford was excellent. 

All in all, it's been a good stop except for the steady rain the morning of departure. And it gets worse, but that's a subject for the next post.